CONTENTS

    How I Escaped Cluely Trash and Chose a Smarter AI Assistant

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    Chris Quain
    ·June 2, 2026
    ·13 min read
    How I Escaped Cluely Trash and Chose a Smarter AI Assistant

    I remember during interviews, whenever my Cluely AI assistant would freeze or lag, I'd feel disappointed — and even more anxious and flustered. I sometimes think I might be relying on these tools a bit too much.

    Recently, I've been handing over most of my tasks to AI. But I'm not proud of it. Do the meeting minutes I quickly generate with Cluely truly capture everything that was said? Then, every time I go back to review them, I find loads of errors and omissions – or even content that's completely different from what was actually discussed. I got a bit of a shock when I thought about it: what if I hadn't got this job using a reliable tool like Linkjob AI, but had relied on Cluely instead?

    I remember writing a Cluely review a while back, and I remember several points from it clearly. It was exactly these points that made me switch from the so-called "perfectly invisible" Cluely tool to one that better suits my needs. (And, of course, I also searched for the best free AI interview tools, the most suitable AI models for interviews, and even related LinkedIn AI reviews.)

    Key Takeaways

    • Look for signs that a Cluely AI tool is unreliable—such as lag or cookie-cutter responses—to avoid frustration.

    • Assess your needs and test different AI tools in mock interviews to find the one that works best for you.

    • When choosing a new AI assistant, prioritize privacy protection and user-friendly features.

    • Trust your instincts and build confidence in your abilities by practicing with AI tools.

    • Switching to smarter tools that utilize advanced AI models can improve your interview performance and overall work efficiency.

    Signs of Cluely Trash

    Cluely's overlay can be seen on my screen, and thus can be seen by Zoom, Teams, etc.
    Cluely's official claim for NOT Undetectable for a bunch of software used for OAs

    Common Interview Frustrations

    When I first started using Cluely, I was really hoping it would make my interviews a piece of cake. But I ran into all sorts of problems. Whenever I needed an answer quickly, it was always slow to respond. Occasionally the screen would just freeze, which left me with just a blank white screen. I remember waiting with baited breath for the system to respond, but it never did.

    Lots of users are really frustrated about this. They say Cluely can't replace you in an interview. It often gives the wrong answers, especially when it's asked to do something technical.

    People found Cluely can give wrong answers even when connected to the AI models and Internet

    I've found that the answers it gave were usually too simple, making me have to find a quick fix right away, or it would just freeze up and not respond at all. Sometimes I could figure out what the problem was, like network issues, VPN settings, or installation paths, but usually, I had no clue where to start.

    I was running a mock interview, and here were the answers Cluely gave to me, way too brief, I'd say.

    Red Flags: Lag, Freezing, Detection

    While I was using it, I noticed a few obvious issues with Cluely: I mean, the lag and crashes were so frequent that I'd grown used to them.

    • When I was in the middle of an interview, the interface overlay would often just freeze, which meant I had to restart the whole program.

    • There was just no way to access it through the interface

    • had to keep hitting the keyboard shortcuts again and again to try and bring it up and close it.

    • All the above can be seen during a full-screen sharing scenario.

    Some users have said that Cluely is easily spotted by remote proctoring systems. This makes using it during interviews or online assessments risky. I've also seen users complain about unstable performance and unreliable real-time responses.

    Even if we look at the experience the users actually have, the price is still quite high – probably a little bit too high even (I've put the details below for you to check; just to let you know, you need the most expensive package to get the hidden features). And that's not even getting into how often the system freezes.

    Only when you pay for $150/mon to get the whole invisible Cluely experience, crazy.

    "Lost 2 interview due to this (Cluely trash)," one user wrote. I agree. The tool’s unreliability made me nervous every time I used it.

    One Reddit post said they had lost jobs for Cluely being seen during the interview

    User Experiences and Uninstalling

    A Reddit user complained about their Cluely experience and said it is useless

    Having tried and failed to get a job a few times, I decided to uninstall Cluely trash, which didn't really do anything for me. I had a look for uninstallation guides because I'd seen posts saying it was really hard to remove, but I found loads of tutorials online. Most users uninstall Cluely because it messes with job interviews and offers pretty much nothing back.

