Difference Between My Account and Clay-Provided Account Explained

hey everyone, new user here with a new user question - what is the difference between "My account" and "Clay-provided account" under "Connections"? If Clay provides that account (e.g., People Data Labs), does that mean we don't need to sign up for an individual account to use that connection for, say, enrichment?

3 comments

Channeled
APP
·
·
The difference is in who owns and manages the API connection: 1. "Clay-provided account" means you're using our managed account for that integration (like People Data Labs). You don't need to sign up separately - we handle the connection and you'll be charged Clay credits for using these enrichments. 2. "My account" refers to using your own API key for the integration. If you're on a paid plan (Starter, Explorer, Pro), you can add your own People Data Labs API key through the Integrations section. Using your own API key can be beneficial if you already have an account with the provider or prefer to manage usage directly through them.
Sources: People Data Labs integration overview | Documentation | Clay University Do I need other accounts or API keys in order to access tools in Clay? - FAQ | Clay.com People Data Labs integration overview | Documentation | Clay University
Richard X.
·
·
^ so the difference is usage? i.e., "my account" = my own API = no credits; "Clay-provided accounts" = credit usage
Channeled
APP
·
·
Yes, that's exactly right. The main difference is: 1. "My account" means you're using your own API key, which doesn't consume Clay credits. You'll pay for usage directly through that service provider. 2. "Clay-provided account" means you're using our pre-configured integrations that consume workspace credits. This eliminates the need for you to have individual service contracts. This applies to various integrations like Findymail, ChatGPT, and other data providers. Using your own API keys can save Clay credits, though our bulk-purchased credits might sometimes be more economical.
Sources: Managing integration accounts | Documentation | Clay University Do I get charged credits if I bring my own API key? - FAQ | Clay.com