Surfsense
An open source, privacy focused alternative to NotebookLM for teams with no data limits. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/ejRNvftDp9
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What is Surfsense?
SurfSense is an open-source AI research and knowledge management assistant that connects any large language model (LLM) to your internal knowledge sources, documents, and tools. It enables users to chat with their personal and team data in real time through a natural language interface, serving as an open-source alternative to NotebookLM and Perplexity. The platform centralizes company and personal knowledge into a single intelligent workspace where users can retrieve information instantly, receive detailed updates, and obtain cited answers from connected sources.
Key features include real-time collaborative document editing and chat, hybrid search combining full-text and semantic analysis, integration with over 20 popular applications (Notion, GitHub, Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Gmail, YouTube, Confluence, ClickUp), support for more than 100 LLMs including local models (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, Ollama, vLLM, llama.cpp, LM Studio), multimedia creation including podcasts, mobile-ready interface, selective Google Drive indexing, CircleBack integration for meeting sync, and multi-account support for Gmail and Slack. The tool uses GraphRAG technology to find meaningful relations in saved content and provides cited answers so users can verify information.
SurfSense is designed for teams using multiple productivity and communication tools who need to centralize knowledge, researchers analyzing datasets and papers, founders searching company docs and emails, marketers generating content ideas from old threads, developers tracking GitHub issues, freelancers managing client projects, and anyone handling sensitive data who needs complete privacy. It offers both cloud-hosted and self-hosted deployment options via Docker or manual installation.
Surfsense pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
SurfSense offers three plans. FREE plan ($0): Self-hostable, upload and chat with 300+ pages of content, access to ChatGPT text and audio models, real-time collaborative group chats with teammates, community support on Discord. PRO plan ($0, free during beta): Everything in Free plus 6000+ pages of content, access to more models and providers, priority support on Discord. ENTERPRISE plan (Contact Us): Everything in Pro plus on-prem or VPC deployment, audit logs and compliance, SSO/OIDC/SAML, white-glove setup and deployment, monthly managed updates and maintenance, SLA commitments, dedicated support, customized setup for large organizations.
Surfsense pros
- Completely free and open-source with no hidden fees
- Self-hostable for complete data privacy and control
- Supports 100+ LLMs including local models like Ollama
- Integrates with 20+ apps including Notion, Slack, Google Drive, GitHub
- Real-time collaborative document editing and group chats
- Cited answers let you verify information sources
- Hybrid search combines full-text and semantic analysis
- No API subscriptions required
- On-prem or VPC deployment for enterprise security
- Mobile-ready interface for tablets and phones
- Selective Google Drive indexing for custom folder selection
- Multi-account support for Gmail and Slack
- GraphRAG technology finds meaningful content relations
- Multimedia creation including podcast generation
- SSO, OIDC & SAML support for enterprise
- Docker deployment with single command installation
- SLA commitments and dedicated support for enterprise
Surfsense cons
- No transparent public pricing for cloud usage
- Requires API keys for Unstructured, Firecrawl, Google OAuth
- Manual installation involves multiple setup steps
- Self-hosting requires Docker or Python knowledge
- Needs internet for setup and connecting services
- Free tier limited to 300+ pages of content
- Enterprise plan requires contacting sales
- Community support only for free tier users
Frequently asked questions about Surfsense
What is SurfSense AI Research Assistant?
SurfSense is an open-source AI research and knowledge management assistant that connects any LLM to your internal knowledge sources. It lets you chat with your personal data and connected apps like Google Drive, Notion, Slack, GitHub, Gmail, and more through a natural language interface, providing cited answers from your documents.
Is SurfSense really free?
Yes, SurfSense is completely free and open-source with no hidden fees or API subscriptions. The code, connectors, and core features are all open-source and free. The FREE plan includes 300+ pages of content, and the PRO plan is free during beta with 6000+ pages.
Can I use my own AI model?
Absolutely. SurfSense supports 100+ LLMs including GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and local models like Ollama, vLLM, llama.cpp, and LM Studio. You have full control over which AI model to use for your queries.
How do I install SurfSense?
You have three options: 1) Hosted Version - visit surfsense.com and start connecting data instantly, 2) Self-Hosted (Docker) - run a single command to install locally and access via localhost:3000, 3) Manual Setup (Advanced) - customize everything from data connectors to embedding models using Docker or Python.
What data sources does SurfSense connect to?
SurfSense integrates with Slack, Notion, Google Drive, Gmail, GitHub, YouTube, Confluence, ClickUp, and 20+ other popular applications. It can also search web content and works with documents behind login walls.
Is my data private with SurfSense?
Yes. SurfSense is self-hosted, meaning your data never leaves your system. For businesses handling sensitive data, this privacy-first design is a game-changer. You have full data control and can use on-prem or VPC deployment for enterprise security.
Who is SurfSense designed for?
SurfSense is perfect for creators, teams, researchers, founders, marketers, developers, and freelancers who want to work smarter, faster, and more privately. It's ideal for teams using multiple productivity tools who need to centralize knowledge, and anyone handling sensitive data requiring complete privacy.
Does SurfSense provide cited answers?
Yes, SurfSense returns summarized, cited answers in seconds and shows where every answer came from so you can verify information easily. It combines traditional search with advanced semantic understanding to give accurate, relevant results with source citations.
Can teams collaborate on SurfSense?
Yes, SurfSense supports real-time multiplayer collaboration on documents and chats with live updates and commenting. The FREE plan includes real-time collaborative group chats with teammates, and the platform enables multiple team members to work together simultaneously.
Do I need internet to use SurfSense?
Only for setup and connecting services. The main system runs locally when self-hosted. Once set up, you can use SurfSense with local LLMs via Ollama for offline inference without requiring internet connectivity.