Clay vs Cognism
An in-depth, side-by-side comparison of Clay and Cognism to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Comparison
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Clay | Cognism |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfall enrichment | Chain providers for higher coverage. | — |
| AI scoring | Score and classify leads using prompts. | — |
| Workflow automation | Trigger tasks based on data changes. | — |
| Diamond Data | — | Phone-verified mobile numbers for higher connect rates. |
| Compliance engine | — | Built-in GDPR and CCPA compliance with Do-Not-Call list checking. |
| Intent data | — | Bombora-powered intent signals to identify in-market buyers. |
Pricing Comparison
| Clay | Cognism | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Custom |
| Starting Price | $99/mo | Contact sales |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
Clay Plans
- Starter $99 /monthly
Cognism Plans
- Custom Contact for pricing
Pros & Cons
Clay
+ Pros
- + Flexible
Fast to build tailored workflows.
− Cons
- − Learning curve
Power features take time to master.
Cognism
+ Pros
- + Strong compliance
Purpose-built for GDPR and European data regulations.
- + Verified mobiles
Diamond Data delivers higher connect rates than competitors.
− Cons
- − Smaller US database
Coverage is stronger in EMEA than North America.
Integration Overlap
Shared
- ✓ HubSpot CRM
Only in Clay
- + Zapier Automation
Only in Cognism
- + Salesforce CRM
- + Outreach Sales Engagement
Who Should Use Each Tool?
Clay
+ Best For
RevOps and outbound operators doing enrichment at scale.
− Not Ideal For
Teams that only need simple enrichment occasionally.
Cognism
+ Best For
European and compliance-focused teams needing verified mobile data.
− Not Ideal For
US-only teams that prioritize database size over compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Clay and Cognism?
+
Clay focuses on Enrichment + workflows while Cognism focuses on GDPR-compliant B2B prospecting data. Clay scores 84/100 overall compared to Cognism's 83/100. Clay is best for revops and outbound operators doing enrichment at scale., whereas Cognism is best for european and compliance-focused teams needing verified mobile data..
Which is cheaper, Clay or Cognism?
+
Clay starts at $99/mo. Cognism offers Custom pricing. Clay offers a free trial. Cognism offers a free trial.
Should I choose Clay or Cognism for my sales team?
+
Choose Clay if you need enrichment + workflows — it is best for revops and outbound operators doing enrichment at scale.. Choose Cognism if you need gdpr-compliant b2b prospecting data — it is best for european and compliance-focused teams needing verified mobile data.. Both tools compete in Lead Generation.
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