# PhantomBuster vs Expandi vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?

*Canonical: https://derrick-app.com/vs/phantombuster-vs-expandi-vs-derrick-app*
*Published: 2025-12-25 · Updated: 2026-09-28*

[Try Derrick free](https://app.derrick-app.com)

## Short answer

PhantomBuster vs Expandi vs Derrick in short. PhantomBuster: cloud-based scraping and social automation. Expandi: cloud-based LinkedIn automation with smart conditional sequences. 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 PhantomBuster or Expandi.

## PhantomBuster vs Expandi vs Derrick: full feature comparison

|  | [PhantomBuster](/tools/phantombuster-alternatives) | Derrick App | [Expandi](/tools/expandi-alternatives) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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) | $56/mo (annual) | Free plan · from €20/month | $79/mo (Business, annual) · 14-day free trial |
| Permanent free plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Rollover credits to next month | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple and transparent credit system | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Simple setup & onboarding | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complete documentation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |

## True cost over 12 months

| | PhantomBuster | Expandi | Derrick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $56/mo (annual) | $79/mo (Business, annual) · 14-day free trial | €0 (free) · €20/month paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~$672/yr | ~$948/yr | €0/year free · €240/year on Standard |
| Free plan? | No (14-day free trial) | 14-day free trial (no credit card) | Forever - 100 credits/mo |

Competitor prices come from each tool's review page on derrick-app.com; when its sources disagree, no figure is shown.

## 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 Expandi if…
- You specifically need established agencies + B2B teams running smart LinkedIn sequences
- Smart conditional sequences (best in the cloud category)
- Cloud-based with dedicated country IPs
- You're already invested in the Expandi ecosystem

### 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](https://app.derrick-app.com)

## FAQ

### Derrick vs PhantomBuster: which is better for data extraction?
Derrick and PhantomBuster serve different data extraction needs. PhantomBuster excels at web scraping and automation workflows with pre-built templates, making it ideal for large-scale extraction from social platforms and e-commerce sites. However, Derrick offers superior data enrichment directly in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) without requiring external platforms or CSV exports, saving teams significant time and eliminating manual data transfers. Derrick's real-time email validation, 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, and integrated AI scoring provide deeper data quality than PhantomBuster's extraction-focused approach. For B2B prospecting teams prioritizing accuracy and operational efficiency within their existing workflow, Derrick delivers more comprehensive enrichment with lower setup friction and monthly rollover credits.

### Is Derrick a good alternative to PhantomBuster?
Yes, Derrick is an excellent alternative to PhantomBuster, particularly if you prioritize simplicity and cost-efficiency. While PhantomBuster excels at web scraping and automation, Derrick operates natively in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), eliminating complex setup and CSV exports. Derrick offers 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, real-time email validation, and integrated AI scoring with Claude and ChatGPT. Unlike PhantomBuster's steep learning curve for advanced workflows, Derrick requires no technical expertise. You also avoid PhantomBuster's aggressive pricing scaling, with Derrick's rollover credits and no credit card requirement for the free tier making it more budget-friendly for growing teams.

### Derrick vs Expandi: which handles outreach better?
Derrick and Expandi serve different outreach needs. Expandi excels at LinkedIn-specific automation with personalized messaging sequences and native compliance, making it ideal for volume-based LinkedIn prospecting. However, Derrick handles broader outreach better by offering 50+ enrichment attributes, real-time email validation, integrated AI for segmentation, and web app functionality (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) without LinkedIn dependency. Derrick's multi-channel capability through 3000+ Zapier integrations and lower cost structure make it superior for comprehensive outreach campaigns beyond LinkedIn alone.

### Which tool offers the best pricing: Derrick or PhantomBuster?
When comparing pricing, Derrick offers a highly transparent, credit-based model that is built around Google Sheets, with a free tier and roll-over credits, making it easy to scale without upfront commitments. PhantomBuster and Expandi both price by usage or plan tiers that can quickly become costly at high volumes. Derrick’s credits system, web app workflow (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), and no required credit card for the free tier provide lower initial risk and predictable costs, especially for teams focused on data enrichment, email validation, and AI-assisted scoring, all without expensive multi-seat or API-heavy price jumps. If your primary need is cost predictability and a native, web-app-first prospecting workflow, Derrick tends to offer better pricing flexibility.

### PhantomBuster vs Expandi: how do they differ in features?
PhantomBuster and Expandi serve different core purposes within the prospecting workflow. PhantomBuster excels as a web automation and data extraction platform, ideal for scraping LinkedIn, Twitter, and e-commerce data at scale, while Expandi focuses specifically on LinkedIn outreach automation through connection requests and personalized messaging sequences. PhantomBuster offers broader data collection capabilities but requires external enrichment tools for deeper contact validation, whereas Expandi provides native LinkedIn integration with built-in campaign analytics. However, neither platform matches Derrick's efficiency for teams already working in Google Sheets, offering direct enrichment without CSV exports or LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscriptions, plus rollover credits and integrated AI for smarter prospecting workflows.

### Can Derrick replace both PhantomBuster and Expandi?
Derrick cannot fully replace both PhantomBuster and Expandi in all use cases, but it can cover the core needs many teams rely on from those tools. PhantomBuster’s strength is broad automation templates and data extraction at scale, which Derrick complements with web app enrichment (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), 50+ attributes per contact, real-time email validation, and AI-driven scoring and segmentation. Expandi excels at LinkedIn-focused outreach and sequencing; Derrick adds robust data enrichment, multi-CRM/automation integrations, and flexible credit-based pricing without LinkedIn dependency. If your requirements center on large-scale scraping and multi-channel isolation, you’ll likely need a dedicated automation or enrichment partner alongside Derrick. For teams prioritizing LinkedIn outreach with strong on-platform workflows, Expandi remains a strong fit; for comprehensive data quality, enrichment depth, and scalable prospecting in the web app (or in Sheets, Claude and the API), Derrick often provides superior value.

## Where to use Derrick: web app, Google Sheets, Claude (MCP) or API

The same B2B data enrichment is available on four surfaces. The free plan gives 100 credits a month, no card required.

- **Web app** (main entry, nothing to install): import or paste your list and enrich it in the browser. https://app.derrick-app.com
- **Google Sheets**: the sidebar add-on enriches your list in place, inside your spreadsheet. Install: https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/app/linkedin_email_phone_finder_ia_%E2%80%94_derrick/3746789989?flow_type=2
- **Claude / AI agents (MCP)**: connect the Derrick MCP server, then enrich from chat. Setup: /mcp
- **REST API**: call the same enrichment endpoints from your own stack (PLUS plan and up). Docs: https://app.derrick-app.com/api-docs