Backyard AI vs Tolan (Portola)
Which Companions AI tool is better in 2026?
Backyard AI
Unfiltered text and voice chats with AI characters and lorebooks
Tolan (Portola)
Character-driven AI alien companions designed for friendship, not romance.
Side-by-side
Tolan (Portola) is the more established option (raised $30M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Backyard AI | Tolan (Portola) |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Unfiltered text and voice chats with AI characters and lorebooks | Character-driven AI alien companions designed for friendship, not romance. |
| Foundedi | — | 2023🏆 |
| HQi | — | San Francisco, US |
| Employeesi | 1-10 | 11-50🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 57🏆 | 56 |
| Total fundingi | Undisclosed | $30M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | — | Series A · Jul 2025 |
| Valuationi | — | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | Pricing not disclosed | Pricing not disclosed |
| Free plani | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free triali | ✓ | ✗ |
| Top tier pricei | Pricing not disclosed | Pricing not disclosed |
| Pricing summaryi | Free | Paid |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Backyard AI and Tolan (Portola).
| Capability | Backyard AI | Tolan (Portola) |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Backyard AI
- Higher Neuron score (57 vs 56)
- Offers a free plan
- Offers a free trial
🔵 Strengths of Tolan (Portola)
- Has raised more capital ($30M vs Undisclosed)
- Newer company (2023)
Which should you choose?
Choose Tolan (Portola) if price matters most — it starts at Paid, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Companions tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Tolan (Portola) if you want the most established option — it has raised $30M, 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
Backyard AI vs Tolan (Portola) — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Backyard AI is the leaner option; Tolan (Portola) has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Backyard AI cheaper than Tolan (Portola)?
No — Tolan (Portola)'s cheapest paid plan is Paid, while Backyard AI's is Free.
Do Backyard AI and Tolan (Portola) offer free plans?
Backyard AI: Yes, has a free plan. Tolan (Portola): Paid only.
Explore more AI Companions tools
Contextual paths to related AI startups, deals and rankings.