Best Cluely Alternative in 2026: Aissence
According to public reports, Cluely experienced a security incident in 2025. Aissence offers a different data model: encryption in transit and at rest, on-device audio capture, BYOK inference through your own provider account, and account-level data controls.
Cluely 2025 Reported Security Incident
According to public reports, a security incident affected Cluely in 2025 and exposed account data and stored meeting transcripts. If you used Cluely during that period, change any reused passwords and treat interview content shared through the platform as potentially exposed. Aissence does not retain a central interview-transcript store by default, and BYOK lets inference run through your own provider account.
Aissence vs Cluely — feature by feature
| Feature | Aissence | Cluely |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time answer suggestions | Yes — desktop overlay and web app | Not compared |
| Desktop overlay with capture controls | Windows + macOS | Not compared |
| Languages supported | 42 + bilingual mode | Not compared |
| AI provider choice | Bring your own key (BYOK) | Not compared |
| Free career tools | 12 (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, …) | Not compared |
| Mock interview practice | AI-scored, role-aware | Not compared |
| Coding interview support | Yes — multi-language | Not compared |
| Free plan | Free forever, no card required | Not compared |
| Monthly price | $29 / mo ($12 / mo billed yearly) | $19.99 / mo (Pro); $149.99 / mo adds hiding from screen sharing |
| Data handling | Encryption in transit and at rest; BYOK option | Not compared |
Why candidates pick Aissence over Cluely
A different data model
Aissence uses encryption in transit and at rest for data you provide, captures audio on your device, and lets you route AI inference through your own provider account with BYOK. You can view, export, or delete your data from account settings.
Native desktop app
Aissence runs as a native Windows and macOS application with overlay capture controls and on-device audio capture — no meeting bot required.
Close price, different approach
Aissence is $29/month. Cluely lists Pro at $19.99/month and a $149.99/month tier that adds hiding from screen-sharing software (its pricing page, 4 October 2026). Aissence does not offer or promote concealment; it asks you to follow each employer’s rules.
free career tools included
Resume builder, cover letter generator, LinkedIn optimizer, mock interviews, and more are bundled in the same account.
Works beyond interviews
The overlay supports supported calls and meetings — sales calls, client meetings, and interview preparation — with capture controls you can test in advance.
Where Cluely is the better fit
Lower entry price
Cluely lists Pro at $19.99/month, below Aissence’s $29/month, and a free Starter plan with limited AI responses (pricing page, 5 October 2026).
Built for any meeting, not only interviews
Cluely lists unlimited meeting notetaking on Pro and positions itself for calls in general. If you want one tool for sales calls and meetings as well, that breadth matters.
Cluely vs Aissence: a closer look
What the reported 2025 incident means for past Cluely users
Public reporting describes exposure of account records and cloud-stored meeting transcripts. If you used Cluely during the affected window, rotate any reused passwords, monitor for phishing that references real interview details, and review how any replacement tool stores and processes your data.
How BYOK changes the data path
With bring-your-own-key, your AI inference runs against your own provider account. Aissence does not build a central interview-transcript store by default. That reduces the amount of sensitive content held by the tool vendor, though you should still review the privacy policy of whichever AI provider you connect.
Overlay parity when switching
Cluely popularized the in-call overlay workflow. Aissence offers a similar interaction model as a native desktop app with capture controls, on-device audio capture, and no meeting bot.
Beyond interviews: sales calls and client meetings
Many users adopt overlays for sales discovery and client calls, not only interviews. Aissence supports those contexts with real-time talking points and capture controls you can test before a live call.
Switching from Cluely: step by step
- 1
Change any reused passwords
If you reused a password across accounts, rotate it now regardless of which tool you use next.
- 2
Create an Aissence account
Sign up for the free plan — no payment details required to test the workflow.
- 3
Connect your own AI provider key (optional)
Add your provider key in Settings to run inference through your own account.
- 4
Install the desktop app and test
Confirm the overlay behaves as expected in a solo call before a real interview.
- 5
Uninstall Cluely
Remove the previous tool and cancel any active subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cluely safe to use after the reported 2025 incident?▾
According to public reports, the 2025 Cluely incident exposed account data and stored meeting transcripts. If you used Cluely during that period, change any reused passwords and treat interview content shared through the platform as potentially exposed. Review any provider’s security and data-handling documentation before trusting it with interview data.
How does Aissence handle my interview data?▾
Aissence uses encryption in transit and at rest for data you provide. Audio is captured on your device, and speech-to-text and AI suggestions are processed through the AI provider you select. With BYOK, inference runs through your own provider account. You can view, export, or delete your data from account settings.
Does Aissence work as a screen overlay like Cluely?▾
Aissence runs as a native desktop overlay with capture controls. Behavior varies by operating system, meeting platform, and capture method — test your setup and follow the rules that apply to your interview.
How does Aissence pricing compare with Cluely?▾
Not by much. Aissence is $29/month, with a $49 three-month plan and a $149 12-month plan. On 4 October 2026 Cluely listed a free Starter plan, Pro at $19.99/month, and a $149.99/month tier that adds hiding from screen-sharing software. Verify current pricing on each provider’s site.
Can I use Aissence for meetings beyond interviews?▾
Yes. The desktop overlay supports supported calls and meetings, including sales calls and client conversations, with the same capture controls.
Compare Aissence with other AI interview copilots
How this comparison is made
Written by the Aissence editorial team. Aissence makes one of the products compared here, so we say where Cluely is stronger and show the date we last checked its details.
This comparison is published by Aissence. Competitor information should be checked against the provider site; verification status is shown where available.
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