The expert network industry has become one of the most critical intelligence tools for consulting firms, investors, corporate strategy teams, and due diligence professionals. Having surpassed USD 2.50 billion in 2024 at a 9% growth rate, the market continues to expand rapidly as decision cycles shorten and competition for quality insights intensifies.
In 2026, choosing the right expert network is no longer straightforward. The landscape spans legacy giants with million-expert databases, AI-native custom sourcing firms, transcript library platforms, and boutique specialists — each with meaningfully different strengths. This guide breaks down every major provider across all the dimensions that actually drive buying decisions: speed, relevance, pricing, technology, transcript access, and compliance.
For a full expert network guide, read our comprehensive article here.
What Defines the Best Expert Networks in 2026?
Clients today care less about database size and more about how quickly the right expert appears in front of them. The six dimensions that separate leading providers from the rest are:
- Speed: sourcing the right expert within hours, not days
- Accuracy: highly relevant, context-specific expertise — not just category matches
- Transcript Access: the ability to get smart before a live call via searchable prior interviews
- Compliance: strict MNPI frameworks and professional conduct standards
- Coverage: global reach combined with niche industry or regional depth
- Cost Efficiency: transparent pricing that aligns with how you actually use the network
Expert Networks at a Glance: Full Market Overview
The table below covers the complete landscape of major providers in 2026, from legacy incumbents to next-generation challengers.
| Network | Founded | Best For | Core Strengths | Limitations |
| GLG | 1998 | Large funds, compliance-heavy research | Largest database globally (900k+ experts), institutional compliance, broadest sector coverage | Slowest turnaround, highest cost, less customization for niche |
| AlphaSights | 2008 | Top consulting firms, fast-moving diligence | Rapid matching, high-touch client service, multilingual sourcing | Premium pricing, limited niche/hyper-specialist depth, database-driven |
| Guidepoint | 2003 | PE, hedge funds, broad sector breadth | 1M+ expert database, multiple engagement formats, broad industry coverage | Database-first reduces precision, less effective for niche geographies |
| Third Bridge | 2007 | PE, M&A, deep research with transcript access | Largest expert transcript library, analyst-led interviews, company value chains | Higher cost, slower turnaround, less flexible on dynamic briefs |
| Tegus / AlphaSense | 2016 / 2011 | Investment professionals needing transcript libraries + AI | 200k+ transcripts, AI-powered search, acquired by AlphaSense 2024 at $930M | Investment-first focus, less suited for non-finance research, raised prices post-merger |
| Atheneum | 2010 | Life sciences, European markets, multi-regional research | 1M+ expert network, 11 global offices, Research-as-a-Service model, healthcare depth | Less prominent in Middle East / GCC, pricing less transparent |
| Coleman Research | 2003 | Institutional investors, compliance-sensitive projects | Tiered pricing, pay-per-call options, strong compliance focus | Smaller global reach, limited transcript library |
| Infoquest | 2023 | Niche, urgent, GCC/MENA and emerging market expertise | Custom sourcing per brief, AI-assisted matching, 2-hour first shortlist, 98% client satisfaction across 800+ projects | Smaller visible database by design; less suited for high-volume standardised research |
Transcript Libraries: Getting Smart Before You Place a Call
One of the most important — and often overlooked — differentiators in 2026 is whether a network lets you access prior expert interviews before you spend time and budget on a live call. For investment teams especially, transcript libraries have become a structural research advantage: the ability to ramp up on a company, sector, or thesis in hours rather than days.
