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Atua vs MacGPT

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors.

The short answer

Cheaper
MacGPT — free to use, vs $29 once for Atua
Free plan
Only MacGPT (Atua has paid plans only)
Higher Trust score
Atua — 88 vs 81 for MacGPT
Best fit
Atua: Mac users who already hold API keys and resent subscriptions · MacGPT: Mac users who want a hotkey to ChatGPT and nothing more
Platforms
Atua: macOS · MacGPT: macOS, iOS

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

AtuamacOS utility that calls your own AI keys from any app via a hotkey — one $29 lifetime licenseMacGPTMenu bar and global-hotkey access to ChatGPT on macOS, using the web session or your own OpenAI key.

Side by side

FactAtuaMacGPT
CategoryDesktop & OS AssistantsDesktop & OS Assistants
Pricing modelPaidFree
Starts at$29 once—
Trust score88 / 10081 / 100
PlatformsmacOSmacOS, iOS
CompanyDevLab Systems LLCGood Snooze
Launched—2023
Last verifiedOct 15, 2026Oct 16, 2026

What our research says

Atua

A cheap, subscription-free way to put AI behind a hotkey across macOS, and BYOK plus Ollama support means it also works with local models and keeps your data path under your control. You carry the setup burden: no keys, no product.

Pros

  • $29 once undercuts most AI-utility subscriptions within months, with free updates promised
  • Works system-wide rather than in a separate chat window
  • Supports 18+ providers plus any OpenAI-compatible endpoint
  • Local-model support avoids sending text to the cloud

Cons

  • No trial build - the 7-day refund is the only escape hatch
  • BYOK setup is a hurdle for non-technical buyers
  • Mac only

MacGPT

The cheapest way to stop alt-tabbing to a browser tab: a hotkey, a menu bar icon, and an inline mode that answers inside the text field you are already in. It costs nothing and you bring your own OpenAI key. It is also a 2023 indie utility that has since been renamed on Gumroad, so treat it as a working tool rather than a supported product.

Pros

  • Menu bar, global hotkey and inline text-field modes
  • Works either through the ChatGPT web session or your own OpenAI API key
  • Listed at zero cost on Gumroad, so no subscription of its own
  • Free iOS companion app, GeePeeTee
  • Named indie developer with a public press kit and privacy policy

Cons

  • Site copyright still reads 2023 and shows no sign of active development
  • The Gumroad product has been renamed MenuGPT, so branding no longer matches the site
  • API mode means you pay OpenAI separately for every token
  • No support commitment of any kind

Which one fits

Choose Atua if you need

  • Mac users who already hold API keys and resent subscriptions
  • Privacy-minded people running Ollama or LM Studio locally
  • Writers and developers doing quick in-place text transformations

Choose MacGPT if you need

  • Mac users who want a hotkey to ChatGPT and nothing more
  • People who already pay OpenAI and want a thin client
  • Anyone avoiding another monthly subscription

Atua vs MacGPT: the questions people ask

Is Atua cheaper than MacGPT?

MacGPT is free to use; Atua starts at $29 once.

Does Atua or MacGPT have a free tier?

MacGPT is free to use; Atua has paid plans only.

More comparisons

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