Apollo.io vs Clay
Which Outreach AI tool is better in 2026?
Apollo.io
AI-powered sales engagement platform with 275M+ contacts.
Clay
AI-powered sales prospecting and data enrichment.
Side-by-side
Apollo.io leads on both fronts — more capital raised ($251M) and a lower entry price than Clay.
| Metric | Apollo.io | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | AI-powered sales engagement platform with 275M+ contacts. | AI-powered sales prospecting and data enrichment. |
| Foundedi | 2015🏆 | 2017 |
| HQi | US | New York, US |
| Employeesi | 201-500 | 51-200🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 68🏆 | 54 |
| Total fundingi | $251M🏆 | $146M |
| Latest roundi | Series D · Aug 2023 | Series C · Aug 2025 |
| Valuationi | $1.6B | $3.1B🏆 |
| Cheapest paid plani | —🏆 | Launch · $185/mo |
| Free plani | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✗ |
| Top tier pricei | — | Growth · $495/mo |
| Pricing summaryi | 1 published plans | 4 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Apollo.io and Clay.
| Capability | Apollo.io | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Apollo.io
- Has raised more capital ($251M vs $146M)
- Higher Neuron score (68 vs 54)
- Lower starting price ($49/mo)
- More mature (2015)
🔵 Strengths of Clay
- Newer company (2017)
Which should you choose?
Choose Apollo.io if price matters most — it starts at Free · From $49/mo, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Outreach tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Apollo.io if you want the most established option — it has raised $251M, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
Frequently asked questions
Apollo.io vs Clay — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Apollo.io has raised more capital and is the more established option; Clay has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Apollo.io cheaper than Clay?
Yes — Apollo.io's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Clay's is Launch · $185/mo.
Do Apollo.io and Clay offer free plans?
Apollo.io: Yes, has a free plan. Clay: Yes, has a free plan.
Explore more AI Outreach tools
Contextual paths to related AI startups, deals and rankings.