Compare · Prices checked October 21, 2026
Clay vs Apollo.io (2026)
Published starting prices: Clay, Free; paid from $167/mo. Apollo.io, Free; Basic $49/seat/mo (yearly). Side-by-side public pricing, what each does, real use cases and who each suits, all from our listings with sources. We haven't tested either hands-on.
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SalesFree tier
Clay
A data-enrichment and prospecting platform with AI research agents that build and enrich lead lists.
SubscriptionFree; paid from $167/mo
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SalesFree tier
Apollo.io
A sales database and engagement platform with AI agents for prospecting, outreach and deal management.
Per seatFree; Basic $49/seat/mo (yearly)
Quick answer
- Cheaper: Comparing the lowest listed monthly plans: Clay Launch: $167/mo (starts at 15,000 actions/mo), and Apollo.io Basic: $49/seat/mo (billed yearly). Apollo.io lists the lower one. Clay and Apollo.io also have a free plan. Plans differ in what they include, and some are per seat or billed yearly, so compare the plan details. Checked October 21, 2026.
- Free plans: Clay: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026. Apollo.io: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026.
Pricing side by side
| Item |  Clay |  Apollo.io |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; paid from $167/mo | Free; Basic $49/seat/mo (yearly) |
| Pricing model | Subscription | Per seat |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Plans |
|
|
| Pricing note | Clay's pricing has several usage sliders; see the page for your volume. | not published |
| Checked | October 21, 2026 | October 21, 2026 |
| Source | Vendor pricing page | Vendor pricing page |
Copied from each vendor's public pricing page on the date shown. "not published" means the vendor doesn't publish it; we don't guess. Prices change; confirm with the vendor.
Features and details from our listings
| Item | Clay | Apollo.io |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A data-enrichment and prospecting platform with AI research agents that build and enrich lead lists. | A sales database and engagement platform with AI agents for prospecting, outreach and deal management. |
| Made by | Clay | Apollo.io |
| Listed under | Sales & SDR agents | Sales & SDR agents |
| Jobs it fits |
|
|
| Verified public use cases | 0 | 0 |
Use cases
Clay
We haven't found a verified public use case for Clay yet.
Apollo.io
We haven't found a verified public use case for Apollo.io yet.
Use cases are summarised in our own words from the linked public post; vendor case studies are labelled. All use cases.
Who each is best for
- SubscriptionFree plan
Clay is best for
- Teams that need to: Enrich lead lists from many data sources; Research accounts with AI agents.
- Budget: starts at Free; paid from $167/mo (subscription, free plan available).
- Per seatFree plan
Apollo.io is best for
- Teams that need to: Find leads in a large B2B database; Run outreach sequences with AI.
- Budget: starts at Free; Basic $49/seat/mo (yearly) (per seat, free plan available).
From our listing data (jobs, public pricing); not a hands-on test. Full details: Clay · Apollo.io.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Clay or Apollo.io?
Comparing the lowest listed monthly plans: Clay Launch: $167/mo (starts at 15,000 actions/mo), and Apollo.io Basic: $49/seat/mo (billed yearly). Apollo.io lists the lower one. Clay and Apollo.io also have a free plan. Plans differ in what they include, and some are per seat or billed yearly, so compare the plan details. Checked October 21, 2026.
Is Clay free? Is Apollo.io free?
Clay: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026. Apollo.io: yes. Its Free plan is $0, checked October 21, 2026.
How much does Clay cost?
Clay lists Free: $0; Launch: $167/mo (starts at 15,000 actions/mo). Its lowest listed monthly plan is Launch: $167/mo (starts at 15,000 actions/mo). Clay's pricing has several usage sliders; see the page for your volume. Checked October 21, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page.
How much does Apollo.io cost?
Apollo.io lists Free: $0; Basic: $49/seat/mo (billed yearly); Professional: $79/seat/mo (billed yearly); Organization: $119/seat/mo (billed yearly; 3-seat minimum). Its lowest listed monthly plan is Basic: $49/seat/mo (billed yearly). Checked October 21, 2026 on the vendor's pricing page.
Did AITeamGuide test them?
Not hands-on. This comparison is built from each vendor's public pricing page (with the date we checked it), published product information and credited public use cases.
Can a vendor pay to win this comparison?
No. Nothing here is paid. Paid placements on AITeamGuide are always labelled "Sponsored" or "Featured" and never change a comparison or ranking.
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Work at Clay or Apollo.io? Vendors can claim their listing for free or feature it with a label that says "Sponsored"; paid status never changes the order on this page. Building a different agent? List it here.
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