PhantomBuster
- Starting price: $56/mo (annual)
- Free plan: No (14-day free trial)
- Founded: 2016
- HQ: Paris, France
Updated
PhantomBuster vs Captain Data vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?
- Short answer
- PhantomBuster vs Captain Data vs Derrick: PhantomBuster is a cloud-based scraping and social automation, Captain Data is a api-first data infrastructure platform for product builders (formerly no-code workflow 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 PhantomBuster or Captain Data) and pricing is lower - free forever with 100 credits/month, paid plans from €9/month. Most teams pair Derrick for the data layer with PhantomBuster or Captain Data for outreach.
Where PhantomBuster requires you to build pipelines outside your data, Derrick keeps the data and the logic in the same Sheet. The side-by-side comparison below pits PhantomBuster's no-code IDE, learning curve and per-execution pricing against Derrick's =DERRICK() formula that scales with usage.
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
PhantomBuster vs Captain Data vs Derrick at a glance
Captain Data
- Starting price: €399/mo (post-pivot API tier) · €29.99 per 1K credits
- Free plan: 100 free credits on signup
- Founded: 2019
- HQ: Paris, France
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 PhantomBuster and Captain Data
3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.
01 Save time with native Google Sheets enrichment
Derrick enables native Google Sheets enrichment, highlighting how PhantomBuster often relies on external scrapers and multi-step workflows that can break or require workarounds, while Captain Data may struggle with depth beyond LinkedIn-based data. Unlike those tools, Derrick delivers 100% native Google Sheets integration with no export steps or CSV juggling. This directly saves time and money, typically reducing manual data handling by 5-10 hours per month and cutting procurement friction for teams. A practical use case is enriching contact records directly in Sheets during prospecting, with real-time updates and up to 50+ attributes per contact.
02 Real-time data validation without external tools required
PhantomBuster and Captain Data excel at extraction, but they often require external validation steps to ensure real-time data accuracy. Derrick delivers real-time data validation natively inside Google Sheets, removing the need for external tools or post-processing. This eliminates gaps in freshness and reduces error-prone handoffs, saving teams up to 6–8 hours per month and accelerating outreach readiness. With Derrick, you validate across 50+ attributes on every contact, directly in Sheets, enabling immediate, trusted decisions for prospecting.
03 Deep, scalable data quality across multi-source enrichments
PhantomBuster and Captain Data excel at extraction and basic prospecting, but both show limits in deep, multi-source enrichment and data quality parity across sources. Derrick delivers deeper, scalable data quality by unifying enrichment layers directly within Google Sheets, avoiding external post-processing. In tests, Derrick achieves higher consistency across 50+ attributes per contact and reduces false positives by up to 15% compared to multi-source scraping alone. With real-time validation and native integration, Derrick maintains fresh, accurate profiles as sources evolve.
Honest Comparison 
derrick
What each tool does better
We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where PhantomBuster, Captain Data, and Derrick each genuinely win.
What PhantomBuster does better
- 150+ pre-built Phantoms across platforms
- Best LinkedIn Sales Navigator export
- Composable workflow chains
What Captain Data does better
- Strong API-first architecture (post-pivot)
- Workflow library was best-in-class (legacy)
- Strong integration breadth
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.
| PhantomBuster | Captain Data | Derrick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | $56/mo (annual) | €399/mo (post-pivot API tier) · €29.99 per 1K credits | €0 (free) · €9/mo paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~€672/yr | ~€4,788/yr | €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid |
| Free plan? | No (14-day free trial) | 100 free credits on signup | ✓ 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
PhantomBuster vs Captain Data vs Derrick: full feature comparison
| PhantomBuster | Derrick App | Captain Data | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works natively in Google Sheets | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Requires LinkedIn Sales Navigator ($100/month) | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Sales Navigator 1-click import | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email finder with real-time validation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phone finder from LinkedIn | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company tech stack lookup | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| SimilarWeb & G2 insights integrated | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| AI integration (Claude & ChatGPT) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic AI Lead Scoring | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Data cleaning & normalization | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-platform scraping (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Zapier, Make, n8n integrations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Public API available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce) | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Entry price (paid plan) | 69$/mois | 9€/mois | 399$/mois |
| Permanent free plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Rollover credits to next month | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple and transparent credit system | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple setup & onboarding | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Complete documentation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing in a nutshell Web Automation derrick
best value for money
Results first.
Discover Derrick →
Workflow Automation API (Pivot from No-Code)
PhantomBuster vs Captain Data vs Derrick pricing breakdown
Web Automation PhantomBuster
$56/mo (annual)
Best for: Growth hackers & ops teams
PhantomBuster offers scalable pricing with a free tier and paid plans that scale with usage, providing a clear entry point for automation needs. For full details on plans, limits, and add-ons, see the full pricing breakdown on the PhantomBuster 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.
Workflow Automation API (Pivot from No-Code) Captain Data
€399/mo (post-pivot API tier) · €29.99 per 1K credits
Best for: Engineering teams building data infrastructure (not SDRs)
Captain Data offers straightforward pricing with a free tier and scalable paid plans, starting at entry-level credits; see the pricing page for full details and plan comparisons. For exact numbers and tiers, view the complete pricing details.
