Cloud Automation Platform (Spices + Recipes) TexAu Review: Is It Still Worth It in 2026?
TexAu is a cloud automation platform with 180+ automations (Spices) and workflows (Recipes), best for growth hackers and automation enthusiasts on a budget. A 14-day free trial needs no credit card, then Solo costs $79/mo billed annually. Skip it if you are risk-averse about LinkedIn Terms of Service, dislike quirky terminology and a steep learning curve, or need responsive support.
The cheaper PhantomBuster alternative. Founded in 2017 in Thane, India, TexAu offers 180+ automations ('Spices') and workflow chaining ('Recipes') for LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Maps, Sales Nav and dozens of other sources - meaningfully more than PhantomBuster's 130+ Phantoms at similar pricing. The pitch: built-in email verification, fast scraping, cloud + desktop execution. The catch: quirky terminology takes time to learn, frequent platform breakdowns + slow support, real LinkedIn ToS risk on automation features.
- You're a growth hacker or solo SDR running custom LinkedIn + multi-source automations
- You want PhantomBuster-style Phantoms at lower per-automation cost
- You can tolerate occasional platform breakdowns and slow support
- You're risk-averse about LinkedIn ToS violations
- You can't tolerate quirky terminology + steep learning curve (Spices/Recipes)
- You need responsive customer support for production-critical workflows
Install the add-on and enrich your lists without leaving your spreadsheet.
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https://app1.derrick-app.com/mcp Call the same enrichment endpoints straight from your own stack or workflow.
Read the API docs →
Overview01 / 09
What is TexAu?
TexAu is the cloud automation platform with 180+ Spices (automations) and Recipes (workflows), founded in 2017 in Thane, Maharashtra, India. Built as a more affordable alternative to PhantomBuster, TexAu pioneered the 'Spices and Recipes' terminology - Spices are individual automations (LinkedIn scraping, Sales Nav export, Twitter follow, Google Maps scraping, etc.) and Recipes are multi-step workflows that chain Spices together for end-to-end automation.
The core differentiator is 180+ Spices vs PhantomBuster's 130+ at similar pricing tiers. TexAu also runs faster than most cloud-automation competitors per multiple G2 reviews, includes built-in email verification (no separate tool needed), and offers both cloud execution (always-on) and desktop app (local execution) modes. Solo plan at $79/mo (annual) targets growth hackers and solo SDRs; Teams plan at $439/mo (annual) targets ops teams scaling automation across multiple seats.
Pricing02 / 09
TexAu Plans & Pricing
Prices below from texau.com/pricing (May 2026). Annual billing yields ~20% discount. 14-day free trial on all paid plans. Built-in email verification at 97% accuracy. Free 2K-15K prospecting searches/mo included depending on tier.
| Plan | Price | Typical use | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial | $0 | Evaluation | 14 days, no credit card, full feature access |
| Solo | $79/mo annual / $99 monthly | Solo growth hackers + SDRs | 2,500 credits/mo (~500 email-enriched leads), 1 user, 2K free prospecting searches/mo, email verification + AI lead scoring + waterfall enrichment, one-way CRM sync |
| Starter | $159/mo annual / $199 monthly | Active SDR teams | 8,000 credits/mo (~1,600 leads), 3 users, 5K free searches/mo, all Solo + webhooks + HTTP API + 1:1 onboarding + priority email support |
| Teams | $439/mo annual / $549 monthly | Ops teams scaling automation | 25,000 credits/mo (~5,000 leads), 5 users (+$99/additional), 15K free searches/mo, bidirectional hourly CRM sync + premium data sources + intent alerts + dedicated account team |
| Enterprise | Custom | Larger teams + custom integrations | Custom credits + unlimited users, SSO/SAML, SLA, dedicated success team, custom integrations, data residency |
Hidden costs to know about
Solo plan's '2,500 credits/mo' delivers only ~500 email-enriched leads (5 credits per enriched lead) - the lead-equivalent volume is meaningfully lower than the credit headline suggests. Sales Navigator subscription ($99/mo per seat) required for advanced LinkedIn filtering. Frequent platform breakdowns + slow support are the most consistent G2 complaints - for production-critical workflows, factor in babysitting time. LinkedIn ToS violation risk on automation features is real - accounts have been restricted for sustained heavy use.
Is TexAu fair value?
