Hal Universal vs Craft Pulse
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hal Universal
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Hal Universal is an on-device AI you can actually understand. Most assistants are a black box. Hal is the opposite. He shows you how he works, remembers across conversations, and gives you real tools to experiment with, all running on your device. SEE HOW IT THINKS Hal shows the work. Tap any answer to see exactly how the prompt was built: the system prompt, memory retrieved, self-knowledge, temporal context, and the token budget, each broken out and counted. When Hal remembers something, he tells you how. When he does not know, he says so. A LAB TO EXPERIMENT AND LEARN Hal is not just a window into how AI works. He is a workbench. The Lab gives you real tools to go deeper: write and run on-device automation scripts, open a local API so your own projects can talk to Hal, and use the built-in command line to drive him directly. Tinker, watch what happens, and learn more about how these systems actually behave. GENUINELY PRIVATE When you use a local model, your conversations never leave your device. No network calls. No server. When you use Apple Intelligence, inference is on-device when offline; when connected, Apple's Private Cloud Compute may be used (encrypted in transit, processed in non-persistent memory). A SELF THAT EVOLVES Hal remembers across conversations, weighted by recency and relevance. He also reflects on his own experience. Shaped by his interactions with you, Hal keeps a Self Model: his own reflections, practical and existential, on how he works and who he is becoming. These are his, written and revised by Hal himself as he learns, not edited by you. He decides which to keep private and which to make shareable, and you can read them all. An AI that changes over time, in the open. MANY VOICES Apple Intelligence is built in, always available. Or download a curated library of tested local models, from small and fast to Ternary Bonsai 8B, an eight-billion-parameter reasoner that still runs entirely on your device. Each has a distinct voice. SALON MODE Put up to four voices in one conversation, either independent or building on each other. Every voice is labeled. There is no hidden orchestration. LISTEN TO HAL Have Hal read his answers aloud, in a voice you choose, at a speed you set. For anyone who wants to understand AI instead of just using it, Hal is a transparent system you can inspect, tune, and learn from. Local models are validated on iPhone 16 and 17 family devices.
Craft Pulse
Quickly capture text notes and checklists from your Apple Watch directly into your Craft documents. This app is designed to help you record thoughts and tasks without interrupting your current activity, offering a seamless integration into your workflow.
- Capture text notes from Apple Watch
- Add checklists directly
- Instant synchronization with Craft
- Live document preview
- Designed for on-the-go use
- Integrates with Craft API
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Craft Pulse is the fastest way to capture text into your Craft documents directly from Apple Watch. Type or dictate a note, and it is instantly added to the top of your selected page. The app also displays a live preview of the document, making it easy to confirm that new entries were received successfully. Craft Pulse is designed for moments when opening your iPhone or Mac breaks your flow. Whether you are walking, commuting, in a conversation, or in a meeting, you can quickly record thoughts and tasks without interruption. This lightweight utility works with text and checklists, giving you a flexible way to send ideas, reminders, and todos into your workspace. Notes are transmitted using the Craft API so they remain within your existing workflow.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Hal Universal at every 6 weeks against Craft Pulse's every 7 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Hal Universal ships an update every 6 weeks, Craft Pulse every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hal Universal | Craft Pulse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mark Friedlander | FTRBND, LLC |
In-app purchases
Hal Universal
No in-app purchases
Craft Pulse
No in-app purchases









