What is Cluely and why is everyone talking about it?

Spend ten minutes on X or Product Hunt and you will stumble on Cluely. The desktop app promises real-time coaching during job interviews, sales calls, exams—practically any high-pressure moment that happens over Zoom, Meets or Teams.

In plain English, Cluely listens to your microphone and watches your screen, then pops an invisible overlay only you can see. That overlay suggests talking points, code snippets, product facts, even ice-breaker jokes. The idea: you sound smarter, faster and more confident than you would on your own.

Fans call it a modern teleprompter. Critics call it a high-tech cheating tool. Either way, it is impossible to ignore, especially after the founders raised roughly $5 million in seed funding and leaned into the outrage with a “cheat on everything” tagline.

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Cluely’s main features

Below are the headline capabilities that make people either open their wallets—or raise their eyebrows.

Invisible Overlay Coaching

Install the desktop client, join a video call, and press a custom hotkey. A small floating box appears only on your screen, outside the shared window. You can move it, resize it or set it to fade when you are not hovering. Because the box never shows up in screen-share feeds, participants on the other side have no clue.

Context-Aware Response Generator

Cluely’s model mixes speech-to-text and screen OCR. It transcribes what everyone says in real time, grabs keywords from what is on your screen (a coding IDE, a pitch deck, a dating profile—you name it) and feeds that context to GPT-4-level language models. The suggestions you get are not random; they reference the exact question you were just asked.

Pre-built Playbooks and Custom Prompts

New users can choose from dozens of “playbooks”: Technical Interview, Enterprise SaaS Demo, VC Pitch, First Date, even IELTS Speaking Test. Each playbook loads role-specific prompts and follow-ups. Power users build their own by uploading PDFs, product docs or flashcards, turning Cluely into a personal knowledge base on tap.

Code-Friendly Snippets

For developers, Cluely detects when you open LeetCode or a whiteboard tool. It then suggests code blocks in Python, JavaScript, Java and twelve other languages. A side panel explains the logic, so you are not flying blind if the interviewer asks you to tweak it.

Multi-Platform Integration

The app works on macOS, Windows and, in beta, Linux. Official plug-ins exist for Zoom, Google Meets and Microsoft Teams. Early testers confirm it also runs inside browser-based tools like CoderPad and HackerRank—as long as you keep the desktop client open.

Anti-Detection Mode

Cluely routes overlay rendering through a low-level graphics layer that bypasses most proctoring software. Screen recorders still capture your camera and shared window, but not the floating prompt box. That feature thrills some users and terrifies compliance officers.

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Pricing: what will Cluely cost you?

Cluely is still in public beta, so pricing may shift. As of January 2025 the web site lists three tiers:

• Starter – $19 per month, billed monthly. Transcribes up to 5 hours of calls and stores 500 custom prompts.

• Pro – $49 per month, billed monthly or $490 yearly. Unlimited transcription, unlimited prompts, priority model access and early feature flags.

• Team – $99 per seat, billed yearly. Adds shared playbooks, admin dashboards, single-sign-on and an “ethical disclosure banner” option for companies that want to reveal usage.

There is also a Free tier limited to 30 minutes of coaching a week. All tiers include a 7-day refund window.

Worth noting: Cluely does not currently offer a one-time lifetime license. Everything is subscription based.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is using Cluely legal?

Legality depends on your jurisdiction and the policies of whoever is on the call with you. In many countries it is not illegal per se, but misrepresenting your knowledge during an interview can violate fraud statutes or corporate codes of conduct. Always disclose if you are unsure.

Does Cluely record my screen or audio?

Yes, temporarily. The client buffers audio and screen text locally, sends small context windows to the model, then purges them after the session. According to the founders, nothing is stored long term. Independent audits are still pending, so treat privacy claims cautiously.

Can Cluely be detected during a Zoom call?

The floating overlay is invisible to standard screen share and recording tools. However, latency, eye-tracking or sudden shifts in speaking style can give you away. Institutions that use advanced proctoring could also flag unusual GPU calls, so “undetectable” is never a guarantee.

What platforms does Cluely support?

Native apps exist for macOS 12+, Windows 10+ and experimental Debian-based Linux distros. ChromeOS and mobile devices are not yet supported.

Is there a free version of Cluely?

Yes. The Free plan offers 30 minutes of coaching each week, access to two generic playbooks and basic overlay customization. It is perfect for quick tests before you decide whether the paid plans justify the investment.

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Final thoughts

Cluely occupies a strange intersection: half productivity booster, half ethical minefield. If you work in a cut-throat sales org or you are terrified of algorithmic coding rounds, the allure is obvious. A virtual whisperer giving you the right phrase at the right time feels like magic.

But magic always has a cost. Over-reliance can stunt genuine growth, and undisclosed use can burn bridges if discovered. Treat the tool like a sharp knife, not a comfy pillow: powerful when wielded responsibly, dangerous when used to hide a lack of skill.

Kick the tires on the free tier and read your company handbook before you swipe your card. Whether Cluely becomes a must-have assistant or a cautionary tale is completely up to how you use it.