Ask Frank alternative: when HireDov fits better (and when it doesn't)

Ask Frank and HireDov are both AI sourcing agents that find suppliers, write to them and chase replies. The big difference is focus: Ask Frank is built for footwear and apparel, HireDov works across any B2B category. Here is an honest comparison.

By the HireDov teamUpdated Oct 18, 20264 min read

What Ask Frank is

Ask Frank (askfrank.com) is an AI research assistant for footwear and apparel sourcing. You email [email protected] in your own words; Frank checks its network of over a million Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, writes to the ones that fit, chases missing information and replies with a sourced answer. It also offers executive briefings (tariffs, regulation) and a private deployment on your own approved suppliers.

Its knowledge is deep in its niche: footwear, apparel, leather, textiles, denim, trims and components, plus standards such as LWG, GRS, GOTS and OEKO-TEX and regulations like EUDR and UFLPA. Pricing is public: a free plan with 20 requests a month, then paid plans from €39/month (60 requests) to €599/month (1,200 requests), or one-off request packs.

What HireDov is

HireDov gives you an AI sourcing agent, Dov, for any B2B purchase: components, materials, equipment, private label products, industrial supplies or services. You describe what you need once, and Dov runs a full sourcing mission:

Finds qualified suppliers anywhere, often around 50 per request, and shows you the list before anything is sent
Writes a tailored RFQ to each one, in the supplier's language
Follows up on the silent ones for 72 hours
Puts every quote side by side in one dashboard: price, lead time, MOQ, terms
Can negotiate with the shortlist once you've picked a direction

Side-by-side

	Ask Frank	HireDov
Focus	Footwear & apparel (and their materials, trims, components)	Any B2B product or service
How you use it	Email a question to Frank	Describe the need on hiredov.com, follow the mission in a dashboard
Supplier source	Its own network of 1M+ known suppliers	Suppliers found across the open web for each request, plus any list you upload
Output	A sourced answer per request (shortlist, check, analysis)	An RFQ campaign: replies, quotes compared side by side, optional negotiation
Compliance & standards	Strong: certificates, LWG/GRS/GOTS, EUDR, UFLPA	Asked as part of the RFQ when you need them
Pricing	Free (20 requests/month), then €39–€599/month	Pro $299/mo or Business $799/mo

When Ask Frank is the better fit

You source footwear, apparel or textiles and want a specialist that already knows the brands and factories
Your questions are about certificates, traceability or regulation as much as price
You want many small research answers by email rather than full RFQ campaigns

When HireDov is the better fit

You buy outside fashion: parts, materials, equipment, packaging, services, rentals
You need real quotes from many suppliers at once, not just names
You want every reply tracked and compared in one place, with follow-ups handled for you

Using both

If you run a fashion brand, Frank can map and vet your specialist supply base, while Dov runs the RFQs for everything else you buy: packaging, displays, logistics, equipment or services.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ask Frank free?

Ask Frank has a free plan with 20 requests a month for one user. Paid plans start at €39 a month for 60 requests, and request packs are available without a subscription.

Does HireDov work for fashion and apparel?

Yes, Dov can source apparel, footwear and textiles like any other product. A fashion specialist such as Ask Frank will know more about certifications and the brands each factory supplies.

What does HireDov cost?

Pro is $299 a month and Business $799 a month.

Can I upload my own supplier list to HireDov?

Yes. Upload a .csv or .xlsx and Dov will contact those suppliers alongside the ones he finds.

Put Dov on it

Describe what you need. Dov finds the suppliers, sends the RFQs, and compares the quotes. Plans from $299/mo, cancel anytime.

Hire Dov free