The Kagi Assistant Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Kagi Assistant in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Kagi Assistant
The Insider’s Guide
Multi-model AI assistant included with a Kagi Search plan
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from Kagi Assistant’s own pages.
Made by Kagi Inc. · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Kagi Assistant’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Kagi Assistant’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 4 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
Kagi Assistant is the AI chat that comes with a Kagi Search subscription. It puts models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral and other developers behind one interface, with optional web access powered by Kagi Search, file uploads and custom assistants. A Quick mode is available on every plan, while premium models and the multi-step Research mode need the Ultimate plan.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Kagi Assistant, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It lives next to the search box: sign in, pick a model, ask, with nothing to set up first.
- 1
Best for an AI assistant that comes with your search engine
Kagi Assistant is the AI chat that comes with a Kagi Search subscription, with models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others and web answers from Kagi's own search.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.50 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $5 per month, or $54 per year (Kagi Starter).
- 3
You can try it first
Free Trial plan with 100 searches and 100 Kagi Assistant interactions on standard models in total.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Many models, one subscription
Pick from models by OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, Meta, DeepSeek and others, and switch model in the middle of a thread. Premium models are limited to the Ultimate plan.
- 6
Web access through Kagi Search
A toggle controls whether the Assistant searches the web. Its searches can apply your Kagi Lenses and personalized results, and pasted URLs are fetched as context.
- 7
Quick and Research modes
Quick answers within seconds on every plan. Research, on Ultimate, plans multi-step work with up to about 15 tool calls, including a Python interpreter, image generation and Wolfram|Alpha.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 4 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Kagi Assistant you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Kagi Assistant at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $5 per month, or $54 per year (Kagi Starter)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free Trial plan with 100 searches and 100 Kagi Assistant interactions on standard models in total.
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Kagi Inc., since 2023
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for an AI assistant that comes with your search engine
Kagi Assistant is the AI chat that comes with a Kagi Search subscription, with models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others and web answers from Kagi's own search. You can't buy it on its own, premium models and Research mode need Ultimate at $25 a month, chats stop once your plan's allowance is spent, and it's a web app only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Starter is $5 a month and a search engine comes with it, but it caps you at 300 AI interactions. The premium models and Research mode, the parts you'd actually want, need Ultimate at $25 a month, twice this category's middle. |
| Free plan and trial | C | There's no free plan. The Free Trial is a one-time pot of 100 searches and 100 Assistant interactions on standard models, and it never refills. No card is mentioned, at least. After that it's $5 a month or nothing. |
| Features | C | Models from six labs, switchable mid-thread, web access through Kagi Search, uploads and custom assistants. The basics, with the gaps its own plan table shows: premium models and Research mode need Ultimate, and threads delete themselves after a day unless you pin them. |
| Ease of use | B | It lives next to the search box: sign in, pick a model, ask, with nothing to set up first. No rating on record for a web app. One trap to know: threads delete themselves after 24 hours of inactivity unless you make them permanent. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A web app, and the listing shows no phone or desktop app for it at all. What it plugs into is Kagi's own search, plus Wolfram|Alpha inside Research mode. Nothing on the listing says it connects to your other tools. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Kagi Assistant is for
- Fits if you already pay for Kagi Search, because the assistant is on the same plan
- Works for people who want several labs' models without a subscription to each
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't want a search subscription, since the assistant isn't sold on its own
- Pricey if you want the premium models or Research mode, which need Ultimate at $25 a month
- Tight if you chat a lot: Starter stops at 300 interactions, and every plan cuts off AI until the next billing cycle
- Watch out: threads delete themselves after 24 hours of inactivity unless you make them permanent
- Not for you if you want a free plan or a phone app: the trial is 100 interactions once, and it's web only
Good to know
Good for
- Kagi Search subscribers who want an assistant on the same plan
- People who want several model developers without separate subscriptions
- Research that should draw on ad-free, personalized search results
Worth knowing
- Kagi Assistant is not sold on its own: it comes with a Kagi Search subscription, and the plans listed are Kagi's plans.
- Premium models and Research mode are limited to Ultimate at $25 per month. Other plans use standard models and Quick mode.
- Usage is capped by value: the plan price sets the token allowance, and AI interactions stop until the next billing cycle once it is used up.
- The free Trial is a one-time allowance of 100 searches and 100 AI interactions and does not renew.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.50
A month to start, paid by the year
Kagi Assistant is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $5 per month, or $54 per year (Kagi Starter).
Starter
$5
per month, or $54 per year
Kagi plan with 300 searches and up to 300 AI interactions a month on standard Assistant models, plus Kagi Translate.
Professional
$10
per month, or $108 per year
Kagi plan with unlimited searches and Kagi Assistant on standard models in Quick mode, with a larger monthly usage allowance.
Ultimate
$25
per month, or $270 per year
Everything in Professional, plus premium models and Research mode in Kagi Assistant and best-quality mode in Kagi Translate.
Duo
$14
per month for 2 accounts, or $151.20 per year
Two Professional accounts for a couple. Each member can be upgraded to Ultimate features for $15 a month.
Family
$20
per month for up to 6 members, or $216 per year
Professional accounts for up to 6 family members with Kagi for Kids and parental controls. Members can be upgraded to Ultimate for $15 a month each.
Team
$10
per user / month, monthly billing only
Team Professional with admin controls and shared lenses. Team Ultimate, with Research mode and flagship models, is $25 per user / month.
Trying it first
Free Trial plan with 100 searches and 100 Kagi Assistant interactions on standard models in total.
