Alternatives · AI Assistants
Sider alternatives
Sider compared with 5 alternatives: Monica, Merlin, ChatHub, Poe and ChatGPT.
Sider has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month (Basic, US App Store); a mobile Pocket Plan is $49.99 per year. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 5, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiderThis tool | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Monica | Free plan · from $8.3/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Merlin | Free plan | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| ChatHub | Free plan · from $14.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Poe | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| ChatGPT | Free plan · from $8/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Sider
- Free plan · from $8.3/mo
Monica
AI assistant with many models, built around a browser sidebar
- Monica starts at $8.3 per month, billed annually ($99 per year). Sider starts at $9.99 per month (Basic, US App Store); a mobile Pocket Plan is $49.99 per year.
- Only Monica lists a web app.
Suits: People who want AI help inside the browser on any web page
- Free plan
Merlin
AI sidebar extension with models from several labs in one account
- Only Merlin lists a web app.
- Sider also covers grammar & style.
Suits: People who want an AI sidebar on any website
- Free plan · from $14.99/mo
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). Sider starts at $9.99 per month (Basic, US App Store); a mobile Pocket Plan is $49.99 per year.
- Only ChatHub lists a web app.
- Sider also covers AI agents and grammar & style.
Suits: Comparing how several AI models answer the same prompt
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Poe
One app for chatting with AI models from many different labs
- Poe starts at $4.99 per month, or $49.99 per year (US App Store). Sider starts at $9.99 per month (Basic, US App Store); a mobile Pocket Plan is $49.99 per year.
- Only Poe lists a web app.
- Only Sider lists a browser extension.
- Sider also covers AI agents and grammar & style.
Suits: Comparing many AI models without a subscription to each one
- Free plan · from $8/mo
ChatGPT
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice
- ChatGPT starts at $8 per month (Go). Sider starts at $9.99 per month (Basic, US App Store); a mobile Pocket Plan is $49.99 per year.
- Only ChatGPT lists a web app.
- Only Sider lists a browser extension.
- Sider also covers AI agents and grammar & style.
Suits: General-purpose help with writing, questions and brainstorming
Limits worth knowing in Sider
- Sider's website answers automated readers with a security check, so the prices here are US App Store in-app prices and web prices may differ.
- The store listings do not say how much usage the free tier includes or what each paid plan adds.
- Sider told an App Store reviewer that the Pocket Plan is for mobile use and that its credits cannot be spent in the desktop browser.
- The App Store also lists legacy Basic subscriptions and a $40.00 Plus plan without describing them, and Google Play shows items from $9.99 to $999.99.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Sider?
The alternatives to Sider in this directory are Monica, Merlin, ChatHub, Poe and ChatGPT. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Sider.
Is there a free alternative to Sider?
Yes. Monica, Merlin, ChatHub, Poe and ChatGPT have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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