The difference between AI Participants and real customers is the difference between fiction and fact.
Executive Summary: The Critical Differences
User Intuition achieves 98% participant satisfaction through 32-minute conversations with customers, employing McKinsey-influenced methodology and 5-7 level laddering techniques to identify behavioral drivers.
Quals.ai provides AI-moderated interviews with synthetic AI Participants for rapid feedback, offering automated research at $19.99/month across 50+ languages with a 14-day trial, emphasizing speed and affordability.
Platform Capabilities: Complete Comparison
| Capability |
User Intuition |
Quals.ai |
Comparison |
| Platform Capabilities: Complete Comparison |
| Video Interviews |
✓ Full conversation support |
✓ Voice/video/text calls |
Both support |
| Audio Interviews |
✓ 32-minute average |
✓ Voice-based interviews |
Both available |
| Screen Sharing |
✓ Live observation |
Not available |
User Intuition only |
| Text Interviews |
✓ Full support |
✓ Text chat supported |
Both support |
| Device Support |
Web (desktop & mobile) |
Browser-based only |
User Intuition broader |
| Central Insights Hub |
✓ Searchable repository |
Per-study organization |
Different approaches |
| Time Series Studies |
✓ Tracking capabilities |
Not supported |
User Intuition only |
| Multilingual Support |
50+ languages |
50+ languages |
Comparable |
| AI Participants |
Real humans only |
✓ Synthetic users available |
Quals.ai feature |
| Dynamic Surveys |
Through conversation |
✓ Built-in feature |
Quals.ai feature |
| SUMMARY: Quals.ai offers synthetic AI participants and survey capabilities. User Intuition focuses on real human conversations with tracking capabilities. |
| Research Outcomes: Different Approaches |
| Participant Type |
Real human customers |
AI Participants available |
Different models |
| Participant Satisfaction |
98% (n>1,000) published |
Not disclosed |
UI provides metrics |
| Conversation Quality |
Natural human dialogue |
AI-moderated sessions |
Different approaches |
| Laddering Depth |
5–7 levels documented |
Not specified |
UI documents depth |
| Session Length |
32 minutes average |
Not specified |
UI provides data |
| Insight Source |
Human experiences |
Synthetic or human |
Options vary |
| Knowledge Retention |
Searchable hub |
CSV/PDF export |
Different systems |
| SUMMARY: Quals.ai’s AI Participants provide a synthetic feedback option. User Intuition focuses exclusively on real human insights. |
| AI Participants: Considerations |
| Response Source |
Algorithm-generated |
Personal experience |
Synthetic vs real-world input |
| Predictability |
Consistent patterns |
Variable responses |
Consistency vs diversity |
| Product Experience |
Simulated |
Actual usage |
Modeled vs lived experience |
| Emotional Response |
Programmed |
Authentic |
Modeled affect vs human emotion |
| Edge Cases |
Model-based |
Experience-based |
Generalization vs real anomalies |
| Innovation Insights |
Within training data |
Beyond expectations |
Pattern recall vs novel discovery |
| SUMMARY: AI Participants offer speed and consistency. Real participants provide authentic, experience-based feedback. Each serves different research needs. |
| Recruitment & Pricing: Different Models |
| Starting Price |
$1,000 per study |
$19.99/month |
Different models |
| Price Structure |
Per conversation |
Credit-based |
Different approaches |
| Participant Source |
Client’s customers |
Synthetic or panels |
Options vary |
| Credit System |
Not applicable |
200 credits for $19.99 |
Quals.ai model |
| Enterprise Pricing |
Scaled transparently |
$199.99 for 2,000 credits |
Both offer enterprise |
| Trial Offer |
Credits included |
14-day free trial |
Both offer trials |
| SUMMARY: Quals.ai offers low-cost entry with synthetic options. User Intuition prices for real human insights at enterprise scale. |
| Participant Experience: Comparison |
| Participant Type |
Real humans exclusively |
AI or human options |
Different offerings |
| Emotional Depth |
Human emotions |
Varies by participant type |
Depends on choice |
| Unexpected Insights |
Human variability |
Depends on participant |
Different potential |
| Satisfaction Rate |
98% documented |
Not published |
UI provides data |
| Conversation Flow |
Human-to-human |
AI-moderated |
Both AI-moderated |
| Insight Validation |
Customer-based |
Synthetic or real |
Options available |