| Network | Transcript Library | Notes |
| Third Bridge | Yes — Forum library | Industry-leading transcript product. Analyst-led interviews. Company value chains. Central reason many PE and IM teams choose Third Bridge. |
| Tegus / AlphaSense | Yes — 200,000+ transcripts | Largest transcript library in the industry post-merger. Investor-led calls, AI-powered search and summarisation via AskTegus. Trusted by 50%+ of Midas List VCs. |
| GLG | Yes — growing archive | Pre-recorded expert interviews and surveys. Not as extensive or AI-searchable as Third Bridge or Tegus. |
| Guidepoint | Yes — Guidepoint Insights | Access to past expert interviews and market reports. Solid but not the primary draw. |
| AlphaSights | Partial — transcripts + summaries | Searchable archive of prior calls. Less developed than Third Bridge or Tegus. AI summarisation added in 2024. |
| Atheneum | Limited | No major transcript library product. Core value is in live call sourcing and Research-as-a-Service. |
| Coleman Research | No | Primarily call-based. No transcript library offering. |
| Infoquest | No — call-focused | Infoquest’s model is built around custom-sourced live calls. No transcript library, but faster live expert access than most providers. |
If transcript access is a primary research need — especially for investment due diligence or systematic market monitoring — Third Bridge and Tegus/AlphaSense are the clear leaders. For organisations primarily seeking live expert calls, this distinction matters less.
Expert Network Pricing: What to Expect in 2026
Pricing is one of the least transparent aspects of the expert network industry, and one of the most searched. Most legacy networks use a credit-based system where the stated price per credit understates the true cost, as many providers charge 1.5–3x credits per call depending on expert seniority or topic sensitivity. Here is an honest overview of how pricing models work across the major providers.
| Network | Pricing Model | Notes |
| GLG | Credits / Subscription | Premium-tier pricing. Annual subscriptions common for heavy users. Compliance premium built in. |
| AlphaSights | Credits / Subscription | Credit model similar to GLG. Call costs can exceed the headline credit price depending on expert tier. |
| Guidepoint | Credits / Subscription | Mid-range pricing with flexible subscription tiers. Often more commercially flexible than GLG/AlphaSights. |
| Third Bridge | Subscription (calls + library) | Transcript library access is typically bundled. Can be cost-effective for teams using both products regularly. |
| Tegus / AlphaSense | Subscription (seat-based) | Raised prices post-merger. Previously one of the lowest-cost transcript options. Best value for investment teams accessing both calls and library. |
| Atheneum | Project / Subscription | RaaS model can bundle calls, reports, and recruitment. Competitive for longer-term research engagements. |
| Coleman Research | Pay-per-call / Tiered credits | More transparent credit system than most. Tiered pricing makes it accessible to smaller teams. |
| Infoquest | Flexible — project / subscription | No rigid credit system. Pricing adapts to project scope and client need. Contact for current rates. |
A note on credits: when evaluating a provider’s pricing, always ask for both the cost per credit AND the average credits charged per one-hour call. The true hourly cost is often 30–50% higher than the headline credit price suggests.
Provider Deep-Dives
GLG: The Original Expert Network
Founded in 1998, GLG launched the expert network industry and remains the largest provider in the world by scale. With 900,000+ vetted experts across 150+ countries, its core advantage is breadth and institutional credibility. For large investment firms and compliance-sensitive environments, GLG remains a benchmark choice.
Where GLG Excels
- Unmatched database size and global coverage across virtually every sector
- Strongest compliance framework in the industry — 50+ in-house compliance professionals, training in 20 languages
- Deep adoption by major banks, PE firms, and large consulting groups
- Transcript archive and pre-recorded expert interviews
- Structured enterprise workflows suitable for regulated environments
Limitations
- Slowest turnaround of any major provider — scale creates friction
- Highest pricing in the market with limited flexibility
- Heavy database reliance limits custom or niche sourcing
Best suited for: Large investment firms and compliance-sensitive organizations where scale, institutional trust, and regulatory rigor outweigh speed.
AlphaSights: Speed and Client Service at Scale
Founded in 2008, AlphaSights built its reputation on execution speed and high-touch project management. It has become one of the most widely used networks among top-tier consulting firms globally, with highly trained sourcing teams able to turn around well-defined briefs in hours.
