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MacGPT 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); MacGPT does not. Only MacGPT is free.

MacGPTMenu bar and global-hotkey access to ChatGPT on macOS, using the web session or your own OpenAI key.WriteMageFloating ChatGPT window and iOS keyboard that works inside any Mac or iPhone app

Side by side

FactMacGPTWriteMage
CategoryDesktop & OS AssistantsDesktop & OS Assistants
Pricing modelFreePaid
Starts at—$10 month
Public APINoNo
PlatformsmacOS, iOSmacOS, iOS
CompanyGood Snooze—
Launched2023—
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 6, 2026

What our research says

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

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 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

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 Desktop & OS Assistants →