Clay vs Cognism: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Clay and Cognism side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Clay leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Clay
Supercharge sales & marketing with enriched lead data
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Cognism
B2B sales intelligence platform
Best for you if:
- • You want high data quality
| At a Glance | Clay | Cognism |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $167/mo flat, billed monthly Launch plan | From $1,500/year Platinum plan |
Category | Lead Generation Sales Intelligence | Lead Generation Sales Intelligence |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 228 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 · TrustRadius 4.2 1,634 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | Credit overages not detailed | Potential minimum seat requirements |
Choose Clay or Cognism?
Choose Clay if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want 100+ data sources
- You want AI research agent
Choose Cognism if
- You want high data quality
- You want GDPR compliant
In-Depth Analysis
Clay
Supercharge sales & marketing with enriched lead data
Clay's pricing starts reasonably with a generous Free tier, but scales up quickly.
Watch out
Credit overages not detailed
Strengths
- Pro: 100+ data sources
- Pro: AI research agent
- Pro: Powerful workflows
Weaknesses
- Con: Can get expensive
Key features
Cognism
B2B sales intelligence platform
Cognism's pricing, starting at $1500/user/year for Platinum and $2500/user/year for Diamond, is on the expensive side compared to many B2B data providers.
Watch out
Potential minimum seat requirements
Strengths
- Pro: High data quality
- Pro: GDPR compliant
- Pro: Phone verification
Weaknesses
- Con: European focus
- Con: Premium pricing
Key features
Plans and prices: Clay vs Cognism
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clay |
| clay.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Cognism |
| cognism.com read Oct 3, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Clay pricing and Cognism pricing.
Key Takeaways
Clay
- Has a free plan
Cognism
- Choose if you want B2B sales intelligence platform
What the data shows
On the data below, Clay leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.6/5 from 228 reviews for Clay, 4.5/5 from 1,634 reviews for Cognism).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Clay $167/mo flat, billed monthly; Cognism $1,500/year.
- Only Clay has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Clay and Cognism compare in 2026?
On the data below, Clay leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.6/5 from 228 reviews for Clay, 4.5/5 from 1,634 reviews for Cognism). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Clay $167/mo flat, billed monthly; Cognism $1,500/year. Only Clay has a free plan.
What are Clay and Cognism used for?
Clay: Supercharge sales & marketing with enriched lead data. Cognism: B2B sales intelligence platform.
What does Clay cost vs Cognism?
Clay's cheapest paid plan is Launch at $167/mo flat, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Cognism's cheapest paid plan is Platinum at $1,500/year. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Clay and Cognism?
Clay's main strength: 100+ data sources. Cognism's main strength: high data quality.