Lantern vs HeyClicky

Two screen-side helpers. Find the workflow that feels right to you.

Checked 2026-10-29 · 4 official sources · Read the sources

HeyClicky, previously known as Clicky, is a close comparison for Lantern. Both put a friendly assistant on the computer, accept questions about the visible screen, offer guidance and can hand tasks to agents. Both also offer Mac and Windows versions, with Lantern’s Windows release described as a preview. The useful question is which daily interaction and surrounding workflow you prefer. Lantern additionally documents a companion experience for following supported coding agents; HeyClicky emphasizes conversation, dictation, screen teaching and agent messages.

Choose Lantern if

You want everyday help plus an inbox for supported coding agents.
You want to hand follow-ups to supported agents already working on a project.
You want to connect the small helper to October’s wider agent workspace and services.

Choose HeyClicky if

You prefer HeyClicky’s voice-first buddy and screen-teaching experience.
You want conversation, dictation and agent tasks grouped in its own interface.
You have tried its real workflows and prefer the way it guides or performs the job.

At a glance

Side by side.

Lantern and HeyClicky: differences that matter
What matters	Lantern	HeyClicky
Identity	October Lantern, an on-screen helper from October.	HeyClicky, the current product at heyclicky.com. [1]
Screen questions	Point at an item or ask with screen context.	Use the hotkey to ask about what is visible on screen. [1]
Guided learning	Show me circles or points out the next step.	The product documents drawing on screen and teaching an app workflow. [1]
Doing a job	Hand the request to a helper and follow its result.	Invoke an agent to carry out a requested task. [1]
Voice	Dictate questions or replies; speech is processed on the computer where supported.	Talk and dictation are prominent parts of the interaction. [1]
Coding agents	A documented inbox and reply workflow for supported coding sessions.	The public page emphasizes the buddy’s own talk and agent experience. [1]
Desktop availability	Mac and Windows preview.	Mac and Windows versions are offered on the current website. [1]

Try the same task in both products

This is a comparison where a real side-by-side trial is more valuable than a long list of checkmarks. Open an unfamiliar application, ask the same question and compare how each assistant explains the next step. Then try a modest job that you can inspect easily. Both products advertise screen understanding and guidance, so Lantern’s case should rest on the experience you prefer and the additional workflows you need, not an invented exclusive capability.

The surrounding work can decide the choice

HeyClicky groups talk, dictation and agent messages around its buddy experience. Lantern also has a distinct coding-agent companion surface, with supported sessions, their questions and reply routing. That can matter when a developer wants an everyday assistant beside several existing agents. If your main need is conversational help with an application, the clarity of the guidance and the interface may matter more. Review current plan terms directly because conversation and agent usage are accounted for differently.

A few practical questions.

Is Clicky the same product as HeyClicky?

This page uses HeyClicky for the current official app at heyclicky.com. The older Clicky name is included so people looking for that product can find the comparison. Current downloads and plan terms should come from the official HeyClicky website.

Can both draw guidance on the screen?

Both products describe visual guidance on screen. Lantern calls its workflow Show me; HeyClicky describes teaching tools and drawing to point the way. Try the specific application you care about to compare the clarity of the real interaction.

Does one work on Windows while the other does not?

Both currently offer Windows versions. Lantern labels Windows as a preview, so it is important to compare the exact released features and integration behavior on your own platform rather than assume every Mac capability is identical.

Sources & review

Checked against the official pages below on 2026-10-29. Features, availability, and plans can change. Lantern information: product overview and current plans. Suggest a correction.

Product names and logos belong to their respective owners. Their inclusion identifies the products being compared.