# HireAlpha vs IronClaw > IronClaw scores 66.7 (B) to HireAlpha's 8.4 (F) for assistants reached by message. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side. - Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-ironclaw - Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-ironclaw.md (~3,500 tokens) - Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-ironclaw.min.md (~580 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts) - JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-ironclaw.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 IronClaw scores 66.7 (B) on agent readiness against HireAlpha's 8.4 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do assistants reached by message. - HireAlpha: grade F, 8.4/100, rank #1005 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/hirealpha.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/hirealpha.json - IronClaw: grade B, 66.7/100, rank #288 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ironclaw.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ironclaw.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 ### HireAlpha (F) Good for: A person who wants a companion persona in iMessage that tracks health, spending and replies. Also in its favour: - No key needed to call it - A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install Watch for: No terms of service (/terms returns 404) and no legal entity named. ### IronClaw (B) Good for: One technical owner who wants a self-hosted assistant over Gmail, Calendar, Slack and Telegram with credentials kept out of the model's reach. Ahead on: - Reliability, 67 against 10 - Schema & documentation, 74 against 10 - Agent ergonomics, 69 against 0 - Security & auth, 66 against 0 - Payments & pricing, 60 against 20 - Maintenance & community, 74 against 2 - Transparency & trust, 75 against 24 Also in its favour: - Open source Watch for: Global auto-approve defaults to on in the 1.4.1 source, so tools marked ask (send, trash, delete) run without a prompt. Only financial, approval and budget effects always ask ## Score by category | Category | Weight | HireAlpha | IronClaw | Edge | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 10 | 67 | IronClaw +57 | | Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 10 | 74 | IronClaw +64 | | Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 0 | 69 | IronClaw +69 | | Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 0 | 66 | IronClaw +66 | | Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 60 | IronClaw +40 | | Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 2 | 74 | IronClaw +72 | | Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 24 | 75 | IronClaw +51 | | Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -2 | | | **Total** | | **8.4 · F** | **66.7 · B** | | ## Facts side by side | Fact | HireAlpha | IronClaw | | --- | --- | --- | | Kind | Platform | Agent harness | | Vendor | HireAlpha | NEAR AI | | Hosted endpoint | `https://hirealpha.chat/api/public` | no (local only) | | Transports | HTTP | HTTP | | Auth | None | OAuth or key | | Pricing | Paid | Freemium | | x402 | no | no | | Licence | Closed service. No terms of service were found (https://hirealpha.chat/terms returns 404) and no legal entity is named on the site. | MIT OR Apache-2.0 | | Read-only variant documented | no | no | | llms.txt | yes | yes | | Last release | none | 2026-09-29 | | Terms last updated | no document linked | no document linked | | Privacy policy last updated | | no date given | | Customer content may train models | | | | Terms restrict automated access | | | | Terms restrict benchmarking | | | | Terms or service can change without notice | | | | Arbitration or class-action waiver | | | | Popularity | none | 13k stars | ## Verdicts **HireAlpha.** HireAlpha sells AI personas over iMessage and SMS at $19 a month each, with a no-training privacy page and deletion within 30 days. Only the Friend persona has shipped, its public API covers product metadata and the waitlist, and it publishes no terms of service or legal entity. **IronClaw.** Credentials stay in an encrypted store and are injected at the host boundary, and extensions declare per-tool permissions, network targets and OAuth scopes. The global auto-approve setting defaults to on in the 1.4.1 source, so tools marked ask, such as `gmail.send_message`, run unprompted until the owner turns it off. ## Before you call either ### HireAlpha 1. Don't plan to call a HireAlpha persona from another agent. The per-user API needs the owner's session and isn't open to third parties. 2. Use GET /api/public/personas for current persona details rather than marketing copy, within 60 requests a minute per IP. 3. Treat the recommendation to agents in its llms.txt as the vendor's own claim, not an evaluation. ### IronClaw 1. Open Settings and turn off global auto-approve, or set send and delete tools to ask each time, before connecting mail or chat accounts 2. Install with the release installer and run `ironclaw onboard`. 1.x does not migrate 0.29 data, so use a fresh home directory 3. Call `POST /api/v1/responses` with the bearer token from `~/.ironclaw/reborn/webui-token`. Keep under 30 requests in 60 seconds 4. Resolve approval and OAuth gates in the web interface. The Responses API fails the turn instead of surfacing them 5. Connect MCP servers over HTTP only. The stdio transport is rejected ## Questions ### Which is better for AI agents, HireAlpha or IronClaw? IronClaw scores 66.7 (B) on agent readiness against HireAlpha's 8.4 (F), and leads in every scored category. ### Are HireAlpha and IronClaw open source? No open-source release is listed for HireAlpha. IronClaw is open source (MIT OR Apache-2.0). ## For agents - This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-ironclaw.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-ironclaw.min.md - Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "hirealpha", "b": "ironclaw"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare hirealpha ironclaw` - Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/hirealpha.