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 500+ 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?
Steer | RewriteBar | |
---|---|---|
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) |
PopClip Integration | No PopClip extension available | PopClip extension available for seamless text selection workflow |
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?
Steer | RewriteBar | |
---|---|---|
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 500+ 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.
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 19 AI models
No credit card required
Monthly Plan
Use our AI Cloud service (3 million words)
$5
USD
- Access our AI Cloud service (29 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 (29 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.
Kerlig AI
See detailed comparison between Kerlig AI and RewriteBar
BoltAI
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Elephas
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TextWisely
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WriterBrew
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Alter
See detailed comparison between Alter and RewriteBar
FixKey AI
See detailed comparison between FixKey AI and RewriteBar
FridayGPT
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IntelliBar
See detailed comparison between IntelliBar and RewriteBar
TypoTab
See detailed comparison between TypoTab and RewriteBar
MacCopilot
See detailed comparison between MacCopilot and RewriteBar
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!