Surf
The AI smart notebook produced by Deta integrates web pages, videos and PDFs into the same stream of thinking. It can automatically generate personal notes and code-free interactive charts. Data is stored locally, and the core code is open source.
Updated: 2026-10-30
What is Surf?
Surf is an AI smart notebook launched by the Deta team, which its official website describes as "bringing your files and web pages directly into your stream of thought". Different from the combination of a "browser and note-taking software", it integrates web search, videos, PDFs and note-taking in one place, eliminating the need to copy, paste and switch between pages. The official states that its core source code has been open-sourced on GitHub, and it is currently being rewritten and moving towards a Beta version.
Who is it for?
- Researchers and engineers who read papers or technical documents while keeping their sources and notes together.
- Students, self-learners and content creators who need to condense hours of course videos or hundreds of pages of materials into readable notes.
- Privacy-sensitive users who care about data sovereignty and want to retain full control over their models and API keys.
- Developers who want an open-source knowledge tool that they can freely modify and tinker with by reading the source code.
Key features
6Web Search
Search the web directly within notes; the official states that it offers "less scrolling, less typing, and less copying" compared to a web browser.
Generate personal notes from your media
Organize hours of YouTube videos, hundreds of pages of PDFs, foreign-language materials and scientific charts to create personal notes, with options for summaries or in-depth reading.
All in one place
Web pages, videos and PDFs are all within the notes; you can ask questions, get answers and continue writing without leaving the current context.
Create interactive graphs and applets
The official claims that you can generate interactive charts and small applications without writing any code.
Local & open data
Data is stored on your local device, and you can import, export and manage it yourself.
Open Intelligence
You can connect to the large model of your choice with your own API key, or run a local model directly.
How to use Surf
- Try out a long video or a PDF first to confirm the quality of the generated notes before deciding to migrate your daily records.
- When handling undisclosed materials, prioritize using built-in keys or local models, and confirm in the settings whether the data is truly stored on your local device.
- The official stated that the project is about to enter Beta and is being rewritten, so its functions and stability may change.
- Please keep your own exported copies of important content.
- Before team collaboration or external commercial use, recheck the scope of authorization in accordance with the open source license and instructions in the official repository, and do not assume that all models are available for commercial scenarios.
Traffic & popularity
Data month Sep 2026
Surf receives about 4.5K visits per month and ranks #4,937,387 worldwide.
Monthly visits
12 monthsTraffic sources
- Direct39.2%
- Search34.9%
- Referrals10.3%
- Social6.3%
- Display ads2.9%
- Other6.4%
Top countries
- United States38.2%
- India17.8%
- Vietnam13.9%
- Brazil13.7%
- Pakistan8.2%
Estimated from third-party traffic data.
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