A
AClay vs n8n
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
C
Choose Clay if…
- you need an API to build on
- you're in its core audience: gtm engineers, sales operations teams
N
Choose n8n if…
- you work on Self-hosted
- you're in its core audience: developers, operations teams
Side by side
Feature Clay n8n
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$54/mo—
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Trains AI on your content—No
Data retentionKept as long as necessary for purposes; no longer than user has an accountExecution data deleted automatically based on account's retention settings
Security and compliance—SOC 2, GDPR
Updates, last 90 days8—
GitHub stars—208.8K
Waterfall enrichment—
Intent & job-change signals—
Built-in sequences—
MCP server
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, Self-hosted
CategoryLead GenerationWorkflow Automation
CompanyClay Labs Incn8n GmbH
Based inUnited StatesGermany
Founded2017—
Part of——
Key features
C Clay
- Data marketplace with 200+ data and AI providers
- Waterfall enrichment across multiple data providers
- Claygent AI agent for web research
- Job change, promotion and intent signal tracking
- Visual canvas for building GTM workflows
- Native email sequencer
- Ad audience sync to LinkedIn, Meta and Google
- API, CLI and coding-agent plugin
N n8n
- Visual workflow builder with optional custom code
- 500+ native integrations plus HTTP for any API
- AI agents, AI nodes and MCP support
- Human-in-the-loop approvals, e.g. via Slack
- Re-run only the failed step
- Version history with Git-based version control
- SSO (SAML), LDAP, RBAC and audit logs
- Cloud hosting or self-hosting with Docker
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
Clay
FreeFree
LaunchFrom $54/mo billed annually ($60/mo monthly)
n8n
Community EditionFree (self-hosted)
Starter€20/mo billed annually
Pro€50/mo billed annually
Business€667/mo billed annually
EnterpriseCustom
Strengths and limitations
Clay
- Free plan with 500 actions/mo and unlimited seats
- One contract for data from 200+ providers
- 14-day trial with no credit card required
- API and CLI for building programmatically
- Free plan limited to 200 rows per table
- Usage-based actions and data credits make costs vary
- No mobile apps listed
n8n
- Self-hosted Community Edition available on GitHub
- All plans include unlimited users and workflows
- Cloud trial needs no credit card
- Pricing is per execution, regardless of workflow complexity
- Prices listed in euros for annual billing only
- Business plan is self-hosted only
- Support on non-Enterprise plans is forum only
- Self-hosted licensed features need a daily license server check-in
More comparisons
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Built from each vendor's public website; we haven't tested them hands-on. Editorial policy