AI Agents You Can Text: The Leading Personal Assistants

Instead of installing another app, a growing class of AI agents can be reached simply by sending a text. Users describe what they need, and the agent remembers context, links to the services they already use, and executes tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing email, planning trips, making reservations, or sending reminders days later. Below is a roundup of the most notable options, ranging from all‑purpose helpers to specialized tools for families, travel, and professional work.

Ask Proxy

Ask Proxy positions itself as an assistant that “thinks like a woman,” aiming to anticipate needs before they are expressed. It operates as a friendly chatbot over SMS, handling requests for gift ideas, event planning, weekend activities, calendar updates, and reminders. Users can also send photos—for example, an empty table—to receive decorating suggestions. The platform takes a proactive stance, nudging users about forgotten items or new opportunities. A work‑focused version promises to keep personal data off corporate systems while accelerating employee productivity. Pricing starts at $1 per day for individuals; businesses pay $15 per employee per month for large firms and $23 per employee per month for teams under 49. To start, text “start” to 820‑732‑2625.

Caddy

Caddy turns scattered phone information into actionable items without requiring a separate app. It lives inside iMessage for iPhone users and RCS for Android users, connecting to calendars and conversations to flag emails that need a calendar entry or a friend’s shopping list that requires action. The assistant can add events, set reminders, track follow‑ups, and even perform research. Caddy has been in public beta since April 2026.

Comma

Comma is built to manage both work and personal tasks, carrying them through to completion while self‑checking and determining when a task is finished. When a decision or approval is required, completed work is surfaced for review. The agent notifies users proactively and suggests next steps. It operates across browsers, computers, and files, and is reachable through messaging platforms such as Signal, Telegram, and WeChat, maintaining context across devices. Comma is free to start and open source.

Fambot

Fambot functions as a “chief of staff” for families, consolidating school communications, sports schedules, meal planning, calendars, and other daily responsibilities into a single organized plan. Available on iOS, Android, the web, and via SMS, it sends each night a summary of the next day’s events, to‑dos, and details like uniform requirements. Parents can reply to ask questions or make changes. Currently linked to Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, and WhatsApp, with Apple Calendar support planned, Fambot launched in beta in early September 2026 after raising $3.5 million in pre‑seed funding. The service is free during beta, with future pricing expected to resemble a Netflix subscription.

Folk

Folk is accessible through iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram and can remember personal context, manage reminders, research topics, track flights, handle email, and perform real‑world tasks such as booking restaurant reservations. Unlike many assistants, Folk runs on its own private cloud computer and can execute code and multi‑step workflows. It launched its beta in May 2026 and offers a free tier; a Pro subscription for $8.33 per month unlocks unlimited background tasks.

Instinct

Instinct gained attention after a $350 million raise at a $2.5 billion valuation, followed by a $1 billion round in September 2026 that set its value at $10 billion. The always‑on agent can act on behalf of users—whether scheduling trips, buying groceries, booking tickets, or canceling subscriptions—via text or voice. It connects to email, calendar, Google Workspace, and other services. In September, Instinct began issuing users dedicated email addresses for their assistants, allowing the agent to sign up for services, contact businesses, and manage tasks without cluttering personal inboxes. The platform also started rolling out call‑making capabilities, though privacy and security concerns have been raised. Instinct remains in private beta.

Iris

Powered by Hermes Agent, Iris lets users delegate tasks directly through iMessage. By linking their apps and sending a simple message, users can hand off a request that Iris then processes step by step while preserving context from prior interactions. The assistant is also designed to follow up proactively rather than waiting for another request.

Martin

Martin is a versatile personal assistant reachable via SMS, phone, WhatsApp, email, Slack, and its own iOS app. It handles calendar management, email, reminders, tasks, notes, and communications, and can act on behalf of users by sending messages or making calls. Daily summaries highlight what needs attention. Subscriptions start at $21 per month.

Maverick

Maverick describes itself as an “AI companion who lives in your texts,” helping users manage everyday tasks directly from messages. It can correct typos, cancel subscriptions, schedule meetings from voice notes, and help group chats settle on event dates. A standout feature is that Maverick asks for permission before taking action. The platform offers hundreds of integrations, including Discord, Gmail, and Slack, and provides a Pro version for €27 per month (about $30.25 USD) that includes 500 tasks, 20 connected apps, scheduled tasks, and memory. It is currently in beta and free on iMessage.

