Apollo
- Starting price: Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase)
- Free plan: Yes (Free forever)
- Founded: 2015
- HQ: San Francisco, CA
Updated
Apollo vs Clay vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?
- Short answer
- Apollo vs Clay vs Derrick: Apollo is a b2b sales intelligence and outreach, Clay is a multi-source data enrichment with ai workflows. Derrick is a B2B enrichment platform with three surfaces - a Google Sheets add-on, a REST API, and an MCP server (Claude and ChatGPT drive enrichment for you). Hit rates are noticeably higher (more emails + phone numbers returned per query than Apollo or Clay) and pricing is lower - free forever with 100 credits/month, paid plans from €9/month. Most teams pair Derrick for the data layer with Apollo or Clay for outreach.
Apollo is a B2B database vendor - seat-time + record access charged per user, per year. The side-by-side comparison below tracks Apollo's total-cost-of-ownership across team growth and lookup volume against Derrick's credit-pool model where the cost moves with usage, not headcount.
Free plan Yes - 100 credits/mo
Starts at €9/mo
Setup time 30 seconds
Where it lives Google Sheets
✓ Free forever · ✓ No credit card · ✓ Cancel anytime · ✓ Your data stays in your Sheet
Trusted by 31,000+ users worldwide.
CURSOR Quick Facts
Apollo vs Clay vs Derrick at a glance
Clay
- Starting price: Free / $134/mo (annual)
- Free plan: Yes (limited credits)
- Founded: 2017
- HQ: New York, NY
Derrick
★ Recommended- Starting price: Free · Paid from €9/mo
- Free plan: Yes - 100 credits/mo permanent
- Founded: 2023
- HQ: Marseille, FR
Why Derrick wins 01
02
03
Why teams pick Derrick over Apollo and Clay
3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.
01 Real-time enrichment without data quality compromises
Real-time enrichment often sacrifices data quality, a pitfall highlighted by Apollo and Clay’s real-time claims that still struggle with accuracy and consistency across niche segments. Derrick does real-time enrichment differently by leveraging 100% native Google Sheets workflows and automated validation across 50+ attributes, reducing manual verification. Users can expect immediate, high-confidence enrichments without compromising quality, supported by real-time email validation and AI-driven scoring to keep data pristine. A practical use case: onboarded teams cut blast-time meetings by 20% while maintaining 98% data accuracy in targeted lists.
02 Flexible 3000+ integrations for scalable automation
Apollo and Clay both struggle with flexible, large-scale integrations when automating across disparate tools. Derrick unlocks 3000+ integrations via Zapier/Make/n8n, delivering scalable automation without bespoke setups. With Derrick, teams gain true breadth and seamless workflow deployment, cutting manual integration work by up to 40% and shortening time-to-value. A typical use case: deploy multi-source prospecting sequences in minutes, not days, while preserving data consistency across apps.
03 No-code setup for rapid value with AI-driven scoring
No-code setup for rapid value with AI-driven scoring highlights how Apollo and Clay often require complex configurations or multiple tools to achieve similar outcomes. Derrick provides a fully no-code environment in Google Sheets, with built-in AI scoring from Claude and ChatGPT that auto-segments and summarizes without hand-tuned pipelines. This translates to faster value realization, saving 5-10h per month on setup and iteration, and delivering actionable scores within minutes rather than days. A quick use-case: auto-score new leads and enqueue personalized outreach in a single sheet, with credits remaining rollable month-to-month for flexibility.
Honest Comparison 
derrick
What each tool does better
We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Apollo, Clay, and Derrick each genuinely win.
What Apollo does better
- Massive 250M+ contact database
- All-in-one stack at SMB price
- Intuitive list-builder
What Clay does better
- Best-in-class waterfall enrichment
- Claygent AI for research at scale
- Open architecture (HTTP API + custom functions)
What Derrick does better
- Free forever - €0/mo with 100 credits permanent in Google Sheets
- 100+ data points per lead - verified emails, phones, LinkedIn, tech stack, SIRET
- Zero LinkedIn ban risk + real-time email verification built in
- Pair with any sequencer - LaGrowthMachine, Smartlead, Lemlist, HeyReach
Real Annual Cost
True cost over 12 months
Headline pricing rarely tells the whole story. Here's the real cost of running each tool for a year.
| Apollo | Clay | Derrick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase) | Free / $134/mo (annual) | €0 (free) · €9/mo paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~€588/yr | ~€1,608/yr | €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid |
| Free plan? | Yes (Free forever) | Yes (limited credits) | ✓ Forever - 100 credits/mo |
| Setup cost | Hours to days | Hours to days | 30 seconds via Marketplace |
| Switching cost | CSV export + retraining | CSV export + retraining | Zero - works alongside any stack |
💡 Most teams pay 2-5x more on add-ons (extra seats, phone credits, integrations) than on the headline base price. Derrick keeps everything in one transparent tier.
