Does AI21 Labs or LightOn have a free plan?

AI21 Labs is available for free with a free trial. LightOn is a paid tool. Always verify current pricing directly with the vendor.

AI21 Labs vs LightOn

Q: Can I use AI21 Labs and LightOn together?

Yes, many teams use both tools together for different purposes. Use the Stack Builder section above to combine AI21 Labs and LightOn with other tools and save your AI toolkit.

Comprehensive side-by-side comparison — features, pricing, performance, and more.

Updated June 2026

AI21 Labs

Powering enterprise AI with reliable foundation models and knowledge agents.

0.0(0)

FREEMIUM

92% data quality

LightOn

Secure AI Search & Reasoning for Enterprise Data

0.0(0)

PAID

91% data quality

Trust & Reliability

AI21 Labs

Customers (per vendor):EDUCA EDTECH Group

GDPR

LightOn

Customers (per vendor):Safran, Babbar, Region Ile De France

GDPR

Too Close to Call

AI21 Labs (6.8) vs LightOn (6.7) — difference of 0.2 points

AI Comparison Summary

AI21 Labs

6.8

avg score

LightOn

6.7

avg score

AI21 Labs leads overall — particularly in Customizability and Integration Power.

LightOn has an edge in Ease of Use.

Based on 6 dimensions

How scores are calculated

Overall Winner

AI21 Labs

6.8 / 10

AI21 Labs

Best For

Building high-accuracy AI agents for enterprises

Developing custom AI solutions for specific industry needs

Processing long-context data efficiently with LLMs

Automating high-stakes workflows with validation

Not Ideal For

Individual users or small businesses seeking simple, off-the-shelf AI tools.

Users without technical expertise for API integration or custom development.

Organizations looking for a wide array of pre-built, no-code integrations.

LightOn

Best For

Implementing secure AI search on internal knowledge bases

Automating RFP responses with reliable content

Powering self-service customer support portals

Developing AI-powered internal assistants

Not Ideal For

Individuals or small teams seeking a free or low-cost AI search solution

Users who prefer fully managed SaaS solutions without data residency concerns

Organizations without significant internal IT resources for deployment and management

* Verdict is based on our algorithmic scoring of publicly available data. Learn about our methodology

AI21 Labs is best for

✍️Writing & Content8.0💬Chat & Conversation8.0

LightOn is best for

✍️Writing & Content9.0💬Chat & Conversation9.0

Filter by your use case:

Pros & Cons

AI21 Labs

Pros

Offers specialized AI orchestration for enterprise agents (Maestro)
Provides efficient, long-context foundation models (Jamba)
Focuses on accuracy, adaptability, and transparency in AI systems
Supports custom AI solutions tailored to specific data and use cases
Offers flexible deployment options including SaaS, private cloud, and on-premise
Includes robust security, observability, and audit logging features

Cons

Pricing is usage-based, which can be unpredictable for large-scale operations without volume discounts.
Advanced features like private cloud hosting and priority support are limited to custom plans.
Requires technical expertise for API-based integration and custom solution development.
No explicit mention of a wide range of third-party integrations beyond developer tools.

LightOn

Pros

Ensures zero data exfiltration with on-premise or sovereign cloud deployment
Handles massive, multimodal unstructured data including complex formats like images and diagrams
Supports advanced search behaviors like conversational Q&A and agentic reasoning
Mirrors native permissions (ACLs) for strict data governance and segregation
Offers both API for developers and ready-to-use white-label interface for business teams
GDPR compliant and SOC 2 Type 1 compliant

Cons

Requires significant hardware (GPU) investment for on-premise deployment
SOC 2 Type 1 is mentioned, not Type II certification
Deployment takes about three weeks, which might be long for some use cases
No explicit mention of a free tier or transparent pricing

Weighted Score — Adjust What Matters to You

Pick a profile or drag sliders — scores and radar update instantly on the right.

Quick profiles:

Ease of Use5

Output Quality5

Value for Money5

Customizability5

Support & Ecosystem5

Integration Power5

Dimension Comparison

AI21 Labs

6.8

/ 10

Your pick

LightOn

6.7

/ 10

Dimension Breakdown

Ease of Use

How easy it is to get started and use daily

AI21 Labs

4.0

LightOn

6.0▲ +2.0

Output Quality

Quality and accuracy of generated results

AI21 Labs

8.0

LightOn

8.0

Value for Money

Cost vs. features and output quality

AI21 Labs

6.0

LightOn

7.0▲ +1.0

Customizability

Calculated

Ability to tailor to specific needs

AI21 Labs

8.0▲ +2.0

LightOn

6.0

Support & Ecosystem

Documentation, community, and support quality

AI21 Labs

7.0

LightOn

7.0

Integration Power

Calculated

Ability to connect with other tools and workflows

AI21 Labs

8.0▲ +2.0

LightOn

6.0

Calculated = derived from verified integration count and API/open-source signals. AI = LLM-assessed from public website content. Methodology

Task Performance

AI21 Labs

Task

LightOn

2.0

Code Completion

2.0

Bug Detection

2.0

Code Explanation

2.0

Refactoring

2.0

Test Generation

2.0

Multi Language Support

2.0

8.0

Context Understanding

9.0

3.0

Documentation Generation

2.0

3.0

Performance Optimization

2.0

7.0

Security Scanning

2.0

* Task scores (1–10) are algorithmically generated from publicly available data.

Data is sourced from public information and vendor websites. It may not always be up-to-date — verify pricing and features directly with the vendor before purchasing.Report inaccuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, AI21 Labs or LightOn?

Both are strong options. AI21 Labs has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews), while LightOn has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews). The best choice depends on your specific use case, budget, and workflow requirements.

Is AI21 Labs cheaper than LightOn?

AI21 Labs starts at free (freemium model) with a free trial. LightOn starts at free (paid model). Use the Cost Calculator above for a detailed estimate.

What are the main differences between AI21 Labs and LightOn?

AI21 Labs — "Powering enterprise AI with reliable foundation models and knowledge agents.". LightOn — "Secure AI Search & Reasoning for Enterprise Data". Key differences include their pricing models, platform support, integrations, and technical capabilities. See the Feature Comparison table above for a complete side-by-side breakdown.

Can I use AI21 Labs and LightOn together?

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