Clay is a powerful data orchestration tool: you build your own workflows. Recon is a ready-made agency database: search and export in seconds. Clay = flexibility. Recon = speed.
Recon
Pre-built agency database with 147,000+ profiles. Get leads in under 2 minutes.
Clay
Connect 100+ data sources. Build custom workflows. Unlimited flexibility.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Recon | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-use agency data | 147,000+ profiles, searchable now | Must build from scratch |
| Setup time | 2 minutes | Hours to days |
| Learning curve | None: search bar + filters | Steep: workflow builder |
| Agency-specific filters | Service type, pricing, Clutch, team size | Must configure manually |
| Price for agency use case | $149/mo all-inclusive | $149-349/mo + credit costs |
| Data enrichment | Pre-enriched agency profiles | 100+ enrichment sources |
| Workflow builder | Not available | Visual workflow editor |
| API | Growth + Enterprise plans | All plans |
| Pre-built agency profiles | Services, clients, reviews, tech stack | Not available |
| Time to first lead | Under 2 minutes | Hours (workflow setup required) |
Need agency leads now, not next week?
Search 147,000+ agency profiles. Export in seconds.
Try Recon FreeWhere Clay wins
Clay is an incredibly flexible data orchestration platform. If you need to pull data from 100+ sources, build custom enrichment chains, and create complex workflows that combine multiple data signals, Clay is unmatched. Their visual workflow builder lets data teams create sophisticated prospecting pipelines that no other tool can replicate.
- 100+ data source integrations
- Visual workflow builder for custom enrichment
- Flexible: works for any industry, any use case
- AI-powered data transformations
- Perfect for data-savvy teams building custom pipelines
Where Recon wins
Recon is purpose-built for one thing: finding agencies. There's no workflow to build, no credits to manage, no learning curve. You search, you filter, you export. The data is already enriched with agency-specific fields that Clay would require custom workflows to replicate.
- Zero setup: agency data is ready to search immediately
- Pre-enriched profiles: services, clients, reviews, tech stacks, pricing tiers
- No per-record credit costs: flat monthly pricing
- No learning curve: if you can use a search bar, you can use Recon
- Built-in Clutch review data, agency ratings, and growth signals
Pricing comparison
Clay charges $149-349/mo for their platform, plus credits for each enrichment action. A typical agency prospecting workflow might cost 5-10 credits per lead. Recon charges $149/mo (Starter), $349/mo (Growth), or $499/mo (Enterprise) with no per-record charges. For agency-specific use cases, Recon's all-inclusive pricing is more predictable and often cheaper.
3 use cases where Recon wins
Need agency leads NOW
Your sales team has a meeting in an hour and needs a list of SEO agencies in Chicago. Recon: 2-minute search. Clay: build a workflow first.
Small team, no data engineer
You don't have someone to build and maintain Clay workflows. Recon works out of the box with zero technical setup.
Sales rep who wants to search, not build
Your reps should be selling, not configuring data pipelines. Recon's search interface is as simple as Google.
Who should use Clay instead
Data teams building complex, multi-source enrichment workflows across various industries. If you need to combine LinkedIn data with Clearbit firmographics with G2 intent signals with custom webhooks, Clay's workflow builder is the right tool. Clay is a platform; Recon is a product. Choose based on whether you want to build or search.
Search, don't build
147,000+ agency profiles. Pre-enriched. Ready to export.
Start Free with 25 LeadsFrequently Asked Questions
Is Recon better than Clay for finding agency leads?
For agency-specific leads, yes. Recon provides pre-built agency profiles with service types, client portfolios, and Clutch reviews, ready to search instantly. Clay requires you to build custom workflows from scratch.
How long does it take to get agency leads from Recon vs Clay?
Recon: under 2 minutes. Search, filter, export. Clay: hours to days, depending on workflow complexity. You need to connect data sources, build enrichment chains, and configure output.
Is Clay cheaper than Recon for agency data?
No. Clay is $149-349/mo plus credit costs for each enrichment. Recon is $149-499/mo all-inclusive with no per-record charges. For agency-specific use cases, Recon is more cost-effective.
Can Clay do everything Recon does?
Theoretically, you could build Clay workflows to replicate some Recon features. But Clay doesn't have a pre-built agency database with Clutch reviews, service types, or client portfolios. You'd need to source and enrich that data yourself.
When should I use Clay instead of Recon?
Use Clay when you need complex multi-source data enrichment across various verticals, or when your workflows require custom logic that goes beyond agency prospecting.
Does Recon have a workflow builder like Clay?
No. Recon is a search-and-export tool, not a workflow builder. If you need complex data orchestration, Clay is the better choice. If you need agency leads fast, Recon wins.