Elephas vs RewriteBar

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

Summary

Elephas is a comprehensive AI-powered knowledge assistant that transforms your documents into a searchable brain, offering features like document chat, meeting searchability, and a Super Brain for personal CRM. It's available as a native macOS app with iOS compatibility, priced at $9/month or $99/year. 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 Elephas and RewriteBar?

ElephasRewriteBar
Integration
Native macOS app with iOS compatibility; document-based workflow
Lightweight menubar app with command-palette interface (Cmd+Shift+P)
Document Management
Upload and chat with documents, create searchable knowledge base
Text-only transformations; no document management
Grammar & Style
Smart rewrite modes including professional and viral styles
Grammar/spelling correction, tone adjustment via command menu
Translation
Built-in translation capabilities
Instant translation into 30 languages
AI Providers
Multiple AI providers for variety of writing styles
Subscription uses RewriteBar's backend; one-time license supports 7 providers
Super Brain Feature
Store research and create personal AI CRM
No knowledge base features
Web Search
Built-in web search feature
Text-only transformations
Content Repurposing
Repurpose content across different formats
Focus on text transformation and improvement
Privacy & Security
Local processing with offline capabilities
API key in Keychain; direct-to-provider; no RewriteBar servers for one-time license

Platform & Compatibility

Elephas

  • OS: macOS 12+ (Monterey and later) + iOS
  • Architecture: Intel & Apple Silicon
  • Works In: Native app interface; document upload and chat

RewriteBar

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

Pricing & Licensing

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

ElephasRewriteBar
Free
Limited free trial available
Free trial: 100 requests (GPT-4o-mini)
Monthly
$9/month
$5/month
Annual
$99/year
$40/year
One-Time (API Key)
Not available
$29 (lifetime; supply your own API key; choose provider/model)
Team / Multi-Seat
Contact for pricing
Contact for pricing

Strengths & Gaps

Elephas Strengths

  • Comprehensive document management and searchable knowledge base
  • Super Brain feature for personal AI CRM
  • Multiple AI providers for writing style variety
  • Built-in web search capabilities
  • Content repurposing across formats
  • iOS compatibility for mobile workflow

Elephas Gaps

  • Higher pricing compared to RewriteBar
  • No one-time license option
  • Requires document upload workflow
  • More complex interface for simple text tasks

RewriteBar Strengths

  • Ultra-fast command-palette for instant text transformations
  • Lower pricing with flexible subscription/one-time options
  • Lightweight and focused on text improvement
  • Works seamlessly in any macOS application
  • Built-in translation into 30 languages
  • Simple, distraction-free interface

RewriteBar Gaps

  • Text-only (no document management or knowledge base)
  • No iOS compatibility
  • No built-in web search
  • Limited to text transformation workflows

Which to Choose?

Choose Elephas if…

  • You need comprehensive document management and a searchable knowledge base.
  • You want to create a personal AI CRM with the Super Brain feature.
  • You work with multiple document formats and need content repurposing.
  • You value iOS compatibility for mobile workflow.
  • You prefer a full-featured AI assistant with multiple providers.

Choose RewriteBar if…

  • You want lightning-fast text transformations without leaving your current application.
  • You prefer a lightweight, focused tool for grammar, tone, and translation.
  • You value flexible pricing with both subscription and one-time options.
  • Your workflow is primarily text-based and you don't need document management.
  • You want a simple, distraction-free interface for quick writing improvements.
  • You need built-in translation into multiple languages without extra setup.

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!