Sider alternatives in 2026, compared on price and memory

Sider is a sidebar with many models and a large free base. The best alternatives are Monica for the same shape, Merlin for a daily free pool, Swirl for a memory-first workspace, ChatHub for side-by-side models, and TypingMind for bring-your-own-key.

· 5 min read

Sider is one of the better browser sidebars. It is cheap, it has many models, and it is always one click away. The thing it does not do is hold a project together across weeks. That is the gap the alternatives below fill.

Who should switch

  • You want one thread with memory instead of a sidebar per page.
  • You want the work to live somewhere, not only in a chat log.
  • You want a flat plan instead of a credit balance.
  • You want documents and artifacts next to the conversation.

1. Monica

Monica is the closest like-for-like swap. Same sidebar shape, similar free tier, slightly lower entry price. If the sidebar is the feature you want, this is the obvious comparison.

  • Price: $9.90 entry, $82.90 Ultra, around 40 free messages a day.
  • Best for: a sidebar on every tab.
  • Trade-off: utility, not a workspace.

2. Merlin

Merlin is the daily free pool. It gives 102 free queries a day and a browser extension, with a $29 monthly plan or $19 annual. Good if you want many small answers without a meter.

  • Price: free 102 queries a day, $29 monthly or $19 annual.
  • Best for: daily small tasks.
  • Trade-off: memory is an afterthought.

3. Swirl

Swirl is the workspace bet. Memory is the product, models can change inside one thread, and replies become editable documents and visualizations. It is not a sidebar, and that is the point.

  • Price: five free messages, then $15, $30, $60, or $100 a month.
  • Best for: work that spans weeks.
  • Trade-off: not a browser sidebar.

4. ChatHub

ChatHub is the comparison tool. Two models side by side, cheap to try. It is the right alternative if you mostly used Sider to compare answers.

  • Price: $19 monthly, $14.99 annual, $39 unlimited.
  • Best for: comparing two models.
  • Trade-off: a comparison toy, not a memory layer.

5. TypingMind

TypingMind is the bring-your-own-key workspace. Pay once, use your own API keys, keep the data local-first. More setup, more control, no subscription for the frontend.

  • Price: $39 one-time Standard, plus API costs.
  • Best for: developers and power users.
  • Trade-off: setup before the first message.

Sider is good at being there. If you want a product that remembers what you were doing, a sidebar is the wrong shape. That is the whole decision.

Questions

Is Sider cheaper than Monica?

Sider starts lower on the annual plan, around $8.30 a month billed yearly, and Monica starts at $9.90 monthly. Check the renewal price and the model limits before choosing on the entry price alone.

Does Sider have memory?

Sider keeps chat history and page context, but it is a sidebar first. Persistent, editable memory across projects is not its centre.

What is the best Sider alternative for long projects?

Swirl if you want memory across models. ChatGPT or Claude if you want one vendor. TypingMind if you want to bring your own API keys.

Keep reading

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TypingMind alternatives in 2026

TypingMind proved people will pay for a better AI frontend. Its catch is bring-your-own API keys. Here are the alternatives that remove the setup, and what each one costs.

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