The Poke Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Poke 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.
Poke
The Insider’s Guide
AI assistant you text in Messages, WhatsApp or Telegram
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI agents, read from Poke’s own pages.
Made by The Interaction Company of California (Cognition) · checked Oct 5, 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 Poke’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Poke’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 27 of the 51 other AI agents we grade
Poke is a personal AI assistant that you message like a contact in Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram or RCS rather than through an app of its own. It manages Gmail and Outlook email and calendars, sets reminders, searches the web and connects to other apps through shareable setups called recipes. Most features are free, with Pro and Ultra plans for stronger models, background automations and higher limits. Its maker, The Interaction Company of California, announced in July 2026 that it is joining Cognition.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Poke, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You text it like a contact, by voice message if you like, so there's nothing new to learn and nothing to install.
- 1
Best for email and calendar help from your message thread
There's no app of its own, settings live on the website, and mail on iCloud or Yahoo isn't supported or planned.
- 2
Paid plans start at $19 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $19 per month, billed monthly (Pro).
- 3
There is a free plan
Free plan with no credit card: app, email and calendar connections and a small usage allowance that refills automatically. Once it is used up, Poke keeps responding in a lighter mode.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Works inside messaging apps
You use Poke by texting it in Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram or RCS, including by voice message, and you can choose which channel it texts you on.
- 6
Email and calendar
Reads, searches and drafts email and schedules meetings, with full support for Gmail and Outlook inboxes, calendars and contact sync.
- 7
Recipes
Recipes set up integrations and automations in one step and can be shared with others. The directory covers apps such as Notion, GitHub, Linear and Oura.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 27 of 51
That is against the other AI agents we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Poke you would be making an AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Poke at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $19 per month, billed monthly (Pro)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- The Interaction Company of California (Cognition)
- Category
- AI Agents
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for email and calendar help from your message thread
Poke is an assistant that lives in your messages: text it in Apple Messages, WhatsApp or Telegram and it sorts your Gmail or Outlook, books meetings and sets reminders. The free allowance is small and nobody says how small, background automations need Pro at $19, and the next step is Ultra at $199. There's no app of its own, settings live on the website, and mail on iCloud or Yahoo isn't supported or planned.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Pro is $19 a month, billed monthly, which comes in under what agent tools here start at, and it adds frontier models, background automations and higher limits the listing can't put a number on. Ultra is a long way up, at $199. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free with no card, your apps, email and calendar connected, and when the allowance runs out Poke keeps answering in a lighter mode until it refills. One person could live on that, though the allowance is small and nobody says how small, and automations need Pro. |
| Features | C | It does the texting-assistant job fully: reads, searches and drafts mail, books meetings, sets reminders, messages you when something needs attention, and Recipes add an app and its automation in one step. That's a smaller job, and email is Gmail and Outlook only, with no iCloud or Yahoo planned. |
| Ease of use | C | You text it like a contact, by voice message if you like, so there's nothing new to learn and nothing to install. It's no use until your email and calendar are connected, settings live on the website, and there's no rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | It works in Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram and RCS, with no app of its own, and connects to Gmail, Outlook, Notion, GitHub, Linear and Oura. Developers get an API and can add their own tools through MCP servers. |
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 Poke is for
- Fits if you'd rather text an assistant than open another app
- Works for developers who want to plug in their own tools through MCP
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your email is on iCloud or Yahoo, as Poke supports Gmail and Outlook only
- Tight if you're staying free, with a small allowance of unstated size and no background automations
- Pricey if you want a person to make calls and bookings, since Poke Human is Ultra only at $199 a month
- Not for you if you want an app of its own, as it works through messaging apps with settings on the website
- Watch out: its maker said in July 2026 that it is joining Cognition
Good to know
Good for
- People who would rather text an assistant than open another app
- Handling email, calendar and reminders from a message thread
- Developers who want to add their own tools through MCP
Worth knowing
- Poke has no app of its own: it works through Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram or RCS, with settings managed on the website.
- Email support covers Gmail and Outlook only; Poke says it has no immediate plans for iCloud or Yahoo Mail.
- The Free plan has a small usage allowance, and background automations and frontier models start at Pro.
- Poke Human is included only with Ultra at $199 a month, and expenses paid on your behalf are deducted from your credit balance.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$19
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Poke has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19 per month, billed monthly (Pro).
One person could live on that, though the allowance is small and nobody says how small, and automations need Pro.
Free
$0
Connect apps, email and calendar with a small usage allowance; when it runs out, Poke answers in a lighter mode until it refills.
Pro
$19
per month, billed monthly
Frontier models for complex tasks, automations that run in the background, higher rate limits and priority support.
