Clay vs Cognism
Which Prospecting AI tool is better in 2026?
Clay
AI-powered sales prospecting and data enrichment.
Cognism
Premium B2B prospecting data with mobile numbers and intent signals.
Side-by-side
Clay leads on both fronts — more capital raised ($146M) and a lower entry price than Cognism.
| Metric | Clay | Cognism |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | AI-powered sales prospecting and data enrichment. | Premium B2B prospecting data with mobile numbers and intent signals. |
| Foundedi | 2017 | 2015🏆 |
| HQi | New York, US | London, GB |
| Employeesi | 51-200🏆 | 201-500 |
| Neuron scorei | 54 | 68🏆 |
| Total fundingi | $146M🏆 | $123.5M |
| Latest roundi | Series C · Aug 2025 | Series C · Jan 2022 |
| Valuationi | $3.1B🏆 | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | Launch · $185/mo🏆 | — |
| Free plani | ✓ Free | ✗ |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Growth · $495/mo | Custom Enterprise · Contact sales |
| Pricing summaryi | 4 published plans | 1 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Clay and Cognism.
| Capability | Clay | Cognism |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Clay
- Has raised more capital ($146M vs $123.5M)
- Offers a free plan
- Lower starting price ($149/mo)
- Newer company (2017)
🔵 Strengths of Cognism
- Higher Neuron score (68 vs 54)
- Offers a free trial
- More mature (2015)
Which should you choose?
Choose Clay if price matters most — it starts at Free · From $149/mo, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Prospecting tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Clay if you want the most established option — it has raised $146M, 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
Clay vs Cognism — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Clay has raised more capital and is the more established option; Cognism has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Clay cheaper than Cognism?
Yes — Clay's cheapest paid plan is Launch · $185/mo, while Cognism's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do Clay and Cognism offer free plans?
Clay: Yes, has a free plan. Cognism: Free trial only.
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