Published · Updated

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

Try the app free
or use it in
Google Sheets
Claude
API

✓ Free forever · ✓ No credit card · ✓ Cancel anytime

Short answer
PhantomBuster vs TexAu vs Derrick in short. PhantomBuster: cloud-based scraping and social automation. TexAu: cloud automation platform with 180+ Spices (automations) and Recipes (workflows). 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 €9/month, and it runs on its own or alongside PhantomBuster or TexAu.

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 Nothing to install
Where it lives Web app, plus Sheets, Claude, API

See the full comparison ↓

Trusted by Hands Down best extension for sheets till date. It eased up my linkedin lead collection journey by 10x. Thank you!! Rahul Nair from Google Workspace Marketplace This tool makes enriching LinkedIn URLs incredibly easy. You can enrich both personal and company profiles with a single click, and the Google Sheets integration is a game-changer. Pankaj Rohilla from Google Workspace Marketplace Great extension. There's bigger companies that do 1000x less. Go with Derrick. Ben Leinen from Google Workspace Marketplace It makes my life a lot easier… no more copy and paste and time wasted. Thank you! Cris Forlani from Google Workspace Marketplace Derrick is your one stop solution to data collection and up to date leads data automated collection. 100/100 value for money. Manu Nair from Google Workspace Marketplace This is one hell of a magical tool, it has blown my mind already, it's so handy, just love it. I am exploring how much more I can do with it Jagdip Gohil from Google Workspace Marketplace Loving the smoothness of the experience especially on Chrome. Great value for the price as well. GB Alao from Google Workspace Marketplace I was looking for a tool to enrich LinkedIn data. Very easy to use. Keith Hildebrand from Google Workspace Marketplace Easy to enhance contacts by running bulk lists. Try it James Finlayson from Google Workspace Marketplace +34,000 others

Quick facts01 / 10

PhantomBuster vs TexAu vs Derrick at a glance

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

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
4.3/5 G2 4.1/5 Capterra

Derrick

Recommended
  • Starting price: Free · Paid from €9/mo
  • Free plan: Yes - 100 credits/mo permanent
  • Founded: 2022
  • HQ: Marseille, FR
4.8/5 G2 4.8/5 Capterra

Why Derrick wins02 / 10

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 in the web app or 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 web-app-first 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 in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), 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 the web app or Sheets or juggling multiple platforms.

Replace PhantomBuster: import leads from a Sales Navigator search in Derrick's web app, nothing to install

Honest comparison03 / 10

What each tool does better

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

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)
Read full TexAu review →

Real annual cost04 / 10

True cost over 12 months

Headline pricing rarely tells the whole story. Here's the real cost of running each tool for a year.

Cost item PhantomBuster TexAu Derrick
Starting price $56/mo (annual) Free 14-day trial · Solo $79/mo (annual) €0 (free) · €9/month paid
Annual cost (base) ~$672/yr ~$948/yr €0/year free · €108/year on Mini
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 Nothing to install (web app)
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 it to one transparent credit model.

Feature-by-feature05 / 10

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) $56/mo (annual) Free plan · from €9/month Free 14-day trial · Solo $79/mo (annual)
Permanent free plan ✓ ✓ ✓
Rollover credits to next month ✕ ✓ ✕
Simple and transparent credit system ✕ ✓ ✓
Simple setup & onboarding ✕ ✓ ✕
Complete documentation ✓ ✓ ✕

Pricing in a nutshell06 / 10

PhantomBuster vs TexAu vs Derrick pricing breakdown

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 guide07 / 10

How to switch from PhantomBuster to Derrick in 3 steps

Derrick is a web app - nothing to install, no formulas to learn, no pipelines to migrate. Sign up and you're enriching in under a minute.

Open the Derrick web app

Sign up on the Derrick web app. Nothing to install, no credit card required - you start with 100 free credits per month.

Import your PhantomBuster list

Upload the CSV you exported from PhantomBuster, paste LinkedIn URLs, or import from LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Prefer to stay in your tools? The same features run in Google Sheets, in Claude (MCP) and via the API.

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 in your list. No pipelines, no waiting.

Try the app free
or use it in
Google Sheets
Claude
API

100 free credits / month · No credit card · Cancel anytime

Decision in 60 seconds08 / 10

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
Read full PhantomBuster review →

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
Read full TexAu review →

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 →

Compare09 / 10

Keep exploring10 / 10

Customer stories

What teams say after switching from PhantomBuster vs TexAu

See what our customers say about Derrick.

  • Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot, 323 reviews
323 reviews

"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

FAQ

Stop copying data around. Start enriching.

What’s the main difference Derrick vs PhantomBuster for automation?

+
Derrick focuses on web app automation (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) 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 in the web app (or in Sheets, Claude and the API) 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?

+
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 web app, Google Sheets, Claude (MCP) and API 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?

+
Derrick offers the most flexible pricing structure with rollover credits that don't expire while you stay on a paid plan, 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?

+
For data extraction, Derrick generally offers a stronger fit than TexAu for B2B teams seeking web app workflows (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) with extensive enrichment. Derrick’s web-app-first approach eliminates exports and complex setups, saving time and ensuring seamless data capture directly in the web app (or in Sheets, Claude and the API), 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-app 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 in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API), Derrick is typically the better choice.

PhantomBuster vs TexAu pricing: which is cheaper?

+
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 in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) 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?

+
Derrick cannot fully replace both PhantomBuster and TexAu in all scenarios, but it can cover many core needs for B2B data enrichment and outreach in the web app (or in Google Sheets, Claude and the API). 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 web app solution (also in Google Sheets, Claude and the API) 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 the web app (plus Sheets, Claude, API) workflows, credits that roll over, and no credit card required.