Stand-Up Writer is polished, cross-platform, and sitting on a deep library of how-to guides. Credit where it is due. Where Caligari pushes harder is the part most apps treat as a side feature: the AI and the analytics. Instead of a light punch-up helper and a hit-or-miss tag, Joke DNA transforms the whole bit into its working parts, and the Logbook turns a season of gigs into a pattern you can actually read.
Caligari vs Stand-Up Writer, side by side
| Feature | Caligari | Stand-Up Writer |
|---|---|---|
| AI feedback & Joke DNA | Deep structural analysis of the whole bit: premise, misdirection, energy, shape. | Punch-up helper: sharpen tags, find callbacks, brainstorm angles. |
| Performance analytics | The Logbook reads your history for rooms you own, streaks, and slumps (Working Comic and up). | Hit, bombed, or needs-work tagging. |
| Joke vault (tags, search, ratings) | Yes. The Cabinet, with search by meaning, not just exact words. | Yes. |
| Set builder with timing | Yes. The Green Room, with a live runtime and an energy curve. | Yes. |
| Show diary & set history | Yes. The Logbook, one entry per show. | Yes. |
| Pricing | Free, then $4, $8, or $16 a month. Public, in dollars. | Freemium. The paid price is not publicly listed. |
| Native iOS & Android apps | Web today, on any device. Native app on the roadmap. | iOS and Android. |
| Offline writing & sync | Online today, in the browser. | Offline, with cloud sync. |
Why comics switch
AI that is the main event, not a side tool
Caligari does not stop at sharpening a tag. Joke DNA transforms the whole bit: the premise, the structure, where the laugh is supposed to land, and what is standing in front of it. You get specific, usable reads instead of a generic rewrite.
Analytics that drive decisions
Did it hit is a start. The Logbook shows you which bits kill in which rooms, where a runner is cooling off, and how a version did the last eight times you ran it. You cut and keep on the evidence, not the hangover memory of Thursday.
It still sounds like you
The goal was never AI jokes. It is your jokes, tighter. Every read points back at your voice and your premise, so the bit that comes out the other side is still unmistakably yours.
Where Stand-Up Writer is strong
Real talk: Stand-Up Writer is mature, it runs on every device, it works on the subway with no signal, and it speaks 20-plus languages. If you want a proven app in your language on your phone today, it is a genuinely good home. Caligari is the bet that comedians want deeper feedback and sharper analytics on the core craft, and a native app is coming. That is the trade we are making on purpose.
Questions, answered
What is the best Stand-Up Writer alternative?
Caligari, if what you want is deeper AI feedback and real performance analytics. It covers the same vault, set, and show-diary basics, then goes further on Joke DNA and Logbook pattern analysis.
How is Caligari’s AI different from a punch-up tool?
A punch-up tool sharpens lines. Joke DNA transforms the whole bit into its structure, the premise, the misdirection, the energy and the shape, and shows you why it works or where it leaks. It does not write the joke for you.
Does Caligari work on mobile?
Yes, in the browser, on any phone or tablet today. A dedicated native app is on the roadmap. Stand-Up Writer has native iOS and Android now, so if an installed app is a hard requirement, that is a fair reason to wait for ours or run Caligari on the web in the meantime.
Can I import my jokes?
Yes. Paste a bit straight in, or bulk-import a larger block and Caligari helps you split and tag it. Email hello@caligari.lol with an export and we will help you move in.
Is there a free version?
Yes. Start free with no card: 25 bits, one set, and a basic Logbook. Paid plans run $4, $8, and $16 a month as your act grows.