IntelliBar vs RewriteBar

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

Summary

IntelliBar is a native macOS app that provides access to multiple AI models (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and local models) through a single interface. It offers a command menu, response comparison, and prompt completions, with a one-time $29 license plus usage-based fees paid directly to model providers. RewriteBar lives in your menu bar, offering a command-palette UI for instant grammar/spelling fixes, tone shifts, summarization/expansion, and translation into 30 languages. RewriteBar is available via a $5/month ($40/year) subscription (using its own AI service) or a $29 one-time license where you supply your own API key from various providers.

Core Features

What are the core features of IntelliBar and RewriteBar?

IntelliBarRewriteBar
Integration
Spotlight-like interface with command menu (⌘K) for quick access
Works in any macOS app via a menu-bar command palette (Cmd+Shift+P)
PopClip Integration
No PopClip extension available
PopClip extension available for seamless text selection workflow
AI Models
Multiple models: GPT-4, Claude 3.5, Gemini, local models via Ollama
Subscription uses RewriteBar's backend (GPT-4.1 suite); one-time license lets you choose from 7 providers
Grammar & Style
Chat interface for text editing and tone adjustments
Grammar/spelling correction, tone adjustment via command menu
Summarize & Expand
Chat interface supports summarization and text expansion
Summarize or expand selections on-the-fly
Translation
Via chat interface (no preset language list)
Instant translation into 500+ languages and dialects
Response Comparison
Send same prompt to multiple models and compare responses side by side
Single model response at a time
Prompt Completions
Auto-completes prompts as you type
No built-in prompt completion
Local Storage
Chat history stored locally on device
API key in Keychain; direct-to-provider; no RewriteBar servers for one-time license
Privacy & Security
Direct connection to AI providers; no intermediaries; local model support
API key in Keychain; direct-to-provider; no RewriteBar servers for one-time license

Platform & Compatibility

IntelliBar

  • OS: macOS (specific version not mentioned)
  • Architecture: Intel & Apple Silicon
  • Works In: Spotlight-like interface; command menu

RewriteBar

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

Pricing & Licensing

How does IntelliBar compares with RewriteBar in terms of Pricing and License?

IntelliBarRewriteBar
Free Trial
Available for evaluation
Free trial: 100 requests (GPT-4o-mini)
One-Time License
$29 (reduced from $49); usage-based fees paid to model providers
$29 (lifetime; supply your own API key; choose provider/model)
Subscription
Not available
$5/month or $40/year
AI Service Costs
Pay model providers directly (GPT-4o: $0.50, Claude 3.5: $0.98, Gemini 2.0: $0.03)
Included in subscription; pay provider rates for one-time license

Strengths & Gaps

IntelliBar Strengths

  • Multiple AI model access from single interface
  • Response comparison across different models
  • Local model support via Ollama
  • Prompt completions and command menu
  • Direct connection to AI providers

IntelliBar Gaps

  • No built-in translation presets
  • Requires API keys for each model provider
  • Chat-based interface (not command-palette focused)
  • No built-in grammar/spelling correction presets

RewriteBar Strengths

  • Lightning-fast command-palette UI for in-line text fixes
  • Flexible pricing: subscription or one-time with any provider
  • Built-in translation into 500+ languages without extra setup
  • Specialized for text editing and formatting

RewriteBar Gaps

  • Single model response at a time
  • No response comparison feature
  • No prompt completion feature
  • Text-only (no multimodal support)

Which to Choose?

Choose IntelliBar if…

  • You want to compare responses from multiple AI models simultaneously.
  • You prefer a chat-based interface with prompt completions and command menu.
  • You want local model support and direct connection to AI providers.
  • You need a unified interface for accessing GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini.

Choose RewriteBar if…

  • You value an ultra-fast command-palette for quick grammar fixes, tone adjustments, summarization, and translation.
  • You prefer flexible pricing with options for a subscription (AI included) or a one-time purchase (bring your own API key).
  • Your workflow is primarily text-based and you want specialized text editing features.
  • You want straightforward translation into multiple languages without configuring models.
  • You prefer a focused tool for text editing rather than a general AI chat interface.

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

Pricing

Purchase a License

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

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.

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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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TypoTab

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MacCopilot

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Grammarly

See detailed comparison between Grammarly and RewriteBar

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 14 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!