Dust.tt Pricing vs Metaflow AI: Which Pays Back Faster in 2026

TLDR: Dust.tt vs. Metaflow AI - 2026 Pricing & ROI Showdown

Dust.tt offers collaborative AI agents at €29/user/month (Pro) with a 15-day trial but no free tier. It excels at quick agent deployment across standard SaaS tools with native integrations. Metaflow AI provides visual workflow orchestration starting free (credits-based), then $19/mo (Solo), optimized for complex multi-step automations. Choose Dust for team-based agent adoption with predictable per-seat pricing; choose Metaflow for multi-model workflows, batch processing, and scaled outputs. ROI payback is faster with Metaflow for complex automation needs, while Dust delivers immediate value for simple agent use cases in daily tools.

Dust (dust.tt) is a collaborative AI-agent workspace for teams: build agents, connect them to your company tools and knowledge, and run them in day-to-day workflows. In this comparison, we’ll break down Dust pricing, what you get at each tier, how it stacks up to Metaflow AI, and which delivers ROI faster in 2026. For additional context, see our guide to Dust.tt alternatives.

What is Dust (dust.tt)?

Dust is a platform to create custom AI agents that can read your company knowledge (e.g., Google Drive, Notion, Slack) and perform actions via built-in and custom tools. It supports leading models (e.g., GPT-4/Claude), custom “Dust Apps” (actions), native integrations (e.g., Zendesk, Slack, Chrome extension), and enterprise controls (SSO, SCIM, SOC2, optional zero data retention). Agents can also use the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to connect to external tools.

Dust Pricing Overview (2026)

Dust uses a straightforward two-tier structure with a free trial:

Pricing and inclusions per Dust’s official pricing page; Pro plan is billed per seat. 

Quick Comparison Table (Dust tiers)

(15-day Trial is a time-limited Pro experience; there is no perpetual free plan.)

Is Dust.tt Free?

No, Dust doesn’t offer a perpetual free plan. It provides a 15-day free trial of Pro; after that, Pro is €29 per user per month (excl. tax), and Enterprise is custom pricing.

What’s Included in Each Dust.tt Plan?

15-day Trial

• Full access to Pro features for 15 days.
• Good for teams evaluating agent fit and integrations before committing.

Pro (€29/user/month)

• Advanced models (e.g., GPT-4, Claude), custom agents & custom actions (Dust Apps).
• Connections to GitHub, Google Drive, Notion, Slack; native integrations (Zendesk, Slack, Chrome extension).
• SOC2 and zero data retention option; “unlimited messages” under fair-use.
• Fixed price on programmatic usage (API, GSheet, Zapier).
• Up to 1 GB/user of data sources; one private space.

Best for: Small teams/startups ready to operationalize agents across common SaaS tools.

Enterprise (Custom, 100+ users)

• Everything in Pro plus SSO (Okta/Entra/JumpCloud), SCIM user provisioning, larger storage/file limits, custom programmatic usage pricing, priority support/account management, US/EU data hosting, early feature access, flexible payment options.

Best for: Larger organizations that need identity, compliance, data-residency, and vendor-grade support.

Value & ROI: Who Should Use Which Dust.tt Plan?

• Trial: Validates agent fit across your stack; risk-free due diligence.
• Pro: Best for teams that want one shared agent workspace with predictable per-seat pricing and direct integrations.
• Enterprise: Justified when SSO/SCIM, data-hosting choice, and admin guardrails are non-negotiable.

A pragmatic ROI lens: if your bottleneck is “get agents into production with standard SaaS tools and predictable per-seat cost,” Dust Pro’s simplicity helps. If your bottleneck is “compose multi-step, multi-model automations across many steps and publish artifacts at scale,” you’ll want to compare Dust with a workflow-automation-centric platform (below).

Dust.tt vs. Metaflow AI: Which Pays Back Faster?

What is Metaflow AI(metaflow.life)?

Metaflow AI is a visual workflow + agent orchestration platform built for composing multi-step LLM workflows, chaining models/tools, and publishing outputs at scale. It offers a Free Forever tier (credits), Solo Growth $19/mo, Scale Pro $100/mo, and Advanced (custom).

Head-to-Head Comparison

Load-bearing details are sourced from each vendor’s official pages. Always confirm your currency and seat counts—Dust lists prices in EUR; Metaflow AI lists prices in USD.

Pros of Dust

• Clean, opinionated agent workspace with native integrations and predictable per-seat pricing.
• Enterprise controls (SSO, SCIM, SOC2/zero-retention) and EU/US hosting options.

Cons of Dust

• No perpetual free tier; 1 GB/user data-source limit on Pro; deeper workflow composition may require custom work.

Pros of Metaflow AI

• Visual builder for multi-step flows and agents; multiple LLMs in one workflow; free tier plus affordable Solo/Scale.

Cons of Metaflow AI

• Canvas-style orchestration can be “more to set up” than a single chat-agent workspace for simple use cases.

Takeaway:

If your ROI is measured by “get a shared agent in front of the team quickly with standard tools,” Dust will feel immediate. If your ROI is measured by “automate complex, repeatable work with branching logic, batches, and publishing,” Metaflow AI tends to pay back faster.

Pricing Table: Dust vs. Metaflow AI

All figures from vendor pricing pages on Oct 2, 2026 (IST).