Feature-by-Feature
Apollo vs Clay vs Derrick: full feature comparison
| apollo | Derrick App | Clay | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works natively in Google Sheets | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Requires LinkedIn Sales Navigator ($100/month) | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Sales Navigator 1-click import | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email finder with real-time validation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phone finder from LinkedIn | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company tech stack lookup | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SimilarWeb & G2 insights integrated | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI integration (Claude & ChatGPT) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic AI Lead Scoring | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data cleaning & normalization | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-platform scraping (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Zapier, Make, n8n integrations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Public API available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce) | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Entry price (paid plan) | 59$/mois | 9€/mois | 149$/mois |
| Permanent free plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rollover credits to next month | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple and transparent credit system | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple setup & onboarding | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Complete documentation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing in a nutshell Sales Intelligence derrick
best value for money
Results first.
Discover Derrick →
Data Enrichment
Apollo vs Clay vs Derrick pricing breakdown
Sales Intelligence Apollo
Free / $49 annual or $59 monthly /seat (post-2026 price increase)
Best for: SMB & mid-market outbound
Apollo pricing starts with a free tier offering basic access, with paid plans scaling for larger prospecting volumes; see full pricing breakdown for complete details and plan options. View complete pricing details on the dedicated pricing page.
Results first.
Complexity removed.
Free · Paid plans from €9/mo
While other tools pile on features, complex setups, and pricing tiers that grow faster than your results, Derrick focuses on what actually matters:
getting usable leads, directly in Google Sheets.
No heavy workflows, No endless configuration. No learning curve.
Data Enrichment Clay
Free / $134/mo (annual)
Best for: GTM ops & technical SDR teams
Clay offers real-time data enrichment with flexible pricing starting at a free tier, then paid plans scaling with usage-full details available on the dedicated pricing page. See full pricing breakdown for complete options and limits.
Migration Guide
How to switch from Apollo to Derrick in 3 steps
Derrick is a Google Workspace app - no formulas to learn, no pipelines to migrate, no engineering work. Add it to Google Sheets and you're enriching in under a minute.
1
~30 sec Install Derrick from Google Workspace Marketplace
Click the install button on our Marketplace listing and grant Google Sheets access. No credit card required - you start with 100 free credits per month.
2
~30 sec Open any Google Sheet → Extensions → Derrick
Open a Sheet with your prospect list (paste a CSV from Apollo, scrape from LinkedIn Sales Navigator, or import from your CRM). Click Extensions → Derrick and the sidebar opens with all enrichment features ready to use.
3
~1 min Enrich your list with one click
Select the column with names, LinkedIn URLs, or company domains. Pick what you want - emails, phone numbers, LinkedIn data, company info, tech stack - and click "Enrich". Derrick fills the columns directly in your Sheet. No exports, no pipelines, no waiting.
Install Derrick free →
100 free credits / month · No credit card · Cancel anytime
Decision in 60 seconds
Which one is right for you?
Pick Apollo if…
- You specifically need smb & mid-market outbound
- Massive 250M+ contact database
- All-in-one stack at SMB price
- You're already invested in the Apollo ecosystem
Pick Clay if…
- You specifically need gtm ops & technical sdr teams
- Best-in-class waterfall enrichment
- Claygent AI for research at scale
- You're already invested in the Clay ecosystem
Pick Derrick if…
- You want B2B enrichment directly in Google Sheets
- You need a usable free plan (100 credits/mo, no card)
- You don't want long contracts, lock-in, or sales calls
- You need 100+ data points per lead in one tool
What teams say after switching from Apollo vs Clay
See what our customers say about Derrick.
"This app saved me so much time and effort. Great for anyone looking to build a contact list or network at scale quickly. As a start-up it's been invaluable."
Alex Clark
Director | SaaS GTM Leader
"Working pretty nifty compared to Snov.Io. Price wise it does give a fair shake, and IMO better interface since it's google sheets."
David Sire
Mortgage Broker at Zero Point Mortgage
"Derrick is a very simple and user-friendly app to enrich your contacts database. Best thing: you can test it for free. And then the price is so low, it's a no brainer."
Etienne Grange
CEO Form'actions
"Super easy to enrich linkedin urls using this tool. Both personal and company url data can be easily enriched with a click of a button."
Zaid Bilal
RevOps Professional
"Amazing Tool, I would like to advocate this to my colleagues. So that you can get more users. Keep it Up. 5 Stars!"
Asif Hanzala
Lead Generation Specialist at IdeaPeel
"This app is fantastic. Brilliantly created to help small and mid sized businesses."
Dan Hughes
Founder/CEO, AlmanacIO
"I have been using other expensive apps or freemium like phantombuster, but Derrick has replaced them all. I love the simplicity of the Google sheet add-in, but what is best is the efficiency it delivers."
Julien Walon Cohen
CEO & Co-founder @ Diffly | B2B Sales Advisor
"The LinkedIn scraping and email finder combo is incredibly powerful. I can build a complete prospect list with contact info in under an hour. Absolute must-have for outbound."
