MacCopilot vs RewriteBar
Choosing the right AI-powered macOS assistant can be a game-changer. This comparison breaks down MacCopilot and RewriteBar to help you decide which tool best fits your workflow.
Summary
MacCopilot is a native macOS copilot AI that allows you to select any area of your screen and chat with AI about it using OpenAI GPT-4o, ClaudeAI, Google Gemini, and more. It focuses on visual analysis and screen-based interactions, offering flexible screenshot captures and multi-platform AI model support. MacCopilot uses a subscription model ($14.99-$39.99/month) or one-time payment ($19.99). RewriteBar is a specialized text editing assistant that lives in your menu bar, offering a command-palette UI for instant grammar/spelling fixes, tone shifts, summarization/expansion, and translation into 500+ languages. RewriteBar is available via a $5/month ($40/year) subscription or a $29 one-time license where you supply your own API key from various providers.
Core Features
What are the core features of MacCopilot and RewriteBar?
| MacCopilot | RewriteBar | |
|---|---|---|
Primary Function | Visual screen analysis and AI chat about screen content | Text editing and writing assistance across applications |
Integration | Screen capture and selection with AI chat interface | Works in any macOS app via a menu-bar command palette (Cmd+Shift+P) |
AI Models | OpenAI GPT-4o, ClaudeAI 3.5 Sonnet, Google Gemini, Ollama, and more | Subscription uses RewriteBar's backend (GPT-4.1 suite); one-time license lets you choose from 11 providers |
Visual Analysis | Select any area of screen and get AI insights about it | Text-focused analysis and editing |
Text Editing | Not the primary focus - designed for screen content analysis | Grammar/spelling correction, tone adjustment, summarization, expansion |
Translation | Can translate text visible on screen | Instant translation into 500+ languages and dialects |
Screenshot Tools | Flexible screenshot captures with resizable selection areas | No built-in screenshot functionality |
Custom Actions | Not mentioned as a core feature | Create your own action with custom prompts for specialized workflows |
Keyboard Shortcuts | Hotkeys for capturing screenshots | Trigger command menu and navigate with keyboard (Arrow keys, Enter, etc.) |
Privacy & Security | Supports local Ollama models for privacy-focused users | API key in Keychain; direct-to-provider; no RewriteBar servers for one-time license |
Platform & Compatibility
MacCopilot
- OS: macOS
- Architecture: Intel & Apple Silicon
- Works In: Screen capture and AI chat interface
RewriteBar
- OS: macOS 13+ (Ventura and later)
- Architecture: Intel & Apple Silicon
- Works In: Any application with a text field
Pricing & Licensing
How does MacCopilot compares with RewriteBar in terms of Pricing and License?
| MacCopilot | RewriteBar | |
|---|---|---|
Free Trial | Not mentioned | Free trial: 100 requests (GPT-4o-mini) |
One-Time License | $19.99 (lifetime access) | $29 (lifetime; supply your own API key; choose provider/model) |
Basic Plan | $14.99/month (100 AI requests per day) | $5/month |
Premium Plan | $24.99/month (500 AI requests per day) | Not applicable - single subscription tier |
Professional Plan | $39.99/month (2000 AI requests per day) | Not applicable - single subscription tier |
Built-in Models | OpenAI GPT-4o, ClaudeAI 3.7 Sonnet included in subscription | Uses RewriteBar backend models in subscription |
Strengths & Gaps
MacCopilot Strengths
- Visual screen analysis and AI chat about screen content
- Flexible screenshot capture with resizable selection areas
- Multiple AI model support (OpenAI, ClaudeAI, Google Gemini, Ollama)
- Built-in models included in subscription plans
- Local Ollama support for privacy-focused users
- Hotkeys for quick screenshot capture
MacCopilot Gaps
- Not specialized for text editing and writing assistance
- No built-in grammar/spelling correction features
- No translation into multiple languages as a core feature
- No custom action creation for specialized workflows
- Subscription plans have daily request limits
RewriteBar Strengths
- Specialized for text editing and writing assistance
- Built-in translation into 500+ languages
- Grammar/spelling correction and tone adjustment
- Custom action creation for specialized workflows
- Flexible pricing: subscription or one-time with any provider
- Unlimited usage on subscription (3 million words)
RewriteBar Gaps
- No visual screen analysis capabilities
- No built-in screenshot functionality
- No local model support
- Text-focused only (no visual content analysis)
Which to Choose?
Choose MacCopilot if…
- You need to analyze visual content on your screen (images, charts, designs, code).
- You want to chat with AI about anything visible on your screen.
- You prefer a visual-first approach with screenshot capture and analysis.
- You need built-in AI models without managing API keys.
- You want local model support for privacy-focused usage.
Choose RewriteBar if…
- You primarily need text editing and writing assistance.
- You want grammar correction, tone adjustment, and translation features.
- You prefer a command palette interface for quick text actions.
- You want flexible pricing options including a one-time purchase.
- You need custom actions for specialized text workflows.
- You want unlimited usage without daily request limits.
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
Pricing
Purchase a License
Trial
Try it for free
Free
- Up to 100 requests
- Access to our Cloud AI service
- Includes 17 AI models
No credit card required
Monthly Plan
Use our AI Cloud service (3 million words)
$5
USD
- 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
Annual Plan
Use our AI Cloud service (3 million words)
$60
$40
USD
- 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
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 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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FixKey AI
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IntelliBar
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TypoTab
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Grammarly
See detailed comparison between Grammarly and RewriteBar
- 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
- 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!