# AstrBot vs Orchid

> AstrBot scores 58.8 (C) to Orchid's 20.2 (F) for assistants reached by message. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orchid-ai
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orchid-ai.md (~3,400 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orchid-ai.min.md (~680 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orchid-ai.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- Updated: 2026-10-13

AstrBot scores 58.8 (C) on agent readiness against Orchid's 20.2 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Orchid leads on transparency & trust. Both do assistants reached by message.

- AstrBot: grade C, 58.8/100, rank #585 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/astrbot.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/astrbot.json
- Orchid: grade F, 20.2/100, rank #992 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/orchid-ai.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/orchid-ai.json
- Best AI personal assistants that act for one person: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/personal-assistants/index.md
- All 834 assistants comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/personal-assistants/index.md

## Which one, for what

### AstrBot (C)

Good for: Someone who wants one self-run bot answering on QQ, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Lark or WeCom, in private or group chats, with scheduled tasks, a knowledge base and plugins.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 81 against 50
- Schema & documentation, 62 against 10
- Agent ergonomics, 54 against 0
- Security & auth, 44 against 0
- Payments & pricing, 60 against 10
- Maintenance & community, 81 against 24

Also in its favour:
- Free to start without a card
- Open source

Watch for: No approval step before any tool call. The agent sends messages, creates scheduled tasks and calls MCP tools without asking

### Orchid (F)

Good for: A founder or operator who wants Gmail and calendar triage by text with approval before anything leaves.

Ahead on:
- Transparency & trust, 60 against 40

Watch for: No API, MCP server or A2A endpoint for an outside agent.


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | AstrBot | Orchid | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 81 | 50 | AstrBot +31 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 62 | 10 | AstrBot +52 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 54 | 0 | AstrBot +54 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 44 | 0 | AstrBot +44 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 10 | AstrBot +50 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 81 | 24 | AstrBot +57 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 40 | 60 | Orchid +20 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -2 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **58.8 · C** | **20.2 · F** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | AstrBot | Orchid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Agent harness | Platform |
| Vendor | AstrBotDevs | Zero Email, Inc. |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |
| Transports |  |  |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Closed service under Orchid's Terms of Service (Zero Email, Inc., last updated 16 January 2026). |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | no | yes |
| Last release | 2026-09-27 | none |
| Terms last updated | 2026-01-12 |  |
| Privacy policy last updated | no document linked |  |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text |  |
| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text |  |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text |  |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text |  |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text |  |
| Popularity | 42k stars | none |

## Verdicts

**AstrBot.** Fourteen official messaging adapters, scheduled tasks and scoped API keys come in one AGPL-3.0 program with releases most weeks. No tool call asks for approval, no mail, calendar or long-term memory connector is built in, and usage statistics, including the machine's hostname, are sent by default.

**Orchid.** Orchid is a paid executive assistant over iMessage, SMS and Telegram that holds drafts and calendar holds until the owner approves, with a public status page and a named subprocessor list. No outside agent can call it, there's no free tier, and its privacy policy allows training a personal model while its blog says it never trains.

## Before you call either

### AstrBot

1. Set `ASTRBOT_DISABLE_METRICS=1` before the first start. Statistics, including the hostname, are sent to tickstats.soulter.top by default
2. Set `dashboard.host` to 127.0.0.1 in `data/cmd_config.json`, or the `DASHBOARD_HOST` variable, unless remote access is intended. The default is 0.0.0.0
3. Create an `abk_` key in Settings, OpenAPI with only the scopes needed, and send it as `Authorization: Bearer` or `X-API-Key`
4. Include `username` in every `POST /api/v1/chat` body. Without the `chat:admin` scope an administrator ID is rejected
5. Check Extensions, Future Tasks after asking for a schedule. One-off tasks are deleted after their run even when the run fails

### Orchid

1. Don't plan to call Orchid from another agent. It answers only the owner's iMessage, SMS and Telegram threads.
2. Check status.orchid.ai before telling the owner Orchid is down. The 7 August incident moved it to a new number.
3. Tell the owner that drafts and holds wait for their approval unless they widen it.

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, AstrBot or Orchid?

AstrBot scores 58.8 (C) on agent readiness against Orchid's 20.2 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Orchid leads on transparency & trust.

### Are AstrBot and Orchid open source?

AstrBot is open source (AGPL-3.0-or-later). No open-source release is listed for Orchid.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orchid-ai.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orchid-ai.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "astrbot", "b": "orchid-ai"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare astrbot orchid-ai`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/astrbot.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/orchid-ai.json

## Other comparisons with AstrBot or Orchid

- [asaply vs AstrBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-astrbot.md)
- [asaply vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Asmi vs AstrBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-astrbot.md)
- [Asmi vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [AstrBot vs Boba](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-boba.md)
- [AstrBot vs Brea](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-brea.md)
- [AstrBot vs Del](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-del.md)
- [AstrBot vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-hirealpha.md)
- [AstrBot vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-natura.md)
- [AstrBot vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-openinstinct.md)
- [AstrBot vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orbits.md)
- [AstrBot vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-pally.md)
- [AstrBot vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-szn.md)
- [AstrBot vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-tab-bot.md)
- [AstrBot vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-tomo.md)
- [AstrBot vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zapia.md)
- [Boba vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Boski vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Brea vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Caddy vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [CowAgent vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Del vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [folk vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [GAIA vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Grok Bot vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Haven vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Hermes Agent vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [HireAlpha vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Instinct vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [IronClaw vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Lindy vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [nanobot vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [NanoClaw vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Dots vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [OpenClaw vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [OpenInstinct vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openinstinct-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Orbits vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Orchid vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-pally.md)
- [Orchid vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-picoclaw.md)
- [Orchid vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-poke.md)
- [Orchid vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-qwenpaw.md)
- [Orchid vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-szn.md)
- [Orchid vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-tab-bot.md)
- [Orchid vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-tomo.md)
- [Orchid vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-town.md)
- [Orchid vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-zapia.md)
- [Orchid vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-zeroclaw.md)
- [Orchid vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-zo-computer.md)
- [AstrBot vs Boski](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-boski.md)
- [AstrBot vs Caddy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-caddy-app.md)
- [AstrBot vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent.md)
- [AstrBot vs folk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-folk-nozomio.md)
- [AstrBot vs GAIA](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-gaia.md)
- [AstrBot vs Gemini Spark](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-gemini-spark.md)
- [AstrBot vs Grok Bot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-grok-bot.md)
- [AstrBot vs Haven](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-haven.md)
- [AstrBot vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-hermes-agent.md)
- [AstrBot vs Instinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-instinct.md)
- [AstrBot vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-ironclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-leon.md)
- [AstrBot vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-lindy.md)
- [AstrBot vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-nanobot.md)
- [AstrBot vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-nanoclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-openai-dots.md)
- [AstrBot vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-openclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-picoclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-poke.md)
- [AstrBot vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-qwenpaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-town.md)
- [AstrBot vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zeroclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zo-computer.md)
- [Gemini Spark vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Leon vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Natura tinyNature vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/natura-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Orchid vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-wajo.md)
- [Orchid vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-talorys.md)
- [AstrBot vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-talorys.md)

## Disclosure

- Orchid competes with LocalGhost, which Anchor Terminal's founder builds. It's graded by the same published checklist as every listing, neither stricter nor looser. Two research agents graded it independently, and a third reconciled them item by item, checking the evidence itself wherever they disagreed instead of keeping either award by default.