Alter vs RewriteBar

Choosing the right AI-powered macOS assistant can be a game-changer. This comparison breaks down Alter and RewriteBar to help you decide which tool best fits your workflow.

Summary

Alter is a comprehensive native macOS AI assistant that embeds intelligent AI capabilities directly into the macOS environment, offering 80+ pre-configured actions, voice commands, meeting recordings, and context-aware AI integration. It's available for free with your own API keys or local models, with Pro plans at $240/year or $720 lifetime. RewriteBar is a lightweight menubar app focused on instant text transformation, offering grammar correction, tone adjustment, translation, and summarization through a command-palette interface. RewriteBar is available via a $5/month ($40/year) subscription or a $29 one-time license where you supply your own API key.

Core Features

What are the core features of Alter and RewriteBar?

AlterRewriteBar
Integration
Native macOS AI assistant with system-wide integration and context awareness
Lightweight menubar app with command-palette interface for text transformations
Voice Commands
Speech-to-text and dictation mode using Mac notch microphone
Text-only interface, no voice capabilities
Meeting Intelligence
Record meetings and generate smart summaries with searchable transcripts
No meeting recording capabilities
AI Models Hub
Access 50+ AI models with OpenAI compatible endpoint
Subscription uses RewriteBar's backend; one-time license supports 7 providers
System Integration
Work with files, folders, emails, and screenshots from Finder and Apple Mail
Text selection and transformation in any application
Smart Workspaces
Group and monitor collections of files and folders with automatic indexing
No workspace management features
YouTube Integration
Extract and summarize YouTube video transcripts automatically
Text-only transformations
Custom Actions
Create context-aware AI workflows and pin favorites for quick access
Define custom rewrite templates & keyboard shortcuts
Rich Content Creation
Create presentations, AI images, interactive charts, and diagrams
Text transformation and improvement only
Privacy & Security
Run locally with Ollama/LM Studio or use your own API keys
API key in Keychain; direct-to-provider; no RewriteBar servers for one-time license

Platform & Compatibility

Alter

  • OS: macOS 13+ (Ventura and later) - Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Architecture: Intel & Apple Silicon
  • Works In: System-wide integration across all macOS applications and services

RewriteBar

  • OS: macOS 13+ (Ventura and later)
  • Architecture: Intel & Apple Silicon
  • Works In: Any application with a text field

Pricing & Licensing

How does Alter compare with RewriteBar in terms of Pricing and License?

AlterRewriteBar
Free
Completely free with all features unlocked using your own API keys or local models
Free trial: 100 requests (GPT-4o-mini)
Monthly
Not available
$5/month
Annual
$240/year (Pro plan with unlimited access to 40+ AI models)
$40/year
One-Time License
$720 (Lifetime plan with unlimited access and future platform support)
$29 (lifetime; supply your own API key; choose provider/model)
Optional Extras
$29/year (Support Package), $149 (1-on-1 Session), $299 (Lifetime + 2 sessions)
No additional extras

Strengths & Gaps

Alter Strengths

  • Comprehensive system-wide AI integration with context awareness
  • Voice commands and dictation capabilities
  • Meeting recording and smart summarization
  • Access to 50+ AI models with extensive provider support
  • Rich content creation (presentations, images, charts, diagrams)
  • Smart workspaces for file and folder management
  • YouTube integration for automatic transcript summarization
  • Privacy-first design with local processing options
  • 80+ pre-configured actions with custom workflow creation
  • Free to use with your own API keys or local models

Alter Gaps

  • Higher pricing for Pro and Lifetime plans
  • More complex interface with extensive features
  • Requires macOS 13+ (Ventura and later)
  • Some features limited to Apple Silicon devices
  • No subscription option for monthly billing
  • Overwhelming feature set for simple text tasks

RewriteBar Strengths

  • Lightweight and focused on core text transformations
  • Simple command-palette interface for quick access
  • Lower cost options with flexible pricing
  • Easy setup with subscription option (no API key required)
  • Works seamlessly in any macOS application
  • Built-in translation into 30 languages
  • Minimal resource usage as menubar app
  • Straightforward text improvement without complexity

RewriteBar Gaps

  • No voice command capabilities
  • No meeting recording or summarization
  • No rich content creation features
  • Limited to text-only transformations
  • No workspace management
  • No YouTube integration
  • Fewer AI model options compared to Alter

Which to Choose?

Choose Alter if…

  • You need comprehensive AI assistance across your entire macOS workflow.
  • You want voice commands and dictation capabilities.
  • You frequently record and summarize meetings.
  • You need rich content creation (presentations, images, charts).
  • You work with multiple files and folders that need organization.
  • You want access to 50+ AI models with extensive customization.
  • You prefer a free option using your own API keys or local models.
  • You need YouTube transcript summarization and smart workspaces.

