Side by side
Kai vs Kerna
Both stand on ai email assistants. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial AndroidiPhoneMac+1
Kai combines inbox handling, calendar work, meeting capture, and follow-up tracking across common platforms. Its review controls and no-time-limit trial may suit users who want automation while retaining approval over changes and email sending.
Visit Kai Free plan MacWebWindows
Kerna brings triage, drafting, summaries, and translation into Gmail and Outlook, with user-triggered processing. Its Outlook mailbox requirements and token volumes are important to consider before choosing a plan.
Visit KernaThe facts
| Kai | Kerna | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Mac, Web | Mac, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Base: $20 a month | Standard: €12 a month |
| Plans published | 3 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | hirekai.ai | kerna.io |
| On ai email assistants | #25 of 46 | #4 of 46 |
Kai: what it does well
- Connects Gmail, Outlook email, and major calendars
- Captures meetings without a bot joining
- Tracks action items with original context
- Review required before emails are sent
- Available on Android, iOS, macOS, and web
What to know first
- No external task-manager syncing
- No free plan
- AI logs and traces may remain 90 days
- Paid plans start at $20 per user monthly
Kerna: what it does well
- Sorts open messages into built-in or custom categories.
- Drafts replies with intent and tone controls.
- Summarizes threads up to 50 messages.
- Translates messages and replies in 45 languages.
- Processes content only after a user action.
What to know first
- Outlook requires a Microsoft-hosted mailbox.
- POP and IMAP connections are unsupported.
- On-premises Exchange mailboxes are unsupported.
- Starter provides 30,000 tokens as trial volume.