Read from kagi.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
10% off with annual billing
Kagi's pricing page lists 10% off for paying annually: Starter is $54, Professional $108 and Ultimate $270 a year. Team plans are monthly only.
Stated on kagi.comOther savings
Unused months are credited back
Under Kagi's fair pricing policy, a month with no searches or AI interactions is credited in full to the next billing cycle. On yearly plans the same applies to a whole unused year.
Stated on help.kagi.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Multi-model AI assistant included with a Kagi Search plan. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, chat assistant, AI search, research.
Models from six labs, switchable mid-thread, web access through Kagi Search, uploads and custom assistants.
- Many models, one subscription
- Pick from models by OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, Meta, DeepSeek and others, and switch model in the middle of a thread. Premium models are limited to the Ultimate plan.
- Web access through Kagi Search
- A toggle controls whether the Assistant searches the web. Its searches can apply your Kagi Lenses and personalized results, and pasted URLs are fetched as context.
- Quick and Research modes
- Quick answers within seconds on every plan. Research, on Ultimate, plans multi-step work with up to about 15 tool calls, including a Python interpreter, image generation and Wolfram|Alpha.
- Custom assistants
- Save assistants that combine a chosen model, custom instructions and web access settings, and open built-in ones such as Code, Study and News with bangs from the search box.
- File uploads
- Upload text, PDF, DOCX, PPTX, spreadsheets, images and audio as context, up to 30 MB in total. Uploaded content stays in the thread for later messages.
- Thread retention and privacy
- Threads are deleted after 24 hours of inactivity unless set to permanent. Kagi says data is not used to train models and no account information is shared with model providers.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Kagi Search
- Wolfram|Alpha
Kagi Assistant is made by Kagi Inc., and has been around since 2023.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
4/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
Kagi Assistant's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 4 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 21 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 4 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. Kagi Assistant’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 57
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 57
- BEase of useAbove 21 of 57
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 57
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Kagi Assistant is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Kagi Assistant you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 46 of the 57 other AI assistants grade higher. It costs $54 a year.
What you could not
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Kagi Assistant’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Perplexity, Duck.ai, Lumo, Poe and T3 Chat
The 5 tools Kagi Assistant is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Perplexity
Free plan · from $17/mo
AI search assistant that answers questions with cited sources.
- Perplexity has a free plan. Kagi Assistant does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Perplexity lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Perplexity lists a browser extension.
- 2.4GPA
Duck.ai
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Private, anonymized chat with third-party AI models.
- Duck.ai has a free plan. Kagi Assistant does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Duck.ai lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Kagi Assistant also covers AI search and research.
- 2.2GPA
Lumo
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Proton's private AI assistant with zero-access encrypted chats.
- Lumo has a free plan. Kagi Assistant does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Lumo lists iOS and Android apps.
- Lumo is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.4GPA
Poe
Free plan · from $4.17/mo
One app for chatting with AI models from many different labs.
- Poe has a free plan. Kagi Assistant does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Poe lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Kagi Assistant also covers research.
- 2.2GPA
T3 Chat
Free plan
Web chat app with models from several AI labs in one account.
- T3 Chat has a free plan. Kagi Assistant does not, though it has a free trial.
- Kagi Assistant also covers research.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Kagi Assistant free?
No, Kagi Assistant is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free Trial plan with 100 searches and 100 Kagi Assistant interactions on standard models in total.
How much does Kagi Assistant cost?
Kagi Assistant lists 6 plans. Starter: $5 per month, or $54 per year.
What platforms does Kagi Assistant work on?
Kagi Assistant is available on Web.
Does Kagi Assistant offer any discounts?
Kagi Assistant publicly lists the following: 10% off with annual billing; Unused months are credited back.
Does Kagi Assistant have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Kagi Assistant is listed for Web.
Does Kagi Assistant have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Kagi Assistant is listed for Web.
Is Kagi Assistant open source?
Kagi Assistant is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does Kagi Assistant integrate with?
Kagi Assistant's listing names Kagi Search and Wolfram|Alpha. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Kagi Assistant?
Kagi Assistant is made by Kagi Inc. It dates from 2023.
What are the alternatives to Kagi Assistant?
The closest alternatives to Kagi Assistant in our directory are Perplexity, Duck.ai, Lumo, Poe and T3 Chat.
How does Kagi Assistant compare with other AI assistants?
Kagi Assistant's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 4 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 7.
Is Kagi Assistant good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Kagi Assistant C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 4 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Kagi Assistant?
To replace Kagi Assistant you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Kagi Assistant’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Kagi's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-05.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Kagi Inc. Prices change, so check assistant.kagi.com before you buy.
- kagi.com/pricing
- kagi.com/pricing?plan=individual&period=annual
- kagi.com/pricing?plan=family
- kagi.com/pricing?plan=family&period=annual
- kagi.com/pricing?plan=team
- help.kagi.com/kagi/ai/assistant.html
- help.kagi.com/kagi/ai/kagi-research.html
- help.kagi.com/kagi/plans/plan-types.html
- help.kagi.com/kagi/plans/ultimate-plan.html
- help.kagi.com/kagi/company/history.html
- help.kagi.com/kagi/company/products.html
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Kagi Assistant, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/kagi-assistant
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Kagi Assistant: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/kagi-assistant
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/kagi-assistant/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after Kagi Assistant, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 AI assistants we grade, compared
- Gemini Insider's GuideGoogle's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps3.8 GPA
- Chatbox Insider's GuideAI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan3.4 GPA
- ChatGPT Insider's GuideOpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Kagi Assistant’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Kagi Assistant is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Kagi Inc. Prices and plans change: check assistant.kagi.com before you buy.