PhantomBuster
- Starting price: $56/mo (annual)
- Free plan: No (14-day free trial)
- Founded: 2016
- HQ: Paris, France
Updated
PhantomBuster vs TexAu vs Derrick: Which Is Better in 2026?
- Short answer
- PhantomBuster vs TexAu vs Derrick: PhantomBuster is a cloud-based scraping and social automation, TexAu is a cloud automation platform with 180+ spices (automations) and recipes (workflows). 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 TexAu) 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 TexAu 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 TexAu vs Derrick at a glance
TexAu
- Starting price: Free 14-day trial · Solo $79/mo (annual)
- Free plan: 14-day free trial (no credit card)
- Founded: 2017
- HQ: Thane, Maharashtra, India
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 TexAu
3 core reasons SDRs and ops teams switch to Derrick. Click to expand each.
01 Real-time validation and deep enrichment without complex setup
PhantomBuster and TexAu are strong at automation and data collection, but they often fall short on real-time validation and deep enrichment without extra steps or tools. Derrick delivers real-time email validation and 50+ enrichment attributes directly within a 100% native Google Sheets workflow, eliminating complex setup. This means you reduce invalid emails and missing data instantly, saving 5-10 hours per month and improving deliverability. With Derrick, no CSV exports or separate validation layers are needed, and you can start enriching immediately in your existing sheet.
02 3000+ integrations without custom development for scale
Derrick shines where PhantomBuster and TexAu fall short: they rely on external templates and limited third-party integrations, which constrain scale. Derrick delivers 3000+ native integrations via Zapier/Make/n8n without custom development, streamlining expansion inside a single platform. This yields tangible results: up to 50+ enrichment attributes per contact, faster onboarding, and scalable workflows that save 6–12 hours monthly. For rapid use, Derrick’s Google Sheets-native environment ensures immediate prospection actions without exporting data or rebuilding pipelines.
03 Real-time validation and deep enrichment without complex setup
PhantomBuster and TexAu excel at automation and data extraction, but their capabilities for real-time validation and deep enrichment without complex setup are limited and often rely on external tools. Derrick delivers real-time email validation and rich enrichment directly inside 100% native Google Sheets, eliminating the need for intricate deployments. Users typically save 5-10 hours per month while achieving higher deliverability and richer profiles with 50+ attributes per contact. A quick use case: verify emails on-the-fly as you build outreach sequences, without leaving Sheets or juggling multiple platforms.
Honest Comparison 
derrick
What each tool does better
We're upfront - every tool has strengths. Here's where PhantomBuster, TexAu, and Derrick each genuinely win.
What PhantomBuster does better
- 150+ pre-built Phantoms across platforms
- Best LinkedIn Sales Navigator export
- Composable workflow chains
What TexAu does better
- 180+ Spices vs PhantomBuster's 130+ at similar pricing
- Faster execution than most cloud automation competitors
- Built-in email verification (no separate tool needed)
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 | TexAu | Derrick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | $56/mo (annual) | Free 14-day trial · Solo $79/mo (annual) | €0 (free) · €9/mo paid |
| Annual cost (base) | ~€672/yr | ~€168/yr | €0/yr free · ~€108/yr paid |
| Free plan? | No (14-day free trial) | 14-day free trial (no credit card) | ✓ 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 TexAu vs Derrick: full feature comparison
| PhantomBuster | Derrick App | TexAu | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 49$/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 →
Cloud Automation Platform (Spices + Recipes)
PhantomBuster vs TexAu vs Derrick pricing breakdown
Web Automation PhantomBuster
$56/mo (annual)
Best for: Growth hackers & ops teams
PhantomBuster offers a scalable pricing structure with a free tier and paid plans starting at moderate monthly credits, designed for automation at scale. For full details on plan limits, add-ons, and enterprise options, view the complete pricing breakdown.
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.
Cloud Automation Platform (Spices + Recipes) TexAu
Free 14-day trial · Solo $79/mo (annual)
Best for: Growth hackers + automation enthusiasts on a budget
TexAu offers an entry-level plan with a free tier and paid options starting at competitive monthly rates; see full pricing breakdown for all tiers and usage details. Click through to view 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 TexAu if…
- You specifically need growth hackers + automation enthusiasts on a budget
- 180+ Spices vs PhantomBuster's 130+ at similar pricing
- Faster execution than most cloud automation competitors
- You're already invested in the TexAu 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 TexAu
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 Derrick vs PhantomBuster for automation?
