Kerlig 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

DimensionKerligPoke (Interaction Co.)
PlatformmacOS desktop appMessaging apps (iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS)
Key Integrations350+ AI models, local models, docs/PDFNotion, Oura, Gmail, Outlook, TripIt, Todoist
Best ForWriting emails/Slack messages, document analysisTask automation, calendar/email management via chat
SetupRequires own API keysNo API keys needed; connects to messaging apps
Latest News2.6.0: Save attachments as MarkdownJune 2026: @poke.com emails, Apple Messages verified

Choose Kerlig if you’re a macOS professional who writes daily in email/Slack and wants granular control over AI models (including local). Choose Poke if you prefer a chat-based assistant that manages your email, calendar, and health data hands‑free across messaging apps, especially if you value a free tier and proactive automations.

Kerlig
Kerlig

Kerlig is a native macOS AI writing app that puts 350+ models one ⌥+space keystroke away in any app.

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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
Paid
Freemium
Plans
$49/once
$79/once
$297/once
$0/mo
$19/mo
$199/mo
Popularity
5 views
7.2k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
DesktopCLI
MobileAPI
Categories
✍️ Writing & Content
⚡ Productivity🤖 AI Assistants
Features
Global ⌥+space hotkey invokes AI in any Mac app
Proofread spelling and grammar before you hit Send
Rewrite, summarize, translate, and shorten selected text
Chat interface with editable prompts and regenerated responses
Analyze attachments: webpages, ebooks, PDFs, images, YouTube transcripts
Dictation for voice input
Deep Research with reasoning models and clickable citations
Reasoning models expose chain of thought
Agentic Mode reads the active window, fetches links, checks clipboard (v2.8.0)
MCP server connections via OAuth sign-in or pasted JSON config
350+ models including Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Fable 5.1, GPT-6 Astra, Sol, Luna (v2.8.3)
Local models via Apple Foundation Models, Ollama, LM Studio
Headless mode runs actions in the background
Reads selections directly in most apps without touching the clipboard (v2.7.0)
Custom actions, presets, and prompt library
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
Linear
Slack
GitHub
Stripe
Sentry
Figma
Metabase
OpenAI
Anthropic
Google Gemini
Groq Cloud
OpenRouter
Ollama
Perplexity
Oura
Gmail
Microsoft Outlook
Apple Messages
WhatsApp
Telegram
Granola
PostHog
TripIt
Todoist

What real users say: Kerlig 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.

Kerlig

25 mentions across 2 sources · 43% positive — mixed (averaged across 2 sources)

Bluesky, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Native macOS app with global hotkey for instant access.
  • • Supports 350+ models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, local, etc.
  • • One-time purchase model—no recurring subscription fees.
  • • On-device Apple Foundation Model support for privacy.

What frustrates them

  • • Very limited community feedback to validate claims.
  • • Only macOS—no Windows, Linux, or mobile support.
  • • Requires bringing your own API keys and paying tokens.
  • • Buzz appears mostly from the developer, not organic users.

Researched Jul 5, 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

  • Busy professional writing daily emails/Slack
    Pick: Kerlig

    Kerlig’s native macOS integration, tone personalization, and support for 350+ models (including local) make it ideal for crafting professional communications quickly.

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

    Poke’s direct Oura integration allows you to check sleep/readiness/activity via messaging without opening the Oura app.

  • Researcher analyzing documents
    Pick: Kerlig

    Kerlig supports chat with PDFs, webpages, and images, plus deep research models and clickable citations.

  • Automation‑minded user wanting life on autopilot
    Pick: Poke (Interaction Co.)

    Poke’s Recipes and proactive automations (Pro/Ultra) handle email, calendar, reminders, and travel via chat.

  • Developer wanting local models
    Pick: Kerlig

    Kerlig supports Ollama and LM Studio, enabling fully offline AI usage with privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Choose Kerlig if you’re a macOS professional who writes daily in email/Slack and wants granular control over AI models (including local). Choose Poke if you prefer a chat-based assistant that manages your email, calendar, and health data hands‑free across messaging apps, especially if you value a free tier and proactive automations.

Do I need API keys for Kerlig?

Yes, you must provide your own API keys from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.

Does Poke have a free tier?

Yes, Poke offers a free tier. Pro is $19/mo and Ultra $199/mo.

Can Kerlig run offline?

Yes, through local AI models via Ollama or LM Studio.

Which messaging apps does Poke support?

Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram (excl. Italy/Brazil), and RCS.

Does Kerlig include email management?

No, it focuses on composing emails and Slack messages, not managing inboxes.

Can Poke create tables/charts?

Yes, from data or images.

Is Kerlig web‑based?

No, it’s a native macOS desktop app only.

Does Poke integrate with Notion?

Yes, supports pages, databases, and docs.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026