Does Instantly AI or Clay have a free plan?

Instantly AI is a paid tool with a free trial. Clay is available for free with a free trial. Always verify current pricing directly with the vendor.

Instantly AI vs Clay

Q: Can I use Instantly AI and Clay together?

Yes, many teams use both tools together for different purposes. Use the Stack Builder section above to combine Instantly AI and Clay with other tools and save your AI toolkit.

Comprehensive side-by-side comparison — features, pricing, performance, and more.

Updated May 2026

Instantly AI

Instantly

Find, contact, and close your ideal clients with AI-powered sales outreach.

0.0(0)

PAID

94% data quality

Clay

Go to market with unique data and the ability to act on it.

0.0(0)

FREEMIUM

95% data quality

Trust & Reliability

Instantly AI

Uptime:100.0%Status page

Users:10K-100K

Customers (per vendor):HP, Sony, Twitter +6

GDPR

Too Close to Call

Instantly AI (7.3) vs Clay (7.3) — difference of 0.0 points

AI Comparison Summary

Instantly AI

7.3

avg score

Clay

7.3

avg score

Both tools score very similarly overall — the best choice depends on your specific priorities.

Based on 6 dimensions

How scores are calculated

Too close to call — it's a tie

Instantly AI

Best For

Automating multi-step email outreach for sales teams

Scaling lead generation and client acquisition for agencies

Optimizing email deliverability and sender reputation

Personalizing outbound campaigns with AI for marketers

Not Ideal For

Businesses not focused on email outreach or lead generation

Users seeking a purely conversational AI agent

Teams needing a visual workflow builder for complex multi-agent systems

Clay

Best For

Automating multi-step research workflows for GTM teams

Enriching CRM data for sales and marketing operations

Building highly targeted outbound campaigns

Tracking buying signals and intent for sales reps

Not Ideal For

Individuals or small businesses with very basic data needs

Teams without a clear Go-To-Market strategy or existing data infrastructure

Users seeking a simple, no-code drag-and-drop automation tool for general tasks

* Verdict is based on our algorithmic scoring of publicly available data. Learn about our methodology

Instantly AI is best for

🤖Automation & Agents9.0📊Data & Analytics6.5

Clay is best for

🤖Automation & Agents7.0📊Data & Analytics6.0💬Chat & Conversation3.0

Filter by your use case:

Pros & Cons

Instantly AI

Pros

Supports unlimited email accounts for massive outreach scale
Robust deliverability network ensures high inbox placement rates
Integrated B2B lead database with advanced filtering capabilities
AI tools for email personalization, content writing, and reply management
Comprehensive analytics for tracking campaign performance and revenue
Offers a free tier and flexible pricing options for different needs

Cons

Lower pricing tiers have limits on uploaded contacts and monthly emails
Advanced custom integrations via API/webhooks may require developer expertise
No explicit mention of multi-channel outreach beyond email and LinkedIn automation via integration
CRM features like Priority AI and Follow-up AI are listed as 'coming soon'

Clay

Pros

Access to 150+ premium data providers in one central platform
AI-led research agent (Claygent) for finding unique data points
Automates complex GTM workflows without extensive engineering
Achieves high data coverage and accuracy through multi-source enrichment
Offers flexible and iterable workflows for rapid experimentation
Provides enterprise-grade security and compliance (SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA, ISO 27001, ISO 42001)

Cons

Requires a solid understanding of GTM strategies and data workflows to maximize value
Usage-based pricing for actions and data credits can become complex for high-volume users
May have a learning curve for non-technical users despite natural language interfaces
Primarily focused on sales and marketing, less suitable for general business automation

Weighted Score — Adjust What Matters to You

Pick a profile or drag sliders — scores and radar update instantly on the right.

Quick profiles:

Ease of Use5

Output Quality5

Value for Money5

Customizability5

Support & Ecosystem5

Integration Power5

Dimension Comparison

Instantly AI

7.3

/ 10

Clay

7.3

/ 10

Dimension Breakdown

Ease of Use

How easy it is to get started and use daily

Instantly AI

7.0▲ +1.0

Clay

6.0

Output Quality

Quality and accuracy of generated results

Instantly AI

8.0

Clay

8.0

Value for Money

Cost vs. features and output quality

Instantly AI

7.0

Clay

7.0

Customizability

Calculated

Ability to tailor to specific needs

Instantly AI

7.0

Clay

7.0

Support & Ecosystem

Documentation, community, and support quality

Instantly AI

7.0

Clay

8.0▲ +1.0

Integration Power

Calculated

Ability to connect with other tools and workflows

Instantly AI

8.0

Clay

8.0

Calculated = derived from verified integration count and API/open-source signals. AI = LLM-assessed from public website content. Methodology

Task Performance

Instantly AI

Task

Clay

7.0

Lead Scoring

8.0

6.0

Pipeline Management

6.0

9.0

Outreach Automation

7.0

8.0

Email Tracking

5.0

3.0

Meeting Scheduling

4.0

Deal Forecasting

3.0

8.0

Contact Enrichment

10.0

2.0

Conversation Intelligence

3.0

2.0

Territory Management

7.0

Reporting Analytics

6.0

* Task scores (1–10) are algorithmically generated from publicly available data.

Data is sourced from public information and vendor websites. It may not always be up-to-date — verify pricing and features directly with the vendor before purchasing.Report inaccuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Instantly AI or Clay?

Both are strong options. Instantly AI has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews), while Clay has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews). The best choice depends on your specific use case, budget, and workflow requirements.

Is Instantly AI cheaper than Clay?

Instantly AI starts at $47/month (paid model) with a free trial. Clay starts at free (freemium model) with a free trial. Use the Cost Calculator above for a detailed estimate.

What are the main differences between Instantly AI and Clay?

Instantly AI — "Find, contact, and close your ideal clients with AI-powered sales outreach.". Clay — "Go to market with unique data and the ability to act on it.". Key differences include their pricing models, platform support, integrations, and technical capabilities. See the Feature Comparison table above for a complete side-by-side breakdown.

Can I use Instantly AI and Clay together?

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