kitio.aiCleverbot vs Short Circuit
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Cleverbot starts at See pricing page and Short Circuit starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Open-ended chat with no sign-up
- Three response style settings
- Saved conversation history
- Shareable chat snips
- iOS app
- Siri and Shortcuts support
- Per-chat personas
- Model selection
- Built-in fact checking
- Lifetime unlock option
| Feature | Cleverbot | Short Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Long-running chatbot that learns its replies from past conversations | ChatGPT app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with Siri support |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No, trial available |
| Made by | Existor | Red Panda Club |
| Based in | United Kingdom | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Cleverbot starts at See pricing page and Short Circuit starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Cleverbot
- Free to use in the browser
- No account needed to start chatting
- Quirky, human-like replies
- Far less capable than modern LLM assistants
- Conversations are used for ads
- Replies can be random or off-topic
Short Circuit
- Works across iPhone, iPad and Mac
- One-time lifetime unlock with your own key
- Opts out of OpenAI training
- Apple platforms only
- Lifetime option needs your own OpenAI token
- Site text refers to older GPT-4 models
Which one should you choose?
Choose Cleverbot if you want:
- Free to use in the browser
- No account needed to start chatting
- Quirky, human-like replies
Watch out: far less capable than modern llm assistants.
Choose Short Circuit if you want:
- Works across iPhone, iPad and Mac
- One-time lifetime unlock with your own key
- Opts out of OpenAI training
Watch out: apple platforms only.
Cleverbot vs Short Circuit FAQ
What is the difference between Cleverbot and Short Circuit?
Cleverbot: Long-running chatbot that learns its replies from past conversations. Short Circuit: ChatGPT app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with Siri support. Both are chat assistants tools.
Is Cleverbot or Short Circuit cheaper?
Cleverbot starts at See pricing page and Short Circuit starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Cleverbot and Short Circuit have free plans?
Cleverbot: Yes. Short Circuit: No, trial available.
Who makes Cleverbot?
Cleverbot is made by Existor, based in United Kingdom.
Who makes Short Circuit?
Short Circuit is made by Red Panda Club.
Which should I choose, Cleverbot or Short Circuit?
Choose Cleverbot if you value free to use in the browser and no account needed to start chatting. Choose Short Circuit if you value works across iphone, ipad and mac and one-time lifetime unlock with your own key.