    In the end, though, I found a way to do just that, and it was actually pretty straightforward. All I had to do was open Settings, find Cluely, and uninstall it. After I uninstalled it, I felt so much better. Lots of people online have had similar experiences. They say that after uninstalling Cluey, they've become more confident and done better in interviews. If your computer's running slow or you're getting errors, it might be time to think about getting rid of Cluely.

    Why Switch from Cluely Trash

    Cluely can be seen in the Activity Monitor; thus, it's NOT fully invisible

    Productivity Impact

    I found that when I relied on Clearly Trash, my efficiency and success rate in interviews actually went down.

    1. This AI made me keep switching between the conversation and its prompts, which made it hard for me to build a good rapport with the interviewer.

    2. It felt a bit formulaic, and the answers didn't really stand out.

    3. As the AI handled most of the work, I stopped thinking deeply about the questions. In the end, I got too dependent on it and even started to trust my own instincts less and less.

    4. Sometimes, Cluely was only mentioned in a small corner of the official documentation that it couldn't go invisible; when I actually encountered these programs during interviews, I was doomed.

    So in short, these are why I switched from Cluely trash:

    • Divided attention lowers engagement.

    • Bland prompts make conversations forgettable.

    • Surface-level thinking reduces critical analysis.

    • Overdependence weakens personal skills.

    Missed Opportunities

    As I said before, I missed out on a few job opportunities because of Cluely trash. I had to take some time to recover from the setbacks, get things sorted and figure out what the root causes were and what the lessons were. Here's a table I've put together to give you a quick overview.

    Limitation Type

    Description

    Generic Suggestions

    Broad advice, not tailored to specific roles or company needs.

    Misinterpretation

    Misreads questions or nuances, leading to off-target responses.

    Overconfidence

    Accepts AI-generated responses without critical evaluation.

    Latency Issues

    Delays disrupt conversation flow, making candidates appear unprepared.

    Contextual Understanding

    Struggles with structured interviews, leading to irrelevant answers.

    Trust and Reputation Risk

    Conflicts with interview rules, risking reputational damage.

    Emotional Stress

    Using unreliable AI assistants can cause emotional stress. To give you an idea, I'll use myself as an example. Using tools like Cluely has actually made me less confident in social situations. I've become dependent on the AI, so without it, I find it hard to interact with people. Sometimes, its suggestions are confusing and frustrating, and I end up wondering if something's wrong with me. I've read stories about users who feel isolated or manipulated by AI. Lots of students say they feel lonely after using similar apps. The stress caused by Cluely's poor AI performance made my next job interview even more difficult.

    That's why I really need to find a better assistant – I can't do without them now, so I might as well choose one that's useful and reliable, and can at least help me get a decent job, right?!

    Escaping Cluely Trash

    Evaluating Alternatives

    When I realised I had to replace Cluely trash, the first thing I did was look for a better alternative. I was looking for an AI assistant that wouldn't freeze up during interviews or put me in an awkward situation.

    I also like to keep my personal life private, so I was looking for a service that wouldn't hit me with hidden fees or tricky subscription terms. Most importantly, I wanted it to be completely invisible.

    Here’s how I compared my options:

    • I checked user reviews for tools like LockedIn AI, Linkjob AI, and Interview Sidekick.

    • I looked for clear subscription policies. Linkjob AI stood out because it lets users cancel easily, without hidden steps.

    • I considered open-source options like Pluely, which focus on privacy and customization.

    • I wanted to know if the AI would get detected during interviews. Linkjob AI got praise for staying invisible and not interfering with interview platforms.

    I made a table to help me compare the most recommended alternatives:

    Alternative

    Key Features

    User Experience

    Interview Sidekick

    Live AI suggestions, real-time feedback

    Users feel more confident, but it cannot be fully invisible.

    Pramp

    Peer mock interviews, AI feedback

    Software engineers say it helps them get more offers.

    Big Interview

    Video mock interviews, detailed analysis

    Offers feedback on all parts of the interview performance.

