8 Best CRMs for Clay Users (2026)

Clay can build a perfect outbound machine: enrichment, scoring, routing, personalization, and automated list-building at scale. Then the real challenge starts. Thousands of enriched records need ownership, context, next steps, and a pipeline that stays reliable after meetings get booked.

A CRM becomes the operating layer Clay does not replace: a single source of truth for relationships, deal stages, handoffs, and follow-ups. The best CRM for Clay users keeps data clean, prevents duplicates.

What is Clay?

Clay is a sales data and outbound workflow platform that helps go-to-market teams build enriched lead lists and automate account research at scale. It connects multiple data providers and tools in one place, then uses workflows to enrich records, find missing fields, score leads, and route outputs into downstream systems.

Main capabilities that matter in daily outbound:

• Data enrichment workflows: Pull emails, company data, tech stack, hiring signals, and other attributes from multiple sources, then standardize fields for targeting.
• Lead research automation: Combine sources and logic to assemble buying groups and fill gaps without manual digging.
• Personalization inputs: Generate structured insights and angles that can feed sequences and messaging.
• Scoring and routing: Apply rules to qualify leads, segment lists, and send clean outputs to CRMs or engagement tools.
• Integrations and exports: Push enriched data into downstream tools so outreach and pipeline work stay connected.

Clay fits SDR/BDR teams, growth teams, and sales ops that want to scale outbound with better data quality and less manual research, especially when targeting is complex and enrichment needs to be continuous.

Is Clay a CRM?

❌ Clay is not a CRM. Clay builds and enriches data and automates outbound workflows, but it is not designed to be the long-term system of record for contacts, deals, and customer lifecycle.

A CRM owns pipeline stages, deal ownership, collaboration, and reporting once enriched leads turn into conversations and opportunities.

Why Clay Users Need a CRM?

Clay produces high-quality data and outbound-ready lists. A CRM turns that output into a sales system that stays clean and trackable after volume increases.

What a CRM adds on top of Clay:

👉 A single source of truth. Contacts, companies, conversations, and next steps stay attached to one record.

👉 Duplicate control and data hygiene. Enriched imports stay usable when multiple sources and lists overlap.

👉 Pipeline ownership. Deals, stages, and responsibilities stay clear across SDR, AE, and ops.

👉 Reliable follow-ups. Tasks and reminders keep next actions visible after sequences and meetings.

👉 Handoffs with context. Notes and activity history stay attached when ownership changes.

👉 Measurement and forecasting. Pipeline visibility stays consistent enough to report and improve.

8 Best CRMs for Clay Users in 2026

👉 Try folk CRM for free

1. folk CRM

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

folk is an AI CRM built for sales teams that push large volumes of enriched data into a pipeline. It keeps relationship context close to the deal with email and calendar sync, then protects data quality with enrichment and deduplication. Clay workflows pair well with folk when enrichment runs at scale and the CRM must stay fast for reps, clean for ops, and simple enough to maintain without admin overhead.

Pros

• Strong data hygiene for enrichment-heavy workflows: deduplication and structured fields keep imports usable
• Fast pipeline execution: deals, owners, and next steps stay easy to update after Clay-driven targeting
• Relationship context stays centralized: activity stays attached to the right contact and company for clean handoffs

Cons

• Best fit for lean to mid-market sales motions; heavy enterprise governance fits better in larger suites
• Deep custom data models stay more limited than database-first CRMs built for complex objects

Pricing

• Standard: $20/member/month (yearly)
• Premium: $40/member/month (yearly)
• Custom: from $80/member/month (yearly)

👉 Try folk CRM for free

2. Zoho CRM

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

Zoho CRM is a flexible, customization-friendly CRM that fits Clay users who want structure after enrichment-heavy workflows. Custom fields, automation, and reporting help turn Clay outputs into a pipeline that stays organized across owners and stages. It also works well when the rest of the stack already includes Zoho apps, since data can stay consistent across tools. Adoption is usually smooth once the core objects and field conventions are locked.

Pros

• Strong customization for fields, layouts, and workflows after Clay enrichment
• Solid automation and reporting for pipeline visibility and process consistency
• Good value for teams that need breadth without enterprise pricing

Cons

• UI and configuration can feel dense when many modules get enabled
• Data hygiene still needs discipline when multiple lists and sources overlap

Pricing

• Free: $0 (up to 3 users)
• Standard: $20/user/month (monthly)
• Professional: $35/user/month (monthly)
• Enterprise: $50/user/month (monthly)
• Ultimate: $65/user/month (monthly)

3. Copper

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

Copper is a Google Workspace-native CRM designed for teams that live in Gmail and Google Calendar. For Clay users, it fits when enrichment and list-building happen upstream, then relationship management and deal tracking need to stay close to daily communication. Automatic activity capture reduces manual logging, while pipelines keep opportunities structured once Clay outputs start converting into real conversations.

