Is Clay Expensive? How Clay Pricing Works and Why It Pays Off

Clay uses tiered subscriptions with usage allowances, and yes, it is worth the price. There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $167 per month on annual billing. Data Credit costs vary by data type, from 0.5 to 10+ credits per enrichment. Teams that already pay for data providers can bring their own API keys, which removes Clay Data Credits for those providers (you pay the provider directly) while each run still uses 1 Action.

Last updated: October 29, 2026

Figures in this article come from Clay's pricing page and documentation, fetched October 29, 2026. Plans and credit allocations change, so confirm on clay.com/pricing before you buy.

TL;DR

Clay is a tiered subscription with usage allowances: each plan includes a monthly allotment of Actions and Data Credits, and seats are unlimited.
A free plan is available at $0, and paid plans start at $167 per month on annual billing ($185 on monthly billing).
Data Credit costs range from 0.5 to 10+ credits depending on the data type, and the exact cost appears next to each enrichment option before you run it, according to Clay's documentation.
Bringing your own API keys removes Clay Data Credits for that provider (you pay the provider directly), and 1 Action still applies. Clay's documentation estimates 50 to 80% savings on Data Credits overall.
One Clay workspace can combine 150+ data partners, waterfalls, AI research, and outbound signals, which can reduce the number of separate tools you run.

Why usage-based pricing works in your favor

Clay's model is simple: you pick a plan with an allowance that fits your volume, and you decide how that allowance is spent. That gives you three advantages.

You control spend. Every enrichment shows its credit cost before you run it, so you decide what a record is worth before you spend a credit on it. Variable-priced AI models show an estimate marked with "~" instead of an exact figure.
You start at zero. The free plan lets you build tables, run multi-provider waterfalls, use Claygent, and bring your own API key without paying anything.
You scale when results justify it. Move up a plan when your volume grows, not before.

What you are actually paying for

A paid Clay plan is a fixed subscription that includes a set number of Actions and Data Credits each month. A table that enriches a handful of records uses a handful of Actions and Data Credits. A table that runs waterfalls and AI research across a large list uses more, and it produces more. Because the credit cost appears next to each enrichment before you run it, you can estimate a run, test it on a small batch, and then scale the same workflow with confidence. Unused Actions expire each billing cycle, and Enterprise is an annual commitment, so the budgeting exercise is mostly about choosing the right allowance tier.

Costs vary by data type. Clay's documentation gives the example of a LinkedIn profile or an email at 0.5 Data Credits each, with some email validators free. Internal steps such as formulas, filters, and moving data between Clay tables use no Actions at all, so you reserve credits for the lookups and research that create value.

How Clay pricing works: Actions and Data Credits

Clay splits usage into two units.

Actions: the orchestration meter

Actions measure the work Clay does to orchestrate your data: enriching a record, running AI research, or sending data to another tool. Each Action costs "a few tenths of a penny," according to Clay's documentation, which also states that 90% of customers never hit their Actions limit. For most teams, Actions run quietly in the background.

Data Credits: the data meter

Data Credits pay for data or AI from third-party vendors in Clay's marketplace. Clay says each Data Credit costs "a few pennies," and the cost per enrichment varies by data type, from 0.5 to 10+ credits. With 150+ data partners to choose from, you pick the provider and the depth that match each record's value.

Bring your own API keys

If you already pay for data providers, connect your own keys. Clay's documentation says this eliminates the Data Credit cost for that provider, because you pay the provider directly, while each enrichment still uses one Action. Clay estimates overall savings of 50 to 80% on Data Credits. Your existing provider relationships keep working, and Clay becomes the layer that orchestrates them.

Why the two-meter model is useful

Separating Actions from Data Credits makes spend easier to read. Actions tell you how much orchestration your workspace runs. Data Credits tell you how much third-party data and AI you consume. When a bill changes, you can see which meter moved and why, and then adjust the table that caused it. The credit reporting dashboard, available on all plans, supports that review.

Clay plans and prices

Annual billing saves 10% and provides all credits up front.

