Tendril vs Grass: data for open AI, not bandwidth for resale
Published
Grass and Tendril both run quietly in the background and reward you with points, but they do different things. Grass shares your unused internet bandwidth so verified institutions can route web traffic through your connection. Tendril uses a little of your device's spare computing power to help build open AI, and the data the network creates is a public good.
| Grass | Tendril | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Shares your unused internet bandwidth so verified institutions can route web traffic and collect public web data through your connection | Uses a little of your device's spare computing power for background AI work, or you tap your phone to judge AI answers |
| What it uses | Your internet connection and IP address | Your device's spare compute, or a few taps on your phone |
| Reward | Grass Points, which factor into Grass Token airdrops | TEND Points: your rank, reputation, and proof you helped build open AI. Not money, and we never promise payouts |
| Who benefits from the output | The institutions that route traffic through the network | Open AI, built in the open. The data is a public good contributors share in |
| Wallet needed | Account required; wallet address needed to receive token airdrops | No. One click and you are in |
| Users claimed | Over 8.5M | New network, launching in the open |
The honest difference is what the network is for. Grass turns your spare bandwidth into a resource others can use, and that is a real thing people choose. Tendril is built around a different idea: the thing of value is the data that makes open AI better, and that data is meant to be a public good rather than a private asset. You are part of the network, not just renting it your connection. You also help build AI for languages most models barely speak, like Swahili, Yoruba, and Tagalog.
Grass is a legitimate, audited app (its site lists AMTSO membership and AppEsteem certification). The only contrast drawn here is structural: bandwidth resale versus data for open AI. Competitor details cited from grass.io, checked 2026-06-20.
Tendril vs Grass: common questions
- What is the difference between Tendril and Grass?
- Grass shares your unused internet bandwidth so verified institutions can route web traffic through your connection. Tendril uses a little of your spare computing power to help build open AI, and the data the network creates is a public good.
- Does Tendril share my internet like Grass?
- No. Tendril does not route traffic through your connection. It uses spare compute in a browser tab, or a few taps on your phone to judge AI answers.
- Do I need a wallet for Tendril?
- No. One click and you are in. No wallet, no setup, no crypto knowledge needed. You can connect a wallet later if you want, but you never have to.
- Is Tendril a Grass alternative?
- It is a different kind of network. With Tendril you help build open AI itself, the data is a public good, and contributors share in it. You are part of the network, not just renting it your bandwidth.
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