Claude Overlay vs Poke (Interaction Co.)

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-10-17
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At a glance

DimensionClaude OverlayPoke (Interaction Co.)
PlatformWindows 10/11 onlyApple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS
Core FunctionAI agent that sees and acts on your screenAI assistant inside messaging apps
Key IntegrationClaude Code (Opus 4.8) via CLINotion, Oura, Gmail, Outlook, TripIt
Best ForMulti-monitor power users & developersLife management from your phone
Latest NewsNo recent news@poke.com email, Apple Messages verified, Telegram support, charts

If you're a Windows power user who wants an AI agent that directly interacts with your screen across multiple monitors, Claude Overlay is your tool. If you prefer managing email, calendar, and tasks through your existing messaging apps with rich integrations like Notion and Oura, pick Poke. Both are freemium but serve fundamentally different workflows: desktop automation vs. mobile-first assistant.

Try Claude OverlayTry Poke (Interaction Co.)
Claude Overlay
Claude Overlay

A free, open-source screen-aware chat overlay for Windows that answers against your entire screen and can edit files in the app you're

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Poke (Interaction Co.)
Poke (Interaction Co.)

Poke is an AI personal assistant that lives in your texts on Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram and RCS

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Pricing
Free
Freemium
Plans
$0
$0/mo
$19/mo
$199/mo
Popularity
4 views
7.2k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
Desktop
MobileAPI
Categories
🛠️ Autonomous Coding Agents⚡ Productivity
⚡ Productivity🤖 AI Assistants
Features
Screen-aware chat that auto-captures every monitor on each message
Labels primary versus secondary monitors in the captured context
Frameless always-on-top floating window over any Windows application
Runs the full Claude Code agent named in the README as Opus 4.8
Edits the file you're looking at without being told its path
Reaches into the app on screen — fixing wording on an open slide or building in an open Excel model
Collapses to a draggable orb with a real Windows taskbar button
Checkmark on the orb when a reply finishes while collapsed
Name each overlay instance and run several at once, one per task
Token-by-token streaming responses with tool-call chips
In-place model switcher and context-usage meter
Ctrl+V image paste plus local PDF, Word and PowerPoint file attachments
Skips re-sending the screen when nothing has changed since the last message
Reconnects into the same conversation when the CLI connection drops
DPI-aware UI with live Ctrl +/– zoom and edge resizing
Chat with an AI assistant inside Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram and RCS
Send tasks by text or voice message
First and only AI product verified on Apple Messages (June 2026)
Search, draft and send email with label management (Gmail, Microsoft Outlook)
Outlook replies with attachments, real-time sync and contact search
Schedule events, check availability and sync contacts from a text
Set reminders and receive proactive updates in your threads
Proactive background automations that run on your schedule
Poke Recipes: configure integrations, build automations and share setups
Official recipe directory at poke.com/recipes
Poke Kitchen: developer recipes with custom integrations and MCP servers
Poke API for developers
Poke Human for reservations, phone calls, ordering and rides (Ultra)
Website building and deployment at yourname.poke.com (Ultra)
Claim a @poke.com email address for your primary account
Integrations
Notion
Oura
Gmail
Microsoft Outlook
Apple Messages
WhatsApp
Telegram
Granola
PostHog
TripIt
Todoist

What real users say: Claude Overlay vs Poke (Interaction Co.)

Not marketing copy and not our opinion — a structured sweep of public discussion (reviews, forums, communities and video comments), showing what people praise and what they complain about for each tool.

Claude Overlay

61 mentions across 4 sources · 64% positive — mixed (averaged across 4 sources)

YouTube, Product Hunt, Bluesky, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Eliminates alt-tabbing and manual screenshot pasting for Claude users.
  • • Uses existing Claude CLI login—no extra API key needed.
  • • Multi-monitor support automatically captures each screen.
  • • Voice input paired with screen sharing adds hands-free versatility.

What frustrates them

  • • No option to mask sensitive screen regions before capture.
  • • Prompt injection from on-screen text is a real security risk.
  • • Token costs can escalate quickly with frequent screenshots.
  • • Unclear if overlay shares rate limits with terminal Claude sessions.

Researched Jul 16, 2026

Poke (Interaction Co.)

19 mentions across 1 sources · 7% positive — critical (averaged across 11 sources)

YouTube

What users praise

  • • Integrates directly into iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, and RCS.
  • • Handles email, calendar, reminders, and web search from chat.
  • • Verified source citations for web results increase trust.
  • • Deep integrations with Notion, Oura, Gmail, Outlook, TripIt.

What frustrates them

  • • No community feedback on Reddit, HN, or other major platforms.
  • • Premium pricing at $19-$199/month may be steep.
  • • Workflow setup (Poke Recipes) may confuse new users.
  • • Edge-case file handling like spreadsheets is unproven.

Researched Jul 17, 2026

Who should pick which

  • Developer debugging across monitors
    Pick: Claude Overlay

    Claude Overlay captures all screens and can edit files or run commands via Claude Code agent, ideal for fixing code without alt-tabbing.

  • Busy professional managing email & calendar
    Pick: Poke (Interaction Co.)

    Poke lets you handle Gmail/Outlook, schedule meetings, and set reminders from Apple Messages or WhatsApp, saving time across apps.

  • Health enthusiast tracking Oura data
    Pick: Poke (Interaction Co.)

    Poke integrates Oura to check sleep, readiness, and activity via chat, avoiding the Oura app.

  • Presenter needing slide TL;DR or fact-check
    Pick: Claude Overlay

    Claude Overlay sees your screen during a presentation and can summarize or verify content without exiting slideshow.

  • User wanting proactive automations
    Pick: Poke (Interaction Co.)

    Poke Pro/Ultra offers proactive automations (e.g., auto-schedule from emails) to run life on autopilot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Claude Overlay vs Poke (Interaction Co.): which should you choose?

If you're a Windows power user who wants an AI agent that directly interacts with your screen across multiple monitors, Claude Overlay is your tool. If you prefer managing email, calendar, and tasks through your existing messaging apps with rich integrations like Notion and Oura, pick Poke. Both are freemium but serve fundamentally different workflows: desktop automation vs. mobile-first assistant.

Does Claude Overlay work on macOS or Linux?

No, it's Windows 10/11 only.

Does Poke work on desktop?

Poke is primarily mobile-centric via messaging apps; there's no dedicated desktop overlay like Claude Overlay.

Can Claude Overlay send emails or manage calendar?

Not directly—it's an agent that can read and edit files, but it doesn't have built-in integrations for email/calendar like Poke.

Can Poke edit files on my screen?

No, Poke is a chat-based assistant that interacts with connected services, not your desktop screen.

Do I need a separate Claude subscription for Claude Overlay?

Yes, Claude Overlay uses the Claude Code CLI which requires a Claude Pro or API subscription.

Is Poke verified on Apple Messages?

Yes, as of June 2026, Poke is the first AI product verified on Apple Messages with rich actions.

Can I use both tools together?

Absolutely—they complement each other. Claude Overlay for desktop agent tasks, Poke for mobile messaging-based assistant.

Which tool has a free tier for heavy use?

Claude Overlay is free but needs a Claude subscription; Poke's free tier may be limited. Heavy users might need Poke Pro/Ultra.

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Explore each tool further

Claude Overlay
View Claude Overlay reviewClaude Overlay alternatives
Poke (Interaction Co.)
View Poke (Interaction Co.) reviewPoke (Interaction Co.) alternatives

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Last reviewed: July 16, 2026