COMPARISON
Interview Helpers vs LockedIn AI
LockedIn AI is a well-known cross-platform interview copilot. Interview Helpers is a Windows-first stealth overlay purpose-built for the live interview. This comparison lays out where each wins.
The short version: on Windows, Interview Helpers has deeper native stealth (invisible at the OS level to every capture pipeline), more AI models to switch between, and a dedicated System Design mode with rendered Mermaid diagrams. LockedIn AI has broader cross-platform support today. Pick based on which side matters more for you.
Interview Helpers wins 7 of 11 feature categories, LockedIn AI wins 1, the rest are a tie. Updated 2026-08-29.
| Feature | Interview Helpers | LockedIn AI |
|---|---|---|
| Windows-native stealth overlay | ✓Yes — WDA_EXCLUDEFROMCAPTURE at OS level | Cross-platform, less deep OS integration |
| Invisible to Zoom/Meet/Teams | ✓Yes, even entire-screen share | Depends on capture mode |
| Hotkey screenshot | Ctrl+1 → attach → stream (~2s first token) | Similar hotkey UX |
| Live speaker transcription | Deepgram Nova-3, ~200 ms interim | Included, streaming |
| Number of AI models | ✓4 (GPT-5.6 Terra/Sol + Claude Sonnet 5/Opus 5) | Fewer, bundled defaults |
| One-click model switching | ✓Yes — Settings → AI Model | Limited |
| Dedicated System Design mode | ✓Renders Mermaid SVG flowcharts + sequence + ER | Text-only design answers |
| Multi-screenshot batch send | ✓2s debounce → one synthesized answer | One at a time |
| BYO API key | ✓Yes — premium models on your bill | Subscription only |
| Cross-platform (macOS) | Windows first; macOS beta in progress | ✓Cross-platform shipped |
| Price (monthly) | $39 | Comparable range |
Which should you pick?
Pick Interview Helpers if you're on Windows
The native stealth is meaningfully better on Windows because we use the OS's own capture-exclusion API. Plus 4-way model switching, dedicated System Design mode with rendered Mermaid, and bring-your-own-API-key for premium models.
Pick LockedIn AI if you're on macOS today
LockedIn AI ships cross-platform. Our macOS beta is in progress but not general availability yet.
Frequently asked questions
Is Interview Helpers a good LockedIn AI alternative?
If your interviews are on Windows and you want the sharpest possible stealth (invisible to Zoom/Meet/Teams via a Windows-native capture-exclusion flag), plus multiple AI models to switch between and rendered Mermaid diagrams for system design, Interview Helpers is a strong alternative. LockedIn AI wins on cross-platform breadth today; Interview Helpers wins on depth of the Windows workflow.
How does the stealth compare?
Interview Helpers uses the OS-level WDA_EXCLUDEFROMCAPTURE flag on Windows 10 build 2004+, which makes the overlay invisible to every capture pipeline — Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, OBS, Snipping Tool. Cross-platform Electron-shell competitors typically rely on layered window tricks rather than the native flag.
Which is better for system design?
Interview Helpers has a dedicated System Design mode that returns four artifacts (Mermaid flowchart, sequence diagram, ER model, capacity math) in one answer, rendered inline as SVG. LockedIn AI does system design as text.
What about on macOS?
LockedIn AI has shipped cross-platform for longer. Interview Helpers is Windows-first with a macOS beta in progress. If you're on Mac today, the pragmatic workaround with either tool is to share a browser tab (not entire screen) and keep the AI helper in a separate Space.
Try Interview Helpers free
10 free messages + 5 minutes of speaker mode. No credit card. Windows 10 or later.