Where AlphaSights Excels
- Rapid expert matching — often within a few hours for standard requests
- Strong client service and coordination layer throughout the project lifecycle
- High usage among leading strategy consulting firms worldwide
- Multilingual sourcing teams covering major global markets
- AI summarisation and transcript tools added in 2024
Limitations
- Premium pricing that can strain research budgets for smaller teams
- Less effective for hyper-niche or emerging market requests
- Largely database-driven with limited transparency in matching logic
Best suited for: Consulting firms and corporate teams needing fast, well-supported turnarounds on clearly scoped research questions.
Guidepoint: Depth of Database and Sector Breadth
Guidepoint operates one of the largest expert databases in the industry at over 1 million profiles spanning 200+ industries. It offers multiple engagement formats — calls, surveys, panels — making it a versatile option for research teams with diverse needs.
Where Guidepoint Excels
- One of the largest expert pools globally with strong cross-sector coverage
- Multiple formats: calls, surveys, Guidepoint Insights transcript product, and panels
- Well-established investor and PE user base, particularly in North America
- Commercially flexible subscription structures
- Guidepoint Qsight analytics platform for data-driven insights
Limitations
- Database-first approach can reduce precision for highly specific requests
- Slower sourcing for niche, technical, or emerging market profiles
- Less aggressive AI adoption compared to newer competitors
Best suited for: Investment and research teams needing broad expert coverage across established sectors with flexibility in engagement format.
Third Bridge: The Transcript and Research Leader
Third Bridge combines expert calls with the industry’s most extensive transcript library — Forum — making it a uniquely powerful tool for teams that want to get smart before committing budget to a live call. Its analyst-led interviews and company value chain models are a particular differentiator for PE and M&A research.
Where Third Bridge Excels
- The largest and most respected expert call transcript library in the industry
- Analyst-led interviews that go deeper than standard client-run calls
- Company value chain models providing structural market context
- Strong for PE, M&A, and systematic sector monitoring
- Custom sourcing for live calls — experts not pulled from static databases
Limitations
- Higher cost than most alternatives, especially when bundling calls and library
- Slower turnaround for urgent requests outside structured workflows
- Less well-suited for emerging markets or geographies outside its core coverage
Best suited for: PE firms, hedge funds, and corporate research teams that rely heavily on prior expert insights and value analytical depth over speed.
Tegus / AlphaSense: The AI-Powered Research Platform
Tegus was founded in 2016 and became one of the fastest-growing expert networks in the investment research space, built around its proprietary transcript library of investor-led expert calls. In July 2024, AlphaSense acquired Tegus for $930 million, combining Tegus’s 200,000+ expert transcripts covering 25,000+ companies with AlphaSense’s AI-powered market intelligence platform. The combined entity is now the most technically advanced research platform in the market.
Where Tegus / AlphaSense Excels
- World’s largest expert transcript library: 200,000+ interviews covering 25,000+ companies
- AI-powered search and summarisation — AskTegus and Gen Search allow natural-language querying across all transcripts
- Trusted by 50%+ of Midas List VCs and thousands of institutional investors
- Combined platform integrates expert calls, transcripts, financial models, SEC filings, and broker research in one workflow
- Strong for systematic, repeatable research at investment firms
Limitations
- Investment-first focus — less suited to consulting, corporate strategy, or non-financial research
- Prices increased materially post-merger; some users have switched to alternatives
- Less flexible for custom or niche expert sourcing outside the transcript model
Best suited for: Investment professionals — PE, hedge funds, VCs — who need the fastest possible access to prior expert knowledge combined with live call capability.
Atheneum: European Origins, Global Research-as-a-Service
Founded in 2010 in Berlin, Atheneum has grown into a leading global expert network with 1 million+ expert advisors across 11 offices worldwide. It is particularly well-regarded for life sciences and healthcare research, and for multi-regional projects spanning Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. Its Research-as-a-Service (RaaS) model bundles expert calls, custom reports, and expert recruitment into integrated research engagements.
