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?
IntelliBar | RewriteBar | |
---|---|---|
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?
IntelliBar | RewriteBar | |
---|---|---|
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.
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
No credit card required
Monthly Plan
Use our AI Cloud service (3 million words)
$5
USD
- 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
Annual Plan
Use our AI Cloud service (3 million words)
$60
$40
USD
- 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
Pay as you go
One-time purchase. Use your own API key — no subscription, no recurring fees.
$29
USD
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions, Answered
- 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
- 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!