Alternatives by use case
Start with Pally
Research and document work
A free AI personal assistant you text over iMessage, RCS, WhatsApp or Telegram that reads your inboxes and chats, remembers your people, and books, buys, chases and calls for you.
Compare the alternatives
| Assistant | A good fit for | Pricing | Web browsing | Cloud computer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kairos | Individuals who want browser-driven task automation over their own app logins, reachable by text, WhatsApp or email. | Free–$37/month (Enterprise custom) | Yes | No |
| Pally | Research and document work | Free for everyone (almost unlimited usage, limit refills through the week); Cloud Mac add-on $95/month; Pally VIP by invitation only at $1,000/month or $10,000/year. Former $25 Pro and $100 Max plans no longer exist. | Yes | Limited |
 Dume.ai | Help with ongoing context | Free; GO $9/mo ($8/mo billed yearly); PRO $18/mo ($15/mo billed yearly); MAX $40/mo ($33/mo billed yearly); Enterprise custom pricing | Yes | No |
 Ace by Automat | Cloud-based project work | Workforce: $1,800 per month billed annually ($21,600 a year) or $2,000 per month month-to-month after a 7-day free trial, no per-seat pricing. Enterprise (managed automations): custom, "scoped to the outcomes you need". | Yes | Yes |
 Arlo | Everyday help in WhatsApp | Free ($10 of usage a month) – $20/mo (Plus, $200/yr, $100 of usage) – $100/mo (Max, $1,000/yr, $500 of usage); plans differ only in included usage, no top-ups | Yes | No |
 Town | Meetings and follow-up documents | Free–$239/user/mo (individuals; as low as $199/mo billed annually); Team $71–$179/seat/mo (as low as $59–$149/mo billed annually); Enterprise custom | No | Not confirmed |
Each alternative in detail
01
Pally: research and document work
A free AI personal assistant you text over iMessage, RCS, WhatsApp or Telegram that reads your inboxes and chats, remembers your people, and books, buys, chases and calls for you.
- Creates and edits documents
- Browses the web for you
Where you can use it
WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack, Email
02
Dume.ai: help with ongoing context
An assistant you reach in the browser, on WhatsApp, by phone call or through a Mac and Windows desktop app that handles email, calendar, routines and local files.
- Remembers you between conversations
- Reads your existing files and apps
The trade-off. Unlike Kairos, it has no social publishing.
Where you can use it
Web / desktop, WhatsApp, Email
03
Ace by Automat: cloud-based project work
An AI teammate with its own Mac, inbox and phone number that you reach on Slack, Teams, email, text, WhatsApp or a phone call, and that does the work inside the tools you already use. It also has what Kairos lacks: cloud computer.
- Gives it a cloud computer of its own
- Browses the web for you
- Creates and edits documents
Where you can use it
WhatsApp, iMessage, Slack, Email
04
Arlo: everyday help in WhatsApp
A personal assistant you text in iMessage, SMS or WhatsApp, or use in Slack, that makes phone calls, waits on hold, books, and uses websites with your logins.
- Remembers you between conversations
- Reminds and nudges you
Where you can use it
WhatsApp, iMessage, Slack
05
Town: meetings and follow-up documents
A work assistant that gets its own @town.com address and phone number, learns how you work, and runs recurring routines across your email, calendar, docs and chat apps. It also has what Kairos lacks: meeting capture.
- Joins and records your meetings
- Creates and edits documents
The trade-off. Unlike Kairos, it has no web browsing.
Where you can use it
Web / desktop, Mobile app, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Email
Questions about Kairos alternatives
What is a good alternative to Kairos?
Start with Pally for research and document work. Dume.ai suits help with ongoing context. Ace by Automat suits cloud-based project work.
How do the prices compare with Kairos?
Kairos: Free–$37/month (Enterprise custom). Pally: Free for everyone (almost unlimited usage, limit refills through the week); Cloud Mac add-on $95/month; Pally VIP by invitation only at $1,000/month or $10,000/year. Former $25 Pro and $100 Max plans no longer exist. Dume.ai: Free; GO $9/mo ($8/mo billed yearly); PRO $18/mo ($15/mo billed yearly); MAX $40/mo ($33/mo billed yearly); Enterprise custom pricing.
Is there a free alternative to Kairos?
Yes. Pally, Arlo and Town can be used for free.
Prefer an assistant you can message?
Notis takes tasks from WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack and email.
Written by Notis, which makes an AI assistant. No placement on this page is paid.