Discover folk - the CRM for people-powered businesses
In the market for a new CRM? Streak and Clay are two prominent CRM platforms that have captured the attention of businesses seeking to optimize their customer interactions and sales processes. Each platform offers a unique set of features tailored to different business needs, from Streak's seamless integration with Gmail to Clay's focus on contact enrichment and automation. In this article, we will explore and compare the key features, pricing, and benefits of Streak and Clay, providing you with the insights needed to make an informed decision for your organization. Additionally, we'll introduce folk as a compelling alternative to consider.
What is Streak?
Streak is a customer relationship management (CRM) tool that integrates directly with Gmail, allowing users to manage their sales pipeline and customer interactions from within their email inbox. Designed to simplify CRM tasks, Streak offers features such as email tracking, mail merge, task management, and pipeline visualization, all seamlessly embedded in Gmail’s interface.
Key features of Streak
- Email tracking: Streak’s email tracking feature allows users to see when and if their emails are opened, providing basic insights into recipient engagement.
- Snippets: The snippets feature enables users to create reusable templates for frequently used email content, which helps to streamline communication.
- Link tracking: Streak's link tracking monitors whether recipients click on links within emails, offering data on engagement with specific content.
- Contacts: Streak's contact management feature organizes and tracks communications with individual contacts, directly within Gmail.
- Deep Google Workspace integration: Streak is integrated with Google Workspace, allowing users to manage emails, tasks, and pipelines within the Gmail interface.
What is Clay?
Clay is a customer relationship management tool designed to help users organize and manage contact information and interactions, with a focus on automation and contact enrichment.
Key features of Clay
- Contact management: The platform allows users to organize and manage contacts by consolidating information in one place. Users can add custom fields, notes, and tags to categorize and track interactions with each contact, making it easier to manage customer relationships.
- Automation: Clay CRM includes automation tools that handle repetitive tasks like contact updates and reminders, helping users streamline their communication and workflow processes.
- Search and filtering: The platform provides advanced search and filtering functionality, allowing users to segment their contact database based on various criteria such as engagement history, tags, or custom fields.
- Real-time updates: The platform provides real-time updates for contact records and tasks, ensuring that users have the latest information on their contacts and projects at all times.
Streak vs. Clay: Feature Comparison
Let's break down the key features of these two CRM software solutions and take a closer look at their sales automation, email marketing tools, and contact management.
1. Sales pipeline management
Streak CRM's pipeline management feature is deeply integrated with Gmail, allowing users to track, organize, and manage sales processes directly from their inbox. The system uses a visual layout, similar to a spreadsheet with automation features. Clay CRM does not offer a dedicated pipeline management feature as part of its core functionality. While users can organize contacts and tasks, the platform lacks specific tools for tracking deals or leads through stages in a sales pipeline.
2. Easy of use
Streak CRM offers a user-friendly experience directly within Gmail, making it intuitive for users familiar with Google's ecosystem. Clay CRM is also user-friendly, and has an interface similar to that of an address book.
3. Contact enrichment
Streak CRM's contact enrichment feature automatically enhances contact records by extracting relevant information from email interactions. The system can populate fields with details like company logos, profile pictures, and social media links. Clay CRM's contact enrichment feature automatically gathers additional data from sources like social media and public databases to build more comprehensive contact profiles.
4. Outreach
Streak CRM's outreach solution is designed around email communication directly within Gmail, allowing users to send personalized mass emails, track email opens and replies, and set automated follow-up sequences. Clay CRM lacks a dedicated outreach feature but supports tracking interactions and setting tasks for follow-ups.
5. Automation
Streak CRM, integrated within Gmail, offers automation features for email tracking, follow-ups, and pipeline updates, triggering actions based on pipeline changes. Clay CRM automates tasks like contact updates and follow-up reminders, with actions triggered by conditions like time delays.
6. Integration
Streak CRM integrates deeply with Google Workspace, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, and connects with tools like Zapier for broader application access. Clay CRM's integration capabilities are not specified.
7. Artificial Intelligence
Streak CRM has limited native AI integrations but can connect with third-party AI tools for enhanced capabilities like email automation and data enrichment. Clay CRM does not currently offer dedicated AI integration.
Price and plans comparison
Let's take a closer look at the price and plans of both Streak and Clay.
Streak prices
Streak offers both a monthly and annual subscription plan. The following is an overview of their annual plan.
- Pro: Starts from $49 per user, per month.
- Pro +: Starts from $69 per user, per month.
- Enterprise: Starts from $129 per user, per month.
Clay prices
Clay has a free plan for personal use, for up to 1,000 contacts. After that premium plans are as follows on an annual subscription.
- Pro: $10 per user, per month.
- Team: $40 per user, per month.
- Enterprise: Undisclosed.
Introducing folk CRM: the best alternative to Streak and Clay
Looking for an affordable alternative? We recommend folk. A multiple award-winning CRM platform loved for its easy-to-use, plug-and-play CRM system.
Key features
- Ease of use and customization: Easily customize the pipelines, dashboards, automation, email sequences, so that you can use it across your sales cycle and pipeline management – and other business functions such as recruitment, marketing, and more.
- Social media integration: Import people and companies from LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, Instagram, and X within a click thanks to folk’s Google Chrome extension.
- Contact sync from Gmail and Outlook: Full email sync enabling users to manage all communications directly from the CRM.
- Find email addresses in a click: Contact enrichment powered by Apollo, and Dropcontact so you can fill in missing data points with 1-click.
- Email sequences: Send email sequences with reminders if your leads don’t reply to your first emails. It includes an AI integration allowing you to personalize email at scale.
- Notes and reminders: Attach notes directly to a contact's profile in folk, and access them on the go. And assign reminders so you know exactly when to follow-up.
Price and plans
folk has a 14-day free trial. After that, there are affordable monthly or annual subscription plans. The annual subscription plan is as follows.
- Standard: $20 per user, per month.
- Premium: $40 per user, per month.
- Custom: Starts from $80 per user, per month.
Streak vs. Clay: What's the verdict?
Between Streak and Clay, it's clear that each CRM offers unique advantages. Streak excels with its seamless Gmail integration and pipeline management, making it ideal for users who live within their inbox. Clay, on the other hand, shines with its automation and contact enrichment features, perfect for those seeking a more data-driven approach. However, for companies that need a more personalized approach to relationship management, folk provides a flexible alternative to these traditional CRM options, blending ease of use with customization. Try folk today, free.
Discover folk - the CRM for people-powered businesses