Reference vs Poke (Interaction Co.)

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

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-09-30
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At a glance

DimensionReferencePoke (Interaction Co.)
Core purposeDeveloper cheat sheetsAI assistant in messaging apps
Key integrationsN/A (web-based reference)Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail, Outlook, Notion, Oura, TripIt
Target audienceDevelopers needing quick syntax remindersIndividuals wanting life automation
PlatformWeb browserMessaging apps (iOS, Android, web)
AutomationNoneRecipes for proactive workflows

If you want an AI assistant that manages email, calendar, and tasks directly from your messaging app, Poke (starting free, Pro $19/mo) is a strong choice with deep integrations. If you need free, quick syntax references for coding, Reference (100% free) is the clear winner. They serve completely different needs; pick based on whether you need action or information.

Try ReferenceTry Poke (Interaction Co.)
Reference
Reference

Free, open-source library of 200+ developer cheat sheets — coding, OS, database, AI CLI references with ⌘K search.

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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/mo
$0/mo
$19/mo
$199/mo
Popularity
3 views
7.2k views
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
Web
MobileAPI
Categories
💻 Code & Development⚡ Productivity
⚡ Productivity🤖 AI Assistants
Features
200+ cheat sheets across programming, OS, database, and developer tools
⌘K quick-open command palette to jump to any sheet
Searchable index with Popular and Recent sections on the homepage
AI CLI sheets: ChatGPT, Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI, Cursor CLI, Grok, Grok CLI, OpenCode, OpenClaw, Gemma 4
Programming references: Bash, PowerShell, Python, JavaScript, Go, Rust, PHP, C++, TypeScript, Kotlin, Swift
OS and DevOps commands: Linux Command, Git, Docker, SSH, Nginx, Systemd, Tmux, Curl
Text-processing sheets: RegEX, Grep, Sed, Find, Awk, XPath, Emmet
Database references: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB, Neo4j
Keyboard shortcuts for dozens of apps including VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, Vim, Emacs, Figma, Slack, Obsidian, Postman
Utility references: HTTP status codes, MIME types, ISO 639-1 language codes, HTML entities, ASCII, network ports, aspect ratio, resolutions
Conventional Commits and PyTorch / TensorFlow sheets
Color picker tool on the utilities shelf
Open source on GitHub with a contribution guide for submitting new sheets
Social sharing to X, Facebook, Reddit, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Line, and email
Chat with an AI assistant inside Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram and RCS
First verified AI product on Apple Messages
Send tasks by text or voice message
Search, draft and send email with label management (Gmail, Outlook)
Schedule events and check availability from a text
Set reminders and receive proactive updates in your threads
Poke Recipes: configure integrations, build automations and share your setup
Poke Kitchen: developer recipes with custom integrations
Proactive background automations that run on your schedule
Add action items from Granola to your calendar automatically
Poke Human: real people for restaurant reservations, phone calls and ordering (Ultra)
Website building at yourname.poke.com (Ultra)
Set up a @poke.com email address for your primary account
Integrations
GitHub
Notion
Oura
Gmail
Microsoft Outlook
Apple Messages
WhatsApp
Telegram
TripIt
Granola
Todoist
PostHog

What real users say: Reference 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.

Reference

44 mentions across 2 sources · 35% positive — critical (averaged across 2 sources)

Hacker News, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Free to use with no paid tiers or hidden charges.
  • • Covers 100+ topics including popular languages, AI, and databases.
  • • Searchable and easily shareable via social media and email.
  • • Open source code available on GitHub for transparency.

What frustrates them

  • • No significant community engagement or contributions visible.
  • • Content quality varies and is not peer-reviewed.
  • • Advanced users find the material too shallow.
  • • Lack of interactive features or practice environments.

Researched Jul 3, 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

  • Solo founder
    Pick: Poke (Interaction Co.)

    Needs to manage email, calendar, and tasks from their phone; Poke's messaging interface and TripIt/Notion integrations automate travel and notes.

  • Developer learning Go
    Pick: Reference

    Reference provides a free, quick Go syntax cheat sheet without sign-up; ideal for rapid lookup while coding.

  • Health enthusiast
    Pick: Poke (Interaction Co.)

    Poke integrates with Oura to check sleep and activity data directly from messaging, avoiding the Oura app.

  • System administrator
    Pick: Reference

    Reference has cheat sheets for Linux, Git, SSH, Docker, and Nginx, essential for daily ops.

  • Power user wanting automation
    Pick: Poke (Interaction Co.)

    Poke's Recipes and Pro/Ultra tiers enable proactive automations like recurring reminders and email drafting.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

If you want an AI assistant that manages email, calendar, and tasks directly from your messaging app, Poke (starting free, Pro $19/mo) is a strong choice with deep integrations. If you need free, quick syntax references for coding, Reference (100% free) is the clear winner. They serve completely different needs; pick based on whether you need action or information.

Is Poke free?

Yes, there is a free tier with basic messaging and limited integrations. Pro is $19/mo, Ultra is $199/mo.

Is Reference free?

Yes, entirely free with no paywall.

What messaging apps does Poke support?

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

Can Reference help me with AI CLI tools?

Yes, it has cheat sheets for ChatGPT, Claude Code, Gemini CLI, and Grok.

Does Poke work with Gmail?

Yes, it integrates with Gmail and Outlook to read, search, draft, and send emails.

Can I use Poke on desktop?

Poke is primarily chat-based on messaging apps, but those apps have desktop versions (e.g., WhatsApp Web, Telegram Desktop).

How many cheat sheets does Reference have?

Over 200 cheat sheets covering languages, tools, OS, databases, and more.

Does Poke have automations?

Yes, Poke Recipes (GA since March 2026) enable proactive automations, available on Pro and Ultra tiers.

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Explore each tool further

Reference
View Reference reviewReference alternatives
Poke (Interaction Co.)
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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026