For growth hackers and solo SDRs running custom LinkedIn + multi-source automations on a budget, TexAu Solo at $79/mo annual is genuinely competitive - 180+ Spices at this price tier beats PhantomBuster's 130+ Phantoms at $69/mo. For production-critical workflows, the platform breakdowns + slow support friction may make Captain Data's API (post-pivot) or PhantomBuster's more polished platform worth the higher price. For pure data needs without automation, Apollo or Derrick are simpler.
Verdict in detail03 / 09
TexAu Pros & Cons - Summary That Actually Helps You Decide
Based on G2 reviews (4.3/5), Capterra reviews (4.1/5), AppSumo reviews (4.5/5), and 2026 testing from LaGrowthMachine, Kondo and SalesRobot.
180+ Spices vs PhantomBuster's 130+ at similar pricing
TexAu offers 180+ automations across LinkedIn, Twitter, Sales Nav, Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook, web scraping and dozens of other sources - meaningfully more than PhantomBuster's 130+ Phantoms at similar pricing tiers. For growth hackers running custom multi-source automations, the breadth advantage is real.
Faster execution than most cloud automation competitors
Multiple G2 reviewers report TexAu runs faster than PhantomBuster, ScrapingBee and other cloud automation tools. For high-volume LinkedIn or Sales Nav scraping motions, the throughput advantage is meaningful - fewer 'waiting for the workflow to finish' moments.
Built-in email verification (no separate tool needed)
Email verification is bundled into the platform at claimed 97% accuracy - eliminates the need for a separate Hunter/Findymail subscription for verification workflows. Combined with waterfall enrichment from 12 sources, the bundled data infrastructure is competitive at this price point.
Cloud + desktop execution flexibility
TexAu offers both cloud execution (always-on, runs on TexAu servers) and desktop app (local execution, runs on your machine). For LinkedIn workflows where account safety matters, desktop mode mimics organic browser behavior more closely than cloud automation. Flexibility is unusual at this price tier.
Frequent platform breakdowns + slow support
The most consistent complaint pattern in 2025-2026 reviews. A frustrated Reddit user summed it up: 'I find that the tool frequently breaks down and support is very slow to respond.' For production-critical workflows, the babysitting time is real - factor in 5-10 hours/week of unplanned debugging.
Quirky terminology + steep learning curve
TexAu's 'Spices' (automations) and 'Recipes' (workflows) terminology takes time to internalize. The UI is meaningfully more complex than PhantomBuster's Phantoms model, and customer support docs assume familiarity with the quirky vocabulary. New users typically need 1-2 weeks to become productive.
Real LinkedIn account ban risk
Using TexAu's LinkedIn automation features puts your LinkedIn account at serious risk of restriction or permanent suspension. LinkedIn's Terms of Service explicitly prohibit automated methods, scraping, and spam-like behavior. The 'Spices' for LinkedIn engagement are particularly detection-prone. Accounts have been banned for sustained heavy use.
Inadequate customer support during outages
Slow support response times are a recurring complaint, particularly painful when paired with platform breakdowns. For production workflows that depend on reliable execution, the support friction can erase the cost savings vs PhantomBuster's more responsive support team.
The honest comparison04 / 09
TexAu vs Derrick - Side by Side
We're biased - Derrick is our product. So this table is the version we'd want our prospects to see before they sign elsewhere.
| TexAuCloud Automation Platform (Spices + Recipes) | DerrickWeb app · Sheets · Claude · API | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing entry | Free trial · $79/mo Solo (annual) | Free forever |
| Tool category | Cloud automation (Spices + Recipes) | Contact data + enrichment (web app, Sheets, Claude, API) |
| Where it lives | Cloud + desktop app | Web app, plus Google Sheets, Claude (MCP) and API |
| Automation library | 180+ Spices | N/A - provides data layer |
| LinkedIn account risk | Real (LinkedIn ToS scraping) | Zero - Derrick reads, does not automate |
| Platform reliability | Frequent breakdowns (top complaint) | Free - read-only, no workflows to break |
| Customer support | Slow (especially during outages) | Free - community + docs |
Decision tree05 / 09
Should You Use TexAu?
A short, opinionated guide. We'll tell you when TexAu is the right pick - and when it isn't.
