Tool profile
Cortex: cost, fit and limits
Cortex is an internal developer portal made by Cortex Applications, Inc. that gives engineering organizations a service catalog, scorecards and AI features such as an MCP server and agents for executive reviews, sold by custom per-seat quote.
What to know first
Cortex shows a single pricing option, Custom pricing, described as per seat and scaled to organization size, with no tiers, limits or free plan on the pages we opened. The pricing page names AI Impact, AI Chief of Staff, AI Software Factory, an OpEx Review Agent and Cortex MCP. The terms page footer shows SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
Cortex at a glance
| Maker | Cortex Applications, Inc., Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Internal Developer Platforms in 2026, rank 10 of 12 |
| Website | cortex.io |
Who Cortex is best for
Large engineering organizations
Per-seat pricing scaled to organization size points to enterprise deals rather than small-team self-serve purchases. Per-seat pricing scaled to organization size points to enterprise deals and not to small-team self-serve purchases, so a startup should expect a sales cycle.
Leaders who want AI-impact reporting
AI Impact and an OpEx Review Agent are aimed at engineering managers who need to see how AI tools affect delivery, not just developers using the catalog.
Buyers who require ISO 27001
Cortex is one of few vendors in this category that names ISO/IEC 27001:2022 next to SOC 2 Type 2, which speeds a first security screen.
Cortex plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Custom pricing | Per seat, quote only | Priced per seat and scaled to organization size; no tier names, limits or inclusions appear on the opened pages. |
| Free plan | Not named | No free plan is named on the opened pricing or terms pages. No free plan is named on the opened pricing or terms pages, so evaluation depends on what sales agrees. |
| Trial | Not named | No trial is named on the opened pages, so evaluation terms must be agreed with sales. |
Checked November 2026.
What Cortex does
- AI Impact
- The pricing page names AI Impact, which the vendor positions around measuring effects of AI tooling on engineering; the opened pages do not describe its metrics.
- AI Chief of Staff
- AI Chief of Staff is listed as an AI feature on the pricing page, with no detail on tasks, data sources or outputs. AI Chief of Staff is listed as an AI feature on the pricing page, with no detail on tasks, data sources, outputs or who sees them.
- AI Software Factory
- AI Software Factory is named among the AI offerings, though the opened pages give no description of what it automates. AI Software Factory is named among the AI offerings, though the opened pages give no description of what it automates or how it is governed.
- OpEx Review Agent
- The OpEx Review Agent is listed as an agent for operational excellence reviews, and its behavior and data access are not documented on the opened pages.
- Cortex MCP
- Cortex MCP is named as the route for outside AI assistants to reach Cortex data, with no detail on permissions or rate limits. Cortex MCP is named as the route for outside assistants to reach Cortex data, with no detail on permissions, rate limits or audit.
How Cortex handles your data
The terms of service name Cortex Applications, Inc., are governed by California law and show SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 in the footer. The security page was among the pages opened, but none of them addresses whether customer data trains models, how long data is retained or where it is hosted. The pages do not state a headquarters country. Ask the vendor how the named AI features and the MCP server access catalog data, and whether any model provider sees it.
Where Cortex falls short in practice
- . Only Custom pricing appears, with no tiers, limits or seat price, so a buyer cannot compare Cortex to published prices without a sales conversation. Only Custom pricing appears, with no tiers, limits or seat price, so a buyer cannot compare Cortex against published prices.
- . The pricing page names five AI offerings but does not describe their inputs, outputs, quotas or model providers. The pricing page names five AI offerings but does not describe their inputs, outputs, quotas or model providers, so claims cannot be tested before a call.
- . Neither a free plan nor a trial is named on the opened pages, so a hands-on test depends on what sales offers. Neither a free plan nor a trial is named, so a hands-on test depends on what sales offers during the evaluation.
Works with
Alternatives to Cortex
Cortex: common questions
How much does Cortex cost?
The pricing page shows only Custom pricing, described as per seat and scaled to organization size. No tier names, seat prices or limits are listed. Ask for a written quote naming the seat count, included AI features and the renewal terms.
What AI features does Cortex name?
The pricing page names AI Impact, AI Chief of Staff, AI Software Factory, an OpEx Review Agent and Cortex MCP. It gives no descriptions of inputs, limits or models. Ask for a demo of each feature and for the data flows behind them.
Does Cortex have ISO 27001 and SOC 2?
The footer of the terms page shows SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022. That is a logo-level statement, so request the audit report and certificate, check the scope and confirm whether the AI features fall inside it. Ask for the date of the audit period.
Is there a free version of Cortex?
No free plan or trial is named on the opened pages. A buyer who wants to test before paying should ask for a proof of concept with defined success criteria and a time limit, because the vendor's public pages offer no self-serve route.
Does Cortex store data in the EU?
The opened pages do not address hosting region or data location. The terms are governed by California law, and no headquarters country is stated. Ask for hosting regions and a data processing agreement if you need EU residency. Also request the subprocessor list.