# Clay vs Zapier

> Clay: Enrich leads with 150+ data sources and AI research agents to run go-to-market plays
> Zapier: Connect AI models and 9,000+ business apps into automated workflows and agents

- Clay profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/clay
- Zapier profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/zapier
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/clay-vs-zapier
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Clay is listed under AI Agents and Zapier under Productivity. Zapier scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.3 vs 7.9 out of 10), led by ease of use and documentation & support. Both have a free plan or trial.

### Choose Clay if

- You want a tool built for Multi-provider lead enrichment, AI-assisted account research, building custom outbound and inbound workflows.
- Access to 150+ data providers with waterfall enrichment in a single workspace.
- Claygent applies AI web research to custom questions about each lead or account.

### Choose Zapier if

- You want a tool built for connecting SaaS apps without code, adding AI steps to existing business workflows, giving AI assistants controlled access to business tools.
- Connects 9,000+ apps, one of the largest integration libraries in automation.
- Free plan with 100 tasks per month and a 14-day Professional trial with no credit card.

## Pricing

| | Clay | Zapier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Clay | Zapier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Claygent | Yes | Not listed |
| Waterfall Enrichment | Yes | Not listed |
| Data Marketplace | Yes | Not listed |
| Workflow Tables | Yes | Not listed |
| Audiences and Signals | Yes | Not listed |
| Email Sequencing | Yes | Not listed |
| Ads Audience Sync | Yes | Not listed |
| CRM and Warehouse Sync | Yes | Not listed |
| Credit Budgeting | Yes | Not listed |
| Zaps | Not listed | Yes |
| Zapier Agents | Not listed | Yes |
| Zapier MCP | Not listed | Yes |
| AI by Zapier and Copilot | Not listed | Yes |
| Tables, Forms and Chatbots | Not listed | Yes |
| Canvas | Not listed | Yes |
| Zapier SDK and API | Not listed | Yes |
| Governance Controls | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Clay | Zapier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| CLI | Yes | Yes |

## Clay strengths

- Access to 150+ data providers with waterfall enrichment in a single workspace.
- Claygent applies AI web research to custom questions about each lead or account.
- Free plan with unlimited seats and tables for testing workflows.
- Outputs reach email, LinkedIn/Meta/Google ads and CRMs without extra tooling.
- Frequent product updates, with weekly changelog roundups.

## Clay limitations

- Credit-based pricing with two credit types is harder to forecast than flat per-seat pricing.
- Free plan is limited to 500 actions, 100 data credits and 200 rows per table, with no phone enrichment or signals.
- CRM sync, warehouse sync and API access require Growth ($446/mo list) or higher.
- Pricing page figures are inconsistent between headline prices and FAQ text.

## Zapier strengths

- Connects 9,000+ apps, one of the largest integration libraries in automation.
- Free plan with 100 tasks per month and a 14-day Professional trial with no credit card.
- Zapier MCP is included on every plan and works with Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor.
- Enterprise governance options include SSO, SCIM, action restrictions and log streaming.
- Agents, Chatbots, Tables and Forms sit in the same account as Zaps.

## Zapier limitations

- Task-based pricing rises quickly: Team starts at $103.50/month and Professional at 2,000 tasks is $73.50/month on monthly billing.
- The free plan is limited to 100 tasks and two-step Zaps with 15-minute polling.
- Agents activities and Chatbots are billed as add-ons outside the plan's task pool.
- No official mobile app and no self-hosted option were found.

## FAQ

**Is Clay better than Zapier?**

It depends on your workflow. Clay is built for Multi-provider lead enrichment, AI-assisted account research, building custom outbound and inbound workflows. Zapier is built for connecting SaaS apps without code, adding AI steps to existing business workflows, giving AI assistants controlled access to business tools.

**What are the key feature differences between Clay and Zapier?**

Clay: Enrich leads with 150+ data sources and AI research agents to run go-to-market plays. Zapier: Connect AI models and 9,000+ business apps into automated workflows and agents.

**Does Clay or Zapier have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Clay is freemium and Zapier is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Clay or Zapier?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.