Where Atheneum Excels
- 1 million+ expert advisors with particularly strong life sciences / healthcare depth
- 11 global offices including Berlin, London, New York, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Lahore — strong multi-regional reach
- Research-as-a-Service (RaaS) model for longer-term, more complex engagements
- Machine learning capabilities integrated into expert recruitment workflows
- Strong European market presence, ranked among Europe’s fastest-growing companies by the FT
Limitations
- Less transcript library capability compared to Third Bridge or Tegus
- Pricing less transparent than some alternatives
- Less prominent in the Middle East and GCC relative to regional specialists
Best suited for: Clients in life sciences, healthcare, or multi-regional projects — especially those with European or Asia-Pacific scope — who need bundled research support.
Infoquest: Next-Generation Custom Sourcing
Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Dubai with a London, Beirut, and Bogotá presence, Infoquest represents a new category of expert network built around custom sourcing and AI-assisted workflows rather than static databases. Instead of querying a fixed pool, Infoquest actively builds an expert shortlist from scratch for every project — using AI to identify experience patterns and rank relevance, before human verification. This model makes Infoquest especially effective for niche, regional, or hard-to-find expertise, including the GCC and MENA markets where legacy databases have historically under-served clients.
Where Infoquest Excels
- AI-assisted matching precisely aligned to each individual client brief
- Custom sourcing from scratch — no stale database profiles or pre-matched pools
- First expert shortlist often delivered within 2 hours
- Leading expert network for the GCC and MENA region, bridging global decision-makers with regional specialists
- 800+ projects delivered with 98% client satisfaction
- Flexible pricing and engagement structures with no rigid credit system
Limitations
- No transcript library — model is built around live calls
- Smaller visible database by design (precision over volume)
- Less suited for purely standardised, high-volume research at commodity pricing
Best suited for: Consulting firms, PE funds, and corporates needing precision, speed, and relevance — particularly in niche, technical, or GCC/MENA contexts where legacy networks struggle to deliver.
How the Major Expert Networks Compare: 2026 Decision Matrix
| GLG | Alpha-Sights | Guide-point | 3rd Bridge | Tegus / AS | Infoquest | |
| Speed to expert | Slow | Fast | Moderate | Moderate | Fast (library) | Very Fast |
| Transcript library | Partial | Partial | Yes | Best-in-class | Largest | No |
| Niche / GCC coverage | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Strong |
| AI / Technology | Legacy + AI | Partial AI | Partial AI | Partial AI | AI-native | AI-native |
| Compliance strength | Best | Strong | Strong | Strong | Standard | Standard |
| Pricing flexibility | Low | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
How to Choose the Right Expert Network: A Step-by-Step Framework
There is no universally best expert network — only the right one for your use case, team, and research model. Use this framework to guide your decision:
| Step | Question to Ask | What It Tells You |
| 1 | Do I need a transcript library or live calls — or both? | If prior expert interviews are valuable before placing calls, prioritise Third Bridge or Tegus/AlphaSense. If live custom calls are your primary need, focus on call-specialist networks. |
| 2 | How niche or geographically specific is my research? | Database-first networks (GLG, Guidepoint) excel at common industries and geographies. Custom-sourcing networks (Infoquest, AlphaSights) outperform for niche profiles, emerging markets, or GCC/MENA. |
| 3 | What is my call volume — low or high? | Low volume teams benefit from pay-per-call or flexible pricing. High-volume teams extract better value from subscriptions. GLG and AlphaSights favour enterprise subscriptions; Coleman and Infoquest are more flexible. |
| 4 | How tight is my compliance environment? | If you operate in a regulated environment (financial services, healthcare, government), GLG’s compliance infrastructure is the industry benchmark. |
| 5 | Run a live brief test before signing a contract. | Ask shortlisted providers to source 2–3 experts against a real current brief. Evaluate relevance and speed of the actual shortlist, not just the sales pitch. |
| 6 | Ask for the true cost per call, not just the credit price. | Many credit-based models charge 1.5–2x credits per call. Ask: ‘What is your median number of credits charged per 1-hour call at my expert seniority level?’ |
Quick Decision Guide: Which Network for Which Need?
