Listen Labs vs Surf
Which Research Assistants AI tool is better in 2026?
Listen Labs
AI-moderated customer research interviews at scale
Surf
AI research model purpose-built for crypto and digital-asset intelligence
Side-by-side
Listen Labs is the more established option (raised $100M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Listen Labs | Surf |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | AI-moderated customer research interviews at scale | AI research model purpose-built for crypto and digital-asset intelligence |
| Foundedi | 2023🏆 | 2025 |
| HQi | San Francisco, United States | San Francisco, US |
| Employeesi | — | 11-50🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 73🏆 | 55 |
| Total fundingi | $100M🏆 | $15M |
| Latest roundi | Series B · Jan 2026 | Seed |
| 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 | Custom | Free |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Listen Labs and Surf.
| Capability | Listen Labs | Surf |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | — |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Listen Labs
- Has raised more capital ($100M vs $15M)
- Higher Neuron score (73 vs 55)
- More mature (2023)
🔵 Strengths of Surf
- Offers a free plan
- Offers a free trial
- Newer company (2025)
Which should you choose?
Choose Surf if price matters most — it starts at Free, 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
Listen Labs vs Surf — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Listen Labs has raised more capital and is the more established option; Surf has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Listen Labs cheaper than Surf?
No — Surf's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Listen Labs's is Custom.
Do Listen Labs and Surf offer free plans?
Listen Labs: Paid only. Surf: Yes, has a free plan.
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