Steer vs RewriteBar

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

Summary

Steer is a native AI-powered writing assistant for macOS and Windows with lightning-fast shortcuts across applications. It offers a comprehensive writing suite with professional-grade features for content creators and writers. 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 Steer and RewriteBar?

SteerRewriteBar
Platform
Native macOS and Windows app
macOS only - menubar command-palette
Integration
Lightning-fast shortcuts across applications
Works in any macOS app via a menu-bar command palette (Cmd+Shift+P)
Speed
Lightning-fast shortcuts for instant results
Select text → Choose action → Transform
Writing Tools
Comprehensive writing suite with AI assistance
Grammar correction, style changes, translation
Cross-Platform
macOS and Windows support
macOS only
Pricing Model
Lifetime license ($99)
Subscription or one-time $29 license
Workflow
Professional writing assistant
Simple menubar interface
Learning Curve
Intuitive interface with shortcuts
Minimal setup required
Target Users
Professional writers and content creators
Quick text transformations
Feature Focus
Complete writing workflow
Focused text transformation

Platform & Compatibility

Steer

  • OS: macOS and Windows
  • Architecture: Intel & Apple Silicon
  • Works In: Any application with lightning-fast shortcuts

RewriteBar

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

Pricing & Licensing

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

SteerRewriteBar
Free
No free trial available
Free trial: 100 requests (GPT-4o-mini)
One-Time (API Key)
$99 lifetime license
$29 (lifetime; supply your own API key; choose provider/model)
Subscription
Not available
$5/month or $40/year
Team / Multi-Seat
Contact for pricing
Contact for pricing

Strengths & Gaps

Steer Strengths

  • Lightning-fast shortcuts across applications
  • Cross-platform support (macOS and Windows)
  • Comprehensive writing suite with professional features
  • Works in any application

Steer Gaps

  • Higher price point ($99 lifetime)
  • More complex feature set may be overwhelming for simple tasks
  • Requires more setup and configuration
  • No free trial available

RewriteBar Strengths

  • Simple, focused interface for quick text transformations
  • Flexible pricing: subscription or one-time with any provider
  • Lightweight and fast with minimal setup
  • Built-in translation into 30 languages

RewriteBar Gaps

  • Limited feature set compared to professional writing tools
  • macOS only - no cross-platform support
  • Manual text selection required
  • No advanced writing workflow features

Which to Choose?

Choose Steer if…

  • You need lightning-fast shortcuts for writing across multiple applications.
  • You want cross-platform support (macOS and Windows).
  • You prefer a professional writing assistant with comprehensive features.
  • You work across many applications and need professional-grade tools.

Choose RewriteBar if…

  • You want a simple, focused tool for quick text transformations.
  • You prefer a lightweight menubar app with minimal setup.
  • You primarily need grammar correction and style improvements.
  • You want flexible pricing with subscription or one-time options.
  • You prefer a straightforward interface without overwhelming features.

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!