Share
What is SurfSense?
SurfSense is an AI research notebook you install as a desktop app, and it runs entirely on your own computer. It pitches itself as a local NotebookLM alternative: add your sources, ask questions and get answers grounded in them, with no account and nothing uploaded to someone else's servers.
From cloud service to local app
The team shut down the hosted version, which deleted stored data on 18 October 2026, and now ships SurfSense only as an open-source desktop app. Former cloud users can import their exported ZIP from the app's settings.
Your index, your model
- The document index lives on your disk, and with a local model it keeps answering with the network unplugged.
- llama.cpp is built in for models such as Qwen or Gemma, or you can paste a key for OpenAI, Anthropic or any OpenAI-compatible provider.
- A regular installer for Windows, macOS and Linux; no Docker, no command line.
Turning sources into deliverables
From what you've indexed it can produce twelve output formats, including slide decks, reports, briefings, study guides, quizzes and podcasts, all stored locally. Paid plugins pull live data from Google, YouTube, TikTok, Google Maps, Amazon, Walmart, Indeed and the open web.
Who it suits
It fits lawyers, accountants, consultants and engineers holding files they aren't allowed to upload, and anyone who wants AI research without handing over their data.
Pricing
The app is free forever and comes with a 30-day plugin licence. An individual licence is $60 for the first year.
SurfSense features and use cases
How to use SurfSense
SurfSense FAQ
Is the SurfSense cloud service still available?
No. The cloud version closed and its data was deleted on 18 October 2026; SurfSense is now a desktop app only.
Do I need an account to use SurfSense?
No. You install it and start working without signing up or giving an email address.
Does SurfSense work offline?
Yes, as long as you run a local model. If you use a hosted provider's key, answers need a connection.
Is SurfSense a NotebookLM alternative?
Yes. It covers similar ground, but it runs on your own computer, needs no Google account and lets you choose the model.
Is SurfSense free?
The app is free and open source. You only pay for a licence if you want the live-data plugins and priority support.
What happens when the trial licence ends?
The app keeps working. You just lose the paid plugins until you buy a licence.
How do I get my data back from the cloud version?
If you exported the ZIP before the shutdown, import it from the app's settings. Without that export, the data can't be recovered.
Which operating systems are supported?
There are installers for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is it suitable for confidential files?
That's the main use case: your files and everything generated from them stay on your machine.
SurfSense pricing and plans
Reference price: 60 USD / year. Source · Verified: October 21, 2026
Free: $0
- The full app and every update, no account and no expiry.
- Includes a 30-day plugin licence.
- Open source, so you can build it yourself.
Individual: $60/year for the first year, then $120/year
- Every search plugin plus the web crawler, with no usage caps.
- Priority support.
Enterprise: custom, annual contract
- Runs inside your network with no egress, a local audit log and control over which models are allowed.
Checked on: 21/10/2026
SurfSense user reviews
Write a review
Checking your session...
SurfSense Reviews
Loading reviews...
SurfSense alternatives
The Drive AI
AI assistant that automatically organizes, renames, and summarizes team files. Answers questions about content and automates your team’s cloud document management.
Assindo iOS
AI agent that makes and answers calls, manages social media, and organizes tasks. It searches the web, books appointments, and automates your daily schedule—all serverless.