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Derrick focuses on native Google Sheets automation for B2B prospecting and data enrichment, eliminating the need for external platforms or CSV exports. PhantomBuster, meanwhile, excels at web scraping and social media data extraction through pre-built templates and visual workflows. The key difference is scope: Derrick streamlines lead enrichment and outreach directly within Sheets with AI-powered scoring and email validation, while PhantomBuster specializes in bulk data collection from web sources. For teams already working in Sheets seeking integrated enrichment without technical setup, Derrick offers faster deployment and rollover credits. PhantomBuster works better for organizations needing large-scale scraping across multiple platforms before enrichment begins.
Is Derrick a good alternative to PhantomBuster?
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Yes, Derrick is an excellent alternative to PhantomBuster, especially if your team prioritizes simplicity and cost-efficiency. While PhantomBuster excels at web scraping and automation, Derrick offers native Google Sheets integration without complex setup or CSV exports, saving five to ten hours monthly. Derrick provides fifty plus enrichment attributes per contact with real-time email validation and built-in AI scoring via Claude and ChatGPT. Unlike PhantomBuster's aggressive scaling costs, Derrick's credits roll over monthly, and no credit card is required for the free tier, making it more accessible for teams with variable prospecting needs.
Derrick vs PhantomBuster vs TexAu: which is best for pricing?
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Derrick offers the most flexible pricing structure with rollover credits that don't expire monthly, eliminating waste from unused allocations. PhantomBuster scales aggressively with volume, making high-frequency operations costly, while TexAu functions primarily as a text tool rather than a complete enrichment platform. Derrick's free tier requires no credit card and includes 100 credits, with transparent per-credit pricing starting at just 9€ for 4000 credits. For teams prioritizing cost efficiency and predictable budgeting without locked-in monthly commitments, Derrick delivers superior value compared to PhantomBuster's usage-based scaling or TexAu's limited scope.
Which is better for data extraction: Derrick or TexAu?
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For data extraction, Derrick generally offers a stronger fit than TexAu for B2B teams seeking native Google Sheets workflows with extensive enrichment. Derrick’s 100% Sheets-native approach eliminates exports and complex setups, saving time and ensuring seamless data capture directly in Sheets, while TexAu excels at bulk text automation and writing augmentation but lacks Derrick’s deep, integrated data enrichment, multi-source capabilities, and native CRM-like features. If your priority is fast, in-Sheets data enrichment with scalable integrations and AI-powered scoring, Derrick provides more comprehensive, verifiable value. TexAu remains a solid complement when you specifically need high-volume text processing, but for end-to-end data extraction and prospecting inside Google Sheets, Derrick is typically the better choice.
PhantomBuster vs TexAu pricing: which is cheaper?
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PhantomBuster generally offers more aggressive pricing for high-volume automation, while TexAu focuses on text processing with different cost structures. PhantomBuster's per-record costs can escalate quickly with large-scale campaigns, whereas TexAu maintains flatter pricing for batch operations. However, Derrick App delivers superior value for B2B prospecting by eliminating the need for LinkedIn Sales Navigator (saving $1,200 annually), operating entirely within Google Sheets with rollover credits, and requiring no credit card for the free tier. For teams prioritizing cost efficiency and integrated enrichment without external platforms, Derrick's transparent pricing model with 100 free credits and flexible monthly plans often proves more economical than either alternative.
Can Derrick replace both PhantomBuster and TexAu?
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Derrick cannot fully replace both PhantomBuster and TexAu in all scenarios, but it can cover many core needs for B2B data enrichment and outreach within Google Sheets. PhantomBuster specializes in web automation and large-scale scraping with ready-made templates, while TexAu focuses on AI-assisted writing and batch text augmentation. Derrick excels as a native Google Sheets solution with extensive enrichment (50+ attributes per contact/organization), real-time email validation, AI-based scoring and segmentation, and wide integration via Zapier/Make/n8n, all without CSV exports or complex setup. For teams needing automated scraping or multi-channel automation beyond data enrichment and mailing, PhantomBuster or TexAu may still be more suitable, but Derrick often replaces those tools for ongoing enrichment, workflow orchestration, and cost efficiency, especially when you value native Sheets workflows, credits that roll over, and no credit card required.
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-oneTexAu vs Derrick - solo duel
Drop the third-party context and see how TexAu 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
