Living Models vs Recursion
Which Drug Discovery AI tool is better in 2026?
Living Models
AI foundation models for biology, starting with plant genomics
Recursion
Pioneering AI-driven solutions in drug discovery to radically improve lives.
Side-by-side
Recursion is the more established option (raised $500M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Living Models | Recursion |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | AI foundation models for biology, starting with plant genomics | Pioneering AI-driven solutions in drug discovery to radically improve lives. |
| Foundedi | 2024 | 2013🏆 |
| HQi | Paris, FR | Salt Lake City, US |
| Employeesi | 1-10 | 501-1000🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 51 | 66🏆 |
| Total fundingi | $7M | $500M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Seed | IPO · Apr 2021 |
| Valuationi | — | $2B🏆 |
| 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 Living Models and Recursion.
| Capability | Living Models | Recursion |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | — | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Living Models
- Offers a free plan
- Offers a free trial
- Newer company (2024)
🔵 Strengths of Recursion
- Has raised more capital ($500M vs $7M)
- Higher Neuron score (66 vs 51)
- More mature (2013)
Which should you choose?
Choose Recursion if price matters most — it starts at Enterprise · Contact sales, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both Drug Discovery tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Recursion if you want the most established option — it has raised $500M, 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
Living Models vs Recursion — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Living Models is the leaner option; Recursion has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Living Models cheaper than Recursion?
No — Recursion's cheapest paid plan is Enterprise · Contact sales, while Living Models's is Free.
Do Living Models and Recursion offer free plans?
Living Models: Yes, has a free plan. Recursion: Paid only.
Explore more Drug Discovery tools
Contextual paths to related AI startups, deals and rankings.