Updated

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

Short answer
Clay vs Waalaxy vs Derrick: Clay is a multi-source data enrichment with ai workflows, Waalaxy is a beginner-friendly linkedin automation chrome extension for solo prospectors. 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 Clay or Waalaxy) and pricing is lower - free forever with 100 credits/month, paid plans from €9/month. Most teams pair Derrick for the data layer with Clay or Waalaxy for outreach.

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 €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 27 000+ users worldwide.

Quick Facts

Clay vs Waalaxy 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

Waalaxy

  • Starting price: €19/user/mo (Pro) · Free 80 invites/mo
  • Free plan: Yes - 80 invitations/mo permanently free
  • Founded: 2019 (originally as ProspectIn)
  • HQ: Montpellier, France
4.5/5 G2 4.4/5 Capterra

Derrick

★ Recommended
  • Starting price: Free · Paid from €9/mo
  • Free plan: Yes - 100 credits/mo permanent
  • Founded: 2023
  • HQ: Marseille, FR
4.8/5 G2 4.8/5 Capterra
Why Derrick wins

Why teams pick Derrick over Clay and Waalaxy

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

01

Get accurate leads without data quality concerns

Clay and Waalaxy both struggle with data quality: Clay’s accuracy depends on source freshness and Waalaxy relies on LinkedIn data, which can miss or misclassify contacts. Derrick delivers 100% native Google Sheets enrichment, eliminating complex setup and CSV exports while providing real-time email validation and 50+ enriched attributes per contact. This means you get trustworthy leads you can act on immediately, saving time and reducing bounce risk. With Derrick, monthly credits are directly trackable and reusable, streamlining scalable, accurate prospecting.

02

Rapid, low-setup onboarding for enterprise teams

Clay and Waalaxy require more extensive setup and ongoing configuration to achieve scalable enterprise onboarding, slowing time-to-value. Derrick delivers rapid, low-setup onboarding by leveraging 100% native Google Sheets, eliminating complex integrations and CSV exports. Teams save 5-10 hours per month and can deploy in days rather than weeks, with instant access to 50+ enrichment attributes and real-time email validation. A typical enterprise use case: spin up a fully functional prospecting center in a single sheet, then scale without migrating data or rewriting workflows.

03

Real-time data quality control without extra steps

Clay and Waalaxy struggle with real-time data validation: they either rely on varied sources or LinkedIn data that can be outdated or incomplete, slowing down accurate targeting. Derrick delivers real-time data quality control inside Google Sheets, without extra steps or complex setup. Expect measurable gains: up to 20-30% higher deliverability and faster campaign readiness, with on-the-fly validation across 50+ attributes per contact. For quick wins, Derrick’s native Sheets workflow lets teams scrub and verify data as they work, not after.

Honest Comparison

What each tool does better

We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where Clay, Waalaxy, 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 →

What Waalaxy does better

  • Most generous free tier in LinkedIn automation
  • Best ease of use in the category
  • Massive user base + active product roadmap
Read full Waalaxy review →
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.

Clay Waalaxy Derrick
Starting price (monthly) Free / $134/mo (annual) €19/user/mo (Pro) · Free 80 invites/mo €0 (free) · €9/mo paid
Annual cost (base) ~€1,608/yr ~€228/yr €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid
Free plan? Yes (limited credits) Yes - 80 invitations/mo permanently free ✓ 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

Clay vs Waalaxy vs Derrick: full feature comparison

Clay Derrick App Waalaxy
Works natively in Google Sheets
Requires LinkedIn Sales Navigator ($100/month)
Sales Navigator 1-click import
Email finder with real-time validation
Phone finder from LinkedIn
Company tech stack lookup
SimilarWeb & G2 insights integrated
AI integration (Claude & ChatGPT)
Automatic AI Lead Scoring
Data cleaning & normalization
Multi-platform scraping (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook)
Zapier, Make, n8n integrations
Public API available
Native CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Entry price (paid plan) 149$/mois 9€/mois 21€/mois
Permanent free plan
Rollover credits to next month
Simple and transparent credit system
Simple setup & onboarding
Complete documentation
Pricing in a nutshell

Clay vs Waalaxy 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 starting at an accessible entry price, plus a free tier where available. For full details, view the complete pricing breakdown on the dedicated pricing page.

LinkedIn Automation (Solo + Small Teams)

Waalaxy

€19/user/mo (Pro) · Free 80 invites/mo

Best for: Solo prospectors testing LinkedIn outbound for the first time

Waalaxy offers a free tier with basic features and paid plans starting at accessible monthly rates, with more options available for teams and scale; see the full pricing breakdown for complete details and billing options.

Migration Guide

How to switch from Clay 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 Clay, 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 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 Waalaxy if…

  • You specifically need solo prospectors testing linkedin outbound for the first time
  • Most generous free tier in LinkedIn automation
  • Best ease of use in the category
  • You're already invested in the Waalaxy ecosystem
Read full Waalaxy review →

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
Try Derrick free →

What teams say after switching from Clay vs Waalaxy

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

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

"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

Reviewed on Capterra

"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

Reviewed on Capterra

"This app is fantastic. Brilliantly created to help small and mid sized businesses."

