Consensus vs Periodic Labs
Which Research Assistants AI tool is better in 2026?
Consensus
AI search engine that answers research questions from 220M+ peer-reviewed papers
Periodic Labs
Creating AI scientists and autonomous laboratories to accelerate scientific discovery, starting with physical sciences.
Side-by-side
Periodic Labs is the more established option (raised $300M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Consensus | Periodic Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | AI search engine that answers research questions from 220M+ peer-reviewed papers | Creating AI scientists and autonomous laboratories to accelerate scientific discovery, starting with physical sciences. |
| Foundedi | 2021🏆 | 2025 |
| HQi | Boston, United States | US |
| Employeesi | 11-50 | 11-50🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 35 | 64🏆 |
| Total fundingi | Undisclosed | $300M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series B · May 2026 | Seed · Sep 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 | Enterprise · Contact sales |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Consensus and Periodic Labs.
| Capability | Consensus | Periodic 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 Periodic Labs
- Has raised more capital ($300M vs Undisclosed)
- Higher Neuron score (64 vs 35)
- Newer company (2025)
Which should you choose?
Choose Periodic Labs if price matters most — it starts at Enterprise · Contact sales, 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 Periodic Labs if you want the most established option — it has raised $300M, 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 Periodic Labs — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Consensus is the leaner option; Periodic Labs has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Consensus cheaper than Periodic Labs?
No — Periodic Labs's cheapest paid plan is Enterprise · Contact sales, while Consensus's is Free.
Do Consensus and Periodic Labs offer free plans?
Consensus: Yes, has a free plan. Periodic Labs: Paid only.
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