Mac AI quick-ask apps compared

Quick answer

If you want a global keyboard shortcut to summon AI on macOS, there are four distinct categories of apps:

• Dedicated open-source ask box (SpotAsk): 100% free and open source (AGPL-3.0). Sits quietly in your menu bar, opens with Option+Space, connects directly from your Mac to your provider endpoint with zero middleman servers, and includes one-click hand-offs to web AI or CLI agents.
• Desktop launcher with AI (Raycast AI): An all-in-one launcher replacing Spotlight. AI features require a paid subscription (Pro from $10/month), and standard BYOK requests route through Raycast servers.
• Paid chat workspaces (BoltAI & MindMac): Standalone multi-window chat apps with project organization, inline editing, and MCP support, available via one-time licenses ($29 to $199). We did not install either app.
• First-party desktop client (ChatGPT desktop app): OpenAI's official Mac app. Operates with your ChatGPT account and is restricted exclusively to OpenAI models.

Last checked: November 2, 2026. SpotAsk is our open-source project. Below is a factual, transparent comparison of pricing, privacy architecture, and feature sets across all five tools.

The comparison table

Prices were copied from each vendor's site on November 2, 2026. A dash means that fact was not found.

	SpotAsk	Raycast AI	BoltAI	MindMac	ChatGPT desktop
Category	Lightweight menu bar ask box & hand-off	Desktop launcher with AI add-on	AI chat workspace	AI chat client	OpenAI official client
Price	100% Free (Pay only your provider)	Pro $10/mo ($96/yr), 500 credits. Not in Free.	One-time: Essential $79, Pro $99, Ultimate $199.	One-time: Essential $29, Pro $49, Ultimate $69.	ChatGPT account plans
Open source	Yes (AGPL-3.0)	No	No	No	No
Your own API key	Yes — Free for all (OpenAI-compatible, Anthropic, Gemini)	Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, OpenRouter, plus Custom Providers. Pro Exclusive.	Yes. Several providers are listed.	Yes. Homepage says keys stay in the Keychain.	No. Uses the ChatGPT account.
Where BYOK requests go	Direct to provider endpoint. Zero SpotAsk servers; keys stored locally with mode 0600.	Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI: through Raycast servers. OpenRouter and Custom Providers: direct.	Own key: may go direct to that provider. Some requests may pass through BoltAI.	Homepage says directly to OpenAI, Anthropic, and other providers.	OpenAI servers
Local models	Free, via local OpenAI-compatible endpoint (Ollama, LM Studio)	Ollama, on this Mac. Pro Exclusive.	Ollama and LM Studio are listed.	—	No
Send to website or CLI	Built-in (External Ask)	Quicklinks can open a search URL. Store extensions vary.	CLI tools are listed. Web prefill was not found.	—	—
Selected-text actions	Selection Assistant (Option+Shift+Space)	AI Commands	Inline and AI Workflow	Inline mode	—
Scope	Dedicated AI hotkey and text actions	Full launcher, file search, window & clipboard manager	Multi-window chat app	Multi-window chat app	Dedicated OpenAI chat app
Account required	No account needed	Yes	Optional cloud sync	No, per the homepage	Yes
Default hotkey	Option+Space (ask box), Option+Shift+Space (selection)	Command+Space on Mac (customizable)	—	—	Option+Space (in current OpenAI docs)
macOS support	macOS 15+ (Apple silicon & Intel)	Current Mac app: macOS Tahoe & Apple silicon only	Homepage: macOS 13 or later. Intel and Apple silicon.	Homepage: macOS 13 or later. Intel and Apple silicon.	macOS 14 or later. Apple silicon or Intel.

Raycast Pro+ is $20/month or $192/year for 3,000 credits. Max is $50/month or $480/year for 7,500 credits. Image attachments sent to a Custom Provider are still uploaded to Raycast. BoltAI's privacy policy was updated August 6, 2026. MindMac's latest linked release is 1.9.28, published April 22, 2025. The site still sold licenses on the check date.

Which one should you pick?

• Choose SpotAsk if you want a fast, dedicated AI ask box triggered by a hotkey, true direct-to-provider BYOK privacy, zero monthly subscription fees, and without a full launcher.
• Choose Raycast if you want a complete system launcher that handles apps, files, clipboard history, and window management, and you are comfortable paying $10+/month for integrated AI. Read our in-depth SpotAsk vs Raycast AI comparison.
• Choose BoltAI or MindMac if you want a full-featured desktop chat client with long conversation histories, project workspaces, and MCP tools, and you prefer a one-time purchase over a monthly subscription. We did not install either app.
• Choose the ChatGPT desktop app if you exclusively use OpenAI models, subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, and prefer OpenAI's native macOS interface. Read our in-depth SpotAsk vs ChatGPT for Mac comparison to see the differences in BYOK pricing, workflows, and privacy, and check our Option+Space conflict guide if shortcuts collide.
• Run SpotAsk alongside Raycast: If you already use Raycast as your launcher (Command+Space), you can keep SpotAsk as your dedicated AI hotkey (Option+Space) without paying for Raycast Pro. They can coexist on different shortcuts.

