# Orchid vs Skydive

> Skydive scores 52.1 (D) 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/orchid-ai-vs-skydive
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-skydive.md (~4,000 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-skydive.min.md (~780 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-skydive.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: 2026-10-31

Skydive scores 52.1 (D) on agent readiness against Orchid's 20.2 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Orchid leads on reliability. Both do assistants reached by message.

- Orchid: grade F, 20.2/100, rank #1193 of 1244. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/orchid-ai.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/orchid-ai.json
- Skydive: grade D, 52.1/100, rank #899 of 1244. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/skydive.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/skydive.json
- Best AI personal assistants that act for one person: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/personal-assistants/index.md
- All 1245 assistants comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/personal-assistants/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Orchid (F)

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

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 50 against 41

Also in its favour:
- No incidents deducted, where Skydive loses 5 points for them

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

### Skydive (D)

Good for: A person or team who wants hosted agents with their own cloud computers, memory and connected apps, reachable in Slack, email, text and a CLI, and who can drive them from scripts through the CLI.

Ahead on:
- Schema & documentation, 81 against 10
- Agent ergonomics, 59 against 0
- Security & auth, 59 against 0
- Payments & pricing, 35 against 10
- Maintenance & community, 56 against 24
- Transparency & trust, 75 against 60

Also in its favour:
- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install
- Free to start without a card

Watch for: The API has no operation for sending an agent a task. That runs through the CLI's `chat -p`, outside the OpenAPI contract.


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Orchid | Skydive | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 50 | 41 | Orchid +9 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 10 | 81 | Skydive +71 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 0 | 59 | Skydive +59 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 0 | 59 | Skydive +59 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 10 | 35 | Skydive +25 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 24 | 56 | Skydive +32 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 60 | 75 | Skydive +15 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -5 | |
| **Total** | | **20.2 · F** | **52.1 · D** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Orchid | Skydive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Platform | Platform |
| Vendor | Zero Email, Inc. | Create, Inc. |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://api.skydive.com/v1` |
| Transports |  | HTTP |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Paid | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | Closed service under Orchid's Terms of Service (Zero Email, Inc., last updated 16 January 2026). | Closed service under the Skydive Terms of Service (Create, Inc.), effective 29 July 2026. The skydive-cli npm package is published under the MIT licence. |
| Read-only variant documented | no | yes |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | none | 2026-08-26 |
| Terms last updated | 2026-01-16 | couldn't be read |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-09-14 | couldn't be read |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | couldn't be read |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | couldn't be read |
| Popularity | none | 5.5k npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | 2/5 (4) | none |

## Verdicts

**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.

**Skydive.** Skydive publishes an OpenAPI 3.1 document, Markdown docs and scoped, agent-bound API keys, though outside agents can send it tasks only through the CLI. Its status page records several major incidents, including a 25-hour Agent Hosting outage, and its home and pricing pages say data is never used for training while the privacy policy turns training on by default.

## Before you call either

### 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.

### Skydive

1. Send tasks with `skydive chat -p "..." --agent <id> --json` and pass `--conversation <id>` from the JSON to keep context. The REST API can't send a task.
2. Don't retry `chat -p` or a create blindly after a timeout. There's no idempotency key, so list agents or keys before retrying.
3. Ask the owner for an agent-bound `use` key when you only need to read. Account-level `edit` keys can create agents and mint keys.
4. Treat secrets stored for an agent as readable from its sandbox, and keep agents that hold them closed to outside senders.
5. Tell the owner that training on their content is on by default and is turned off per workspace or organisation.

## Questions

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

Skydive scores 52.1 (D) on agent readiness against Orchid's 20.2 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Orchid leads on reliability.


## For agents

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

## Other comparisons with Orchid or Skydive

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