Plan	Price	Actions per month	Data Credits per month	Row limit per table
Free	$0	500	100	200 rows
Launch	From $167/mo annual ($185/mo monthly)	15,000	2,500 (entry tier)	50,000 rows
Growth	From $446/mo annual ($495/mo monthly)	40,000	6,000 (entry tier)	50,000 rows
Enterprise	Custom, annual commitment	200,000+	100,000+	Unlimited (bulk enrichment of 50K+ records at once)

The Growth row limit comes from Clay's Plans and billing documentation. Launch and Growth allocations are entry-tier amounts and can expand. On the pricing page, Launch Data Credits can be raised in tiers of 2,500, 6,000, 10,000, 20,000, or 50,000 per month.

Free

The Free plan costs $0 and includes unlimited seats and tables, multi-provider waterfalls, Claygent enrichment, and bring-your-own API keys. It gives you 500 Actions and 100 Data Credits per month, which is enough to prove out a workflow on real data before you commit to anything.

Launch

Launch starts at $167 per month on annual billing. It adds phone enrichment, Audiences search, job change, company news, and social signals, reusable and custom functions, email campaigns, scheduled recurring enrichment runs, and tables up to 50,000 rows.

Growth

Growth starts at $446 per month on annual billing. It includes everything in Launch, plus CRM integrations with auto-sync, data warehouse connections, HTTP API integrations, webhook automation of signals, web intent signals, unlimited ad audiences for LinkedIn and Meta, Audience imports up to 250,000, and a priority support queue. Clay describes Growth as suited to enriching 1,000 to 10,000 records per month.

Enterprise

Enterprise adds 200,000+ Actions and 100,000+ Data Credits per month, SSO/SAML, SCIM, RBAC, credit budgeting, a dedicated growth strategist, onboarding and co-building, and 15-minute source sync. Clay's API and CLI are available on every plan, including Free, and Enterprise adds API table sync for structured queries such as joins, ranges, and paging past 100 rows, along with higher search limits.

Other billing details

Rollover: On monthly plans, unused Data Credits accumulate up to 2× your monthly allotment. On annual plans, up to 15% of your annual Data Credits roll over when you renew on the same or a higher tier. Actions never roll over, according to Clay's Plans and billing documentation.
Reporting: A credit reporting dashboard and unlimited tables and users per workspace are on all plans.
Trial: Clay's pricing page offers a 14-day free trial.

How Clay pricing compares to flat-contract tools

A flat contract charges you the same amount whether you use 10% or 100% of it. Clay's paid plans are also subscriptions, but you choose the allowance tier and see what each run costs.

Size the allowance to your use. Credits go toward the data you actually pull, the cost shows before every run, and you can move to a larger or smaller credit tier as volume changes.
One workspace, many sources. Waterfalls try multiple providers in sequence to find a data point, so coverage comes from one workflow instead of several separate subscriptions. Teams can consolidate lookups, enrichment, AI research, and signals in one place.
Keep the providers you like. Bring your own API keys and skip Clay Data Credits for those providers; you pay the provider directly, and each run still uses 1 Action.
No seat tax. Unlimited seats and tables are included, so adding a teammate does not change the price.
Start free. Test coverage and quality on the free plan or the 14-day trial before you pay.

Consolidating point tools into one workspace

Many go-to-market teams assemble a stack of separate tools: one for contact data, another for enrichment, another for AI research, and another for signals. Each carries its own subscription, login, and integration to maintain. Clay brings 150+ data partners, waterfalls, Claygent, and signals into one workspace with one set of credits. When you evaluate Clay against that stack, compare the combined cost of the separate subscriptions with the Clay plan that covers the same work. The Free plan lets you test that comparison on your own records at no cost.

A practical way to evaluate cost

You can evaluate Clay without guessing. Take a sample list that reflects your real accounts, build a table on the Free plan or the 14-day trial, and run your intended enrichments. Read the credit cost beside each step, note the Actions and Data Credits the sample used, and scale that figure to your monthly volume. Then compare the result with the plan allocations in the table above. Because Launch starts at $167 per month on annual billing and Growth at $446 per month on annual billing, you can match the plan to the volume you measured instead of to an estimate.

