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Alternatives · AI Assistants

MaxAI alternatives

As of Nov 12, 2026, the highest-graded MaxAI alternative is Poe (3.4 GPA). It's also the best free one.

MaxAI compared with 5 alternatives: Monica, Sider, Merlin, ChatHub and Poe.

MaxAI has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12 per member / month, billed yearly ($30 billed monthly). All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.

Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a MaxAI sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
MaxAIThis toolFree plan · from $12/moYesWeb, Browser extension
MonicaFree plan · from $8.3/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
SiderFree plan · from $9.99/moYesmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
MerlinFree planYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
ChatHubFree plan · from $14.99/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
PoeFree plan · from $4.17/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

Price against what you get

MaxAI starts at $12 a month for each person and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 3 of the 4 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Monica, Sider and Poe.

ChatHub scores higher without starting lower.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$2$5$10$20$50More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessMaxAIMonicaSiderChatHubPoe

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of AI assistants, and the best at every price

How each one differs from MaxAI

  1. Monica

    AI assistant with many models, built around a browser sidebar

    • Monica starts at $8.3 per month, billed annually ($99 per year).
    • Monica also lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
    • Monica also covers AI agents.
    • Monica does not cover citations and image generation, which MaxAI does.

    Suits: People who want AI help inside the browser on any web page

    Monica vs MaxAIMonica pricing and details

  2. Sider

    AI sidebar for the browser with many models and mobile apps

    • Sider starts at $9.99 per month (Basic, US App Store); a mobile Pocket Plan is $49.99 per year.
    • Sider also lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
    • Sider lists no web app, which MaxAI has.
    • Sider also covers AI agents.
    • Sider does not cover citations and image generation, which MaxAI does.

    Suits: People who want an AI side panel on every browser tab

    Sider vs MaxAISider pricing and details

  3. Merlin

    AI sidebar extension with models from several labs in one account

    • Merlin also lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
    • Merlin also covers AI agents.
    • Merlin does not cover citations, grammar & style and image generation, which MaxAI does.

    Suits: People who want an AI sidebar on any website

    Merlin vs MaxAIMerlin pricing and details

  4. ChatHub

    Ask several AI models one question and compare answers side by side

    • ChatHub starts at $14.99 per month, billed annually ($19 billed monthly).
    • ChatHub also lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
    • ChatHub does not cover citations, grammar & style and image generation, which MaxAI does.

    Suits: Comparing how several AI models answer the same prompt

    ChatHub vs MaxAIChatHub pricing and details

  5. Poe

    One app for chatting with AI models from many different labs

    • Poe starts at $4.17 per month, billed yearly ($49.99 a year); $4.99 billed monthly.
    • Poe also lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
    • Poe lists no browser extension, which MaxAI has.
    • Poe does not cover citations, grammar & style and image generation, which MaxAI does.

    Suits: Comparing many AI models without a subscription to each one

    Poe vs MaxAIPoe pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in MaxAI

  • The browser extension works on Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome and Edge; the vendor lists no Firefox, Safari or mobile app.
  • The free plan allows 3 Pro chats a day; image generation and the larger model choices are paid features.
  • The pricing page states that all payments are final and non-refundable.
  • The $12 Pro price is shown as a limited-time saving with no end date, so the regular rate may differ.
MaxAI pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to MaxAI?

The alternatives to MaxAI in this directory are Monica, Sider, Merlin, ChatHub and Poe. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with MaxAI.

Is there a free alternative to MaxAI?

Yes. Monica, Sider, Merlin, ChatHub and Poe have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which MaxAI alternatives work on Windows?

The MaxAI listing does not include a Windows app. Monica, Sider, Merlin, ChatHub and Poe list one.

Which MaxAI alternatives work on macOS?

The MaxAI listing does not include a macOS app. Monica, Sider, Merlin, ChatHub and Poe list one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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