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AnythingLLM vs SurfSense

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors.

The short answer

Entry price
AnythingLLM from $50/mo, SurfSense from $60/yr — different billing units, so no direct winner
Free plan
Both have one
Public API
AnythingLLM has one; not confirmed by us for SurfSense
Best fit
AnythingLLM: Privacy-conscious users who want chat with their documents without sending files to a cloud · SurfSense: Researchers who want cited answers over their documents without a cloud account
Platforms
AnythingLLM: macOS, Windows, Linux, Android · SurfSense: Windows, macOS, Linux

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

AnythingLLMPrivate on-device AI assistant for chatting with your documents, running agents and transcribing meetings, free on desktop.SurfSenseOpen-source desktop NotebookLM alternative that runs offline on your own machine with your own model keys or a local model.

Side by side

FactAnythingLLMSurfSense
CategoryChat with Documents & PDFDeep Research Agents
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$50/mo$60/yr
Public APIYesNot confirmed
Trust score88 / 10091 / 100
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, Linux, Android, APIWindows, macOS, Linux
CompanyMintplex LabsSurfSense
Launched2023—
Last verifiedOct 2, 2026Oct 15, 2026

What our research says

AnythingLLM

A strong choice if you want document chat and agents that stay on your own machine, with a free desktop app and a Docker option for teams. It is more of a toolbox than a polished single-purpose product, so expect to pick a model and tune workspaces. Teams that do not want to self-host can pay for the hosted cloud.

Pros

  • MIT-licensed code with a free desktop app
  • Works with local models or bring-your-own cloud keys
  • Document knowledge base, web search, agents and meeting transcription in one app
  • Self-host with Docker or use a hosted cloud instance

Cons

  • Answer quality depends on the model and hardware you pick
  • Hosted Cloud plans require your own LLM API key
  • Wide feature set means more setup than a single-purpose app

SurfSense

SurfSense is now a local, air-gapped notebook for asking questions over your own documents, free to download and open source. It suits people who want NotebookLM-style answers without uploading sources to a cloud; anyone who relied on the old hosted connectors and REST API has to export before 18 October 2026 and wait for the paid scraper plugins, which have not shipped.

Pros

  • The app and updates are free, with no account and no usage cap
  • Runs offline with sources and index on your own disk
  • Works with your own model keys or a local model
  • Source is public, so it can be audited or built from scratch

Cons

  • The hosted service, REST API and MCP connectors are gone; the cloud is export-only
  • Scraper plugins are paid and have not shipped in version 2.0
  • The cloud export does not carry original uploads, generated artifacts or citation links

Which one fits

Choose AnythingLLM if you need

  • Privacy-conscious users who want chat with their documents without sending files to a cloud
  • Small teams that want a self-hosted, multi-user AI workspace
  • Developers who want an agent builder and API around local or cloud models

Choose SurfSense if you need

  • Researchers who want cited answers over their documents without a cloud account
  • Teams that need document Q&A to run offline or inside their own network
  • Users who already have model API keys or run a local model

AnythingLLM vs SurfSense: the questions people ask

Is AnythingLLM cheaper than SurfSense?

They charge in different units, so there is no like-for-like answer: AnythingLLM starts at $50/mo, SurfSense at $60/yr. Entry price is the lowest paid plan as we last verified it.

Does AnythingLLM or SurfSense have a free tier?

Both: AnythingLLM has a free tier, and SurfSense has a free tier.

Which has a public API, AnythingLLM or SurfSense?

AnythingLLM ships a public API, as of our last verification. A public API for SurfSense is not confirmed by us — check its developer docs before you plan an integration.

More comparisons

All AnythingLLM alternatives →Browse all Chat with Documents & PDF →