Pros

• Gmail and Google Calendar-first workflow keeps adoption high for inbox-driven teams
• Automatic activity capture reduces manual admin after Clay pushes volume into the CRM
• Clean pipeline and tasking for straightforward B2B sales motions

Cons

• Deep customization and complex reporting fit better in heavier CRMs
• Pricing can feel steep for teams that only need lightweight pipeline structure

Pricing

• Starter: $12/user/month (billed annually)
• Basic: $29/user/month (billed annually)
• Professional: $69/user/month (billed annually)
• Business: $134/user/month (billed annually)

4. Freshsales

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

Freshsales is a CRM built for teams that want a balance between ease of use and structured sales execution. It fits Clay users who enrich and segment data upstream, then need a CRM to manage deals, follow-ups, and reporting without heavy setup. Built-in automation supports routing, task creation, and stage-based workflows so Clay outputs turn into consistent pipeline movement.

Pros

• Good mix of usability, automation, and reporting for growing outbound teams
• Solid workflow automation for turning enriched lists into repeatable execution
• Scales well from small teams to mid-market needs without feeling enterprise-heavy

Cons

• Advanced customization and analytics depth can lag behind enterprise suites
• Some features depend on higher tiers as needs expand

Pricing

• Free: $0
• Growth: $9/user/month (billed annually)
• Pro: $39/user/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise: $59/user/month (billed annually)

5. Nimble

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

Nimble is a relationship-focused CRM that works well when Clay is used to enrich leads and identify the right people, then the CRM needs to keep context centralized across email and social touchpoints. It fits small teams and agencies that care about contact intelligence and staying organized across conversations, without adopting a heavy pipeline suite. Nimble stays lightweight while still providing structure for follow-ups and deal tracking.

Pros

• Strong contact-centric workflow that keeps relationship context easy to follow
• Useful for teams that manage many warm relationships and need fast organization
• Lightweight setup and day-to-day usage after Clay-driven enrichment

Cons

• Less suited for complex, process-heavy revenue operations and forecasting
• Pipeline and reporting depth can feel limited compared to larger CRMs

Pricing

• Business: $24.90/user/month (billed annually)

6. Insightly

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

Insightly is a CRM designed for teams that want structured pipeline management with strong process control, plus the option to extend into broader customer workflows. For Clay users, it fits when enrichment happens upstream and the CRM needs to keep lead-to-deal tracking organized across multiple owners and stages. It also works well for teams that care about standardized fields, workflow consistency, and reporting without adopting an enterprise giant.

Pros

• Structured pipeline and workflow automation for consistent execution after Clay enrichment
• Good fit for teams that want process control and standardized data fields
• Solid reporting for tracking pipeline health and performance over time

Cons

• UI and setup can feel heavier than lightweight CRMs for small teams
• Some advanced capabilities sit behind higher tiers

Pricing

• Plus: $29/user/month (billed annually)
• Professional: $49/user/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise: $99/user/month (billed annually)

7. Pipeline CRM

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

Pipeline CRM is a straightforward sales CRM built for teams that want clarity and speed without a complex stack. It fits Clay users who enrich and segment leads upstream, then need a simple place to assign ownership, track deals, and keep follow-ups consistent. Pipelines stay easy to maintain, reporting stays readable, and the workflow does not require heavy ops work to keep running.

Pros

• Simple pipeline and task workflow that stays fast after Clay pushes more leads into the CRM
• Clean, practical reporting for managers without enterprise complexity
• Good value for teams that want structure without a suite footprint

Cons

• Less suited for complex data models and advanced revenue operations
• Automation and customization depth can feel limited as needs expand

Pricing

• Start: $25/user/month (billed annually)
• Drive: $33/user/month (billed annually)
• Grow: $49/user/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise: $69/user/month (billed annually)

8. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

Salesforce is built for enterprise revenue operations: complex sales orgs, strict governance, and deep reporting. For Clay users, it fits when enrichment feeds a large, multi-team pipeline and the CRM must enforce process control across territories, roles, and handoffs. It is powerful, but it adds more setup and admin than most outbound teams need.

Pros

• Deep customization for objects, permissions, and workflows at enterprise scale
• Strong reporting and forecasting for large revenue organizations
• Reliable long-term system of record for complex sales operations

Cons

• Heavy setup and admin overhead for most Clay-led outbound teams
• Slower iteration without dedicated ops support

Pricing

• Starter Suite: $25/user/month
• Pro Suite: $100/user/month
• Enterprise: $175/user/month

8 Best CRMs for Clay Users: Final Recap

Conclusion

Clay builds outbound power through enrichment and automation. A CRM is what turns that power into a pipeline that stays clean, owned, and easy to move forward.

For Clay users in 2026, folk CRM stands out as the best fit because it keeps the workflow fast while protecting data quality. The Chrome extension, enrichment, and integrations make it easy to capture enriched leads, avoid duplicate chaos, and keep context attached to the right relationship without admin overhead.

Other CRMs can work, but they typically add a trade-off: more setup, more rigidity, or more time spent maintaining fields and processes. For teams that want Clay to scale outbound while keeping execution simple and consistent, folk stays the most practical choice.