Migration Guide
How to switch from PhantomBuster 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 PhantomBuster, 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 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
Pick Captain Data if…
- You specifically need engineering teams building data infrastructure (not sdrs)
- Strong API-first architecture (post-pivot)
- Workflow library was best-in-class (legacy)
- You're already invested in the Captain Data 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 PhantomBuster vs Captain Data
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
What’s the main difference between Derrick and PhantomBuster for scraping?
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Derrick focuses on native Google Sheets integration for seamless data enrichment without exports or complex setup, while PhantomBuster excels at web automation and large-scale scraping workflows. PhantomBuster is better suited for extraction-heavy tasks across LinkedIn and e-commerce platforms, but requires external tools for data enrichment and validation. Derrick streamlines the entire enrichment process directly in Sheets with AI-powered scoring, real-time email validation, and 50+ contact attributes, making it more efficient for teams that need enriched, deployment-ready data without switching platforms or managing multiple tools.
Is Derrick a better alternative to PhantomBuster for teams?
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Whether Derrick is a better alternative to PhantomBuster depends on your team's specific needs. PhantomBuster excels at web automation and large-scale data extraction across multiple platforms, making it ideal for teams prioritizing workflow automation and scraping at scale. Derrick, however, operates natively within Google Sheets without requiring external platforms or CSV exports, offering seamless enrichment directly in your spreadsheet with AI-powered features, rollover credits, and no credit card requirement for the free tier. If your team values simplicity, cost efficiency, and integrated workflows within Google Sheets, Derrick provides a more streamlined alternative. For complex automation sequences beyond enrichment, PhantomBuster remains stronger.
Derrick vs PhantomBuster vs Captain Data: which is best?
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The best choice depends on your specific needs. PhantomBuster excels at web automation and data scraping at scale with pre-built templates, while Captain Data specializes in LinkedIn-based prospecting with strong enrichment capabilities. Derrick stands out as the only 100% native Google Sheets solution, eliminating CSV exports and complex setup entirely. If you prioritize seamless workflow integration, AI-powered enrichment with Claude and ChatGPT, rollover credits, and no credit card requirements for the free tier, Derrick offers superior efficiency for teams already using Google Sheets. For pure automation or specialized LinkedIn prospecting, the other platforms may serve specific use cases better.
Which is PhantomBuster vs Captain Data pricing: who’s cheaper?
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Based on typical pricing structures, PhantomBuster and Captain Data both operate usage-based or plan-based pricing with scalable costs as you increase tasks, data extractions, or contacts. Generally, Captain Data tends to be cheaper at lower volumes for straightforward LinkedIn prospecting, while PhantomBuster can become more cost-effective for large-scale scraping with pre-built templates. Derrick, however, offers a distinct value with 100% native Google Sheets enrichment, 50+ attributes per contact, roll-over credits, and no credit card required for the free tier, which often results in lower total cost-of-ownership for teams heavily using Google Sheets as their central workflow. For a direct, apples-to-apples comparison at your expected volumes, I’d estimate Captain Data as cheaper at the very low end and PhantomBuster potentially cheaper at high-volume scraping; Derrick typically provides more overall value per dollar when you factor in native integration, credit rollovers, and automation capabilities, making it a compelling, often more economical choice for teams aligned with Google Sheets-based prospecting and multi-tool automation.
Does Derrick replace both PhantomBuster and Captain Data, or not?
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Derrick doesn't fully replace both platforms, but it covers their core functionality more efficiently for most teams. PhantomBuster excels at web automation and large-scale scraping workflows, while Captain Data specializes in LinkedIn prospecting. Derrick combines B2B enrichment, email validation, and AI-powered intelligence directly in Google Sheets without requiring separate tools or LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscriptions. For teams doing prospecting, list building, and enrichment within Sheets, Derrick streamlines the workflow and reduces costs significantly. However, if you need advanced web automation beyond data enrichment, PhantomBuster remains specialized in that area. Derrick's native Sheets integration, rollover credits, and built-in AI make it a more cost-effective primary solution for most B2B prospecting scenarios.
What do reviews say about Derrick versus Captain Data features?
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Reviews consistently highlight Captain Data’s strength in LinkedIn-focused prospecting and easy-to-use data scraping with reliable accuracy for straightforward lead lists. Derrick is often noted for deeper native capabilities right inside Google Sheets, including 50+ enrichments per contact, real-time email validation, and AI-driven scoring and segmentation, all without external exports or complex setup. While Captain Data shines on quick, non-technical data collection and CRM-friendly workflows, reviewers sometimes flag limited enrichment depth beyond LinkedIn and occasional scalability concerns. In contrast, Derrick’s 100% native Google Sheets integration, extensive enrichment credits, and flexible pricing with rollover credits are frequently praised as delivering deeper, easily deployable prospect intelligence for ongoing outreach without leaving Sheets.
One-on-one
PhantomBuster vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how PhantomBuster compares to Derrick alone.
Open the head-to-head → One-on-oneCaptain Data vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how Captain Data 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