- Choose GLG if: you operate in a highly regulated environment where compliance infrastructure and institutional scale are non-negotiable.
- Choose AlphaSights if: you need fast execution for well-scoped projects and value white-glove service coordination.
- Choose Guidepoint if: breadth matters most — you need wide expert coverage across established sectors with flexible engagement formats.
- Choose Third Bridge if: transcript library access is central to your research workflow, especially for PE, M&A, or systematic sector research.
- Choose Tegus / AlphaSense if: you are an investment professional who wants the largest transcript library combined with AI-powered search, financial data, and live call access.
- Choose Atheneum if: you need multi-regional Research-as-a-Service with particular strength in life sciences, healthcare, or European markets.
- Choose Infoquest if: you need hard-to-source or niche expertise, GCC/MENA coverage, or AI-assisted custom sourcing with a fast, flexible model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best expert network in 2026?
There is no single best expert network — the right choice depends on your use case. GLG leads on scale and compliance; Third Bridge and Tegus/AlphaSense lead on transcript libraries; AlphaSights leads on speed and client service; Infoquest leads on custom sourcing and GCC/MENA precision. Use the framework above to match to your specific needs.
How much do expert networks cost?
Most expert networks charge $900–$1,500 per hour of expert consultation, typically through a credit-based model or subscription. GLG and AlphaSights are at the premium end ($1,000–1,500/hr). Tegus/AlphaSense and Third Bridge tend to be lower for transcript-heavy users. Always ask for the average credits charged per call — the true cost is often 30–50% higher than the headline credit price.
What is the difference between GLG and AlphaSights?
GLG is the largest network by scale and is strongest for compliance-heavy, complex, multi-market research. AlphaSights is faster and more service-led, and is preferred by top consulting firms for well-scoped projects requiring quick turnaround. GLG is better when breadth and regulatory rigor are paramount; AlphaSights is better when speed and project management support are priorities.
Do expert networks have transcript libraries?
Yes, but with significant variation in quality. Third Bridge (Forum) and Tegus/AlphaSense have the most comprehensive and searchable libraries — covering tens of thousands of companies with AI-powered search. GLG and Guidepoint have growing archives. AlphaSights has a partial offering. Infoquest, Coleman Research, and Atheneum focus primarily on live call sourcing rather than transcript access.
What is the difference between an expert network and traditional research?
Expert networks provide direct, on-demand access to practitioners with firsthand experience — reducing research time by 40–60% compared to traditional methods. Traditional research firms use structured methodologies and secondary data, producing defensible but slower outputs. Expert networks are better for speed, specificity, and live insight. Traditional research is better for regulatory-heavy contexts and long-term trend analysis.
What expert networks cover the Middle East and GCC?
Most legacy networks — GLG, Guidepoint, AlphaSights — have limited GCC and MENA depth in their pre-built databases. Atheneum has a Lahore office and some regional coverage. Infoquest is the leading specialist for the GCC/MENA market, custom-sourcing experts in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and across the wider region, and is the expert network of choice for clients with a Middle East research focus.
Conclusion: Precision and Speed Are Winning Over Scale
The expert network landscape in 2026 is the most competitive it has ever been. What began as a GLG-dominated, database-driven market has fragmented into distinct categories: transcript platforms (Third Bridge, Tegus/AlphaSense), fast-service call networks (AlphaSights), breadth players (GLG, Guidepoint), specialist RaaS providers (Atheneum), and AI-native custom sourcing firms (Infoquest).
The common thread among clients across all these categories is the same: they want the right expert or insight, faster, with less friction. Legacy scale alone no longer wins the deal. The networks gaining ground in 2026 are those combining technology, human judgment, and genuine subject-matter precision — delivered at speed. For teams operating in complex, fast-moving, or under-covered markets, the advantage increasingly lies with custom sourcing and AI-assisted discovery. That shift is what positioned Infoquest to compete directly with networks that have been in the market for over two decades.
