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Clay vs Cognism vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?

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Claude
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Short answer
Clay vs Cognism vs Derrick in short. Clay: multi-source data enrichment with AI workflows. Cognism: GDPR-compliant B2B contact data with mobile coverage. Derrick is a B2B enrichment web app (nothing to install), also available as a Google Sheets add-on, a REST API and an MCP server (Claude and ChatGPT drive enrichment for you). It is free forever with 100 credits/month, with paid plans from €20/month, and it runs on its own or alongside Clay or Cognism.

Email + phone finders like Clay live on data freshness and source diversity. The side-by-side comparison below pits Clay's coverage by region, free-tier ceiling and credit-burn rate against Derrick's flat-credit pool that funds email + phone + LinkedIn + firmographics from one wallet.

Free plan Yes - 100 credits/mo
Starts at €20/mo
Setup Nothing to install
Where it lives Web app, plus Sheets, Claude, API

See the full comparison ↓

Trusted by Hands Down best extension for sheets till date. It eased up my linkedin lead collection journey by 10x. Thank you!! Rahul Nair from Google Workspace Marketplace This tool makes enriching LinkedIn URLs incredibly easy. You can enrich both personal and company profiles with a single click, and the Google Sheets integration is a game-changer. Pankaj Rohilla from Google Workspace Marketplace Great extension. There's bigger companies that do 1000x less. Go with Derrick. Ben Leinen from Google Workspace Marketplace It makes my life a lot easier… no more copy and paste and time wasted. Thank you! Cris Forlani from Google Workspace Marketplace Derrick is your one stop solution to data collection and up to date leads data automated collection. 100/100 value for money. Manu Nair from Google Workspace Marketplace This is one hell of a magical tool, it has blown my mind already, it's so handy, just love it. I am exploring how much more I can do with it Jagdip Gohil from Google Workspace Marketplace Loving the smoothness of the experience especially on Chrome. Great value for the price as well. GB Alao from Google Workspace Marketplace I was looking for a tool to enrich LinkedIn data. Very easy to use. Keith Hildebrand from Google Workspace Marketplace Easy to enhance contacts by running bulk lists. Try it James Finlayson from Google Workspace Marketplace +34,000 others

Quick facts01 / 10

Clay vs Cognism vs Derrick at a glance

Clay

  • Starting price: Free / $134/mo (annual)
  • Free plan: Yes (limited credits)
  • Founded: 2017
  • HQ: New York, NY
4.9/5 G2 4.7/5 Capterra

Cognism

  • Starting price: See pricing
  • Free plan: No (demo + custom quote only)
  • Founded: 2015
  • HQ: London, United Kingdom
4.6/5 G2 4.7/5 Capterra

Derrick

Recommended
  • Starting price: Free · Paid from €20/mo
  • Free plan: Yes - 100 credits/mo permanent
  • Founded: 2022
  • HQ: Marseille, FR
4.8/5 G2 4.8/5 Capterra

Why Derrick wins02 / 10

Why teams pick Derrick over Clay and Cognism

3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.

01

Real-time enrichment without manual verification overhead

Real-time enrichment is constrained for Clay and Cognism by reliance on multiple sources and real-time verification gaps, leading to manual checks or delayed updates. Derrick delivers true real-time enrichment directly in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), eliminating the need for separate verification steps and complex integrations. Teams can surface up-to-date prospects with 50+ attributes validated on the fly, reducing manual QA time by up to 60% and preserving credits for ongoing campaigns. With Derrick, you deploy instant, attachable enrichments without exporting data or configuring external validators.

02

Premium data reliability with minimal manual cleanup

Clay and Cognism often struggle with data accuracy and the need for ongoing validation across large lists. Derrick delivers premium data reliability with minimal manual cleanup by validating in real time in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), leveraging 50+ enrichment attributes and built-in AI scoring to keep records clean. Users typically save 5-10 hours per month and reduce errors, ensuring higher deliverability and more efficient targeting. A quick use-case: run real-time email verification on new leads during list building without leaving the web app or Sheets. Derrick keeps credits reportable and data pristine, TTM.

