GhostDesk vs Cluely (2026): An Honest Comparison

If you're looking for an AI tool that stays invisible during screen sharing, you've probably come across both GhostDesk and Cluely. They solve a similar problem but use fundamentally different technical approaches — and that difference matters more than any feature list.

This comparison covers what each tool actually does, how the invisibility mechanism works under the hood, and which one makes sense depending on your workflow.

The Core Technical Difference

This is the most important thing to understand before comparing features.

Cluely is a browser-based product. Its capture exclusion works within the browser environment — which means it's limited to contexts where you're working inside a browser window.

GhostDesk is a native Windows application that calls SetWindowDisplayAffinity directly — a Windows OS API that tells the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) to exclude a specific window from all capture pipelines. The window is absent from the capture buffer, not just visually hidden. This works above any Windows application: your IDE, terminal, Excel, anything.

This distinction is not marketing language. It's a real architectural difference with practical consequences:

• If you work primarily in a browser, Cluely may be sufficient
• If you work in VS Code, a terminal, Figma, or any non-browser app — GhostDesk is the only option that works

Where GhostDesk Wins

Works above any Windows app. If you code in VS Code, use JetBrains IDEs, work in a terminal, or spend time in any non-browser application — GhostDesk is the only option that stays invisible. The OS-level capture exclusion doesn't care what app is underneath it.

Voice input and OCR. Being able to speak your question and having the AI read your screen context without copying and pasting is a genuine workflow improvement that Cluely doesn't match on Windows.

DeepSeek R1 for reasoning. Hard technical problems — algorithm design, debugging complex systems, architecture decisions — benefit from a model that actually shows its reasoning chain. GhostDesk routes these to R1 automatically.

$5 24-hour pass. For high-stakes single days (a big demo, a system design review, a coding marathon), the 24-hour pass is the lowest-friction entry point of any tool in this category.

Where Cluely Wins

macOS support. GhostDesk is Windows-only. If you're on a Mac, Cluely is the only option.

Cross-platform consistency. If your work spans multiple operating systems and you want one tool everywhere, a browser-based approach has advantages.

More established. Cluely has been in the market longer and has more public user feedback available.

Verdict

For Windows developers working in native applications (IDE, terminal, etc.), GhostDesk is the stronger choice — the OS-level capture exclusion is technically superior and the voice + OCR features are genuinely useful in daily development work.

For Mac users, or users who work exclusively in-browser, Cluely remains a viable option since GhostDesk doesn't support macOS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GhostDesk work with VS Code?

Yes. GhostDesk floats above any Windows application including VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cursor, and any other editor.

Is GhostDesk actually invisible on Zoom?

Yes. Verified daily. The overlay is excluded at the DWM level — Zoom's screen capture never receives the pixels.

Can I switch between GhostDesk and Cluely?

They serve different platforms. GhostDesk is Windows-native; Cluely is browser-based. If you're on Windows, you're comparing two different mechanisms for the same outcome.

What happens after the 3-day trial?

You can choose any paid plan. The $5 24-hour pass is available if you only need it occasionally.