01.AI vs Poolside
Which Agents AI tool is better in 2026?
01.AI
Founded by Kai-Fu Lee — maker of the Yi model family.
Poolside
AI platform for software engineering
Side-by-side
Poolside is the more established option (raised $500M), but 01.AI is cheaper to start.
| Metric | 01.AI | Poolside |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Founded by Kai-Fu Lee — maker of the Yi model family. | AI platform for software engineering |
| Foundedi | 2023 | 2023 |
| HQi | Beijing, CN | San Francisco, US |
| Employeesi | 201-500🏆 | 100-200 |
| Neuron scorei | 65🏆 | 56 |
| Total fundingi | $200M | $500M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series A · Nov 2023 | Growth · Oct 2025 |
| Valuationi | $1B | $12B🏆 |
| Cheapest paid plani | —🏆 | — |
| Free plani | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✗ |
| Top tier pricei | Enterprise LLM Platform · Contact sales | Enterprise · Contact sales |
| Pricing summaryi | 1 published plans | 1 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for 01.AI and Poolside.
| Capability | 01.AI | Poolside |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 1 (Python) | — |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✓ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of 01.AI
- Higher Neuron score (65 vs 56)
🔵 Strengths of Poolside
- Has raised more capital ($500M vs $200M)
- Verified profile
Which should you choose?
Choose 01.AI if price matters most — it starts at Freemium, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Agents tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Poolside if you want the most established option — it has raised $500M, 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.
Frequently asked questions
01.AI vs Poolside — which is better?
It depends on your priority. 01.AI is the leaner option; Poolside has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is 01.AI cheaper than Poolside?
Yes — 01.AI's cheapest paid plan is Freemium, while Poolside's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do 01.AI and Poolside offer free plans?
01.AI: Paid only. Poolside: Paid only.
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