03

Instant setup for enterprise-scale rollout

Clay and Cognism often require lengthy setup and configuration to scale enterprise deployments, delaying time-to-value. Derrick delivers instant setup by leveraging the web app (plus Sheets, Claude, API) onboarding with minimal technical effort, avoiding CSV exports and complex integrations. Enterprises gain faster rollout and predictable governance, with savings of 5-10 hours per month in setup time and credits that carry month-to-month. Derrick enables scalable, enterprise-ready enrichment and outreach from day one, without the friction of traditional platforms.

Replace Clay: enrich leads from their LinkedIn profile in Derrick's web app, nothing to install

Honest comparison03 / 10

What each tool does better

We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Clay, Cognism, and Derrick each genuinely win.

What Clay does better

  • Best-in-class waterfall enrichment
  • Claygent AI for research at scale
  • Open architecture (HTTP API + custom functions)
Read full Clay review →

Real annual cost04 / 10

True cost over 12 months

Headline pricing rarely tells the whole story. Here's the real cost of running each tool for a year.

Cost item Clay Cognism Derrick
Starting price Free / $134/mo (annual) See pricing €0 (free) · €20/month paid
Annual cost (base) ~$1,608/yr See pricing €0/year free · €108/year on Mini
Free plan? Yes (limited credits) No (demo + custom quote only) ✓ Forever - 100 credits/mo
Setup cost Hours to days Hours to days Nothing to install (web app)
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 it to one transparent credit model.

Feature-by-feature05 / 10

Clay vs Cognism vs Derrick: full feature comparison

Clay Derrick App Cognism
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) Free / $134/mo (annual) Free plan · from €20/month See pricing
Permanent free plan ✓ ✓ ✕
Rollover credits to next month ✕ ✓ ✕
Simple and transparent credit system ✕ ✓ ✕
Simple setup & onboarding ✕ ✓ ✓
Complete documentation ✓ ✓ ✓

Pricing in a nutshell06 / 10

Clay vs Cognism vs Derrick pricing breakdown

Data Enrichment

Clay

Free / $134/mo (annual)

Best for: GTM ops & technical SDR teams

Clay offers real-time data enrichment with flexible paid tiers and a potential free tier; details vary by plan, spanning multiple data sources and usage scales. For full pricing breakdown and all options, see the complete pricing page.

Migration guide07 / 10

How to switch from Clay to Derrick in 3 steps

Derrick is a web app - nothing to install, no formulas to learn, no pipelines to migrate. Sign up and you're enriching in under a minute.

Open the Derrick web app

Sign up on the Derrick web app. Nothing to install, no credit card required - you start with 100 free credits per month.

Import your Clay list

Upload the CSV you exported from Clay, paste LinkedIn URLs, or import from LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Prefer to stay in your tools? The same features run in Google Sheets, in Claude (MCP) and via the API.

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 in your list. No pipelines, no waiting.

Try the app free
or use it in
Google Sheets
Claude
API

100 free credits / month · No credit card · Cancel anytime

Decision in 60 seconds08 / 10

Which one is right for you?

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
Read full Clay review →

Pick Cognism if…

  • You specifically need EU/EMEA enterprise sales
  • Best EU mobile-phone coverage
  • GDPR-compliant by design
  • You're already invested in the Cognism ecosystem
Read full Cognism review →

Pick Derrick if…

  • You want B2B enrichment with nothing to install (web app, also in Sheets, Claude, API)
  • 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
Try Derrick free →

Compare09 / 10

Keep exploring10 / 10

Customer stories

What teams say after switching from Clay vs Cognism

See what our customers say about Derrick.

  • Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot, 323 reviews
323 reviews

"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

Reviewed on Product Hunt

"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

Reviewed on Product Hunt

"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

Reviewed on Capterra

FAQ

Stop copying data around. Start enriching.

Derrick vs Clay: which is the better data enrichment tool?