    InterviewBuddy

    Live sessions with industry experts, immediate feedback

    Users like the personal coaching and direct advice.

    Linkjob AI

    Real-time interview help for every industry, invisible during every session

    Many users trust it for not being detected and for strong, quick answers.

    Bluedot

    Ethical meeting recording, no detection risk

    Good for safe transcription and privacy.

    Final Round AI

    Mock interviews, technical coaching

    Sometimes lags, but helps with technical prep.

    So after browsing and searching for ages, I decided to use Linkjob AI as a Cluely alternative, for it has the best invisible features and a user-friendly overlay for me.

    Making the Transition

    Switching away from Cluely trash felt like a big step. I wanted to make sure I did it right, so I followed a simple process:

    • Opened my device settings and searched for Cluely in the list of installed apps.

    • Clicked “Uninstall” and followed the prompts. Some users have trouble canceling their Cluely subscriptions, so I double-checked my account to make sure I would not get charged again.

    • Reached out to customer support, but I found them slow to respond. Many users online said the same thing.

    • Made a list of features I wanted in my new AI assistant. I tried Interview Sidekick first because it promised easy cancellation and clear account management, but I quit using it quickly, and here is why that happened: my Interview Sidekick alternative.

    • Tested Linkjob AI and Lockedin AI in practice interviews. I wanted to see if they worked smoothly and stayed undetected. Linkjob AI won in the end.

    Tip: Always check your bank statements after uninstalling any subscription-based app. Some companies make it hard to cancel, so it’s good to be sure.

    Choosing a Smarter AI Assistant

    Key Features to Look For

    When I started searching for a smarter AI assistant, I made a checklist of features that mattered most to me. I wanted something that could actually help in real time, not just spit out generic answers. I looked for tools that felt easy to use and could handle interviews without freezing or lagging. Privacy also became a big deal for me after my experience with Cluely. I wanted an assistant that would not get me flagged or detected.

    Here’s a quick table I made to compare what I found:

    Feature

    Cluely AI

    Linkjob AI

    Real-time Support

    Limited

    Comprehensive

    Tailored Responses

    Generic

    Personalized if you prompted

    Usability

    Moderate

    High

    Effectiveness

    Basic

    Advanced with analytics

    Privacy

    Moderate

    Enhanced stealth

    I realized that smarter assistants stand out because they offer real-time support, personalized answers, and better privacy.

    Comparing Alternatives

    Before choosing an AI assistant, I tried out a few different products. I wanted to see how they'd do in real interview situations.

    I heard about Linkjob AI from other users who said it worked well and you couldn't even tell it was there during the interview. I noticed that Linkjob AI's response time was much faster than Cluely's — sometimes taking less than half a second.

    I was testing Linkjob AI using LeetCode system design questions and it fixed them perfectly

    The answers it gave me were perfect for my situation, not just some generic script. The interface was a breeze to use, and I could tweak the settings to my heart's content.

    Basically, it worked like it said in the table below:

    Feature/Metric

    Linkjob AI

    Cluely AI

    Response Time

    Extremely fast

    Fast, but has lag

    Answer Quality

    High, tailored (if properly prompted)

    Vague, brief

    User Experience

    Customizable, user-friendly

    Less user-friendly

    Real-time Performance

    Invisible in interviews

    Not as effective

    Subscription Cost

    Slightly higher

    Lower

    I felt the extra cost was worth it for the reliability and peace of mind.

    Testing Before Committing

    Before choosing an AI assistant, I ran some tests:

    1. I checked how well the tool handled privacy and whether it could adapt to my workflow.

    2. I did some mock interviews and kept an eye out for any signs of lag or the AI giving itself away.

    3. I also paid close attention to the AI's ability to handle context — could it remember what I'd said earlier in the conversation?

    4. I even got some friends to help test it to see if there were any strange glitches.

    In the end, it was Linkjob AI that made the cut. It's delivered consistently solid performance across all these areas. I'd say it's slightly less competitive on price, but it's a tool that's totally transparent about the models it uses and is constantly being updated. At least, that's what I think. It's the best fit for me.

