Brandwave

Apollo vs Clay:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Apollo had more branded searches than Clay among B2B contact data providers worldwide. Apollo had about 314,000 branded searches, while Clay had 2,470. Apollo made up 41.8% of all B2B contact data provider searches we track, and Clay accounted for 0.33%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about B2B contact data providers, Apollo appeared in all five answers and Clay in three. Apollo was mentioned before Clay in every answer.

Among B2B contact data providers worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Apollo, about 127 searches for every 1 for Clay

Apollo 314K searchesClay 2.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Apollo, mentioned in every answer we collected

Apollo in 5 of 5Clay in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Apollo, named ahead of Clay in every answer

Apollo first in 5Clay never first

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Top B2B contact data providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apollo appeared in all five answers. Clay was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Apollo was listed before Clay in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Apollo1st
  2. ZoomInfo2nd
  3. Cognism3rd
  4. Lusha4th
  5. UpLead4th
  6. Clay6th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Apollo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ZoomInfo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cognism5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lusha3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • UpLead3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clay3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about B2B contact data providers

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Apollo or Clay more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Apollo and Clay by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six B2B contact data providers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Apollo and Clay among B2B contact data providers worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Apollo, Clay. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthApolloZoomInfoLushaCognismUpLeadClay
Oct 202526%36.1%29.5%5.9%2.2%0.36%
Nov 202532%30.4%30.4%5%1.8%0.37%
Dec 202530.3%35.1%28.7%3.9%1.7%0.34%
Jan 202630%34.8%28.4%4.7%1.7%0.35%
Feb 202630.1%34.9%28.5%4.7%1.4%0.35%
Mar 202636.4%35%23.3%3.8%1.1%0.29%
Apr 202641.1%32.5%21.7%3.6%0.87%0.27%
May 202639.3%30.8%25.2%3.4%1%0.31%
Jun 202634.6%33%26.9%3.6%1.6%0.26%
Jul 202634.9%33.2%27.1%3.7%0.89%0.27%
Aug 202639.5%30.7%25.2%3.4%0.82%0.38%
Sep 202641.8%26.8%26.7%3.6%0.72%0.33%

How has the Apollo and Clay comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Apollo was ahead of Clay in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apollo’s share of searches among B2B contact data providers worldwide moved from 26% to 41.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 177K to 314K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clay’s share of searches among B2B contact data providers worldwide moved from 0.36% to 0.33%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 2.5K.

How did search popularity change for B2B contact data providers worldwide in September 2026?

1 change
  1. In September 2026, Apollo gained share of searches among B2B contact data providers worldwide, from 39.5% to 41.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

10 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apollo’s and Clay’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Apollo

8 branded search terms

  • apollo extension chrome
  • apollo io app
  • apollo io crm
  • apollo io extension
  • Apollo.io
  • app apollo io
  • appapollo io
  • io apollo

Clay

2 branded search terms

  • clay sales
  • clay sales intelligence

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among B2B contact data providers

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