Stik App vs Poke (Interaction Co.)
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Stik App | Poke (Interaction Co.) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (open-source) | Free tier + Pro $19/mo + Ultra $199/mo |
| Platform | macOS only via Tauri/Rust | Cross-platform via messaging apps (Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS) |
| Primary Use Case | Quick capture, local markdown notes, semantic search | AI assistant for email, calendar, reminders, web search, and integrations |
| AI Capabilities | On-device AI semantic search (512-dim embeddings), smart folder suggestions | AI with frontier models (Pro), proactive automations, recipes, web search with verified sources |
| Integrations | iCloud Drive sync, Git-based sharing (manual) | Notion, Oura, Gmail, Outlook, TripIt, Todoist, PostHog, @poke.com email |
| Best For | Keyboard power users, privacy-conscious, developers, minimalists | Individuals wanting chat-based personal assistant for productivity & health |
Stik App and Poke serve completely different needs. Stik is a free, open-source macOS note taker for keyboard-driven, local-first, markdown-based quick capture with on-device AI semantic search. Poke is a freemium AI personal assistant that lives inside your messaging apps (Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS) to manage email, calendar, reminders, and integrations with services like Notion and Oura. Choose Stik if you want zero-friction note taking with absolute privacy and plain files; choose Poke if you want an AI-powered helper to offload tasks across multiple apps from a single chat interface.

Free open-source quick capture note app for Mac with local-first markdown and on-device AI
Visit Website
AI personal assistant that lives in your texts — Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, and RCS
Visit WebsiteWhat real users say: Stik App 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.
Stik App
26 mentions across 4 sources · 48% positive — mixed
Hacker News, Product Hunt, GitHub, Lemmy
What users praise
- • Instant capture via global shortcut under 3 seconds.
- • Notes saved as plain .md files — no proprietary lock-in.
- • Free and open-source with no account or cloud required.
- • On-device AI semantic search runs locally for privacy.
What frustrates them
- • No image support — drag-and-drop or paste doesn't work.
- • No dark mode despite repeated requests.
- • Window and font size not resizable; tiny on 4K displays.
- • Markdown editor bugs: heading dropdown, code blocks broken.
Researched Jul 5, 2026
Poke (Interaction Co.)
19 mentions across 1 sources · 7% positive — critical
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
- Minimalist note taker / developerPick: Stik App
Stik's plain markdown files, keyboard shortcuts, and git-friendly storage align with developer workflows. It's free, open-source, and runs entirely offline.
- Busy professional managing multiple appsPick: Poke (Interaction Co.)
Poke centralizes email, calendar, reminders, Notion, Oura, and travel in one chat interface. Its Pro tier's proactive automations save time.
- Privacy-conscious userPick: Stik App
Stik stores all notes locally with on-device AI; no data leaves your Mac. Poke relies on cloud integrations and servers.
- Health enthusiast tracking sleep and activityPick: Poke (Interaction Co.)
Poke integrates with Oura to query sleep, readiness, and activity data without opening the Oura app.
- User who wants AI assistant on Apple MessagesPick: Poke (Interaction Co.)
Poke is verified on Apple Messages with rich actions, offering a native chat experience for task management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stik App vs Poke (Interaction Co.): which should you choose?
Stik App and Poke serve completely different needs. Stik is a free, open-source macOS note taker for keyboard-driven, local-first, markdown-based quick capture with on-device AI semantic search. Poke is a freemium AI personal assistant that lives inside your messaging apps (Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS) to manage email, calendar, reminders, and integrations with services like Notion and Oura. Choose Stik if you want zero-friction note taking with absolute privacy and plain files; choose Poke if you want an AI-powered helper to offload tasks across multiple apps from a single chat interface.
Is Stik App truly free with no hidden costs?
Yes, Stik is 100% free and open-source. No subscriptions, no cloud fees, no account required.
Does Poke work on iPhone or just Apple Messages?
Poke works inside Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, and RCS. On iPhone, you can use it via Apple Messages or WhatsApp/Telegram apps.
Can Stik sync notes across Windows or iOS?
No. Stik is macOS-only. You can manually sync via iCloud Drive or git, but there is no Windows or iOS app.
What integrations does Poke have?
Poke integrates with Notion, Oura, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, TripIt, Todoist, PostHog, and offers a @poke.com email address.
Does Stik use AI for anything besides search?
The on-device AI provides semantic search and smart folder suggestions based on note content, but not text generation or summarization.
Can Poke schedule meetings across calendars?
Yes, Poke can check availability, schedule events, and manage recurring events with Gmail and Outlook calendars.
Which tool is better for privacy?
Stik App, since it runs entirely offline with no data leaving your Mac. Poke relies on cloud integrations and its servers.
Does Poke have a free tier?
Yes, Poke offers a free tier for basic needs. Pro ($19/mo) adds frontier models and proactive automations; Ultra ($199/mo) adds pay-as-you-go usage.
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Last reviewed: July 5, 2026