LiveCue › Cluely Review
Written by a competitor — read with that in mindCluely Review 2025 — What It Does Well (and Where It Falls Short)
In this review
Transparency note: This review is written by LiveCue — a direct competitor to Cluely. We've done our best to be fair, but you should factor that in. We've linked to Cluely's own website throughout and encourage you to read their docs too.
What is Cluely?
Cluely is a real-time AI meeting assistant. It listens to your calls and displays live coaching — talking points, suggested answers, and context — while you're in a meeting. The core idea is compelling: get AI help during the call itself, not just before or after.
It launched in 2024 and got significant attention on social media for its "cheat on everything" framing, which resonated with people using it for job interviews. Since then it's expanded to sales calls, client meetings, and general professional use.
What Cluely does well
The core product works. Here's where Cluely genuinely delivers:
- Real-time suggestions are actually useful. The AI coaching during live calls is genuinely helpful for staying on track, especially in fast-moving sales conversations or high-pressure interviews.
- Cross-platform. Cluely works on Windows, Mac, and via browser, which gives it wider reach than Mac-only tools.
- Interview mode is well-designed. The structured coaching for behavioral and technical interview questions is thoughtful and covers common frameworks like STAR.
- Meeting summaries. Post-call recaps and action item extraction are solid.
Drawbacks and common complaints
1. The AI bot joins your call
Cluely uses a bot to join your meeting and process audio — similar to how Otter.ai or Fireflies work. This means other participants see a "Cluely" bot in the participant list. In a sales call or interview, this raises immediate questions. Many users have reported prospects asking "who is Cluely bot?" which undermines the meeting instantly.
2. Not reliably screen-share-safe
One of the most common complaints about Cluely in forums and reviews: the overlay is not screen-share-safe. This means if you share your screen, other participants can see the AI coaching panel. This is the opposite of what most users need.
3. Cloud-dependent
Cluely processes audio in the cloud. Your call audio is sent to their servers. For users at companies with strict data policies, or anyone discussing sensitive topics, this is a dealbreaker. It also means it stops working if you lose internet mid-call.
4. Pricing creep
Multiple users have noted Cluely's pricing has increased and the free tier has been restricted since launch. What was available free now requires a paid plan. Given it's a newer product, this trajectory concerns some users.
✓ Pros
- Real-time coaching actually works
- Good cross-platform support
- Strong interview mode
- Meeting summaries
- Active development
✗ Cons
- AI bot joins and is visible to others
- Overlay can appear in screen share
- Cloud-based — audio leaves your device
- Requires internet at all times
- Pricing has increased post-launch
Cluely pricing (2025)
Cluely's pricing has evolved since launch. As of mid-2025, they offer a limited free tier with capped usage, and paid plans typically start around $29-49/month. Visit cluely.com for current pricing, as it changes frequently.
For context: LiveCue is currently in public Mac download with plans to offer a competitive subscription. Download for Mac to get early access pricing.
Cluely vs LiveCue — Key Differences
Here's how Cluely compares to LiveCue on the dimensions that matter most:
| Feature | Cluely | LiveCue |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time talking points | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| screen-share-safe | ✗ Not reliably | ✓ Screen-share-safe |
| AI bot joins the call | ✗ Yes — visible to others | ✓ No bot, ever |
| Audio processing | ✗ Cloud (audio leaves device) | ✓ Mac-native app |
| macOS native app | ✗ Browser/extension | ✓ Native Mac app |
| does not join as a bot | ✗ No | ✓ No meeting bot |
| Interview mode | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Sales call mode | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Windows support | ✓ Yes | ✗ Mac only (for now) |
The core difference: Cluely is built for breadth, LiveCue is built for privacy. If you're on Mac and can't afford for the AI to be visible to your prospect or interviewer, LiveCue is the safer choice.
→ Read our full Cluely vs LiveCue comparison
Who should (and shouldn't) use Cluely?
Cluely is a good fit if:
- You're on Windows (LiveCue is Mac-only)
- You don't share your screen during calls
- You're not concerned about the AI bot appearing in your participant list
- You don't have strict data privacy requirements at work
You should look elsewhere if:
- You're on Mac and want a native, private experience
- You regularly share your screen during sales calls or interviews
- You need the AI to be private to other participants
- Your company has policies about audio data leaving devices
- You want Mac-native workflow, not cloud
If any of the last five apply to you, LiveCue is worth a look. It's built specifically for those constraints — private overlay, no bot, Mac-native, Mac native.
Frequently asked questions about Cluely
Is Cluely free?
Cluely has a limited free tier, but most useful features require a paid plan. Pricing starts around $29-49/month and has increased since launch. Check their website for current pricing.
Does Cluely work on Mac?
Yes, Cluely has a Mac version. However, it is not a native macOS app — it works primarily as a browser extension or cloud-connected desktop client. Unlike LiveCue, it does not run processing Mac-native app.
Can people see Cluely during screen share?
This is one of the most common complaints. Cluely's overlay is not reliably screen-share-safe in all scenarios. Multiple users report that sharing their screen revealed the AI panel to other participants. LiveCue uses OS-level window privacy to make it screen-share-safe.
What are the best Cluely alternatives?
For Mac users who need a fully private experience: LiveCue is the most direct alternative — native Mac app, private overlay, no meeting bot joins the call. For general use across platforms, you could also use ChatGPT or Claude for pre-call prep, though neither provides real-time in-call coaching.
Can other participants notice Cluely?
The AI bot that joins your meeting is visible to other participants in the participant list. The overlay may also appear during screen share. That is why screen-share-safe behavior and clear privacy expectations matter for this category.
Looking for a private Cluely alternative?
LiveCue is the Mac-native option — no meeting bot, Mac-native workflow, and screen-share-safe.
macOS 13+ · Free download