Soul Machines vs Tolan (Portola)
Which Customer Support AI tool is better in 2026?
Soul Machines
Autonomously animated digital people for interactive customer experiences
Tolan (Portola)
Character-driven AI alien companions designed for friendship, not romance.
Side-by-side
Soul Machines is the more established option (raised $135M); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Soul Machines | Tolan (Portola) |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Autonomously animated digital people for interactive customer experiences | Character-driven AI alien companions designed for friendship, not romance. |
| Foundedi | 2016🏆 | 2023 |
| HQi | Auckland, New Zealand | San Francisco, US |
| Employeesi | — | 11-50🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 75🏆 | 56 |
| Total fundingi | $135M🏆 | $30M |
| Latest roundi | Series B · Feb 2022 | Series A · Jul 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 | Enterprise · Contact sales | Paid |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Soul Machines and Tolan (Portola).
| Capability | Soul Machines | Tolan (Portola) |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 1 (JavaScript) | — |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Soul Machines
- Has raised more capital ($135M vs $30M)
- Higher Neuron score (75 vs 56)
- More mature (2016)
🔵 Strengths of Tolan (Portola)
- Newer company (2023)
Which should you choose?
Choose Tolan (Portola) if price matters most — it starts at Paid, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Customer Support tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Soul Machines if you want the most established option — it has raised $135M, 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
Soul Machines vs Tolan (Portola) — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Soul Machines has raised more capital and is the more established option; Tolan (Portola) has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Soul Machines cheaper than Tolan (Portola)?
No — Tolan (Portola)'s cheapest paid plan is Paid, while Soul Machines's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do Soul Machines and Tolan (Portola) offer free plans?
Soul Machines: Paid only. Tolan (Portola): Paid only.
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