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BoltAI vs WriteMage

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. WriteMage publishes a starting price ($10); BoltAI does not.

BoltAINative Mac client for 300+ models on your own keysWriteMageFloating ChatGPT window and iOS keyboard that works inside any Mac or iPhone app

Side by side

FactBoltAIWriteMage
CategoryMulti-model Chat AggregatorsDesktop & OS Assistants
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starts at—$10 month
Public APINoNo
PlatformsmacOS, iOSmacOS, iOS
Launched2023—
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 6, 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

WriteMage

The idea is right — an AI prompt floating over any app beats copying text into a browser tab — and the bring-your-own-key model makes it far cheaper than subscription assistants. The catch is maturity: the app has been in beta since its first build in late 2022, the site still advertises a launch sale for a final version that has not shipped, and there is no company behind it.

Pros

  • Overlay works across any macOS app without copy-paste
  • Native iOS keyboard extends the same access to the phone
  • Chat history stored locally, and the developer says the app ships no telemetry
  • A one-time lifetime licence is offered instead of a subscription

Cons

  • Still in beta years after the first build, with no visible release date
  • Most tiers require you to supply and fund your own OpenAI key
  • No company details, terms page or changelog reachable on the site

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 WriteMage if you need

  • Mac users who want an AI prompt available inside every app
  • People who already pay for OpenAI API access and want a cheap front end
  • Anyone who wants chat history kept on their own machine

More comparisons

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