Dust vs Exa
Which Agents AI tool is better in 2026?
Dust
Deploy, orchestrate, and govern fleets of specialized AI agents safely connected to your company's knowledge and tools.
Exa
Search for AI applications
Side-by-side
Exa is the more established option (raised $102M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Dust | Exa |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Deploy, orchestrate, and govern fleets of specialized AI agents safely connected to your company's knowledge and tools. | Search for AI applications |
| Foundedi | 2023 | 2022🏆 |
| HQi | FR | San Francisco, US |
| Employeesi | 51-200 | 20-50🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 61🏆 | 57 |
| Total fundingi | $21M | $102M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series A · Jun 2024 | Series B · Sep 2025 |
| Valuationi | — | $700M🏆 |
| Cheapest paid plani | — | — |
| Free plani | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Free triali | ✓ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Enterprise · Contact sales | Enterprise · Contact sales |
| Pricing summaryi | 2 published plans | 3 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Dust and Exa.
| Capability | Dust | Exa |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | 3 (Python, JavaScript, TypeScript) |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✓ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Dust
- Higher Neuron score (61 vs 57)
- Newer company (2023)
🔵 Strengths of Exa
- Has raised more capital ($102M vs $21M)
- More mature (2022)
- Verified profile
Which should you choose?
Choose Exa 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 Exa if you want the most established option — it has raised $102M, 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
Dust vs Exa — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Dust is the leaner option; Exa has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Dust cheaper than Exa?
No — Exa's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Dust's is Free.
Do Dust and Exa offer free plans?
Dust: Yes, has a free plan. Exa: Yes, has a free plan.
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