Instinct: what it does, what it costs, where it struggles
A personal AI assistant you text or call, which then does errands and tasks for you.
- Made by
- Spear Street Technology, Inc. (does business as Instinct)
- Kind
- personal assistant
- Free to try
- No price published; the terms say some features cost money
- Where
- text messages and phone calls; web workspace at app.instinct.com
What it does
Instinct is a personal assistant you reach by text message or phone call, with no new app to learn. Its home page gives examples such as ordering groceries, booking a train, sending flowers and finding a sports court.
Since September 2026 each user can claim an email address for the assistant. It uses that address to make and manage accounts, contact businesses, sign up for services and follow up. You can forward it emails, such as an order confirmation for a return, or add it to group threads. It checks in with you when it needs your input.
It connects to your own accounts, such as Gmail, and can act for you through them. TechCrunch reports partnerships with 1Password (to log in to your existing accounts) and Stripe (to pay for bookings and purchases), plus location sharing.
Its terms say it can act as your agent and accept terms or make purchases for you, and that you are responsible for what it does.
Main features
- Reach it by text or phone call
- Its own email address (claimed at mail.instinct.com)
- Books, orders and buys things for you
- Connects to Gmail and other accounts
- Logs in to your existing accounts through 1Password (reported by TechCrunch)
- Payments through a Stripe partnership (reported by TechCrunch)
- Optional location sharing
What it costs
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Not published | not published | No price appears on instinct.com. Its terms (revised Aug 26, 2026) say some features are paid, prices can change at any time, and payments are non-refundable except where the law says otherwise. |
Who it's for
- People who want errands done by texting, not by opening an app
- Busy people comfortable giving an assistant wide access to their accounts
- Personal life tasks: shopping, bookings, returns, bills
Where it struggles
- No public price: the terms say some features are paid and payments are non-refundable, but the site does not say what costs what.
- Its terms say actions it takes may not be reversible, its safeguards may not prevent errors, and you carry the financial and legal results of what it does.
- By default its terms allow your materials to be used to train AI models; you can opt out in settings, but only going forward (things stored in its Vault are not used for training).
- Disconnecting an account does not delete the data it already indexed; you have to delete it yourself in the workspace page.
- You must be 18 or older, and it is run from the US.
- To be useful it needs access to private mail, messages and optionally your location and voice, which TechCrunch notes has raised privacy and security questions.
At a glance
| Instinct | |
|---|---|
| What it is | A personal AI assistant you text or call, which then does errands and tasks for you. |
| Price | Not published: not published |
| Free to try | No price published; the terms say some features cost money |
| Does the task itself | yes it books, orders, signs up and contacts businesses for you |
| Its own email address | yes each user can claim an address for the assistant (since Sept 2026) |
| You can text it | yes you text or call it |
| Its own computer and browser | partly its home page says it can use a phone and computer the way you do; it does not say how |
| Remembers you | Its home page says it learns what you are working on and what matters to you; its Vault keeps materials you add |
| Where it lives | text messages and phone calls; web workspace at app.instinct.com |
How it compares
If you want an assistant that does the work itself rather than helping you do it, see how Instinct stacks up: Instinct vs Your Own AI Assistant.
Listed in: The best AI personal assistants in 2026, The best AI assistants you can text in 2026.
Questions people ask
- How much does Instinct cost?
- Instinct does not publish a price. Its terms say some features are paid and that payments are non-refundable except where the law requires refunds.
- Can Instinct buy things for me?
- Yes. Its terms say it can make purchases and accept terms on your behalf, and that you, not Instinct, are the buyer. TechCrunch reports a Stripe partnership for payments.
- Does Instinct use my data to train AI?
- Its terms allow it unless you opt out in settings. The opt-out only covers data from then on. Its privacy policy says Google Workspace data is not used for training or ads.
Checked 2026-11-08 on Spear Street Technology, Inc. (does business as Instinct)'s own pages: Instinct home page, Instinct Terms of Service (revised Aug 26, 2026), Instinct Privacy Policy (updated Aug 26, 2026), TechCrunch: Viral AI assistant Instinct now has its own email address (Sept 9, 2026). Prices change; check the maker's pricing page before you buy.
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