kitio.aiHowie vs Ari
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Howie starts at See pricing page and Ari 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
- Email-based scheduling
- Availability checks
- Preference learning
- Rescheduling
- Calendar event creation
- Unified work memory
- Sourced answers
- Follow-up tracking
- Coaching and role-play
- MCP server
| Feature | Howie | Ari |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI scheduling assistant you CC on email to book meetings | AI chief of staff that remembers your meetings, messages and docs |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Freemium |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | No, trial available | Yes |
| Made by | Howie | Ariso |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Howie starts at See pricing page and Ari starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
2 plans
Free
Free
- Ari in your work tools
- Limited history
Startup
$1/user per day
- Per user
- Unlimited history and context
- Team analytics
- Priority support
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Howie
- No scheduling links needed
- Handles back-and-forth replies
- Learns your preferences
- Only works through email
- Paid service for most users
Ari
- Works inside Slack and Teams
- Answers cite their source
- Free plan to start
- Startup plan billed per user per day
- Needs access to many work accounts
- Free plan limits history
Which one should you choose?
Choose Howie if you want:
- No scheduling links needed
- Handles back-and-forth replies
- Learns your preferences
Watch out: only works through email.
Choose Ari if you want:
- Works inside Slack and Teams
- Answers cite their source
- Free plan to start
Watch out: startup plan billed per user per day.
Howie vs Ari FAQ
What is the difference between Howie and Ari?
Howie: AI scheduling assistant you CC on email to book meetings. Ari: AI chief of staff that remembers your meetings, messages and docs. Both are productivity tools.
Is Howie or Ari cheaper?
Howie starts at See pricing page and Ari starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Howie and Ari have free plans?
Howie: No, trial available. Ari: Yes.
Who makes Howie?
Howie is made by Howie, based in United States.
Who makes Ari?
Ari is made by Ariso.
Which should I choose, Howie or Ari?
Choose Howie if you value no scheduling links needed and handles back-and-forth replies. Choose Ari if you value works inside slack and teams and answers cite their source.