clay-hq vs apify
A comprehensive comparison to help you choose the right AI tool in 2026.
Our Pick
clay-hq
clay-hq scores higher with a rating of 8.7/10
Feature Comparison
| Feature | clay-hq | apify |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Pricing Model | freemium | freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2021 | 2015 |
clay-hq
AI-powered data enrichment and outreach automation platform for sales teams.
Pros
- + 75+ data enrichment sources
- + AI-powered personalized email writing
- + Waterfall enrichment for maximum data coverage
- + Powerful for outbound sales teams
- + Integrates with major CRMs and email tools
Cons
- - Steep learning curve
- - Can be expensive at scale
- - Credit-based pricing is complex
- - Best suited for technical sales teams
apify
Web scraping and browser automation platform with a cloud-based actor marketplace.
Pros
- + Large marketplace of pre-built scrapers
- + Handles proxies and anti-bot measures
- + Both no-code and developer-friendly
- + Generous free tier ($5/month credit)
- + Supports Node.js and Python SDKs
Cons
- - Can be expensive at scale
- - Complex pricing model
- - Some Actors are community-maintained and may break
- - Steeper learning curve for custom Actors
clay-hq vs apify: The Bottom Line
Both clay-hq and apify are powerful AI tools, but they serve slightly different needs. clay-hq excels at 75+ data enrichment sources, while apify stands out for large marketplace of pre-built scrapers.
Your choice should depend on your specific requirements, budget, and the features that matter most to your workflow.