Spool vs Poke (Interaction Co.)
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Spool | Poke (Interaction Co.) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Local-first AI session search & index (macOS) | AI assistant inside messaging apps for task automation |
| Key Integrations | Claude, Codex, Gemini (CLI agents) | Notion, Oura, Gmail, Outlook, TripIt, Todoist, messaging platforms |
| Target User | Developers, CLI power users, privacy-conscious | General consumers, health enthusiasts, power users |
| Platform | macOS only | Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS (cross-messaging) |
| Latest News Highlight | Launched Apr 2, 2026 as missing search engine for AI data | Now verified on Apple Messages (Jun 4, 2026); Recetas GA; @poke.com emails |
If you're a developer who lives in CLI and wants to search every AI coding session across agents without sending data to the cloud, Spool is the clear choice—and it's free. If you'd rather have an AI butler inside your messaging apps handling email, calendar, health, and automations, Poke's freemium tiers (Pro $19/mo) offer a more versatile, cross-platform assistant. Choose based on whether your pain point is 'finding old chat history' vs. 'getting tasks done without opening multiple apps.'
AI personal assistant in your texts — Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram & RCS
Visit WebsiteWhat real users say: Spool 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.
Spool
100 mentions across 7 sources · 63% positive — mixed (averaged across 7 sources)
Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store, Stack Overflow, GitHub, Lemmy
What users praise
- • Local-first privacy with all data on-device
- • Auto-indexes Claude, Codex, and Gemini sessions
- • Searchable library with fast FTS5 and AI modes
- • Share sessions as public or team links
What frustrates them
- • Only works on macOS with Apple Silicon
- • No multi-device sync or cloud option
- • Setup requires installing daemon and CLI
- • Occasional indexing bugs or missed sessions
Researched Aug 17, 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 using multiple AI coding agentsPick: Spool
Spool automatically indexes sessions from Claude, Codex, and Gemini, grouped by project – perfect for keeping track of which agent solved what, and it's free.
- Busy professional wanting to manage email, calendar, and health from one chatPick: Poke (Interaction Co.)
Poke integrates with Gmail, Outlook, Notion, Oura, and TripIt inside Apple Messages or WhatsApp, so you can schedule, read, and track without switching apps.
- Privacy-conscious developer or teamPick: Spool
Spool is local-only and open-source (MIT), so no session data ever leaves your machine – ideal for sensitive codebases.
- Health enthusiast who uses Oura and wants automated insights via textPick: Poke (Interaction Co.)
Poke's Oura integration gives sleep, readiness, and activity data in chat, and its Recipes can automate health check-ins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spool vs Poke (Interaction Co.): which should you choose?
If you're a developer who lives in CLI and wants to search every AI coding session across agents without sending data to the cloud, Spool is the clear choice—and it's free. If you'd rather have an AI butler inside your messaging apps handling email, calendar, health, and automations, Poke's freemium tiers (Pro $19/mo) offer a more versatile, cross-platform assistant. Choose based on whether your pain point is 'finding old chat history' vs. 'getting tasks done without opening multiple apps.'
Can Spool index sessions from Cursor, Windsurf, or Aider?
Not yet – Spool currently supports Claude, Codex, and Gemini. Future agent support is planned for Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, and Zed.
Is Poke available on Windows or as a standalone app?
Poke works through messaging apps (iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS), so it is cross-platform via those apps, but there is no dedicated desktop client.
Does Spool sync across multiple Macs?
No – Spool is local-only and does not offer cloud sync, by design for privacy. Each Mac has its own index.
What models power Poke's AI?
Free tier uses a default model; Pro tier unlocks frontier models (e.g., GPT-4, Claude). Ultra tier offers priority access to the latest models.
Does Poke work with calendar providers besides Google and Outlook?
Currently only Gmail and Microsoft Outlook are supported for calendar and email. No iCloud or other providers are mentioned.
Can Spool be used on Linux?
No – Spool is macOS-only. The project does not currently support Windows or Linux.
What does Poke's 'Proactive Automations' (Pro/Ultra) mean?
Proactive automations allow Poke to take actions without you asking, based on Recipes you set (e.g., 'Remind me daily at 8am to check Oura readiness'). The Ultra tier runs 'on autopilot' with advanced behavior.
Is Spool open-source?
Yes, Spool is released under the MIT license. The source code is available on GitHub.
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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026