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Both Clay and Derrick offer data enrichment, but they serve different priorities. Clay focuses on workflow automation and multi-source data aggregation, making it ideal for teams building complex prospecting sequences. However, it requires significant setup time and depends on third-party data sources, which can create accuracy inconsistencies. Derrick takes a different approach by operating natively in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), eliminating the need for CSV exports or external platforms. With real-time email validation, 50+ enrichment attributes, and integrated AI for scoring and segmentation, Derrick delivers faster deployment with minimal configuration. For teams prioritizing simplicity, speed, and cost-efficiency without sacrificing data quality, Derrick provides a more streamlined alternative that works directly in the tools you already use daily.

Is Derrick a viable alternative to Clay for outreach?

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Yes, Derrick is a highly viable alternative to Clay for outreach, particularly if you prioritize simplicity and speed. While Clay focuses on complex workflow automation and data aggregation across multiple sources, Derrick offers a more streamlined approach by operating natively in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), eliminating the need for CSV exports or external platform switching. Derrick provides real-time email validation, fifty plus enrichment attributes per contact, and integrated AI tools for scoring and personalization without requiring technical setup. For teams seeking faster deployment and lower overhead compared to Clay's steeper learning curve, Derrick delivers comparable data enrichment with significantly less operational friction and monthly rollover credits.

What’s the Derrick vs Cognism difference for pricing?

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Derrick offers transparent, credit-based pricing starting at just €20 monthly with rollover credits, meaning unused credits carry forward each month with no waste. Cognism operates on a higher-tier enterprise model positioned for larger teams, typically requiring annual commitments and higher upfront investment. Derrick's flexible pay-as-you-go structure works directly in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) without additional platform costs, while Cognism requires separate CRM integration and additional tools for workflow automation. For budget-conscious teams prioritizing affordability and flexibility, Derrick's credit system provides better cost control than Cognism's premium pricing approach.

Derrick vs Clay vs Cognism: which offers best features?

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Derrick offers a unique blend of features that often outpace Clay and Cognism for teams prioritizing speed, simplicity, and cost efficiency. Derrick is a web app (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), eliminating CSV exports and complex setups, with over 50 enrichment attributes per contact, real-time email validation, and built-in AI scoring and segmentation via Claude and ChatGPT. It also provides 3000+ integrations through Zapier/Make/n8n and monthly credit rollovers, with a free tier and no credit card required. Clay focuses on real-time data enrichment and multi-source sourcing, while Cognism shines in verified B2B data and intent signals, but Derrick’s ease of use and flexible pricing often deliver stronger day-to-day value for fast-moving teams.

How does Clay compare to Cognism in pricing and reviews?

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Clay positions itself as a comprehensive data enrichment and automation platform, while Cognism focuses primarily on verified B2B contact intelligence and intent signals. Clay typically offers more flexible pricing with usage-based models, making it cost-effective for high-volume prospecting, whereas Cognism commands premium pricing as an enterprise-focused solution prioritizing data accuracy over volume. Both receive solid reviews for their core strengths, but Clay users note data consistency challenges and complex setup requirements, while Cognism users report coverage gaps for SMBs and API rate limitations. Derrick offers a simpler alternative by operating natively in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) with rollover credits and transparent pricing starting at just €20 monthly, eliminating the need for external platforms or complex integrations while delivering comparable enrichment capabilities with integrated AI scoring.

Can Derrick replace both Clay and Cognism for SMB teams?

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No. Derrick cannot be considered a complete replacement for both Clay and Cognism for SMB teams, as each platform targets slightly different facets of the prospecting workflow. Derrick excels as a web app enrichment engine (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) with AI scoring and broad integration potential, offering fast setup, 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, and a cost-friendly, no-CB-free tier. Clay focuses on real-time data enrichment, multi-source sourcing, and automation workflows, while Cognism emphasizes high-quality, verified contact data, intent signals, and GDPR/CCPA-compliant lead intelligence. For SMBs aiming for fully automated outbound campaigns and complex multi-source enrichment, Derrick can complement those tools, but may not deliver the same depth of intent-based targeting or enterprise-grade verification that Cognism or Clay provide. If your priority is simplicity, speed, and web-app-first workflows with AI-driven scoring, Derrick is a strong fit; if you need intensive data enrichment breadth or robust intent-based ABM at scale, you might still rely on Clay or Cognism in conjunction with Derrick.