Dan Hughes

Founder/CEO, AlmanacIO

Reviewed on Product Hunt

"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

Reviewed on G2

"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

Reviewed on Capterra

"Have tested over 10+ LI scraper apps, Derrick beats them all. Simple to use, accurate data, and affordable price."

AJ Alexander

Opportunity Prospector

Reviewed on Capterra

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Derrick vs Clay better for simplicity and speed?

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Derrick offers superior simplicity and speed compared to Clay through its native Google Sheets integration, eliminating complex CSV exports and setup workflows that Clay requires. While Clay demands significant configuration time and technical expertise for workflow automation, Derrick enables immediate prospecting within your existing spreadsheet environment with zero learning curve. Derrick's real-time email validation and AI-powered enrichment deliver faster campaign deployment, and its rollover credits provide flexibility that Clay's consumption model doesn't match. For teams prioritizing speed over complexity, Derrick streamlines the entire process without sacrificing data quality or enrichment depth.

Can Derrick be a solid alternative to Clay for outreach?

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Yes, Derrick can be a solid alternative to Clay for outreach, particularly if you prioritize simplicity and speed over complex workflows. While Clay excels at multi-source data aggregation and advanced automation, Derrick offers a more streamlined approach operating entirely within Google Sheets without requiring CSV exports or intricate setup. Derrick provides real-time email validation, 50+ enrichment attributes, and integrated AI capabilities for scoring and segmentation. The key advantage is accessibility-no technical expertise needed, rollover credits, and no credit card required for the free tier. For teams seeking faster deployment and easier data management, Derrick delivers comparable enrichment quality with significantly less friction than Clay's configuration-heavy platform.

How does Derrick compare with Waalaxy for pricing and features?

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Derrick offers a more streamlined and cost-effective approach compared to Waalaxy. While Waalaxy focuses on LinkedIn automation, Derrick provides comprehensive B2B data enrichment with 50+ attributes per contact directly within Google Sheets, eliminating the need for external platforms or CSV exports. Derrick's pricing starts at zero with a free tier requiring no credit card, whereas Waalaxy charges upfront. Additionally, Derrick's rollover credits, integrated AI capabilities with Claude and ChatGPT, and real-time email validation provide superior data quality and flexibility for teams prioritizing efficiency and cost savings without sacrificing enrichment depth.

Which is the better pricing option: Derrick or Clay?

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For a direct comparison on pricing, Derrick offers a compelling value proposition versus Clay. Derrick’s pricing is transparent with a Free tier of 100 credits and affordable paid tiers (Small 4000 credits at $9, Medium 10000 at $20, Large 25000 at $47.50, XL 100000 at $175), plus monthly rolling credits and no credit card required for the free tier. Derrick is 100% native to Google Sheets, avoiding CSV exports and complex setups, which translates into time savings and lower upfront costs. Clay pricing can scale with data sourcing needs and automation, but users often face ongoing data verification, setup complexity, and potential API rate limits, which can add indirect costs. If you prioritize simplicity, immediate value, and budget predictability, Derrick’s simple, credit-based model and native Sheets integration generally provide a more affordable and friction-free entry than Clay.

What’s the Derrick vs Clay vs Waalaxy comparison for use cases?

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Derrick operates entirely within Google Sheets, eliminating the complex setup and CSV exports required by Clay and Waalaxy. Clay excels at multi-source data enrichment and workflow automation but demands significant configuration time and technical expertise. Waalaxy specializes in LinkedIn automation and outreach sequencing with solid CRM integration, yet offers limited enrichment depth beyond LinkedIn data. Derrick's use case advantage lies in seamless spreadsheet-native prospecting with 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, integrated AI scoring, and rollover credits, making it ideal for teams prioritizing speed and simplicity without sacrificing data quality or requiring LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscriptions.

Does Derrick replace both Clay and Waalaxy in workflows?

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No. Derrick does not replace Clay and Waalaxy in every workflow. Derrick is a 100% native Google Sheets enrichment platform that excels at transforming spreadsheets into a full prospecting center with real-time email validation, AI scoring, and broad integrations via Zapier/Make/n8n, all without complex setup or LinkedIn dependencies. Clay provides real-time data enrichment across many sources and robust workflow automation, while Waalaxy specializes in LinkedIn-based outreach and multi-channel sequences. Derrick can complement both by handling data prep, enrichment, and scoring inside Sheets, then feeding cleansed data into Clay or Waalaxy for outbound campaigns, rather than supplanting their core capabilities. If your priority is simplicity, speed, and cost-effective data hygiene within Sheets, Derrick reduces friction; for deeper data depth or LinkedIn-driven automation, Clay and Waalaxy still offer distinct strengths.
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