Poe is a service from Quora (the well-known question-and-answer site) that gathers dozens of AI models into one app: models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, open-source models, and models for image, video and audio generation. That is its main difference from other assistants: instead of several separate subscriptions, you get access to all of them with one account and one points system, and you can ask several models the same question and see the answers side by side.
What is Poe good for?#
- Comparing models: before paying for an assistant, ask the same work question to several models and see which suits your job best.
- Building your own bot: without programming, create a bot with a fixed instruction, for example "a copy editor for my store's product text" that always answers in the same tone and format.
- Creating images and video: try different image and video models in the same app, without a separate signup on each site.
- Group chats with several models: call several models in one conversation so one writes a text and another critiques it.
- API for developers: a developer gets access to different models through one API and pays from the same points.
Strengths and weaknesses#
Strengths:
- Access to a large number of text, image and video models with one account
- Build a bot with a fixed instruction in minutes
- Apps for all platforms
- Good for comparing models before choosing one
Weaknesses:
- The points system is confusing, and strong models use up the allowance fast
- Special features of the original services (such as memory or particular tools) are usually missing or arrive later
- Allowances and prices have changed several times without much notice
Free plan and pricing#
Poe is freemium with a points-based model. You get a small free allowance each day, and each message deducts a different number of points depending on the model you choose. Cheaper models can be used with the free allowance, but strong models or video generation use it up fast. Paid plans offer more monthly points at several tiers. Before buying, check the point cost of the models you need on each model's page. Check the official site for current prices.
Language support#
Language quality depends on the model you choose. With large models such as Claude, GPT and Gemini you get fluent, good output in many languages; small open-source models are weaker outside English. Poe's own interface is in English.
Getting started in three steps#
- Sign up with an email and browse the list of models.
- Ask two or three models a real question from your work and compare the answers.
- For a repeated task, build a bot with a fixed instruction so you do not have to explain each time.
Poe alternatives#
- ChatGPT: if you want just one assistant, it has fuller features.
- Claude: for careful writing and coding, the original service has more features than the version inside Poe.
- Perplexity: it also offers several models, but focuses on search and sourced answers.
- Microsoft Copilot: free and without a complex points system.
To choose among the big models, read ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini: which is best for what, and for building better bots, system prompts: the instruction that shapes a whole conversation.