    Linkjob AI's price plans stay transparent about what I can get, which is nice

    Results After Switching From Cluely Trash

    Improved Outcomes

    Since switching to a smarter AI assistant, I've noticed real improvements in my daily work. I don't have to stress about checking the company's ATS system every time I get an interview invite, and I can find content tailored to my resume more easily. This helps me refine my answers, take the initiative, and strive for better performance.

    I've got a few more thoughts on the subject, which I've put in a table below:

    Outcome

    Before (Cluely)

    After (Smarter Linkjob AI)

    Response Speed

    Slow, laggy

    Fast, seamless

    Answer Quality

    Generic, vague

    Tailored, relevant

    Interview Success

    Low

    Higher

    User Confidence

    Shaky

    Strong

    Lessons Learned

    I realized that choosing the right AI assistant is crucial. I get that I shouldn't fixate on popularity or flashy features. Instead, I should focus on the features that actually suit my needs. Testing these tools in the real world showed me what they're good at and where they can improve. Reliability and Undetectability are the most important things to look for. I've also learned to trust my own abilities. AI should complement my capabilities, not replace them.

    "Switching tools taught me to value my own judgment. I now use AI as a helper, not a crutch."

    Tips for People Who Are Considering Switching From Cluely Trash

    Some people leave positive comments on Linkjob AI's Discord group

    If you're looking to ditch junk software like Cluely and find a smarter AI assistant, here are some practical tips:

    • Think about what you'll need to do your job. For example, if you're an admin, focus on scheduling features; if you're a product manager, prioritise project analysis capabilities.

    • Have a play around with different tools, like open-source options such as Hush and subscription-based options with real-time updates, including Linkjob AI. Try them out in mock interviews or in your day-to-day work, and a video call with a friend is the best way to do this.

    • Have a careful look at the features and compare them. Keep an eye on real-time guidance, task automation and privacy controls. Don't just go for a tool because it's popular.

    • Have a look at what other users are saying and what the cancellation policy is. Make sure the tool fits your workflow and respects your privacy.

    • Before the formal interview, you should try using the AI in a safe space to get used to the idea.

    Tip: Take your time. The right AI assistant should make your life easier, not more stressful.

    In hindsight, I realise just how much those low-quality AI tools held me back. It's not that I had privacy concerns, ethical issues or confidence issues, but I did find myself wondering whether I was up to the task. Since switching to smarter AI assistants, my interviews and open-ended questions have become more authentic and reliable. I feel more transparent and I'm proud of my progress.

    • Recognize the signs of unreliable AI.

    • Try alternatives that respect your privacy.

    • Trust your instincts and keep learning.

    You can break free from frustrating tools. A better assistant is out there—one that helps you grow and succeed, Linkjob AI.

    FAQ

    How do I know if my AI assistant is holding me back?

    I looked for signs like lag, freezing, and generic answers. If I feel stressed or miss opportunities, I know it’s time to try something new.

    What steps should I take before switching AI assistants?

    I always tested alternatives in mock interviews. Then I checked privacy settings and read user reviews. And don't forget to see if you can cancel and get a refund, because you don't want to be stuck paying a lot of money.

    Can I use AI assistants safely during interviews?

    Before every formal interview, the first thing I'd do is have a few practice interviews with friends. That was mainly just to make sure everything the AI interview assistant was doing was working properly. Then, I checked to make sure those tools remained hidden and undetected. I read the platform’s rules beforehand.

    What should I do if I can’t uninstall Cluely?

    I opened my device settings and tried to uninstall it from there. And unfortunately, that failed, so I contacted customer support. I also checked my bank for any ongoing charges.

    Are there free alternatives to Cluely?

    Yes, I found some open-source tools like Linkjob AI. They offer basic to advanced features and focus on privacy, undetectability, and user-friendliness. I always test them before using them in real situations.

    See Also

    Mastering Interviews Using AI Assistants in 2026

    Leveraging AI Assistants on Zoom for Seamless Support

    Evaluating Six Top AI Assistants for Tech Interviews

    Receive Instant Assistance From an AI Voice Interview Tool

    Utilizing AI Tools for Discreet Support in Talview Interviews