Comparison

Hal Universal vs Craft Pulse

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hal Universal

Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

Hal Universal4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Hal Universal versus Craft Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHal UniversalCraft Pulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark FriedlanderFTRBND, LLC

In-app purchases

None

Hal Universal

No in-app purchases

None

Craft Pulse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hal Universal free?
Hal Universal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Craft Pulse free?
Craft Pulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Hal Universal or Craft Pulse have ads?
Neither Hal Universal nor Craft Pulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hal Universal or Craft Pulse?
Hal Universal ships an update every 6 weeks, and Craft Pulse every 7 months. Most recently, Hal Universal was updated on September 13, 2026 and Craft Pulse on September 17, 2026.

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