Toby
One AI coworker for the whole workspace, inside Slack or Microsoft Teams.
- Not tied to one model lab
- Starter US$25 a month for the workspace
- Hosted in Australia
Grok Bot alternative
Toby vs Grok Bot: an AI coworker with no lock-in
Toby is a Grok Bot alternative built for teams in Slack or Microsoft Teams. You get one AI coworker on one workspace plan, not tied to a single model lab, and hosted in Australia.
Start with 2,000 free credits, no card needed. US$25 a month after that.
xAI's description: "AI teammates you can give real work to." [2]
Toby vs Grok Bot: what each one does for your team
Grok Bot is xAI's team of always-on agents. Each Bot works on a cloud computer of its own, signs in to the apps and websites you use, and checks back when something needs your approval [1]. People message their Bots from the desktop app (macOS or Windows) or the iOS app [2], and a published Team Bot can also reply in Slack threads [5]. Bots run routines on a schedule and hand work to each other [2][3].
Grok Bot launched in beta in August 2026 [1]. xAI's page now says it is generally available for Enterprise and for teams on Cursor and Grok plans [2].
Toby sits in Slack and Microsoft Teams as an AI coworker for the whole team. Someone asks in a channel, in everyday language, and Toby splits the job into steps, carries them out in connected tools such as Xero, HubSpot, Gmail or Deputy, and replies in the thread with the finished work.
The two differ in where the team talks to them, how you pay, the models behind them and where your data is hosted.
Why teams pick Toby as a Grok Bot alternative
Day to day, much of the work overlaps. Here is where they part.
01
No vendor or model lock-in
You get Grok Bot through a Grok or Cursor subscription. On xAI's Grok Bot page, the SuperGrok Plus plan lists Grok 4.7 as its model [2]. Toby is not tied to one model lab. Toby can run on frontier open models, which cost a fraction of what closed model labs charge. A price rise at one vendor, or a model that falls behind others, doesn't lock your team in.
Jobs Toby finishes in the thread, next to Grok Bot
A teammate asks in the channel and the finished work comes back in the same thread.
Morning brief
A short read at 7:30 covering what is on today and anything that moved overnight.
Invoice chasing
Toby works out who is late, sends the follow-ups, and tells you which accounts it left alone.
Meeting prep
Before a call, Toby writes up the account so you are not reading the CRM in the car park.
Inbox triage
It sorts whatever came in overnight and drafts the replies you would have written anyway.
Grok Bot review checklist: how Toby compares
The facts a Grok Bot review would check, next to Toby's.
| What matters | Toby | Grok Bot |
|---|---|---|
| Where you work with it | Built for Slack and Microsoft Teams | |
| Model | Not tied to one model lab | |
| Price to start | Starter at US$25 a month for the whole workspace, after 2,000 free credits given once (no card) | |
| Setup | About two minutes from install to the first request | |
| Connected tools | More than 3,000 over MCP, each approved by name before use | |
| Oversight | You approve or reject each send or write first | |
| Scheduled work | Repeats a job at the times you set | |
| Hosting | Hosted in Australia |
Trying Toby alongside Grok Bot
Keep Grok Bot for the work it already does. Give Toby one job in a channel of its own.
1
Add Toby to Slack or Teams
Install takes about two minutes. You choose which channels Toby can read, and private channels and teammates' DMs are never included.
2
Connect what the job needs
Pick the tools for that job from 3,000+ available over MCP: Xero, Gmail, HubSpot and the rest. None is used until you approve it by name.
3
Ask once, then put it on a schedule
Mention @Toby with a job that keeps landing on someone's desk. Once the result in the thread looks right, tell Toby when to run it again.
Which fits your team: Toby or Grok Bot
Choose Toby when
- Your people spend the day in Microsoft Teams or Slack, and that is where the AI coworker should be.
- You want one plan for the workspace that isn't tied to one model lab.
- You'd rather it were hosted in Australia, with hands-on help connecting tools and setting up the first jobs.
Choose Grok Bot when
Is Toby an alternative to Grok Bot on Slack?
Yes. Grok Bot is used mainly in its own desktop and iOS apps [2], and a published Team Bot can also answer in Slack threads [5]. Toby is built for Slack and Microsoft Teams, and works in whichever channels you invite it to. The whole workspace shares one plan, starting at US$25 a month on Starter. Toby isn't tied to one model lab and is hosted in Australia.
What kind of work can Toby take on?
Most jobs that end in a business tool. Ask in a Slack or Teams channel and Toby plans the steps, carries them out in the tools you've connected and replies in the thread with the result. Common examples are chasing overdue invoices in Xero, briefing someone before a client call and pulling together weekly numbers. Set a schedule and it repeats the job without a reminder.
How long does Toby take to set up?
Around two minutes. Add Toby to Slack or Microsoft Teams, decide which channels it may read, connect what the first job needs and ask for it. Onboarding help comes with every plan, from connecting tools to setting up those first jobs. Grok Bot starts with downloading its app and signing in with an eligible plan, and setup creates your first Bot [2][5]. To see Toby first, book a demo.
What is Grok Bot pricing, and how much does Toby cost?
Toby can run on frontier open models, which cost a fraction of what closed model labs charge. It starts with 2,000 free credits, given once. Then Starter costs US$25 a month for 20,000 credits and Plus US$50 a month for 40,000, for the whole workspace (details on Toby's pricing page). Grok Bot is included with eligible Grok and Cursor plans [2], and team plans are priced per seat [2][4]. Plans include weekly Grok Bot usage, extra usage is billed on token cost, and Enterprise pricing is through sales [2]. The two count usage differently, so a like-for-like price would mislead.
Which tools does Toby connect to?
Toby connects to 3,000+ tools over MCP. Gmail, Outlook, Google Drive, Notion, Xero, HubSpot, Salesforce, Deputy and Jira are common first picks. Each connection needs your approval by name, and the dashboard lets you remove a tool at any time. Grok Bot uses the same MCP servers, plugins and skills as Cursor, and a Bot can also sign in to websites itself [1][3].
Can we use Toby alongside Grok Bot?
Yes. Grok Bot works from its own apps and its own cloud computer [2]. Toby works only in the Slack or Teams channels someone invites it to, and it never reads private channels or direct messages between teammates. A simple start is one shared job, such as a weekly report, in a channel of its own.
Where is Toby hosted?
In Australia. Toby's access is limited to the Slack or Teams channels you invite it into, and the dashboard can switch off a channel, a tool or Toby itself at any time. Grok Bot's pages don't name a hosting region [2], so your data may be hosted offshore. xAI's pricing page lists data residency as an Enterprise option [4].
Sources
- xAI: Introducing Grok Bot, accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Grok Bot: product page, plans and FAQ, accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Grok Bot Guides: Grok Bot 101, accessed 15 Oct 2026
- xAI pricing: compare plans, accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Grok Bot changelog, accessed 15 Oct 2026
Hand Toby one job your team hasn't got to yet.
Invite Toby into one Slack or Teams channel, approve a single tool and see what it posts back.
Start with 2,000 free credits, no card needed. US$25 a month after that.