Etched vs Liquid AI
Which Infrastructure AI tool is better in 2026?
Etched
Etched is building custom hardware to accelerate large language models and achieve superintelligence.
Liquid AI
Efficient general-purpose foundation models built for edge, on-device, and cloud deployment at every scale.
Side-by-side
Liquid AI is the more established option (raised $250M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Etched | Liquid AI |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Etched is building custom hardware to accelerate large language models and achieve superintelligence. | Efficient general-purpose foundation models built for edge, on-device, and cloud deployment at every scale. |
| Foundedi | — | 2023🏆 |
| HQi | — | Boston, US |
| Employeesi | — | 51-200🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 15 | 66🏆 |
| Total fundingi | Undisclosed | $250M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | — | Series A · Dec 2024 |
| Valuationi | — | $2.4B🏆 |
| Cheapest paid plani | Pricing not disclosed | — |
| Free plani | ✗ | ✓ Playground |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Pricing not disclosed | Enterprise · Contact sales |
| Pricing summaryi | Enterprise · Contact sales | 2 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Etched and Liquid AI.
| Capability | Etched | Liquid AI |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | 1 (Python) |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✓ |
🟢 Strengths of Etched
- Strong in AI Infrastructure
🔵 Strengths of Liquid AI
- Has raised more capital ($250M vs Undisclosed)
- Higher Neuron score (66 vs 15)
- Offers a free plan
- Offers a free trial
Which should you choose?
Choose Liquid AI if price matters most — it starts at Enterprise · Contact sales, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Infrastructure tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Liquid AI if you want the most established option — it has raised $250M, 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
Liquid Foundation Models — free on Liquid Playground
Try Liquid Foundation Models free in the Liquid Playground — LFM-1B, LFM-3B, and LFM-40B available for evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Etched vs Liquid AI — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Etched is the leaner option; Liquid AI has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Etched cheaper than Liquid AI?
No — Liquid AI's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Etched's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do Etched and Liquid AI offer free plans?
Etched: Paid only. Liquid AI: Yes, has a free plan.
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