Choose RewriteBar if…

  • You prefer a lightweight, focused tool for quick text transformations.
  • You want a simple command-palette interface for instant access.
  • You prefer flexible pricing with both subscription and one-time options.
  • You want an easy setup without requiring your own API key.
  • You need built-in translation into 30 languages.
  • You value minimal resource usage and distraction-free interface.
  • You primarily work with text and don't need voice or meeting features.
  • You want a straightforward tool that focuses on core writing improvements.

Pricing

Start using RewriteBar

Trial

Try it for free

Free

  • Up to 100 requests
  • Access to our Cloud AI service
  • Includes 17 AI models
Start for free

No credit card required

Monthly Plan

Use our AI Cloud service (3 million words)

$5

USD

Monthly
  • Access our AI Cloud service (26 models)
  • Option to use your own AI provider API key
  • Choose from 12+ AI providers
  • Choose from 350+ AI models
  • Unlimited app updates
  • Use on unlimited devices

Billed monthly

Save 33%

Annual Plan

Use our AI Cloud service (3 million words)

$60

$40

USD

Annually
  • Access our AI Cloud service (26 models)
  • Option to use your own AI provider API key
  • Choose from 12+ AI providers
  • Choose from 350+ AI models
  • Unlimited requests (With API key)
  • Unlimited app updates
  • Use on unlimited devices

Billed annually

Use RewriteBar with an API Key

Requires an API key

Pay as you go

One-time purchase. Use your own API key — no subscription, no recurring fees.

$29

USD

OneTime

One time payment

  • Requires the use of your own AI provider API key
  • Choose from 12+ AI providers
  • Choose from 350+ AI models
  • Send request directly to AI provider
  • Option to use local models (e.g., Ollama)
  • Unlimited requests (With API key)
  • One-time payment
  • Licensed per device

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question? Contact me on Twitter or by email.

  • RewriteBar captures the currently selected text using the macOS clipboard and sends it to a language model for rewriting. The corrected version is then automatically pasted back, replacing the original text.

  • Yes. RewriteBar does not store or track any of your data. How your text is processed depends on the provider you choose:

    • RewriteBar (default): Your selected text is sent to the RewriteBar server, which forwards the request to a language model and returns the corrected version. We do not store your text or API key on our server.
    • Third-Party Providers (e.g. OpenAI, Mistral, Ollama): Your request is sent directly from your device to the provider’s API. RewriteBar never sees or processes your text.

    The app is built using native macOS tools and is just ~20 MB in size — lightweight and privacy-focused.

  • Yes! RewriteBar works with almost any application or website that supports text input.

    Here are some examples:

    • Google Chrome
    • Google Docs
    • Microsoft Word
    • Slack
    • WhatsApp
    • Emails
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Notion
    • Visual Studio Code
  • Yes! You can try RewriteBar for free with up to 100 corrections. After that, you can upgrade to a subscription or one-time license.
  • Yes, you can request a refund within 7 days of purchase. Just reach out via email.
  • RewriteBar has been tested with English and German, but it should work with any language supported by ChatGPT. If you encounter issues with a specific language, feel free to contact us.

  • After your purchase, you'll receive an email with:

    • A download link for the app
    • A license key to activate it
    • The license key also includes unlimited app updates.

    The license key also includes unlimited app updates.

  • There are no additional costs with the subscription plan. If you're using the one-time license, you’ll need to provide an OpenAI API key, which may incur charges based on your usage. For most users, around $1 per month is enough to get started.
  • You can cancel your subscription through the Subscription Portal.
    If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via email.
  • No, a ChatGPT Plus subscription is not required. The OpenAI API operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, so you only pay for what you use. Alternatively, you can use the RewriteBar AI Cloud (included in the subscription plan).
  • The app requires macOS accessibility permissions to retrieve the selected text and replace it with the corrected version. This enables RewriteBar to work with any application. No data is stored.
  • You can create an account on OpenAI and generate a new API key.
    Setup instructions are available in our help center
  • The one-time license requires an Provider API key (OpenAI or other) and may incur usage-based costs from the Provider. The subscription plan includes access to the RewriteBar AI Cloud and is ideal for users who don’t want to manage their own API key.
  • No, there is no Windows version. RewriteBar is built with native macOS tools and isn’t compatible with Windows. If you're on Windows, you can try this alternative:Grammarsen.
  • You can reach out any time by email. I’m happy to help!