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BoltAI vs FridayGPT

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. FridayGPT publishes a starting price ($39); BoltAI does not.

BoltAINative Mac client for 300+ models on your own keysFridayGPTMac menu-bar app for ChatGPT, voice-to-text, and quick AI actions using your own API keys, sold as a one-time purchase.

Side by side

FactBoltAIFridayGPT
CategoryMulti-model Chat AggregatorsDesktop & OS Assistants
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starts at—$39 one_time
Public APINoNo
PlatformsmacOS, iOSmacOS
Company—Zeitalabs
Launched2023—
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 1, 2026

What our research says

BoltAI

The best-value option for heavy Mac users who already hold API keys and resent paying a third $20 monthly subscription. If you do not want to manage keys and top up provider credit, an ordinary chat subscription is less friction.

Pros

  • One-time $79 licence instead of an open-ended subscription
  • Own-key model means you pay provider rates with no markup
  • Local chat storage with optional passphrase encryption
  • MCP server support and custom agents built in

Cons

  • Licence covers only one year of updates, then you renew or freeze
  • Provider API usage is billed separately on top of the licence
  • Windows is advertised on the pricing page but still marked coming soon
  • Mobile app is beta and single-maintainer development is a real continuity risk

FridayGPT

FridayGPT is a lightweight, one-time-purchase alternative to running ChatGPT in a browser tab, aimed at Mac users who already have API keys for one or more AI providers. Like similar bring-your-own-key Mac utilities, its usefulness depends entirely on already paying separately for the underlying model access.

Pros

  • Quick menu-bar access to chat, voice-to-text, and preset AI actions without a browser
  • Supports multiple cloud providers plus local Ollama models
  • One-time purchase rather than a recurring app subscription

Cons

  • Requires the user's own API keys — no bundled AI access
  • No confirmed company headquarters location
  • Governing-law clause on the site's own terms page is incomplete, a sign of a very small operation

Which one fits

Choose BoltAI if you need

  • Developers and power users with existing OpenAI or Anthropic keys
  • Getting AI inline in any Mac app via a global keyboard shortcut
  • Privacy-conscious users who want chat history stored locally

Choose FridayGPT if you need

  • Mac users who already hold API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, or Together AI
  • Anyone wanting voice-to-text and quick AI actions from the menu bar instead of a browser tab
  • Users preferring a one-time purchase over a monthly AI chat subscription

More comparisons

Browse all Multi-model Chat Aggregators →