When Raycast is the better choice

Pick Raycast, not SpotAsk, when the launcher is the primary requirement:

• You want apps, files, clipboard history, windows, and the extension store in the same bar as AI.
• You want one subscription that also includes Windows and iOS. (Note: Raycast's current Mac app requires macOS Tahoe and Apple silicon).
• You want Raycast to manage models, monthly credits, and team-shared commands.
• You want local models managed inside that launcher (Local Models are Pro Exclusive and use Ollama).

When BoltAI or MindMac is the better choice

Pick one of these when you want a multi-window chat app rather than an instant floating ask box:

• BoltAI's pricing page highlights projects, MCP integration, inline editing, and mobile sync.
• MindMac's homepage lists inline mode, MCP, and a lower one-time purchase price. We did not install either app.

When ChatGPT's own shortcut is enough

If you only talk to OpenAI, subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, and OpenAI's shortcut fits your routine, you may not need another tool. For a full side-by-side analysis, see our SpotAsk vs ChatGPT for Mac comparison. If another app took that shortcut, see our Option+Space troubleshooting guide.

Where SpotAsk fits

SpotAsk is engineered specifically for speed, focus, and privacy. It is not an OS launcher or a multi-window chat client. It is a menu bar ask box designed to answer your question and get out of your way.

Summon it with Option+Space, ask, and return to your flow:

• Direct-to-provider privacy: Your API key and prompts connect straight from your Mac to the provider endpoint you configure. There are zero SpotAsk middleman servers, no user accounts, and local credentials are protected with restrictive 0600 permissions. See Privacy Architecture.
• 100% free & open source: Licensed under AGPL-3.0, SpotAsk has no recurring fees, no tiers, and no credit caps. You pay only for the tokens you actually consume directly with your provider—or $0 when running local models like Ollama.
• Instant workflow hand-off: External Ask lets you pre-fill prompts into browser AI chats (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, or custom targets like Claude) or pass them to local terminal CLI agents with one shortcut.
• Selection Assistant: Highlight text anywhere and press Option+Shift+Space to summarize, translate, or explain.

Install instructions are in Getting Started.

How we checked

Checked on November 2, 2026, on a Mac running macOS 26.7.1. SpotAsk 0.3.3 (build 29) was installed. Raycast, BoltAI, MindMac, ChatGPT, and Claude were not installed on this test machine. No dual-app shortcut test was run. Where two apps want the same shortcut, pick one owner.

Prices change over time. Please verify current rates on vendor sites before purchasing.

Sources: Raycast billing, pricing, Bring Your Own Key, Custom Providers, Local Models, privacy, keyboard shortcuts, Quicklinks, raycast.com/new, BoltAI pricing, BoltAI privacy, MindMac, MindMac 1.9.28, ChatGPT pets docs, Chat Bar help, and ChatGPT Mac system requirements.

Claude Desktop's help article notes that the default quick entry is a double-tap of Option, with Option+Space configurable in Settings. The app was not installed. The External Ask guide confirms that web hand-offs do not require an API key.

FAQ

Is there a free Raycast AI alternative?

SpotAsk is a free, open-source Mac ask box that provides the AI quick-ask hotkey experience without Raycast's $10/month paywall. While SpotAsk does not replace launcher features like file search or window management, it provides direct BYOK, local model support, and Selection Assistant completely free under AGPL-3.0.

Which Mac AI apps let me use my own API key?

SpotAsk, Raycast Pro, BoltAI, and MindMac all support Bring Your Own Key (BYOK). However, Raycast locks BYOK behind its paid Pro tier ($10/month), whereas SpotAsk provides direct BYOK free for everyone. BoltAI and MindMac are paid standalone chat apps ($29–$199). The ChatGPT desktop app uses an OpenAI account rather than personal API keys.

Do any of these send my key through their servers?

Raycast processes Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI key requests through its servers. OpenRouter and Custom Providers go direct. SpotAsk sends the request to the endpoint you configure. BoltAI says an own-key request may go direct, and some requests may pass through BoltAI. MindMac's homepage says requests go direct. We did not inspect their traffic.

Can I use ChatGPT Plus in these apps?

ChatGPT Plus is an OpenAI account plan, not an API key. The ChatGPT desktop app uses that account. SpotAsk does not log in to Plus. We did not test whether another app can attach a Plus subscription.