Skip to content
effecthub

BoltAI vs Iris Fun

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
Iris Fun — free to use, vs $79 once for BoltAI
Free plan
Only Iris Fun (BoltAI has paid plans only)
Higher Trust score
BoltAI — 85 vs 78 for Iris Fun
Best fit
BoltAI: Developers and power users with existing OpenAI or Anthropic keys · Iris Fun: Mac users who want quick GPT answers without leaving their current app
Platforms
BoltAI: macOS, iOS · Iris Fun: macOS

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

BoltAINative Mac client for 300+ models on your own keysIris FunA macOS assistant you summon over any app with a shortcut, forwarding requests to GPT models and returning formatted answers.

Side by side

FactBoltAIIris Fun
CategoryMulti-model Chat AggregatorsDesktop & OS Assistants
Pricing modelPaidFree
Starts at$79 once—
Trust score85 / 10078 / 100
PlatformsmacOS, iOSmacOS
Company—Interface Presents
Launched2023—
Last verifiedOct 16, 2026Oct 15, 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

Iris Fun

Iris puts a ChatGPT-style panel over any Mac app so you don't have to switch to a browser tab to ask a question. It's still in beta with no pricing page, so features and even continued free access could change before a stable release.

Pros

  • Works as an overlay across any macOS app rather than a separate browser tab
  • Supports formatted output — bold text, lists, and syntax-highlighted code
  • Includes calendar and screenshot features beyond plain chat
  • Currently free to use

Cons

  • No pricing page, so future cost is unknown
  • Beta status means bugs and breaking changes are likely
  • Depends on OpenAI's models rather than offering a choice of model

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 Iris Fun if you need

  • Mac users who want quick GPT answers without leaving their current app
  • Early adopters comfortable using beta software

BoltAI vs Iris Fun: the questions people ask

Is BoltAI cheaper than Iris Fun?

Iris Fun is free to use; BoltAI starts at $79 once.

Does BoltAI or Iris Fun have a free tier?

Iris Fun is free to use; BoltAI has paid plans only.

More comparisons

All BoltAI alternatives →Browse all Multi-model Chat Aggregators →