Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Cotypist.
Want the closest match?
CaretMost similar to Cotypist in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Caret in a new tab)Need a free plan?
AI Perfect AssistantHas a free plan, rated 3.7 out of 5.
Visit (opens AI Perfect Assistant in a new tab)Want the best rated?
AtuaRated 4.1 out of 5 in our review, against 4.1 for Cotypist.
Visit (opens Atua in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Cotypist, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 CotypistBaseline | 4.1 | $6/mo | Yes | Cotypist runs local AI autocomplete across every Mac app, suggesting words and sentences without sending keystrokes to a server. | |
| Caret | 3.5−0.6 | Free | Yes | A macOS background app that reads on-screen context and finishes sentences in any application when a user presses Tab. | vs Cotypist |
 Auri | 3.5−0.6 | Free | Yes | AI keyboard and system-wide dictation for Apple devices - improve text in any app, on iPhone, iPad, Watch and Mac. | vs Cotypist |
 PDF Pals | 4.0−0.1 | $29/mo$23 more | No | Native Mac app for chatting with PDFs locally using your own OpenAI or Azure API key. | vs Cotypist |
 IntelliBar | 3.8−0.3 | Not listed | No | Native Mac menu-bar AI client that talks to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and local models with your own keys, sold as a one-time license. | vs Cotypist |
| Atua | 4.1Same | $29/mo$23 more | No | 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. | vs Cotypist |
| AI Perfect Assistant | 3.7−0.4 | $9.99/mo$3.99 more | Yes | ChatGPT-powered add-in that automates writing, slides, and formulas across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. | vs Cotypist |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Cotypist.
Caret
3.5Free
vs Cotypist−0.6
A macOS background app that reads on-screen context and finishes sentences in any application when a user presses Tab.
- System-wide Tab-to-complete across 70+ macOS applications
- On-screen context reading to match a user's in-progress writing
- Local, on-device memory rather than cloud-stored history
Works across the whole OS instead of being locked to one app's built-in AI
Requires macOS 26+, cutting out users on older systems and all non-Mac platforms
Auri
3.5Free
vs Cotypist−0.6
AI keyboard and system-wide dictation for Apple devices - improve text in any app, on iPhone, iPad, Watch and Mac.
- AI keyboard working inside any app
- System-wide voice dictation on iOS and Mac
- Text improvement in place
Works where you already type rather than in a separate app
Apple only - nothing for Android, Windows or the web
PDF Pals
4.0$29/mo
vs Cotypist$23 more−0.1
Native Mac app for chatting with PDFs locally using your own OpenAI or Azure API key.
- Local document storage with no file upload to vendor servers
- Bring-your-own API key support for OpenAI, Azure, and OpenRouter
- OCR engine for scanned PDFs and complex forms
Local-first design addresses real privacy concerns around uploading sensitive PDFs
Mac-only, with no Windows or web version for cross-platform teams
IntelliBar
3.8Not listed
vs Cotypist−0.3
Native Mac menu-bar AI client that talks to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and local models with your own keys, sold as a one-time license.
- One menu-bar interface for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Grok, DeepSeek, Perplexity and other models
- Local models through Ollama
- Compare the same prompt across several models
No app subscription, and you pay only for the model usage you choose
Needs your own provider keys or accounts, so running costs vary
Atua
4.1$29/mo
vs Cotypist$23 moreSame
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.
- 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
One-time $29 license with no subscription
Mac only
AI Perfect Assistant
3.7$9.99/mo
vs Cotypist$3.99 more−0.4
ChatGPT-powered add-in that automates writing, slides, and formulas across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Native add-ins for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams
- Slide Creator that builds decks from an outline
- Formula Checker for Excel spreadsheets
Works inside Office documents instead of a separate browser tab
Token limits on paid tiers cap heavy daily use
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Cotypist free?
Cotypist has a free plan, and paid plans start from $6/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Cotypist?
AI Perfect Assistant is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (3.7 out of 5). Other free options: Caret, Auri.
What is the cheapest alternative to Cotypist?
Among paid plans, AI Perfect Assistant has the lowest starting price (from $9.99/mo). If you need it free, start with AI Perfect Assistant.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.