Cognition vs Refact.ai
Which Agents AI tool is better in 2026?
Cognition
Applied AI lab building Devin, the AI software engineer.
Refact.ai
Self-hosted AI coding assistant — run on your own infra, own your data
Side-by-side
Cognition is the more established option (raised $2.5B), but Refact.ai is cheaper to start.
| Metric | Cognition | Refact.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Applied AI lab building Devin, the AI software engineer. | Self-hosted AI coding assistant — run on your own infra, own your data |
| Foundedi | 2023 | 2022🏆 |
| HQi | San Francisco, US | Amsterdam, NL |
| Employeesi | 11-50 | 11-50 |
| Neuron scorei | 84🏆 | 60 |
| Total fundingi | $2.5B🏆 | Undisclosed |
| Latest roundi | Series D · May 2026 | Seed · Jan 2023 |
| Valuationi | $26B🏆 | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | Pro · $20/mo | Pro · $10/mo🏆 |
| Free plani | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✗ |
| Top tier pricei | Max · $200/mo | Pro · $10/mo |
| Pricing summaryi | 5 published plans | 3 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Cognition and Refact.ai.
| Capability | Cognition | Refact.ai |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✓ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | 1 (Python) |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✓ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Cognition
- Has raised more capital ($2.5B vs Undisclosed)
- Higher Neuron score (84 vs 60)
- Newer company (2023)
🔵 Strengths of Refact.ai
- More mature (2022)
Which should you choose?
Choose Refact.ai if price matters most — it starts at Free, 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 Cognition if you want the most established option — it has raised $2.5B, 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
Try Devin with starter credits
Cognition's Devin offers a starter pack of ACU credits on signup so you can test the autonomous engineer on real tasks.
Terms: Credit amount varies by program.
Frequently asked questions
Cognition vs Refact.ai — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Cognition has raised more capital and is the more established option; Refact.ai is cheaper to start. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Cognition cheaper than Refact.ai?
No — Refact.ai's cheapest paid plan is Pro · $10/mo, while Cognition's is Pro · $20/mo.
Do Cognition and Refact.ai offer free plans?
Cognition: Yes, has a free plan. Refact.ai: Yes, has a free plan.
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