kitio.aiAI SDK vs Trigger.dev
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. AI SDK is completely free, while Trigger.dev is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Unified provider API
- Streaming responses
- Tool calling
- Structured output
- Built-in fallbacks
- Framework UI hooks
- Durable long-running tasks
- Queues and concurrency control
- Scheduled tasks
- Realtime streaming to frontends
- Tracing and observability
- Self-hosting
| Feature | AI SDK | Trigger.dev |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Vercel's open-source TypeScript toolkit for AI apps and agents | Open-source TypeScript platform for durable AI agents and jobs |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Vercel | Trigger.dev |
| Based in | United States | United Kingdom |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
AI SDK is completely free, while Trigger.dev is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- $5 of usage credits per month
- 20 concurrent runs
- 5 team members
Hobby
$10/mo
- $10 of usage credits included
- 50 concurrent runs
- 5 preview branches
Pro
$50/mo
- $50 of usage credits included
- 200+ concurrent runs
- 25+ team members
- 30-day log retention
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Custom log retention
- Role-based access control
- SOC 2 report
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
AI SDK
- Swap model providers easily
- Works across many JS frameworks
- Free and open source
- TypeScript and JavaScript only
- Fast-moving API between versions
- Model usage is billed by providers
Trigger.dev
- Open source and self-hostable
- No timeouts on long tasks
- Free tier with monthly credits
- Clear per-second compute pricing
- Built around TypeScript first
- Usage costs need estimating up front
- HIPAA BAA is a $500/month add-on
Which one should you choose?
Choose AI SDK if you want:
- Swap model providers easily
- Works across many JS frameworks
- Free and open source
Watch out: typescript and javascript only.
Choose Trigger.dev if you want:
- Open source and self-hostable
- No timeouts on long tasks
- Free tier with monthly credits
Watch out: built around typescript first.
AI SDK vs Trigger.dev FAQ
What is the difference between AI SDK and Trigger.dev?
AI SDK: Vercel's open-source TypeScript toolkit for AI apps and agents. Trigger.dev: Open-source TypeScript platform for durable AI agents and jobs. Both are coding tools.
Is AI SDK or Trigger.dev cheaper?
AI SDK is completely free, while Trigger.dev is freemium.
Do AI SDK and Trigger.dev have free plans?
AI SDK: Yes, fully free. Trigger.dev: Yes.
Who makes AI SDK?
AI SDK is made by Vercel, based in United States.
Who makes Trigger.dev?
Trigger.dev is made by Trigger.dev, based in United Kingdom.
Which should I choose, AI SDK or Trigger.dev?
Choose AI SDK if you value swap model providers easily and works across many js frameworks. Choose Trigger.dev if you value open source and self-hostable and no timeouts on long tasks.