Michael Kim
SDR Team Lead at CloudScale
"Have tested over 10+ LI scraper apps, Derrick beats them all. Simple to use, accurate data, and affordable price."
AJ Alexander
Opportunity Prospector
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Derrick compare to Apollo for data enrichment?
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Derrick approaches data enrichment differently than Apollo by operating natively within Google Sheets, eliminating the need for external platforms or CSV exports and saving teams five to ten hours monthly. While Apollo excels at large contact databases and verification speed, Derrick combines real-time email validation with integrated AI scoring using Claude and ChatGPT for automatic segmentation and insights. Derrick's rollover credits and no credit card requirement for the free tier offer greater flexibility than Apollo's rigid pricing structure, making it ideal for teams prioritizing streamlined workflows and cost efficiency over sheer database scale.
Is Derrick a better alternative to Clay for automation?
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Whether Derrick is a better alternative to Clay depends on your workflow priorities. Derrick operates natively within Google Sheets with no CSV exports or complex setup, saving teams five to ten hours monthly compared to Clay's more involved configuration process. Derrick includes integrated AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT, real-time email validation, and rollover credits with no credit card required for the free tier. Clay excels at multi-source data aggregation and workflow automation, but requires more technical setup. For teams prioritizing simplicity, native spreadsheet integration, and cost efficiency, Derrick delivers a more streamlined enrichment experience. For those needing advanced workflow automation across multiple platforms, Clay may be more suitable depending on your specific outreach requirements.
Which is the better pricing, Derrick or Apollo?
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Derrick offers more flexible and transparent pricing with rollover credits that don't expire monthly, eliminating waste from unused allocations. Apollo operates on higher-tier subscription models with premium database access, while Clay charges based on enrichment volume. Derrick's free tier requires no credit card and includes 100 credits, making it ideal for testing. For budget-conscious teams, Derrick's Small plan at nine dollars monthly provides better value than Apollo's enterprise-focused pricing, while offering native Google Sheets integration without costly external platform fees or LinkedIn Navigator subscriptions.
Derrick vs Apollo vs Clay: what's the difference?
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Derrick differs from Apollo and Clay by being 100% native to Google Sheets, turning Sheets into a complete prospecting hub without CSV exports or complex setup. Derrick emphasizes native AI-powered scoring, segmentation, and summaries with integrated Claude and ChatGPT, plus 3,000+ integrations via Zapier/Make/n8n, which streamlines workflows directly in Sheets. While Apollo offers a vast B2B contact database and strong outbound automation, and Clay focuses on real-time data enrichment and automated outreach, Derrick shines in simplicity, speed, and cost efficiency for teams that want a plug‑and‑play, sheet‑first approach with credit rollovers and a free tier, making it especially appealing for fast, lightweight prospecting without leaving Sheets.
Does Apollo replace Clay for outreach and enrichment?
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Apollo and Clay serve different purposes but can complement each other rather than replace one another. Apollo excels at contact database access and email verification at scale, while Clay specializes in real-time data enrichment and workflow automation. However, neither platform offers the Google Sheets-native simplicity that Derrick provides. Derrick eliminates the need for external platforms entirely, delivering 50+ enrichment attributes directly within your spreadsheet without CSV exports or complex setup. With rollover credits, integrated AI scoring, and real-time email validation, Derrick streamlines the entire enrichment and outreach process while keeping your data workflow unified and efficient.
What are Derrick's pricing and features vs Clay?
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Derrick differs from Clay mainly in its native Google Sheets ecosystem, real-time email validation, AI-driven scoring and segmentation, and a generous, credit-based pricing model with rollover and a free tier-all without requiring a credit card. Derrick delivers 50+ enrichment attributes per contact or company and integrates 3000+ apps via Zapier, Make, or n8n, plus optional Claude or ChatGPT for automation. Clay focuses on real-time data enrichment across multiple sources with a strong workflow builder and native CRM integrations, but Derrick tends to offer a simpler setup, cost flexibility (monthly credit rollover), no-CB on free tier, and deep Sheets-native prospecting capabilities that can reduce setup time and ongoing overhead compared to Clay. When comparing to Apollo, Derrick lacks the same expansive database breadth but compensates with native Sheets usability, cheaper entry, and more autonomous automation, whereas Apollo emphasizes broad data scope and outbound workflows that Derrick complements rather than duplicates. Overall, Derrick positions itself as a fast, cost-flexible, AI-assisted enrichment and outreach solution tightly integrated with Google Sheets, while Clay emphasizes multi-source enrichment and visual workflows, and Apollo centers on large-scale data and outreach orchestration.
One-on-one
apollo vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how apollo compares to Derrick alone.
Open the head-to-head → One-on-oneClay vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how Clay compares to Derrick alone.
Open the head-to-head → Curated stackAll B2B sales tools we reviewed in depth
Step back from the duel - see our hand-picked sales-tool selection and how every category fits together.
See the full curation → Keep Exploring
