Consensus vs Listen Labs
Which Research Assistants AI tool is better in 2026?
Consensus
AI search engine that answers research questions from 220M+ peer-reviewed papers
Listen Labs
AI-moderated customer research interviews at scale
Side-by-side
Listen Labs is the more established option (raised $100M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Consensus | Listen Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | AI search engine that answers research questions from 220M+ peer-reviewed papers | AI-moderated customer research interviews at scale |
| Foundedi | 2021🏆 | 2023 |
| HQi | Boston, United States | San Francisco, United States |
| Employeesi | 11-50🏆 | — |
| Neuron scorei | 61 | 73🏆 |
| Total fundingi | Undisclosed | $100M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series B · May 2026 | Series B · Jan 2026 |
| Valuationi | — | $500M🏆 |
| 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 | Custom |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Consensus and Listen Labs.
| Capability | Consensus | Listen Labs |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Consensus
- Offers a free plan
- More mature (2021)
🔵 Strengths of Listen Labs
- Has raised more capital ($100M vs Undisclosed)
- Higher Neuron score (73 vs 61)
- Newer company (2023)
Which should you choose?
Choose Listen Labs if price matters most — it starts at Custom, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both Research Assistants tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Listen Labs if you want the most established option — it has raised $100M, 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
Consensus vs Listen Labs — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Consensus is the leaner option; Listen Labs has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Consensus cheaper than Listen Labs?
No — Listen Labs's cheapest paid plan is Custom, while Consensus's is Free.
Do Consensus and Listen Labs offer free plans?
Consensus: Yes, has a free plan. Listen Labs: Paid only.
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