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)
PopClip Integration
No PopClip extension available
PopClip extension available for seamless text selection workflow
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 500+ languages and dialects
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 500+ 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.

Ready to Experience the Difference?

Download RewriteBar today and see why our users love RewriteBar over the competition. Start your free trial with no credit card required.

Download RewriteBar FreeRequest Free License

No credit card required • 100 free executions • Cancel anytime

Purchase a License

Trial

Try it for free

Free

  • Up to 100 requests
  • Access to our Cloud AI service
  • Includes 31 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 (39 models)
  • Option to use your own AI provider API key
  • Choose from 14+ AI providers
  • Choose from 500+ 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 (39 models)
  • Option to use your own AI provider API key
  • Choose from 14+ AI providers
  • Choose from 500+ 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 14+ AI providers
  • Choose from 500+ 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

How does RewriteBar compare to other AI Writing Tools?

We compared RewriteBar to other popular AI writing assistants to help you find the best tool for your needs.

Kerlig AI

See detailed comparison between Kerlig AI and RewriteBar

BoltAI

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TextWisely

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WriterBrew

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Alter

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FixKey AI

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FridayGPT

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Steer

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IntelliBar

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TypoTab

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MacCopilot

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Grammarly

See detailed comparison between Grammarly and RewriteBar

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions, Answered

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. It runs quietly in the background so you can stay focused and keep your writing flow.

    Examples include:

    • 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. When you’re ready to continue, you can choose a subscription or a one-time license, whichever suits you best.
  • Yes, you can request a refund within 14 days of purchase. Just reach out via email.

  • RewriteBar App Interface is translated into 12 languages.

    The translation action supports over 500 languages. However, language Support also depends on the selected model. Cloud models like GPT-5 are advanced and support most languages, while smaller local models can only support a limited number of languages.

    If you encounter issues with a specific language, feel free to contact us.

  • RewriteBar (once purchased) and local models do not incur additional costs. Additional charges apply only when using cloud AI providers via the BYOK (bring your own API key) option. In that case, you pay your chosen provider directly.
  • You can cancel your subscription through the Subscription Portal.
    If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via email.
  • No. Subscriptions like ChatGPT Plus/Pro or Claude Pro apply to their chat applications. API access is billed separately by each provider on a pay-as-you-go basis and is not included in those subscriptions. You can use your own API key (BYOK) and pay the provider directly, or use the RewriteBar AI Cloud (included in the RewriteBar subscription).
  • RewriteBar requests macOS Accessibility permissions so it can function as designed. This allows the app to read your currently selected text and replace it with the improved result, so it works seamlessly in your favorite apps. We do not store your data.
  • You can create an API key with any supported provider below:Setup instructions are available in our help center

  • One-Time License: Includes all RewriteBar features but requires you to set up your own API accounts with AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.). You pay the providers directly for usage.

    Subscription: Includes all features from the one-time license plus RewriteBar Cloud access and priority support. No need to set up API accounts—you can access the same AI models through our cloud service. You can still use your own API key (BYOK) or local models at any time.

  • No. There is no Windows version, and none is planned. RewriteBar is purpose‑built and optimized for macOS. We may explore a Chrome extension in the future.
  • You can reach out any time by email. I’m happy to help!