Users no longer need to download separate applications to interact with AI agents. Instead, they can simply text these services like ordinary people.
The agents understand requests, retain context, and connect to existing apps to complete actions such as scheduling appointments, managing calendars, researching trips, sending emails, booking reservations, shopping online, or setting reminders.
While Instinct currently holds the highest valuation at $10 billion following a $1 billion funding round, several other tools are competing in this space.
Here is a look at the most notable options available now, ranging from general personal assistants to those built for families, travel, and work.
Caddy
Caddy converts scattered information on a phone into actionable items. It lives within iMessage for iPhone users and RCS for Android users, removing the need for a separate app or inbox.
For example, if an email contains an appointment requiring a calendar entry, or a friend sends a list of items to pick up, Caddy identifies these details. It connects to calendars and conversations to add events, set reminders, track follow-ups, and perform research.
The service has been in public beta since April 2026.
Fambot
Fambot acts as a chief of staff for families, unifying school communications, sports activities, meal planning, calendars, and daily responsibilities into an organized plan.
The tool works through an app and text messages. It is available on iOS, Android, and the web, with direct SMS interaction supported. Every night, Fambot sends a summary of the following day, including events and to-dos such as school uniform requirements or packing lists. Parents can reply to ask questions or modify the calendar.
Current connections include Gmail and Google Calendar, with Outlook and Apple Calendar support planned. The company launched in beta in early September 2026 after raising $3.5 million in pre-seed funding. The service is free during beta but expects to charge a monthly fee similar to a Netflix subscription later.
Folk
Folk is an assistant reachable through iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram. It remembers personal context, manages reminders, researches topics, tracks flights, handles email, and books restaurant reservations.
A key distinction is that Folk runs on a private cloud computer. It can execute code and perform multi-step tasks rather than just responding conversationally.
Beta launched in May 2026. The service is free but offers a Pro subscription for $8.33 a month to run unlimited tasks in the background.
Instinct
Instinct raised $350 million at a $2.5 billion valuation initially. In September 2026, it secured $1 billion, bringing the valuation to $10 billion.
This always-available agent takes actions on behalf of users instead of just answering questions. Communication happens via text or voice, and it connects to existing apps like email, calendar, and Google Workspace. Early users have used it for planning trips, buying groceries, booking tickets, and cancelling subscriptions.
The company remains in private beta.
Iris
Powered by the Hermes agent, Iris allows users to delegate tasks directly through iMessage. Users connect their apps and hand over a task with a simple message. The agent works through the required steps while retaining context from previous interactions. It is also designed to follow up proactively rather than waiting for a new request.
Martin
Martin is a general-purpose assistant reachable through SMS, phone, WhatsApp, email, Slack, and its own iOS app.
It manages calendars, email, reminders, tasks, notes, and communications. Martin can act on behalf of users by sending messages or making phone calls, while providing daily summaries of what needs attention.
Subscriptions start at $21 per month.
Miso
Miso applies the personal assistant concept specifically to travel.
It operates through iMessage and combines AI trip planning with support from a dedicated travel team. Users can arrange flights through messaging while Miso considers travel preferences, loyalty points, and other priorities. The service also provides trip details, flight updates, and personalized recommendations.
Ohai
Ohai is a family assistant focused on managing the constant stream of information and tasks in everyday family life.
Users can send messages, forward emails, or make voice requests, and the assistant transforms them into schedules, reminders, and plans. It coordinates calendars, household chores, and meals across multiple family members.
There is a free basic option, but subscriptions based on family size start at $9.99 per month.
Ollie
Ollie brings together information families already have, which lives across school messages, calendars, task lists, and group chats. It keeps these pieces in sync and delivers relevant information through text.
Its biggest differentiator is that Ollie is one of the first mainstream, family-focused AI assistants to achieve SOC 2 compliance, a widely used security standard.
Launched in June 2026, Ollie offers a free tier. Paid plans start at $25 per month for 150 messages. A $100-per-month plan includes up to 1,000 messages.
Orbits
Orbits has an AI assistant focused on the household.
It works through the Orbits app and text messaging, bringing together calendars, lists, and conversations while carrying out tasks. This includes searching the web, making purchases, booking restaurants, changing appointments, and requesting quotes for household services.
Additionally, Orbits reminds family members about chores, communicates with service providers, and helps coordinate responsibilities beyond the immediate household.
Investors include Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun fund, N49P, and Garage Capital.
Pally
Users interact with Pally as they would with a friend while giving it access to relied-upon apps. The assistant connects information spread across WhatsApp, Gmail, calendars, and Google Drive, helping users keep track of plans, receipts, dates, files, and other details.
A free plan offers 15 minutes of calls per month. Paid plans include $25 per month for 30 minutes of calls and $100 per month for 60 minutes.
Poke
Poke launched in March 2026 as a general-purpose assistant reachable through text messaging. It handles tasks involving calendars, planning, health and fitness, smart-home controls, photos, and everyday activities.
Poke became notable in June 2026 when Apple approved it as the first AI agent on the Apple Messages for Business platform. A month later, parent company The Interaction Company of California was acquired by AI coding startup Cognition in a deal valued in the low nine figures.
Rene
Rene is an AI personal assistant designed to be a user’s best contact rather than a productivity agent. It is text-based and turns natural-language conversations into tasks, reminders, summaries, and follow-up actions. Rene maintains context across conversations, remembering details and surfacing items needing attention later.
It also has a browser, can write code, shop for users, and create slides and images.
Rene is available on iMessage, Telegram, and WhatsApp.
Skye
Skye is an agentic homescreen for the iPhone. Instead of waiting for users to open an app, it analyzes information from connected services and surfaces relevant content through contextual cards, suggestions, and daily briefings. The assistant generates audio briefings, prepares information ahead of meetings, surfaces reminders, and identifies potentially useful information.
Signull Labs raised about $3.6 million in seed funding in 2025. The company entered private testing and beta in April 2026 and has not yet announced a public release date.
Stanley
Stanley is an AI content assistant aimed at creators rather than general productivity. Available through iMessage, Telegram, and the web, it acts as an AI head of content, helping users generate ideas, turn them into posts, and maintain a consistent publishing schedule.
For instance, Stanley connects to a user’s Instagram account to suggest content based on their actual activity. Users can send voice notes, which Stanley converts into scripts, captions, and other social assets. It includes a content calendar and can schedule posts, aiming to make content creation a continuous, automated process.
Tomo
The biggest differentiator with Tomo’s iMessage assistant is that it can become part of group conversations rather than being a private assistant.
Like other agents, it helps with goals, accountability, scheduling, and everyday organization. It can send reminders, search the web, work with calendars and email, watch videos, and edit photos.
The basic plan starts at $19.99 per month.
Town
Town targets professional life. It gives users a Townie, an AI assistant designed to learn how they work and handle recurring professional tasks. It works with email, calendars, documents, Slack, and other platforms.
In June 2026, the company raised a $55 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz and Forerunner.
Wajo
Wajo’s first consumer agent, Fo, can call businesses, send emails, join group chats, make bookings and purchases, and coordinate with people to complete everyday tasks.
A key part of Wajo’s approach is giving Fo its own identity. The agent has its own email address, phone number, and payment card, allowing it to interact with businesses without requiring users to hand over their own credentials.
Notably, when Fo encounters something it cannot handle, Wajo can bring in a human assistant to finish the task.
Fo launched publicly in September 2025 with a free tier, while heavier workloads and custom agents are available through a paid Pro offering.