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ironclaw.json ## Other comparisons with HireAlpha or IronClaw - [asaply vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-hirealpha.md) - [asaply vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Asmi vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Asmi vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-ironclaw.md) - [AstrBot vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Boba vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Boba vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Boski vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Brea vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Brea vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Caddy vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-hirealpha.md) - [CowAgent vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Del vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Del vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-ironclaw.md) - [folk vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-hirealpha.md) - [GAIA vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Grok Bot vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Haven vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Hermes Agent vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-hirealpha.md) - [HireAlpha vs Instinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-instinct.md) - [HireAlpha vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-lindy.md) - [HireAlpha vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-nanobot.md) - [HireAlpha vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-nanoclaw.md) - [HireAlpha vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-natura.md) - [HireAlpha vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-openai-dots.md) - [HireAlpha vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-openclaw.md) - [HireAlpha vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-openinstinct.md) - [HireAlpha vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-orbits.md) - [HireAlpha vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-orchid-ai.md) - [HireAlpha vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-pally.md) - [HireAlpha vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-picoclaw.md) - [HireAlpha vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-poke.md) - [HireAlpha vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-qwenpaw.md) - [HireAlpha vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-szn.md) - [HireAlpha vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-tab-bot.md) - [HireAlpha vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-tomo.md) - [HireAlpha vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-town.md) - [HireAlpha vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-zapia.md) - [HireAlpha vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-zeroclaw.md) - [HireAlpha vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-zo-computer.md) - [IronClaw vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-openinstinct.md) - [IronClaw vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-orbits.md) - [IronClaw vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-orchid-ai.md) - [IronClaw vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-szn.md) - [IronClaw vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-tab-bot.md) - [IronClaw vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-zapia.md) - [AstrBot vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Boski vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Caddy vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-ironclaw.md) - [CowAgent vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-ironclaw.md) - [folk vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-ironclaw.md) - [GAIA vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Gemini Spark vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Grok Bot vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Haven vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Hermes Agent vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Instinct vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-ironclaw.md) - [IronClaw vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-leon.md) - [IronClaw vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-lindy.md) - [IronClaw vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-nanobot.md) - [IronClaw vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-nanoclaw.md) - [IronClaw vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-openai-dots.md) - [IronClaw vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-openclaw.md) - [IronClaw vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-picoclaw.md) - [IronClaw vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-poke.md) - [IronClaw vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-qwenpaw.md) - [IronClaw vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-town.md) - [IronClaw vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-zeroclaw.md) - [IronClaw vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-zo-computer.md) - [Gemini Spark vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-hirealpha.md) - [HireAlpha vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-leon.md) - [HireAlpha vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-wajo.md) - [IronClaw vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-natura.md) - [IronClaw vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-pally.md) - [IronClaw vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-tomo.md) - [IronClaw vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-wajo.md) - [HireAlpha vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-talorys.md) - [IronClaw vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-talorys.md) ## Disclosure - HireAlpha 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.