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Head to head · 2026

Atua vs PaletteBrain

Pricing, free plans, ratings, features, pros and cons, side by side. Where one comes out ahead, we mark it.

Atua

Mac app that puts AI commands behind a hotkey in any app: select text, capture a…

4.1$29/mo

Visit Atua (opens Atua in a new tab)

PaletteBrain

Select text in any Mac app, hit Space, run a custom AI command, paste the result…

3.4$29/mo

Visit PaletteBrain (opens PaletteBrain in a new tab)

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

  • Lower starting price

    Tie

    Both start at from $29/mo

  • Free plan

    Tie

    Neither has one

  • Higher rating

    Atua

    4.1 against 3.4

  • Same job?

    Yes

    Both are Productivity tools

Side by side

Compared onAtuaPaletteBrain
Our rating4.1Better3.4
Starts at$29/mo$29/mo
Free planNoNo
CategoryProductivityProductivity
PlansFrom $29/moFrom $29/mo
Key features
  • Hotkey commands from any Mac app
  • Context from selected text, screenshots, clipboard, voice and screen OCR
  • Custom commands with their own hotkey, model and output mode
  • Bring-your-own API key for providers from OpenAI to local Ollama and LM Studio
  • MCP server support and system tools for Calendar, Notes and Shell
  • Works with any macOS app or website via keyboard shortcut
  • Custom AI commands - grammar, translation, summarization, code refactoring
  • Bring-your-own OpenAI/Azure API key, pay-as-you-go
  • Organized conversation history across all AI chats
  • Lifetime license, no recurring subscription
Pros
  • One-time $29 license with no subscription
  • Works with local models as well as cloud providers
  • 7-day money-back guarantee
  • Genuine lifetime pricing instead of an ongoing subscription
  • No window-switching keeps AI assistance inside the actual workflow
  • BYO API key avoids paying for a separate ChatGPT Plus subscription
Cons
  • Mac only
  • No free plan or trial named
  • Model usage is billed separately by whichever provider the user connects
  • Mac-only - no Windows or Linux version
  • Requires managing your own API key and its associated costs
  • Broader model support (Google, Anthropic, xAI) is still on the roadmap, not live yet
CompanyDevLab Systems LLCPaletteBrain

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20261012. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Atua better than PaletteBrain?

In our reviews Atua scores 4.1 and PaletteBrain scores 3.4. The better pick depends on the job. Atua: Mac app that puts AI commands behind a hotkey in any app: select text, capture a screenshot or speak, then run a custom command on the model of your choice using your own API key, with MCP server support and system tools. PaletteBrain: Select text in any Mac app, hit Space, run a custom AI command, paste the result back - no window switching, bring your own OpenAI key, pay once for lifetime access.

Which is cheaper, Atua or PaletteBrain?

Both start at the same price (from $29/mo).

Do Atua and PaletteBrain have free plans?

Neither lists a free plan.

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