Comma vs Instinct: an open source Instinct alternative

Instinct is an invite-only personal assistant that you text or call, and it runs errands for you in its own cloud. Comma is a free, open source personal agent that anyone can start using. It works around the clock on a cloud computer of its own, shows each piece of work as a Task you can follow, and can run on your own server.

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Free to start
Open source (AGPL-3.0)
Self-host with Docker Compose

By the Comma team · Updated October 10, 2026

At a glance

Feature	Comma	Instinct
What it is	An open source personal AI agent that works 24/7	A personal AI assistant that you text or call
Who can use it	Anyone with an email address	Invite-only: join a waitlist, or get an invite from a user
Where you talk to it	Mac app, web app, Signal and Telegram. iOS and Android are coming soon	Text message, iMessage, WhatsApp or a phone call
What it is for	Work and personal Tasks across your apps, files and computers	Personal errands such as bills, gifts, groceries and appointments; personal use only
Where the agent works	A cloud computer for each Workspace, and your Mac when you allow it	Instinct's cloud, with a phone number and a computer of its own
How you follow the work	Each request becomes a Task on a board; your decisions wait in Needs Review	In the conversation; it asks when it needs your input
Acts without being asked	A briefing at the time you set, and a message when something needs you	Product picks it sends without being asked
Apps it works in	Gmail, Outlook, Slack, GitHub, Linear, Notion and Google Workspace, plus MCP servers	Google Workspace and Stripe Link, among others
Models	Comma's models, your own API key, or your ChatGPT or Claude plan	Not disclosed, with no model choice
Price	Free plan US$0 with unlimited chat; Pro adds credits	Free during the beta; its terms allow fees later
Open source and self-hosting	AGPL-3.0; self-host with Docker Compose	No published source; it runs in Instinct's cloud
Training on your data	Your content is not used to train AI models	On by default; opting out covers future data only

Quick verdict

Choose Comma if you…

Want to start today, without a waitlist or an invite
Want to see each piece of work as a Task, and make your decisions in Needs Review
Want help with work in Slack, GitHub, Linear or Notion, not only personal errands
Want your content kept out of AI training, or the agent on your own server

Choose Instinct if you…

Want an assistant you reach by text message or phone call, with no new app
Want help with personal errands such as bills, gifts, groceries and appointments
Want it to call businesses for you, a service in early access
Have an invite, and do not need published prices yet

Comma vs Instinct: How you reach it

You text or call Instinct from the phone you already have. Comma keeps your Tasks, chats and files together in its own apps.

You reach Instinct by text message, iMessage or WhatsApp, or with a phone call, and it has a phone number of its own. Your settings live in a web workspace. A Concierge service that phones businesses for you is in early access.

Comma has a Mac app and a web app, where your Tasks, chats and files sit together. You can also hand work to Comma from Signal's encrypted chats, or from Telegram, where you can keep more than one task list. Its iOS and Android apps are coming soon.

Comma: Mac and web apps, plus Signal and Telegram.
Instinct: Text messages, iMessage, WhatsApp and phone calls.

Comma vs Instinct: How work gets done

Instinct works in the conversation. Comma turns each request into a Task that you can follow.

Instinct acts on its own and asks only when it needs your input. It remembers your preferences, and since September it also sends product picks you did not ask for.

In Comma, a bigger request becomes a Task on a board with three columns: In progress, Needs Review and Done. Comma checks its own work and moves the card itself, and a decision that is yours waits in Needs Review. If you prefer, ask it to only draft. Before your day starts, Routines lists what needs you in each app.

Comma: Tasks on one board, with your decisions waiting in Needs Review.
Instinct: Work in the conversation, with a question when it needs you.

Comma vs Instinct: What it is for

Instinct is built for the errands of personal life. Comma also works where your work happens.

Instinct can dispute a bill, send birthday gifts, order groceries, book appointments and plan a weekend away. Its terms limit it to personal use. It connects to Google Workspace, and pays through services such as Stripe Link.

Comma works in Gmail and Outlook, Slack, GitHub, Linear, Notion and Google Workspace, and in the files on your Mac. It drafts replies, triages issues, keeps documents current and turns recorded calls into summary Tasks. A company can run its own instance with an Admin console.

Comma: Work and personal Tasks across your apps, files and computers.
Instinct: Personal errands, for personal use only.

Comma vs Instinct: Access and price

Instinct is invite-only and free for now. Comma is open to anyone, with a free plan.

To use Instinct, you join a waitlist or get an invite from someone who already uses it. It is free during its beta, it has not published plans, and its terms allow fees later.

Anyone can sign in to Comma with an email address and start on the Free plan, which costs US$0 with unlimited chat. Pro adds credits for heavier use. A self-hosted Comma needs no plan or card.

Comma: Open sign-up, a free plan and published paid plans.
Instinct: Invite-only and free in beta, with no published plans.

Comma vs Instinct: Privacy and control

Instinct runs in its own cloud and trains on your data unless you opt out. Comma can run where you choose.

Instinct's privacy policy says it trains its models on your data by default; opting out applies to future data only. Its terms make Instinct your agent, so agreements it makes for you bind you, and they limit its use to personal errands.

Comma does not use your files, conversations or prompts to train AI models, and it does not sell your personal data. Connected apps get scoped access that you can revoke. Comma is open source under AGPL-3.0, and a self-hosted Comma keeps your Tasks, chats and files in your own databases.

Comma: No training on your content; open source, and free to self-host.
Instinct: Training on by default; an opt-out for future data only.

Pricing side by side

Comma

FreeUS$0 / monthUnlimited chat. Bring your own key (BYOK) for advanced models.
ProSee pricingAbout 300–600 agentic tasks a month.
EnterpriseCustomCredits and billing set with you.
Self-hostedUS$0No plan or card. You pay for your machine and your model provider.

Instinct

BetaUS$0Free while access is invite-only.
LaterNot announcedIts terms allow fees in US dollars.

Prices as each product lists them on October 10, 2026. See Comma's current Pro price on the pricing page.

Try Comma beside Instinct

No invite needed. Start on the Free plan with your email address, connect the apps you use, and hand Comma one Task to see how it handles it.

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FAQs

Is Comma a good Instinct alternative?

If you want to start without an invite, yes. Comma is open to anyone, free on its Free plan, and open source under AGPL-3.0. It works around the clock on its own cloud computer, and shows each piece of work as a Task you can follow.

Can I text Comma the way I text Instinct?

In Signal or Telegram, yes. Comma does not take text messages, iMessage, WhatsApp or phone calls today. Its Mac app and web app show your Tasks and what they are waiting on.

Do I need an invite to use Comma?

No. Sign in with your email address and a code, and start on the Free plan.

Can Comma handle personal errands?

Partly. Comma works in the apps and files you connect, for work and for your own projects: planning an offsite, following up on a thread, preparing a document from your files. It does not take text messages or phone calls today. Instinct is built for personal errands such as bills, gifts and appointments.

Does Comma train AI models on my data?

No. Comma does not use your files, conversations or prompts to train its own or third-party general-purpose AI models, and it does not sell your personal data.

How do the prices compare?

Comma's Free plan costs US$0 with unlimited chat, and Pro adds credits for heavier use. Instinct is free during its invite-only beta and has not published plans; its terms allow fees later. A self-hosted Comma costs nothing from Comma.