Rick Boers vs iChatWithGPT
Explore what we can build. Examples describe possible workflows; integrations, hosting, and scope are agreed for your project.
iChatWithGPT is an iMessage chatbot: you save its phone number as a contact and text it questions, with no app download, account, or identifying information required. As of 2026 it is powered by GPT-5.2, Claude 4.5, Google Search, and Nano Banana, and offers web research, image generation, photo/document analysis, and simple text reminders across iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, CarPlay, and Siri. It is still active and has evolved into the broader Olly assistant (olly.bot, 250,000+ users), which adds voice messages, PDF analysis, calendar/email connections, and a web app.
Rick Boers is an independent AI product builder. I design and build custom agents, document workflows, internal tools, and complete web and mobile applications, with one person owning the work from brief to delivery.
At a glance
| Comparison dimension | Rick Boers | iChatWithGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Always-on computer | Hosting and runtime architecture are chosen for your project; dedicated VMs are one option. | No — it's a hosted chatbot behind a phone number; there is no per-user machine, browser, or disk, and nothing works on your behalf while you're away beyond scheduled reminder texts. |
| Tool integrations | I build integrations around the tools your workflow needs. Access, permissions, API availability, and any service subscriptions are checked and scoped before implementation. | Mostly built-in capabilities: live Google web search, image generation (Nano Banana), photo/receipt analysis, PDF/document summaries, and text reminders; the Olly web app advertises basic calendar/email connections, but there is no broader catalog of third-party app integrations like Slack, Notion, or GitHub. |
| Messaging channels | Messaging or web interfaces are implemented where supported and included in the agreed scope. | iMessage-first (save a contact; works via Siri on iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, CarPlay), plus a browser app under the Olly brand; no Slack, WhatsApp, or Telegram. |
| Persistent memory | Storage and memory can be designed for the workflow, with retention and access controls agreed first. | Conversation history lives in your iMessage thread; Olly says it learns your preferences over time and its web app includes a basic manageable profile, but there is no typed or user-inspectable agent memory and no file storage. |
| Background automations | Scheduled and background jobs can be included with monitoring, limits, and human review where needed. | Simple text reminders and scheduled tasks ("remind me at 5pm"); no cron-style background jobs that perform work and deliver output. |
| Pricing | The first 20-minute fit call is free. Paid work is scoped individually. We agree the deliverables, price, and payment milestones before work begins; hosting and model costs depend on the system we build. | Check the provider’s current pricing and plan limits. |
Where iChatWithGPT shines
- Genuinely zero-friction setup: save a contact and text it — no app download, no account, no card, no identifying information required.
- Deep Apple ecosystem reach: works over iMessage on iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and CarPlay, with hands-free use via "Hey Siri, text GPT".
- Recent frontier-lab models under the hood (GPT-5.2 and Claude 4.5 as of mid-2026, a step behind the newest flagships) plus live Google-powered web search, so answers include news, weather, and scores.
- Very cheap for unlimited AI texting — third-party listings cite about $5/month, a fraction of typical $20/month assistants.
- Handles more than text: image generation (Nano Banana), photo and receipt analysis, and — via the Olly platform — voice messages, PDF/document summaries, and basic calendar/email connections.
Where it falls short
- It is a reactive Q&A bot: it responds when you text it, but doesn't execute multi-step projects in the background or proactively message you when work is finished (beyond simple text reminders).
- There is no computer behind your agent — no dedicated VM, no filesystem for files, and no real browser it can log into websites with on your behalf.
- Integrations are minimal: the Olly web app advertises connecting your calendar or email, but there's no broader tool catalog — it can't post to Slack, update Notion or GitHub, or operate your SaaS tools.
- Channel support is Apple-centric — texting requires iMessage, so Android users can only reach it through the Olly web app; there is no Slack, WhatsApp, or Telegram presence.
- Memory is lightweight: conversation history lives in your iMessage thread, and Olly says it learns preferences over time with a basic profile you can manage in its web app — but there is no typed, inspectable memory or per-agent file storage.
Choose iChatWithGPT if…
- You want ChatGPT-quality answers inside iMessage with zero setup — texting a saved contact is genuinely the fastest way to get AI on an iPhone.
- You mostly need hands-free AI via Siri, CarPlay, or Apple Watch — quick lookups, recipes, translations, and reminders while driving or on the go.
- You want the cheapest possible unlimited AI texting (~$5/month per listings) and don't need the AI to operate your apps or accounts.
- You specifically don't want to create an account or hand over identifying information to use an AI assistant.
Choose Rick Boers if…
- You need a custom workflow or product built around your team.
- You want one builder to own design, implementation, and delivery.
- Your project needs integrations or behavior beyond a packaged tool.
- You need a custom workflow or product built around your team.
Common questions
Is iChatWithGPT free?
It's free to start with no signup — third-party listings cite roughly the first 100 messages free. After that you upgrade to Pro for unlimited messaging; the site doesn't publish the price (the upgrade flow runs through the chat itself), and listings cite about $5/month, making it one of the cheapest AI texting services.
Is iChatWithGPT still active in 2026?
Yes. The site is live, publishing 2026-dated guides, and lists current models (GPT-5.2, Claude 4.5, Nano Banana with Google search). It has also folded into the broader Olly assistant (olly.bot), which claims over 250,000 users and adds voice messages, document analysis, calendar/email connections, and a web app.
Is iChatWithGPT better than Rick Boers?
This comparison is between using a packaged tool and commissioning a custom system. Provider features change; check current documentation. For a custom build, we agree the specific workflow, infrastructure, integrations, and operating responsibilities.