Miso

Miso focuses specifically on travel planning. Accessible through iMessage, it combines AI‑driven itinerary creation with support from a dedicated travel team. Users can arrange flights via messaging while Miso considers preferences, loyalty points, and other priorities. The assistant also provides trip details, flight updates, and personalized recommendations.

Ohai

Ohai is a family‑oriented assistant that turns messages, forwarded emails, or voice requests into schedules, reminders, and plans. It can coordinate calendars, household chores, and meals across multiple family members. A free basic option is available, with subscription plans starting at $9.99 per month based on family size.

Ollie

Ollie brings together school messages, calendars, task lists, and group chats for families, keeping everything synchronized and delivering relevant information via text. Its key differentiator is being one of the first mainstream family AI assistants to achieve SOC 2 compliance, a widely recognized security standard. Launched in June 2026, Ollie offers a free tier, a $25‑per‑month plan for 150 messages, and a $100‑per‑month plan for up to 1,000 messages.

Orbits

Orbits provides a household‑focused assistant that works through both its own app and text messaging. It consolidates calendars, lists, and conversations while executing tasks such as web searches, purchases, restaurant bookings, appointment changes, and requests for household services. It also reminds family members about chores and helps coordinate responsibilities beyond the immediate home. Orbits is backed by investors including Andreessen Horowitz’s Speedrun fund, N49P, and Garage Capital.

Pally

Pally can be interacted with like a friend while giving it access to apps such as WhatsApp, Gmail, calendars, and Google Drive. It helps users keep track of plans, receipts, dates, files, and other details. A free plan is available, and the assistant works over iMessage, RCS, and Telegram.

Poke

Poke launched in March 2026 as a general‑purpose assistant reachable by text. It handles calendar, planning, health and fitness, smart‑home controls, photos, and other daily activities. In June 2026, Apple approved Poke as the first AI agent on the Apple Messages for Business platform. A month later, its 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 designed to be a user’s “best contact” rather than just another productivity tool. It operates via text and can convert natural‑language conversations into tasks, reminders, summaries, and follow‑up actions, maintaining context across chats. Additionally, it offers a browser, can write code, shop, create slides, and generate images. Rene is available on iMessage, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

Skye

Skye functions as an “agentic homescreen” for the iPhone, analyzing information from connected services and surfacing relevant cards, suggestions, and daily briefings. It can generate audio briefings, prepare meeting prep, surface reminders, and identify useful information. Signull Labs, the company behind Skye, raised about $3.6 million in seed funding in 2025, entered private testing and beta in April 2026, and has not yet announced a public release date.

Stanley

Stanley targets content creators, offering an AI head of content reachable via iMessage, Telegram, and the web. It helps users generate ideas, turn them into posts, and maintain a consistent publishing schedule. The assistant can connect to Instagram to suggest content based on a user’s activity and can convert voice notes into scripts, captions, and other assets. It includes a content calendar and can schedule posts, aiming to automate the creation process.

Szn

Szn coordinates tasks and follow‑ups through a single conversation thread, handling text messages, voice notes, photos, and forwarded emails. It can make calls, send emails, and manage follow‑ups on behalf of users. According to the company, Szn has served more than 7,500 businesses across 16 countries, completed over 10,000 jobs, and handled 95 hours of calls.

Tab

Tab lets users delegate everyday tasks through familiar messaging platforms such as iMessage or WhatsApp. Requests can range from ordering groceries to finding birthday gifts, and Tab manages the process. The company emerged from stealth in early October with a $300 million valuation. Its investors include SV Angel, Valar Ventures, and American Spirit.

Tomo

Tomo’s personal assistant for iMessage stands out because it can join group conversations, participating alongside other participants. It helps with goals, accountability, scheduling, and everyday organization, and 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 with a “Townie” assistant that learns how a user works and handles recurring professional tasks. It integrates 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.

Underdog

Underdog is a privacy‑focused AI assistant that runs entirely on the user’s device, keeping personal data offline. It launched an invite‑only beta in early October 2026, supporting Mac and Windows computers, with Linux, iPhone, and Android versions planned. The company intends to offer the app for free initially and has pledged never to include advertising.

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 feature is that Fo receives its own email address, phone number, and payment card, allowing it to interact with businesses without exposing the user’s credentials. When Fo encounters a task it cannot handle, Wajo can bring in a human assistant to finish it. Fo launched publicly in September 2026 with a free tier, while heavier workloads and custom agents are available through a paid Pro offering.