Alternatives · Second Nature
Lateral vs Second Nature
Second Nature pairs reps with a conversational AI avatar inside a structured training program. Lateral drops the program and gives the rep a spoken call on their real pipeline, on demand.
In short
- Second Nature is an AI roleplay platform known for its lifelike conversational avatar and program-style training, typically owned by enablement or L&D.
- Lateral is direct-to-rep and voice-first. It builds calls from your actual product and calendar so the practice maps to tomorrow's meetings, with no program to enroll in.
- Pick Second Nature for a managed training program with avatars and curriculum. Pick Lateral to warm up before a specific call, today, for free.
An avatar program vs an on-demand call
Second Nature is well known for its conversational avatar, a human-feeling counterpart reps talk to inside a designed training experience. Teams build programs, assign scenarios, and track completion. It's a polished way to run structured practice.
Lateral is lighter and more athletic by design. There's no curriculum and no avatar to enroll with, you sign in, and Lateral turns your real product and pipeline into a live spoken roleplay you can run between meetings.
Think of Second Nature as a coached training program and Lateral as the warm-up you do on your own before you step onto the field.
Lateral vs Second Nature, side by side
A fair comparison. Both put reps in real conversations with AI, they just package it differently.
| Capability | Second Nature | Lateral |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Enablement and L&D running training programs | Individual reps practicing on their own |
| Setup time | Program and scenarios configured first | Under two minutes, sign in with work email |
| Personalization | Scenarios authored by the team | Built from your real product and calendar |
| Practice modality | Voice roleplay with a conversational avatar | Voice-first, real-time spoken calls |
| Grading | Program-level scoring and progress tracking | Instant grade on five fixed dimensions |
| Who sees your reps | Designed for manager and L&D visibility | Just you, no manager dashboard |
| Languages | Multiple languages supported | 33 languages |
| Price | Program/seat pricing via sales | Free in beta |
Capability
Second Nature
- Built for
- Enablement and L&D running training programs
- Setup time
- Program and scenarios configured first
- Personalization
- Scenarios authored by the team
- Practice modality
- Voice roleplay with a conversational avatar
- Grading
- Program-level scoring and progress tracking
- Who sees your reps
- Designed for manager and L&D visibility
- Languages
- Multiple languages supported
- Price
- Program/seat pricing via sales
Capability
Lateral
- Built for
- Individual reps practicing on their own
- Setup time
- Under two minutes, sign in with work email
- Personalization
- Built from your real product and calendar
- Practice modality
- Voice-first, real-time spoken calls
- Grading
- Instant grade on five fixed dimensions
- Who sees your reps
- Just you, no manager dashboard
- Languages
- 33 languages
- Price
- Free in beta
The buyer already knows your deal
A program's scenarios are written ahead of time, which is great for teaching a repeatable motion. Lateral starts from the other end: your real product and the meetings on your calendar. The AI buyer objects the way your prospects actually object, on the things they actually care about.
So instead of practicing a generic discovery flow, you can rehearse the exact call you have this afternoon, same buyer, same stakes, no risk.
Reps, not a curriculum. You run it back as many times as the call deserves.
When Second Nature is the better choice
If your goal is a managed training program, onboarding new hires through a defined curriculum, certifying a pitch with a lifelike avatar, and tracking completion across a cohort, Second Nature is purpose-built for that, and its avatar experience is a genuine strength.
Choose Second Nature when you need program structure and visibility for a team. Choose Lateral when you're a rep who wants to warm up on a real call without enrolling in anything.
Five dimensions, the second you finish
Lateral grades every call instantly on discovery and qualification, objection handling, value articulation, rapport and active listening, and next steps and closing. No program manager assigns it; it's just there when you hang up.
That tight loop, call, score, run it back, is the whole point. You're training between meetings, not blocking out a learning module.
Frequently asked
How is Lateral different from Second Nature's avatar?
- Second Nature is known for a lifelike conversational avatar inside a structured training program. Lateral is voice-first and skips the program, you sign in with your work email and practice a real-time spoken call grounded in your own product and calendar. The difference is a managed curriculum versus an on-demand warm-up you control.
Do I need my company to set Lateral up like a training program?
- No. Lateral is direct-to-rep with no admin rollout. Where Second Nature is typically deployed by enablement or L&D, Lateral is something an individual rep starts in under two minutes with just a work email.
Does Lateral track my progress for a manager?
- No. There's no manager dashboard and nothing rolls up. Your roleplays and scores stay with you, which is a deliberate contrast to program platforms built around team visibility.
Is the Lateral buyer realistic?
- It's grounded in your real product and the deals on your calendar, so the objections track to what your actual prospects raise. It's voice-first and responds in real time, so it feels like a live call rather than a scripted exercise.
What does Lateral cost?
- It's free while we're in beta. You can sign in with your work email and start practicing without talking to sales.