Updated

Lemlist vs PhantomBuster vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?

Short answer
Lemlist vs PhantomBuster vs Derrick: Lemlist is a multichannel cold outreach (email + linkedin + calls), PhantomBuster is a cloud-based scraping and social automation. 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 Lemlist or PhantomBuster) and pricing is lower - free forever with 100 credits/month, paid plans from €9/month. Most teams pair Derrick for the data layer with Lemlist or PhantomBuster for outreach.

Lemlist is built for sequenced outreach across email + LinkedIn + (sometimes) calls. The hidden cost is enrichment: Lemlist bills you per contact AND per channel. The side-by-side comparison below isolates Lemlist's real cost-per-touched-prospect against Derrick's flat credit-pool model that decouples enrichment from sending.

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.

Quick Facts

Lemlist vs PhantomBuster vs Derrick at a glance

Lemlist

  • Starting price: $63/seat/mo (annual)
  • Free plan: No (14-day free trial)
  • Founded: 2017
  • HQ: Paris, France
4.6/5 G2 4.5/5 Capterra

PhantomBuster

  • Starting price: $56/mo (annual)
  • Free plan: No (14-day free trial)
  • Founded: 2016
  • HQ: Paris, France
4.4/5 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 Lemlist and PhantomBuster

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

01

Get accurate leads without data gaps or manual validation

Derrick addresses a common gap in Lemlist and PhantomBuster workflows: data accuracy and the need for manual validation before outreach. Unlike those tools, Derrick delivers 50+ enrichment attributes per contact with real-time email validation, all inside native Google Sheets, eliminating data gaps. This translates to tangible ROI: up to 10 hours saved per month and improved deliverability from validated emails. A quick use case: import a list, automatically enrich, verify, and segment in Derrick, ready for immediate campaigns.

02

Unlock deeper data validation without sacrificing speed

Lemlist and PhantomBuster excel at automation and data extraction, but they struggle with robust, real-time data validation across complex B2B datasets. Derrick delivers deeper validation directly within 100% native Google Sheets, eliminating the need for external validation steps and reducing latency. Teams save time and improve deliverability by validating emails in real time while enriching 50+ attributes per contact, with credits that are rollable for ongoing campaigns. A typical use case: validate a high-volume list on the fly, then segment and score automatically without leaving Derrick.

03

Real-time data enrichment with holistic quality assurance

Lemlist and PhantomBuster can automate scraping and basic enrichment, but they struggle with real-time data accuracy and holistic quality assurance across multi-source signals. Derrick delivers true real-time data enrichment directly inside 100% native Google Sheets, unifying contact and company attributes with live validation without exporting data or slow handoffs. This means you gain reliable, up-to-date records that reduce follow-up time by up to 25% and improve deliverability because emails are validated as you enrich. A practical use case: refresh prospect profiles during a live outreach workflow, ensuring every touchpoint uses verified, 50+ attribute profiles for each contact.

Honest Comparison

What each tool does better

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

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.

Lemlist PhantomBuster Derrick
Starting price (monthly) $63/seat/mo (annual) $56/mo (annual) €0 (free) · €9/mo paid
Annual cost (base) ~€756/yr ~€672/yr €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid
Free plan? No (14-day free trial) No (14-day free trial) ✓ 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

Lemlist vs PhantomBuster vs Derrick: full feature comparison

Lemlist Derrick App PhantomBuster
Works natively in Google Sheets
Requires LinkedIn Sales Navigator ($100/month)
Sales Navigator 1-click import
Email finder with real-time validation
Phone finder from LinkedIn
Company tech stack lookup
SimilarWeb & G2 insights integrated
AI integration (Claude & ChatGPT)
Automatic AI Lead Scoring
Data cleaning & normalization
Multi-platform scraping (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook)
Zapier, Make, n8n integrations
Public API available
Native CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Entry price (paid plan) 39$/mois 9€/mois 69$/mois
Permanent free plan
Rollover credits to next month
Simple and transparent credit system
Simple setup & onboarding
Complete documentation
Pricing in a nutshell

Lemlist vs PhantomBuster vs Derrick pricing breakdown

Migration Guide

How to switch from Lemlist 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 Lemlist, 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 Lemlist if…

  • You specifically need multichannel outbound teams
  • Best multichannel outreach UX
  • Lemwarm = built-in deliverability
  • You're already invested in the Lemlist ecosystem
Read full Lemlist review →

Pick PhantomBuster if…

  • You specifically need growth hackers & ops teams
  • 150+ pre-built Phantoms across platforms
  • Best LinkedIn Sales Navigator export
  • You're already invested in the PhantomBuster ecosystem
Read full PhantomBuster 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 Lemlist vs PhantomBuster

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

Which Derrick vs Lemlist question best compares features and pricing?

