Clay vs RocketReach
RocketReach is a database you look people up in; Clay is a workflow layer that queries many databases and enriches what it finds. They are often shortlisted together by teams whose data coverage is failing, but they solve that problem at different levels.
Clay
Data enrichment and automation that chains 100+ providers into one workflow.
RocketReach
Contact lookups across 700M professionals, with unlimited lookups on annual plans.
| Feature | Clay | RocketReach |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| Starting price | $167/momonthly billing; $54/mo billed annually | $49/momonthly billing; $27/mo billed annually ($329/yr) |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | 500 actions, 100 credits/month | — |
| Actions | 15,000 (Launch) → 40,000 (Growth) | — |
| Data credits | 3,000 (Launch) → 6,000 (Growth) | — |
| Waterfall enrichment | 100+ providers | — |
| Annual discount | $54/mo billed yearly (Launch) | — |
| Free account | — | 5 lookups, no card |
| Lookups | — | Unlimited on annual; 100/mo on monthly (Essentials) |
| Exports | — | 1,200/yr (Essentials) → 20,000/yr (Ultimate) |
| Phone numbers | — | Pro plan and above |
| Email sending limit | — | 500/day, all plans |
Hands-on field test
In progressFor lead-data tools we plan to run a fixed list of 200 known-good contacts through each product and measure match rate, bounce rate on verified addresses, and cost per valid contact. Until measured, we publish no accuracy figures.
The verdict
RocketReach is the better answer if your problem is volume — unlimited lookups on annual plans from $27/mo, with phone numbers from Pro upward. Clay is the better answer if your problem is coverage: waterfall enrichment across 100+ providers finds fields no single database holds. Clay is also considerably harder to learn and its credit burn is difficult to predict before a workflow exists.
Choose Clay if a single provider keeps failing on the fields you need and you want them chained together. Choose RocketReach if you need high lookup volume or direct-dial phone numbers, at a predictable annual price.
Clay vs RocketReach: FAQs
- Which is cheaper?
- RocketReach at $27/mo billed annually against Clay's $167/mo monthly. But Clay drops to $54/mo billed annually, so on equal annual terms the gap is much smaller than it first appears.
- Can Clay replace RocketReach?
- Partly — Clay can call many providers in a waterfall, which may include sources covering the same contacts. But it does no sending and stops at enrichment, and if one provider already covers your market it adds cost rather than data.
- Which gives phone numbers?
- RocketReach, from the Pro plan at $69/mo, with unlimited mobile and direct dials. Clay can source phone data through the providers it chains, but that consumes credits per enrichment.
- Which is harder to learn?
- Clay, considerably. It works like a spreadsheet automation tool rather than a search box. RocketReach is a lookup interface plus a Chrome extension.
Comparing more than two?
Put Clay, RocketReach and up to two others side by side on price, mailboxes, warmup and trials.
Open the comparison table →