Alternatives06 / 09
Cloud Automation Platform alternatives to TexAu
Tools we'd recommend instead, depending on your stack and budget. Derrick first because it's the only one that lives where you actually prospect.
| Tool | Typical use | Starting price | What it does differently | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D Derrick Recommended | Contact data + enrichment (web app, Sheets, Claude, API) | Free | No LinkedIn ban risk, no platform reliability concerns, includes phones + LinkedIn data in the web app or Google Sheets | → |
 PhantomBuster | Polished automation library (130+ Phantoms) | $56-352/mo | More intuitive Phantoms model + responsive support; fewer automations than TexAu | → |
 Captain Data | API-first data infrastructure (post-pivot) | €399+/mo | Engineering-focused; legacy no-code product sunset Dec 31 2025; LTD revocation trust signal | → |
 Apollo | All-in-one contact data + outbound | $0-119/user/mo | Simpler all-in-one platform; no automation complexity; better support | → |
| N n8n | Self-hosted workflow automation (open source) | Free / €20+/mo | Full control + open source; engineering team required; broader workflow scope | |
| M Make | General-purpose workflow automation | Free / €9-29/mo | Cheaper general workflow tool; less B2B-data-specific; broader app integrations |
Head-to-head: TexAu vs 1 competitor
The verdict07 / 09
Who should skip TexAu
TexAu is the right answer for growth hackers and solo SDRs running custom multi-source automations on a budget. The 180+ Spices library beats PhantomBuster's 130+ at similar pricing, throughput is genuinely faster, bundled email verification + waterfall enrichment eliminate separate tool subscriptions, and the cloud + desktop execution flexibility is unusual at this price tier. For DIY growth-engineering motions where automation breadth matters more than polish, TexAu Solo at $79/mo annual is competitive value.
The trade-offs are concrete and limit TexAu's fit at production scale. Frequent platform breakdowns + slow customer support are the most consistent complaints in 2025-2026 reviews - production workflows need babysitting time factored in (5-10 hours/week per multiple reports). The quirky 'Spices and Recipes' terminology adds a 1-2 week learning curve. And like every LinkedIn automation tool, sustained heavy use carries real LinkedIn ToS violation risk that can result in account restrictions.
For growth hackers comfortable with platform reliability friction, TexAu Solo or Starter is fair value. For production-critical workflows needing reliable support, PhantomBuster (more polished, more responsive) or Captain Data API (post-pivot, engineering-focused). For SDRs needing pure contact data without automation complexity, Apollo or Cognism. And in all cases, Derrick starts free as the data layer that adds contact + LinkedIn enrichment without LinkedIn ban risk or platform stability concerns.
Score breakdown
- Ease of use3.0/5Cloud and desktop execution add flexibility, but the Spices and Recipes model has a steep learning curve.
- Data quality4.0/5Built-in email verification at a claimed 97% accuracy removes the need for a separate tool.
- Pricing value4.5/5180+ Spices at pricing similar to rivals with 130+, from $79/mo on annual billing.
- Support & reliability2.5/5G2 reviewers find it fast, but platform breakdowns and slow support are the top complaint.
derrick •
Switch from TexAu to Derrick
- Web app: import a list or paste LinkedIn URLs, nothing to install
- Free plan: 100 credits every month, no credit card
- Also in Google Sheets, in Claude (MCP) and via the API
- Native LinkedIn and Sales Navigator import
Install the add-on and enrich your lists without leaving your spreadsheet.
Install in Google Sheets → https://app1.derrick-app.com/mcp Call the same enrichment endpoints straight from your own stack or workflow.
Read the API docs →No credit card · No contract
How we review
We read TexAu's public pricing page and documentation, analyse verified user reviews on G2 and Capterra, and compare it with Derrick on the same criteria. Derrick is our product, and we say so in every comparison.
Compare08 / 09
Best TexAu alternatives, ranked
10 picks compared by use case - Google Sheets native, Sales Nav export, deliverability, enterprise compliance.
See the ranking → Curated stackAll B2B sales tools we reviewed in depth
Skip the noise - our hand-picked shortlist of workflow automation tools and the rest of the sales stack.
See the full curation → Stack builderCompare any two tools side-by-side
Pick the right combo in 2 minutes - every multi-tool comparison in one hub.
Browse comparisons →Keep exploring09 / 09
Other Workflow Automation tools reviewed
Comparing options? These are the other tools in the same category we've reviewed in depth.
More polished Phantoms model + responsive support; fewer automations.
Read review → API-first post-pivot; legacy no-code product sunset Dec 31 2025.
Read review → All-in-one contact data + outbound; simpler than automation platforms.
Read review →
Cleanest Sales Nav export at much lower entry pricing.
Read review →