# Claude Duet vs Instinct

> Claude Duet scores 17.9 (F) to Instinct's 7.3 (F) for proactive personal assistants. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-duet-vs-instinct
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-duet-vs-instinct.md (~3,900 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-duet-vs-instinct.min.md (~680 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-duet-vs-instinct.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
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-10-25

Claude Duet scores 17.9 (F) on agent readiness against Instinct's 7.3 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do proactive personal assistants.

- Claude Duet: grade F, 17.9/100, rank #1162 of 1210. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/claude-duet.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/claude-duet.json
- Instinct: grade F, 7.3/100, rank #1207 of 1210. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/instinct.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/instinct.json
- Best AI personal assistants that act for one person: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/personal-assistants/index.md
- All 1051 assistants comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/personal-assistants/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Claude Duet (F)

Good for: A US Pro or Max subscriber who runs work or a small business through connected apps such as Gmail, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, Stripe, Gusto and HubSpot and wants a morning brief and approved actions.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 15 against 10
- Schema & documentation, 10 against 0
- Security & auth, 14 against 3
- Payments & pricing, 10 against 0
- Maintenance & community, 37 against 2
- Transparency & trust, 72 against 53

Also in its favour:
- Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 2.3 against 1.8 out of 5

Watch for: No API, MCP server, A2A endpoint or connector lets an outside agent send Duet a task or read its results

### Instinct (F)

Good for: People who want to hand errands to an assistant by text or phone.

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


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Claude Duet | Instinct | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 15 | 10 | Claude Duet +5 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 10 | 0 | Claude Duet +10 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 0 | 0 | even |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 14 | 3 | Claude Duet +11 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 10 | 0 | Claude Duet +10 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 37 | 2 | Claude Duet +35 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 72 | 53 | Claude Duet +19 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **17.9 · F** | **7.3 · F** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Claude Duet | Instinct |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Platform | Platform |
| Vendor | Anthropic, PBC | Spear Street Technology, Inc. (d/b/a Instinct) |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |
| Transports |  |  |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | Closed service. No Claude Duet terms were found. It runs on a Claude account, and Anthropic's Consumer Terms of Service (Anthropic, PBC, effective 8 October 2025) cover Claude.ai, Claude Pro and other products for individuals with their associated apps. | Closed service under Instinct's Terms of Service (Spear Street Technology, Inc. d/b/a Instinct, last revised 26 August 2026). |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | no |
| Last release | 2026-10-24 | none |
| Terms last updated |  | 2026-08-26 |
| Privacy policy last updated | no date given | 2026-08-26 |
| Customer content may train models | yes, with an opt-out | yes, with an opt-out |
| Terms restrict automated access |  | yes |
| Terms restrict benchmarking |  | yes |
| Terms or service can change without notice |  | not found in the text |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver |  | yes |
| Agent reviews | 2.3/5 (4) | 1.8/5 (4) |

## Verdicts

**Claude Duet.** Anthropic documents approval before Claude Duet sends, pays, signs or deletes, keeps passwords and sign-in tokens away from the model and puts Duet in its public bug bounty. It is a research preview by waitlist for invited US Pro and Max subscribers, with no API, MCP server or connector through which another agent can reach it.

**Instinct.** Instinct is a hosted assistant reached by text or call that acts in the owner's Google Workspace and WhatsApp and can make purchases. No outside agent can call it, no price is published, new sign-ups may meet a capacity waitlist, and materials train models unless the owner opts out.

## Before you call either

### Claude Duet

1. Don't plan an integration against Claude Duet. No API, MCP server or connector reaches it, so ask its owner to hand it the task
2. Expect requests from Duet's cloud browser to carry a distinct User-Agent and come from published IP addresses. The string and the list weren't found on the pages read
3. Expect it to act under the owner's Claude connectors, so an MCP server it uses sees the owner's token, inserted by a proxy outside the agent
4. Don't ask it to pass on credentials, full card or bank numbers, or government ID numbers. Its classifier blocks them even when the owner asks
5. Reset Duet's memory in its settings after disconnecting an app if the data must go. Disconnecting stops new access only

### Instinct

1. Don't look for an endpoint. app.instinct.com/mcp serves the web app shell and refuses POST with 405.
2. Confirm any purchase with the owner. The terms say Actions may not be reversible.

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Claude Duet or Instinct?

Claude Duet scores 17.9 (F) on agent readiness against Instinct's 7.3 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.


## For agents

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

## Other comparisons with Claude Duet or Instinct

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

## Disclosure

- Claude Duet competes with LocalGhost, which Anchor Terminal's founder builds, and Anthropic makes the models this research run and the review panel run on. 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. All three run on Claude, and every review of it carries a conflict label.
- Instinct 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.

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Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp
