AI assistants you use without installing an app
Which AI assistants work from the messages app I already have?
Updated · 11 assistants ranked
Eleven assistants work through a messaging channel only, with no app to install, and took at least five of our ten tests. The channels are iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp and Telegram, and the filter drops any assistant that also lists an app. One more messaging-only assistant, Asaply, has only one test and is left out.
Top picks
- 18.1
Tested on 8 of 10Best: Routines10, Purchasing9Time to finish 7m 1s
- 28.1NeoBest free option
Tested on 10 of 10Best: Travel9, Phone calls9
- 37.8
Tested on 8 of 10Best: Online tasks9, Routines9
- 47.6
Tested on 7 of 10Best: Travel10, Email8
- 57.2
Tested on 6 of 10Best: Travel9, Online tasks8
Top pick: highest average here. Best free option: highest among assistants you can use for free. Fastest that's still good: quickest median time to finish among those averaging 7 or more.
Full ranking
| # | Assistant | Online tasks | Travel | Purchasing | Phone calls | Proactive | Routines | Connected apps | Permissions | Memory | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pally | 7 | 7 | 9 | N/A | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | — | 8.1 |
| 2 | Neo | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8.1 |
| 3 | Ollie | 9 | 7 | 7 | N/A | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | — | 7.8 |
| 4 | Tomo | 7 | 10 | 6 | — | 8 | — | — | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7.6 |
| 5 | Caddy | 8 | 9 | 7 | N/A | 7 | — | — | 6 | — | 6 | 7.2 |
| 6 | Bantr | 8 | 8 | — | 5 | — | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.0 |
| 7 | Waldo | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6.7 |
| 8 | Ask Ranger | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5.6 |
| 9 | Del | 5 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5.3 |
| 10 | Ka | — | 6 | — | 6 | — | — | 5 | 4 | — | 5 | 5.2 |
| 11 | tinyNature | 4 | — | 4 | — | 5 | 8 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 4.8 |
How this report works
Included are assistants whose listed channels are only iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp or Telegram, with no app channel (checked 2026-10-26), and at least five of the ten tests taken. They are ranked by the average of the tests they took. Some assistants may still ask you to sign in on a web page to connect your accounts; the catalog does not record that. Scores come from the published score sheet and are dated 2026-10-27. 5 of the 11 ranked assistants carry pre-filled scores, which are placeholder estimates the site has not yet replaced with its own test runs, so treat their places as provisional.
How to choose
- Pick the channel you already use. iMessage-only assistants such as Waldo do not help on Android; SMS works on any phone.
- Look at which tests an assistant skipped. Several of these, such as Pally and Ollie, have no Phone calls score because they cannot place calls.
- Check the plan. A free tier is common here, but several have trials, a waitlist or no stated price, so confirm on the assistant's page.
Is there an AI assistant that needs no app?
Yes. Eleven ranked assistants are reached only by iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp or Telegram, so you start by sending a message. One more messaging-only entry, Asaply, is not ranked because it took only one test.
Which channels count as no app?
iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp and Telegram, as listed in the catalog on 2026-10-26. An assistant that lists an app as well is excluded, even if you could use it by message.
What users say
Pally asks me before sending each message out to clients but now Pallyai can attend to my photography clients without asking me, it's all automated.
Open sourceMy favorite way to use Caddy is to get it to help me find gallery openings + lectures… then put those on my cal 😎
Open sourceFrequently asked questions
Which assistant is best for this?
Pally leads with an average of 8.1, ahead of Neo and Ollie.
Is there a good free option?
Pally is the highest-ranked assistant with a free plan, averaging 8.1.
How did you test these assistants?
Every assistant got the same published tests, word for word, scored from three checkpoints and the number of corrections it needed. Each test is on the Dimensions page.