01.AI vs OpenAI
Which Foundation Models AI tool is better in 2026?
01.AI
Founded by Kai-Fu Lee — maker of the Yi model family.
OpenAI
Creator of ChatGPT, GPT-4, and the leading frontier AI lab.
Side-by-side
OpenAI is the more established option (raised $193.3B), but 01.AI is cheaper to start.
| Metric | 01.AI | OpenAI |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Founded by Kai-Fu Lee — maker of the Yi model family. | Creator of ChatGPT, GPT-4, and the leading frontier AI lab. |
| Foundedi | 2023 | 2015🏆 |
| HQi | Beijing, CN | San Francisco, US |
| Employeesi | 201-500🏆 | 1001-5000 |
| Neuron scorei | 65 | 81🏆 |
| Total fundingi | $200M | $193.3B🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series A · Nov 2023 | Series E · Mar 2026 |
| Valuationi | $1B | $852B🏆 |
| Cheapest paid plani | —🏆 | ChatGPT Plus · $20/mo |
| Free plani | ✗ | ✓ Free |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✗ |
| Top tier pricei | Enterprise LLM Platform · Contact sales | ChatGPT Team · $25/mo |
| Pricing summaryi | 1 published plans | 4 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for 01.AI and OpenAI.
| Capability | 01.AI | OpenAI |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 1 (Python) | 6 (Python, Node.js, TypeScript, Go…) |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✓ |
🟢 Strengths of 01.AI
- Newer company (2023)
🔵 Strengths of OpenAI
- Has raised more capital ($193.3B vs $200M)
- Higher Neuron score (81 vs 65)
- Offers a free plan
- More mature (2015)
Which should you choose?
Choose 01.AI if price matters most — it starts at Freemium, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both Foundation Models tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose OpenAI if you want the most established option — it has raised $193.3B, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
💸 Deals
Free daily tokens via OpenAI data-sharing tier
Eligible OpenAI API tiers can earn free daily tokens on GPT-4.1, GPT-4o, and other models by opting in to share prompts and completions for model improvement.
Terms: Opt-in required. Token allotment varies by tier.
Frequently asked questions
01.AI vs OpenAI — which is better?
It depends on your priority. 01.AI is the leaner option; OpenAI has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is 01.AI cheaper than OpenAI?
Yes — 01.AI's cheapest paid plan is Freemium, while OpenAI's is ChatGPT Plus · $20/mo.
Do 01.AI and OpenAI offer free plans?
01.AI: Paid only. OpenAI: Yes, has a free plan.
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Contextual paths to related AI startups, deals and rankings.