Grok vs sideOS
Grok and sideOS are both AI assistants tools. Grok is aimed at creators and developers, while sideOS is aimed at freelancers and developers. Only Grok has a free plan.
xAI's AI assistant with live X data, bundled with X and Cursor
Voice-driven Mac agent in the notch with local dictation and meetings
| Pricing | Freemium · $8 | Paid |
| Starting price | $8/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators, Developers, Freelancers, Small businesses | Freelancers, Developers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | macos |
| Country | US · 2023 | — |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Grok if
Heavy X users and Cursor developers who want real-time social context and one subscription across Grok, X Premium and coding.
- Most up-to-date view of conversations happening on X
- Low-cost Plus tier that also includes X Premium perks
- Bundles Cursor coding access with the assistant
Look elsewhere if: Teams that need strict content safety, enterprise data controls or carefully sourced research (ChatGPT, Claude or Perplexity).
Choose sideOS if
Mac professionals who want a private voice agent, dictation and meeting notes in one app they pay for once.
- One-time licence with all future updates and no subscription
- No account and no sideOS server between you and the model
- Dictation and meeting transcription stay on the Mac
Look elsewhere if: Windows or mobile users and teams that need shared meeting notes or admin controls (Granola, Raycast).
Grok vs sideOS pricing
Grok
- Free$0Limited chat and agent usage
- Plus$8/mo$80/yr; shared AI pool for Grok, Cursor, X Premium perks
- Premium$30/mo$300/yr; 4x Plus usage, latest Grok models, image and video
- Super$100/mo15x Plus usage, priority access to Grok models
- Ultra$200/mo50x Plus usage, early access to new products
sideOS
- Lifetime licence$89.90One-time; one Mac at a time, every future update included
- AI model usageVariesPaid to your own provider, about 2 to 5 cents per command
Grok · Key features
- Real-time search across X posts plus the web
- DeepSearch multi-step research with cited sources
- Grok Imagine image and short video generation
- Voice mode on iOS and Android apps
- Grok Build terminal coding agent and Grok Bot AI teammates
- Shared usage pool across Grok, Cursor and X on paid plans
Cons
- Repeated moderation and safety controversies
- X-sourced answers can amplify misinformation
- Plan names and limits have changed often
sideOS · Key features
- Hold-to-talk agent that reads the screen, clicks, types and runs AppleScript
- On-device dictation into any app in 62 languages at no extra cost
- Meeting recording for Zoom, Meet and Teams with on-device Whisper and speakers
- Background tasks with web search, file access and approved shell commands
- Reminders that can complete a task before they fire
- One-click MCP connections for Gmail, Calendar, Notion, Slack and GitHub
Cons
- Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later only
- Agent use adds API costs unless you run a local model
- No free trial or refund window stated on the site
Grok vs sideOS: FAQ
Do Grok and sideOS have a free plan?
Grok has a free plan. sideOS has no free plan.