kitio.aiLiner vs Metaso
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Metaso is completely free, while Liner is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Cited answers
- Scholar search
- Research agents
- Web highlighter
- Search API
- Cited answers
- Research mode
- Academic search
- Mind map outlines
- Document Q&A
| Feature | Liner | Metaso |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI research search with line-level citations and a web highlighter | Chinese AI search engine with research and academic modes |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $17.99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Liner | Metaso |
| Based in | South Korea | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Cited answers.
Pricing compared
Metaso is completely free, while Liner is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- Unlimited Advanced Search
- 1 file upload per day
- Answers with ads
Pro
$17.99/mo
- 300+ AI models
- All Liner products
- Ad-free search
Max
$35.99/mo
- Everything in Pro
- Higher usage limits
Team
$26.99/mo
- Per seat, 2-20 members
- Everything in Max
- Admin controls and central billing
- Team data excluded from training
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Dedicated manager
- Audit logs
- Volume discounts
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Liner
- Sentence-level citations
- Good academic focus
- Handy browser extension
- Free plan limits uploads
- Many overlapping features
Metaso
- Strong Chinese-language search
- Ad-free
- Structured outputs
- Interface mainly in Chinese
- Less coverage of English sources
Which one should you choose?
Choose Liner if you want:
- Sentence-level citations
- Good academic focus
- Handy browser extension
Watch out: free plan limits uploads.
Choose Metaso if you want:
- Strong Chinese-language search
- Ad-free
- Structured outputs
Watch out: interface mainly in chinese.
Liner vs Metaso FAQ
What is the difference between Liner and Metaso?
Liner: AI research search with line-level citations and a web highlighter. Metaso: Chinese AI search engine with research and academic modes. Both are research & search tools.
Is Liner or Metaso cheaper?
Metaso is completely free, while Liner is freemium.
Do Liner and Metaso have free plans?
Liner: Yes. Metaso: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Liner?
Liner is made by Liner, based in South Korea.
Who makes Metaso?
Metaso is made by Metaso, based in China.
Which should I choose, Liner or Metaso?
Choose Liner if you value sentence-level citations and good academic focus. Choose Metaso if you value strong chinese-language search and ad-free.