Flexibility as your needs change

Plans move with your volume. On monthly plans, unused Data Credits accumulate up to 2× your monthly allotment, so a quieter month does not waste what you bought; on annual plans, up to 15% of annual credits roll over on a same-or-higher renewal. Launch Data Credits can be raised in tiers up to 50,000 per month on the pricing page, and Enterprise adds credit budgeting for larger organizations that want governance over how credits are spent.

Where the value comes from

Depth you choose

A record with a company profile and a verified email uses fewer credits than one with person profile, phone, and custom AI research. You set the depth per record, and you can spend more only on the accounts that matter most.

Waterfalls for coverage

Waterfalls try providers in order until a data point is found. They are available even on the Free plan, so you can see the coverage gain before upgrading.

AI research in the same table

Each AI enrichment uses one Action. Most models, including Clay's own, use fixed credit pricing per task, which keeps costs easy to forecast.

Signals that feed outbound

Job change, company news, and social signals start on Launch, and web intent signals start on Growth, according to Clay's pricing page. Together they turn enrichment into timely outbound.

Fit with the rest of your stack

Clay works alongside a CRM and the data providers you already use. Growth adds CRM integrations with auto-sync and data warehouse connections, so enriched records flow back to the systems where your team works. Bring-your-own API keys mean existing provider contracts continue to earn their keep, with Clay orchestrating them.

How to get the most from every credit

Start on the free plan or the 14-day trial. Test your workflow on real records.
Read the credit cost next to each enrichment. Run a small batch, then multiply.
Bring your own API keys for providers you already pay for.
Use waterfalls to raise coverage without adding tools.
Choose annual billing. It saves 10% and provides all credits up front.
Match your plan to your volume. Picking a larger plan up front is usually cheaper than repeated top-ups.

Making the budget conversation simple

When you present Clay to finance or leadership, three facts carry the case. First, the entry point is the Free plan at $0, so no commitment is required to prove value. Second, spend is set by the plan and allowance tier you choose, and credit costs appear before each run. Third, bring-your-own API keys remove Clay Data Credits for the providers you already pay, and Clay estimates 50 to 80% overall Data Credit savings for teams with existing provider relationships. Together, these let you propose a small, measurable pilot, report the results, and then size a plan to the volume you demonstrated. Annual billing saves 10% and provides all credits up front, which many teams find convenient for planning.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Clay cost per month?

Clay has a free plan at $0, Launch from $167 per month on annual billing ($185 monthly), Growth from $446 per month on annual billing ($495 monthly), and custom Enterprise pricing.

Is Clay free?

Yes, there is a Free plan. It gives you 500 Actions and 100 Data Credits per month, with unlimited seats and tables, waterfalls, Claygent, and bring-your-own API keys.

What is the difference between Actions and Data Credits?

Actions meter the orchestration work Clay does. Data Credits pay for data and AI from third-party vendors.

How can I lower my Data Credit spend?

Bring your own API keys. Clay's documentation says this eliminates Data Credits for that provider (you pay the provider directly), while each run still uses 1 Action. Clay estimates 50 to 80% overall savings on Data Credits.

Is Clay worth the price?

Yes. Clay starts free, shows the credit cost before every run, and puts data, AI research, and signals in one workspace, so you choose which records to enrich and how deeply. Bring-your-own API keys remove Clay Data Credits for providers you already pay, and one workspace can cover work that might otherwise need several point tools. Prove it on the Free plan or the 14-day trial, then size a plan to the volume you demonstrated.

Where Clay fits best

Clay fits best when someone on the team builds and maintains tables, using templates and Claygent to move quickly.
Clay fits best when you enrich records regularly and want to combine several sources and signals in one workflow.
Clay fits best when you already pay for data providers and want bring-your-own API keys to skip Clay Data Credits for those providers.

Bottom line

Yes, Clay is worth the price. Clay gives you a free plan, paid plans from $167 per month on annual billing, a credit cost shown before every run, and bring-your-own API keys that remove Clay Data Credits for providers you already pay (Clay estimates 50 to 80% overall savings). Start on the Free plan or the 14-day trial, measure your own results, and choose the plan that matches your volume.