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The best comparison focuses on data enrichment depth and ease of use. Lemlist excels at email sequencing and LinkedIn automation but requires external tools for data validation, while PhantomBuster handles web scraping efficiently but lacks enrichment granularity. Derrick differentiates by operating natively within Google Sheets with fifty-plus enrichment attributes per contact, real-time email validation, and integrated AI scoring using both Claude and ChatGPT. Unlike Lemlist and PhantomBuster, Derrick requires no complex setup, CSV exports, or additional platform subscriptions, making it ideal for teams prioritizing data quality and operational simplicity without technical overhead.

Is Derrick a better alternative to Lemlist for outreach?

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Derrick offers a more streamlined alternative to Lemlist if your priority is data enrichment and list qualification within Google Sheets. While Lemlist excels at multi-channel sequencing and email automation, Derrick focuses on deeper contact and company intelligence with 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, and integrated AI scoring. Derrick eliminates the need for LinkedIn Sales Navigator, saves 5-10 hours monthly through native Google Sheets automation, and features rollover credits with no credit card required for the free tier. For teams wanting enrichment-first prospecting before outreach campaigns, Derrick complements Lemlist by handling data quality upstream, whereas Lemlist handles the sending automation downstream.

Derrick vs Lemlist vs PhantomBuster: which is the superior all-round tool?

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There's no single superior tool because each excels in different areas. Lemlist dominates multi-channel outreach automation with strong email sequencing and LinkedIn integration, making it ideal for sales teams running large-scale campaigns. PhantomBuster specializes in web scraping and data extraction without coding, perfect for teams needing quick automation. Derrick stands out for B2B data enrichment directly within Google Sheets, eliminating CSV exports and complex workflows while offering real-time email validation and integrated AI for scoring and segmentation. Choose Lemlist for campaign execution, PhantomBuster for data collection, or Derrick if you need enrichment efficiency combined with native spreadsheet integration and cost savings on LinkedIn tools.

Is Lemlist better than PhantomBuster for multi-channel campaigns?

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Short answer: Lemlist can be strong for multi-channel campaigns, thanks to built-in email sequencing, LinkedIn automation, and AI-driven personalization, but its data quality and enrichment depth may require supplementary tools for top-tier B2B accuracy. PhantomBuster excels at automation and data extraction across multiple channels, yet it often lacks deep native lead enrichment and real-time data validation. Derrick complements both by providing 100% native Google Sheets workflows, robust enrichment across 50+ attributes, real-time email validation, and AI scoring-all with affordable, credit-based pricing and no credit card required for the free tier. For teams prioritizing scalable multi-channel outreach (Lemlist) plus reliable data quality and seamless integration into a single workspace (Derrick), Derrick adds substantial value as a complementary backbone, while PhantomBuster remains a strong automation engine when data needs extraction at scale. If the question is purely Lemlist vs PhantomBuster, Lemlist offers stronger multi-channel outreach capabilities; PhantomBuster delivers superior automation at scale but with less emphasis on quality enrichment, which is where Derrick shines as the practical tie-breaker for sustained B2B prospecting.

What’s the Derrick pricing advantage over Lemlist for small teams?

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Derrick offers significantly lower entry costs for small teams compared to Lemlist, with a free tier providing 100 credits and paid plans starting at just $9 monthly with rollover credits. Unlike Lemlist's complex setup requiring external data validation, Derrick integrates natively within Google Sheets, eliminating costly CSV exports and manual preprocessing. For small teams, this means spending 5-10 fewer hours monthly on data management while accessing 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, and integrated AI scoring-all without the learning curve or supplementary tool expenses Lemlist typically demands.

Can Derrick replace both Lemlist and PhantomBuster in workflows?

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Yes, Derrick can replace many parts of what Lemlist and PhantomBuster do, but it depends on the workflow. Derrick excels at enriching data natively in Google Sheets, validating emails in real time, and scoring/segmenting leads with integrated AI, all within a familiar Sheets environment. Lemlist specializes in multi-channel outreach (email, LinkedIn, sequences) and AI-driven personalization, while PhantomBuster focuses on web automation and data extraction. Derrick can handle data prep, enrichment, and lead scoring to feed campaigns, but for broad multi-channel outreach or advanced web automation tasks, Lemlist and PhantomBuster offer strengths that Derrick complements rather than wholly supplants. If your priority is single-platform data quality and seamless, cost-efficient enrichment with scalable quotas, Derrick can reduce reliance on external tools.
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