Riley vs. The Other Guys
Knows you. Teaches you. Asks first.
The other guys, meaning the big AI chat apps and the new do-it-for-you agents, are impressive. Here's plainly what they do, what Riley does, and where each one wins.
What you get either way
Both answer almost anything, write and translate, search the web, make pictures (Riley Pro) and talk with you, using brains from the leading AI makers.
Want a bigger brain? That's a price choice anywhere, and Riley can step up too (priced separately).
Credit where it's due
Where the other guys win
The big AI chat apps and the new agents do some things better, and we'll tell you so to your face.
Free or cheap to start
Many start free or at about $20 a month, so they're easy to try — though "free" usually means a card on file and a usage meter.
Video and volume
Video from a prompt, and far more pictures on their bigger plans.
They do more on their own
The new agents log into your accounts, shop, book, fill forms and run errands for you — some run whole teams of bots.
Power tools
Deep research reports, coding and number crunching. Their biggest brains often sit on plans of $200 a month and up.
Polish & reach
Slick apps on every device, names everyone knows and lots of add-ons.
Where Riley pulls ahead
A helper who knows you, teaches you and asks first
Riley is a personal assistant with a face and a name. She works in your email and calendar, builds real PDF and Word documents, briefs you each morning and teaches as she helps.
Knows you
Remembers your people, your plans and how you like things. You pick her name and personality. A friendly helper, not a cold app.
A teacher, not just an answerer
She walks you through new things step by step, with Spanish lessons, a daily topic, a word of the day and games: something to learn, not something to scroll.
Safe by design
She works only in the email and calendar you connect — and nothing switches itself on. She can't sign into websites or spend your money, so far less can go wrong.
Asks first
Every email to anyone else waits for your OK. Some agents' terms make you answer for whatever they do.
One flat, fair price
Riley $9.99/mo, Riley Pro $34.99/mo. No credits or overage bills. Very heavy use is paced to keep it fair.
Works while you sleep
Morning news digest, weekend roundups, a weekly review and your reminders. When she works on her own, she only gathers and reports.
A real person looks after her
Set up for you and introduced to your email and calendar — and when something's off, a human answers, not a help center.
Great for busy owners, seniors and families who want an agent's help without handing over the keys to everything.
Our privacy promise
Your data is yours
- No ads, ever. Never sold, never used to pick ads. We're paid a flat subscription to run your assistant, not to make money from your information.
- Never used to train AI. The AI providers behind Riley work under business terms that keep your information out of training, and we put it in writing in our privacy policy.
- Your own private Riley. Her own walled-off workspace on U.S. servers, never shared with other customers.
- You're in control. Export your chats any time, ask us to erase your Riley, and cancel month to month. Old conversations are erased after 90 days. See where your data goes, in plain English.
Side by side
The honest scorecard
The other guys win the top rows, Riley wins the bottom ones, and the middle is a tie. Pick the tool that fits the job; plenty of people use both.
| Capability | The Other Guysbig AI chat apps & new agents | Rileyyour own personal assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Where the other guys lead | ||
| Free to startTry it without paying | Free plans | From $9.99/mo |
| Makes videoVideo clips from a prompt | Yes | No |
| Acts on its own across the webSigns in, shops and books for you | New agents | Email & calendar only, by design |
| Power toolsDeep research, coding, number crunching | Yes | Everyday research & documents |
| Polish & reachApps on every device, big names, add-ons | Category leaders | Any web browser; Telegram on Pro |
| Both do it | ||
| Makes picturesPictures from a prompt | Yes | On Riley Pro |
| Answers almost anythingQuestions, writing, translation, web search | Yes | Yes |
| Talks with youVoice conversation | Yes | Yes |
| Works on a scheduleJobs that run while you're away | Scheduled tasks | YesOn her own, she only gathers and reports |
| Where Riley leads | ||
| A personal helperA face and a name that knows your people and plans | Mostly a chat box | Yes |
| Teaches, not just answersStep by step, Spanish lessons, daily topic, word games | When you ask | Built in, every day |
| Safe by designCan't sign into websites or spend your money | Agents can sign in & buy | Yes |
| Asks before emailing anyone elseEvery email to someone else waits for your OK | Varies | Yes |
| Flat price, no overage billsVery heavy use is paced to keep it fair | Tiers, caps or pay-as-you-go | $9.99 / $34.99 mo |
| Never trains AI on your dataNo ads, never sold, never used to pick ads | Often on unless you opt out | Yes |
| Only sees what you connectNothing switches itself on | Some connect apps automatically | Yes |
| A real person looks after herSet up for you; a human answers | Help center | Yes |
"The other guys" means today's popular consumer AI chat apps and personal AI agents in general. Plans and features vary by app and change often; business plans differ.
Want a helper who knows you, teaches you and asks first?
The other guys are great tools. Riley is your own personal assistant: she knows your world, teaches as she helps, and never emails anyone else without your OK.
Meet Riley