FAQs

Is Dust free to use long-term?

No—there’s a 15-day free trial of Pro. Ongoing use is €29/user/month for Pro or custom for Enterprise.

What does Dust cost per month?

€29 per user per month (excl. tax) for Pro; Enterprise is custom (generally 100+ users). Billing is per seat.

Is Dust.tt secretly more expensive than it looks?

Dust.tt's pricing starts low, but advanced agent features and higher usage tiers can quickly add up. Many users report unexpected overages when scaling up. Before you commit, compare Dust.tt pricing plans side-by-side with Metaflow AI—Metaflow's transparent pricing and faster ROI often mean you pay less for more value, especially as your team grows.

What do real users say about Dust.tt after 90 days?

User feedback on Dust.tt is mixed: teams love the AI agent orchestration, but some cite a steep learning curve and wish for more integrations. Reviews praise flexibility but mention support delays. By contrast, Metaflow AI gets high marks for onboarding, reliability, and hands-on support—so you're not left hanging when it matters most.

Why are top startups switching away from Dust.tt in 2026?

Many startups started with Dust.tt for its cutting-edge features, but as their needs grew, they hit platform limitations. In 2026, a surge of teams are moving to Metaflow AI to unlock broader integrations, faster payback, and dedicated support—don't risk falling behind the innovation curve.

Can you afford NOT to choose the fastest AI agent payback?

Time is money: Metaflow AI's payback period is weeks faster than Dust.tt, saving you budget and opportunity cost. While Dust.tt can take months to deliver ROI, Metaflow AI's streamlined onboarding and automation get you results fast—don't let a slow ramp-up hold your team back.

Is Dust.tt's API holding your team back?

Developers appreciate Dust.tt's API, but some report it lacks documentation and robust integrations compared to Metaflow AI. If your roadmap depends on seamless workflow automation, Metaflow AI offers a more developer-friendly platform—helping your engineers ship features, not fight friction.

Who's really behind Dust.tt?

Dust.tt is backed by Sequoia and led by a seasoned team, earning trust in the AI space. However, rapid growth sometimes means support and roadmap priorities shift. Metaflow AI, is built by marketing practitioners from San Francisco with deep engineering backgrounds, bringing thoughtful care and devotion towards on product design, and enabling growth agility, especially maximizing how much leverage growth teams can get from LLMs and AI agents

How does Dust.tt compare to Metaflow AI on ROI and time to value for Marketers?

In direct comparisons, Metaflow AI consistently delivers faster than Dust.tt, thanks to lower onboarding friction and more AI marketing automation tools out of the box. If maximizing value is your goal, don't just compare pricing, compare time-to-impact and long-term cost of ownership.

What's the ONE feature Dust.tt users wish they had sooner?

Many Dust.tt users regret not having robust multi-platform integrations and customizable agent workflows sooner. Those who switched to Metaflow AI say it solved these pain points immediately, unlocking new automation and collaboration possibilities.

Is Dust.tt the best-kept secret in AI agents?

Dust.tt made waves as an AI agents pioneer, but in 2026, Metaflow AI is gaining buzz for its speed, reliability, and all-in-one automation suite. Don't settle—explore your alternatives before you make a final call.

What happens if you outgrow Dust.tt?

Switching AI platforms midstream can be costly and disruptive. Dust.tt is great for early scaling, but some teams find themselves boxed in as needs evolve. Metaflow AI is designed for long-term growth, with flexible plans and migration support—so you won't pay the price for early limitations.

Does Dust support enterprise controls (SSO/SCIM, data hosting)?

Yes—on Enterprise: SSO (Okta/Entra/JumpCloud), SCIM, US/EU hosting, priority support.

How does Metaflow AI price its entry plan?

Metaflow AI offers a Free Forever tier (credits) and Solo Growth at $19/month, with Scale Pro at $100/month and Advanced (custom) for larger teams.

Dust vs. Metaflow AI: which pays back faster for a bootstrapped founder?

If you primarily need one or two agents embedded in Slack/Drive/Notion workflows, Dust’s per-seat simplicity is compelling. If you need branching logic, batches, multi-model chaining, and publishing, Metaflow’s $19 entry plus credits-based scaling is often the faster payback.

Can’t I just stick with ChatGPT-Plus?

For single-prompt work, yes. The moment you need system-of-record integrations, auditability, or multi-step flows, a dedicated agent/workflow platform (Dust or Metaflow AI) reduces copy-paste fragility and increases repeatability.

What happens if I exceed Dust’s “fair-use” on messages?

Pro advertises “unlimited messages (fair-use).” Specific thresholds aren’t detailed publicly; check the current pricing page or contact sales for limits.

Conclusion: Choose by Bottleneck, Not Hype

Both tools are solid—just optimized for different motion. Dust.tt gets a capable agent into your team’s daily stack fast with predictable per-seat pricing. Metaflow AI pays back when you need repeatable, multi-step automations that mix models, schedule/batch, and ship polished outputs. If your workflow looks more like “internal agent for team comms”, start Dust’s 15-day trial. If it looks like “growth automation, AI SEO workflow, and publish at scale”, start with Metaflow’s Free and graduate to $19 Solo or $100 Scale Pro as you hit throughput.