Ultra
$199
per month, billed monthly
Frontier models on every action, a monthly credit pool with pay-as-you-go top-ups, Poke Human and highest-priority support.
The free plan
Free plan with no credit card: app, email and calendar connections and a small usage allowance that refills automatically. Once it is used up, Poke keeps responding in a lighter mode.
Read from poke.com on Oct 5, 2026.
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
AI assistant you text in Messages, WhatsApp or Telegram. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, chat assistant, workflow automation, AI agents.
That's a smaller job, and email is Gmail and Outlook only, with no iCloud or Yahoo planned.
- Works inside messaging apps
- You use Poke by texting it in Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram or RCS, including by voice message, and you can choose which channel it texts you on.
- Email and calendar
- Reads, searches and drafts email and schedules meetings, with full support for Gmail and Outlook inboxes, calendars and contact sync.
- Recipes
- Recipes set up integrations and automations in one step and can be shared with others. The directory covers apps such as Notion, GitHub, Linear and Oura.
- Reminders and proactive updates
- Creates reminders and gets a head start on tasks from a text, then draws on connected services and its memory to message you when something needs attention.
- Custom integrations and API
- Developers can add custom integrations through MCP servers, and the Poke API lets scripts, webhooks and other tools send messages to your assistant.
- Poke Human
- On Ultra, real-world tasks such as restaurant reservations, phone calls and orders are dispatched to a person, who sees only the details needed for that task.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Gmail
- Outlook
- Notion
- GitHub
- Linear
- Oura
Poke is made by The Interaction Company of California (Cognition).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
27/51
Other AI agents it is graded above
Poke's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 27 of the 51 other AI agents we grade, and level with 12.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 40 of 51) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $19 a month, against a middle price of $21.25 for the category: 9 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 52 AI agents we grade, cut by the letter each got. Poke’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 33 of 51
- BFree plan and trialAbove 40 of 51
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 51
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 51
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 51
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 49 AI agents. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Poke 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 Poke you would be making an AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $228 a year.
What you could not
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Poke’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
Martin, Meta Muse, OpenClaw and Lindy
The 4 tools Poke is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Martin
Free trial · from $21/mo
Personal AI assistant you text, call, email or message in Slack.
- Poke has a free plan. Martin does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Martin lists an iOS app.
- Poke also covers workflow automation.
- 2.6GPA
Meta Muse
Free plan · from $20/mo
Meta's personal AI agent for everyday tasks, goals and purchases.
- Only Meta Muse lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Poke also covers workflow automation.
- Meta Muse also covers goals and research.
- 3.2GPA
OpenClaw
Free
Open-source personal AI agent you run yourself and message in chat.
- Only OpenClaw lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- OpenClaw is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Lindy
Free trial · from $29.99/mo
AI teammate for Slack that works across your team's tools.
- Poke has a free plan. Lindy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Lindy lists a browser extension.
- Lindy also covers meeting notes and inbox filtering.
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 Poke free?
Poke has a free plan. Free plan with no credit card: app, email and calendar connections and a small usage allowance that refills automatically.
How much does Poke cost?
Poke lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Poke work on?
Poke is available on Web.
Does Poke have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Poke is listed for Web.
Does Poke have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Poke is listed for Web.
Is Poke open source?
Poke is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Poke have an API?
Yes. Poke offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Poke integrate with?
Poke's listing names Gmail, Outlook, Notion, GitHub, Linear and Oura. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Poke?
Poke is made by The Interaction Company of California (Cognition).
What are the alternatives to Poke?
The closest alternatives to Poke in our directory are Martin, Meta Muse, OpenClaw and Lindy.
How does Poke compare with other AI agents?
Poke's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 27 of the 51 other AI agents we grade, and level with 12.
Is Poke good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Poke B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $19 a month, against a middle price of $21.25 for the category: 9 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Poke?
To replace Poke you would be making an AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Poke’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Poke's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-18.
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 The Interaction Company of California (Cognition). Prices change, so check poke.com before you buy.
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
- Poke, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/poke
- 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, "Poke: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/poke
Know someone choosing between AI agents?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/poke/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI agents after Poke, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Agents Insider's GuideEvery one of the 52 AI agents we grade, compared
- Genspark Insider's GuideAI workspace with an agent for research, slides, sheets and docs3.2 GPA
- Manus Insider's GuideGeneral AI agent for research, slides, websites and browser tasks3.2 GPA
- OpenClaw Insider's GuideOpen-source personal AI agent you run yourself and message in chat3.2 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 Poke’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. Poke is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by The Interaction Company of California (Cognition). Prices and plans change: check poke.com before you buy.