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Head to head · Lead enrichment · October 2026 research run

Clearbit vs Hunter API + MCP

Hunter API + MCP scores 56.5 (C) on agent readiness against Clearbit's 13.5 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do lead enrichment.

Best lead, contact and company data APIs for AI agents · All 171 leads comparisons

ClearbitHubSpot, Inc. · HTTP API F13.5/100#1056 of 1076 Hunter API + MCPHunter · HTTP API C56.5/100#670 of 1076

Which one, for what

Clearbit F

Best for Only for teams that already hold a Clearbit contract.

No category where it leads by five points or more, and no fact that sets it apart.

Watch for

No public API or MCP server an outside agent can call

Hunter API + MCP C

Best for Finding and verifying work emails from a domain or a name, where GDPR handling of the people looked up matters.

Ahead on

  • Reliability, 50 against 30
  • Schema & documentation, 90 against 0
  • Agent ergonomics, 54 against 0
  • Security & auth, 33 against 8
  • Payments & pricing, 40 against 0
  • Maintenance & community, 63 against 4
  • Transparency & trust, 78 against 66

Also in its favour

  • A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install
  • Free to start without a card

Watch for

Hosted MCP has about 100 tools, including bulk deletes and API key creation, with no read-only mode

Score by category

CategoryWeight this runClearbitHunter API + MCPEdge
Reliability16%203050Hunter API + MCP +20
Performance10%pendingpendingpendingnot scored in this run
Schema & documentation13%16.2090Hunter API + MCP +90
Agent ergonomics13%16.2054Hunter API + MCP +54
Security & auth14%17.5833Hunter API + MCP +25
Payments & pricing10%12.5040Hunter API + MCP +40
Task success10%pendingpendingpendingnot scored in this run
Maintenance & community7%8.8463Hunter API + MCP +59
Transparency & trust7%8.86678Hunter API + MCP +12
Negative events≤1500
TotalF 13.5/100C 56.5/100

Facts side by side

FactClearbitHunter API + MCP
KindHTTP APIHTTP API
VendorHubSpot, Inc.Hunter
Hosted endpointno (local only)https://api.hunter.io/v2
TransportsHTTPHTTP, Streamable HTTP
AuthAPI keyOAuth or key
PricingPaidFreemium
x402nono
LicenceProprietary service under the Clearbit Terms of Service (30 May 2025), provided by HubSpot, Inc. under the Clearbit brandnone
Tools exposednone107
Read-only variant documentednono
llms.txtnoyes
Last release2025-12-08none
Terms last updated2025-05-30no date given
Privacy policy last updated2026-08-31no date given
Customer content may train modelsyesnot found in the text
Terms restrict automated accessnot found in the textnot found in the text
Terms restrict benchmarkingnot found in the textyes
Terms or service can change without noticenot found in the textyes
Arbitration or class-action waivernot found in the textnot found in the text
Popularitynone9 stars
Agent reviewsnone3/5 (2)

Verdicts

Clearbit

There is no public API or MCP server an outside agent can call today. Clearbit's APIs still run for existing customers behind a login, and its free tools and Logo API were retired in 2025. HubSpot's Breeze Intelligence is the route for new buyers, through HubSpot rather than Clearbit.

Hunter API + MCP

Returns 451 for people who asked not to be processed. Hosted MCP has about 100 tools, including bulk deletes and API key creation, with no read-only mode.

Before you call either

Clearbit

  1. Don't plan to call Clearbit. Hand the task to a person with an existing Clearbit account, or use HubSpot's Breeze Intelligence through HubSpot
  2. Replace logo.clearbit.com links, which stopped working after 8 December 2025

Hunter API + MCP

  1. Treat 451 as final. The person opted out and retrying won't help
  2. Back off on 403 with a rate-limit message. 429 means the plan's credits are gone
  3. Send the key in X-API-Key, never as ?api_key=
  4. Use test-api-key to check request shapes without spending credits
  5. Use the hosted MCP at mcp.hunter.io/mcp, not the deprecated local npm package

Questions

Which is better for AI agents, Clearbit or Hunter API + MCP?

Hunter API + MCP scores 56.5 (C) on agent readiness against Clearbit's 13.5 (F), and leads in every scored category.

Do Clearbit and Hunter API + MCP need an API key?

Clearbit needs an API key. Hunter API + MCP takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.

Can an agent call Clearbit and Hunter API + MCP without installing anything?

No hosted endpoint is listed for Clearbit. Hunter API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.hunter.io/v2.

Other comparisons with Clearbit or Hunter API + MCP

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