| SUMMARY: Quals.ai offers a choice between synthetic and real participants. User Intuition focuses exclusively on real human experiences. |
| Methodology & Analysis: Research Approaches |
| Methodology Foundation |
McKinsey-influenced |
Automation-focused |
Different philosophies |
| Research Type |
Human responses only |
Synthetic or human |
Options available |
| Laddering Capability |
5–7 levels documented |
Not specified |
UI documents |
| Insight Focus |
Strategic depth |
Rapid insights |
Different priorities |
| Export Options |
Email, Slack, PDF, CSV, PPT |
CSV, PDF |
UI more options |
| Data Type |
Real responses |
Synthetic or real |
Choice available |
| SUMMARY: Quals.ai emphasizes automation and speed. User Intuition emphasizes depth and human-insight methodology. |
| Security & Compliance: Both Strong |
| SOC 2 Type II |
In progress (Q2 2025) |
✓ Certified |
Quals.ai certified |
| ISO 27001 |
✓ Certified |
Not mentioned |
User Intuition |
| GDPR |
✓ Fully compliant |
✓ Compliant |
Both compliant |
| HIPAA |
✓ Compliant |
Not mentioned |
User Intuition |
| Education (FERPA) |
Not mentioned |
✓ Compliant |
Quals.ai |
| IRB |
Not mentioned |
✓ Compliant |
Quals.ai |
| SUMMARY: Both platforms meet security standards with different certification focuses. Quals.ai emphasizes education compliance, while User Intuition emphasizes healthcare and international standards. |
Key Differentiators: Why User Intuition Wins
| Differentiator |
Quals.ai |
User Intuition |
Impact |
| Participant Options |
AI or human |
Real humans only |
Flexibility vs authenticity |
| Price Point |
$19.99/month entry |
$1,000/study |
Accessibility vs depth |
| Satisfaction Score |
Not disclosed |
98% published |
Transparency differs |
| Customer Focus |
Synthetic option |
Actual customers |
Speed vs authenticity |
| Research Depth |
Rapid insights |
5–7 level analysis |
Speed vs depth |
| Primary Value |
Speed and cost |
Human truth |
Different priorities |
Synthetic Participants: Considerations
Potential Benefits of AI Participants:
- Speed: Instant feedback availability
- Cost: Lower price point
- Consistency: Standardized responses
- Availability: 24/7 access
- Scale: Unlimited synthetic participants
Potential Limitations of AI Participants:
- Authenticity: Simulated vs real experience
- Variability: Limited to training data
- Innovation: May miss unexpected insights
- Edge Cases: Cannot replicate unique frustrations
- Validation: Risk of confirmation bias
SUMMARY: Synthetic participants offer speed and scale. Real participants offer authenticity and unexpected insights.
When to Choose Each Platform
Choose Quals.ai If:
- Budget constraints require low entry cost
- Rapid feedback is priority
- Synthetic participants meet research needs
- Testing basic concepts quickly
- 14-day trial evaluation desired
- Education compliance (FERPA) required
- High volume, low-depth research needed
Choose User Intuition If:
- Real customer insights are essential
- Deep behavioral understanding needed
- 98% satisfaction indicates quality priority
- 5-7 level depth required for strategy
- McKinsey methodology valued
- Longitudinal tracking required
- Authentic validation critical for decisions
The Verdict: Different Tools for Different Needs
Quals.ai offers an affordable, rapid research platform with synthetic AI Participant options at $19.99/month, suitable for teams prioritizing speed and cost-efficiency in early-stage validation.
User Intuition provides deep customer intelligence from real human participants with 98% satisfaction and comprehensive methodology, suitable for teams requiring authentic insights for strategic decisions.
Organizations should choose based on whether synthetic rapid feedback (Quals.ai) or authentic human depth (User Intuition) better serves their research objectives.
Your Next Step
Consider your research priorities:
- Quals.ai: Rapid synthetic or human feedback ($19.99/month)
- User Intuition: Deep authentic customer insights ($1,000/study)
Evaluate based on:
- Budget constraints vs insight depth needs
- Speed requirements vs authenticity priorities
- Synthetic acceptability vs human necessity
Compare both platforms based on your specific use case and validation requirements.
The choice between synthetic and human participants reflects different research philosophies and objectives. Select the approach that aligns with your validation needs and quality requirements.