The AI revolution is here. And so are seemingly thousands of new AI apps every day.

So how do you find the best ones?

Easy. You just read this article.

We'll show you the best AI apps for Mac with clear, helpful insights. For each app, you'll get the full pros and cons and our honest feedback about what makes them worth your time and money.

These apps were picked to help you work smarter, and also enjoy your work a bit more.

Without further ado, let's dive into the AI tools that are reshaping what's possible on Mac.

1. Granola - Revolutionary AI Meeting Notes

We tried a dozen AI meeting note takers and Granola takes the cake.

Unlike all the other meeting bots, it doesn't add itself to your meetings. It simply runs from your Mac.

The AI summaries after your meetings feel like magic. The Granola team has figured out how to only capture the points that really matter.
We can't say the same for its competitors.

Why Granola Changes the Game

Granola's hybrid approach is brilliant in its simplicity. You jot down key points manually while Granola captures everything said. After the meeting, AI combines your notes with the full transcript to create comprehensive, structured meeting summaries.

Price:

• Free: 25 meetings lifetime

• Individual: $10/month

• Business: $8/month per user

Pros:

• No meeting bots required, maintains natural conversation flow

• Hybrid approach combines manual notes with AI transcription

• Excellent for sensitive meetings where traditional recording isn't appropriate

Cons:

• Limited to meetings you attend directly on your Mac

• Requires some manual note-taking for best results

• Mac-only, no mobile app yet

Practical Tip: Start each meeting by typing a few key agenda items. Granola will use these as anchors to organize the full transcript around your priorities.

Website: granola.ai

2. Voicy - Universal AI Speech-to-Text Excellence

Remember when Speech-to-Text software would mess up every second word?

That's not the case anymore and speech-text software is incredibly accurate nowadays.
Voicy is the perfect example for that.

You can write with your voice absolutely anywhere on your computer and it is correct 99.9% of the time.

It's perfect for writers or anyone looking to boost their productivty.

Why Mac Users Choose Voicy

The speed advantage is remarkable. Users consistently write 3x faster than typing, making it a game-changer for content creators, business professionals, and anyone dealing with heavy writing workloads.

For writers specifically, Voicy serves as an affordable alternative to Dragon Naturally Speaking, offering superior accuracy at a fraction of the cost.

Works Everywhere: Seamlessly integrates with Pages, Notes, Gmail, Slack, ChatGPT, and virtually every Mac app. One keyboard shortcut (Option+Space) activates voice input anywhere you need to type.

Price:

• Free trial: 30 minutes of transcription

• Personal: $6.99/month

• Professional: $12.99/month

Pros:

• Industry-leading 99%+ accuracy across 50+ languages

• Universal compatibility works in every Mac application

• AI-powered editing commands for instant text refinement

Cons:

• Requires internet connection for best accuracy

• Subscription model may not suit occasional users

• Advanced features require paid tier

Practical Tip: Activate Voicy with Option+Space, then speak naturally. Use AI commands like "make this more formal" or "fix grammar" to instantly polish your text without switching apps.

Website: usevoicy.com

3. Claude Mac App - Superior AI Reasoning & Research

You're either on Team Claude or you're on Team ChatGPT.

Regardless of what you think, the Caude Mac app is beautiful.
It is incredibly performant.

It includes all of the features that we have on the Claude website itself. And it's far easier to use.

What Makes Claude Stand Out

Claude's strength lies in its ability to understand context deeply and reason through complex problems. The Mac app provides seamless access to these capabilities with native design principles and keyboard shortcuts that feel natural to Mac users.

The app particularly shines for research tasks, content analysis, and situations where accuracy and nuance matter more than speed. Claude's safety-first approach means fewer inappropriate responses and more reliable information for professional use.

Price:

• Free tier with monthly message limits

• Pro: $20/month

• Team and Enterprise options available

Pros:

• Superior reasoning and analysis capabilities compared to other AI assistants

• Strong focus on accuracy and ethical AI responses

• Native Mac design with excellent user experience

Cons:

• Slower response times compared to some competitors

• More conservative in creative tasks due to safety focus

• Limited availability during peak usage periods

Practical Tip: Use Claude for research-heavy tasks where accuracy matters most. It excels at analyzing documents, comparing viewpoints, and providing balanced perspectives on complex topics.

4. ChatGPT Mac App - The Complete AI Assistant

Just like Claude above, the ChatGPT Mac app is also wonderful. Our favorite feature is that you're able to bring up the ChatGPT chat by simply clicking Option + Space.

What Makes ChatGPT Mac Special

ChatGPT's Mac app combines text, voice, vision, and coding assistance in one powerful package. The new Agent mode can actually perform tasks for you, from research to code execution. Canvas mode transforms writing and coding into a collaborative experience where AI suggests improvements in real-time.

The app excels at complex reasoning tasks, creative writing, and technical problem-solving. With GPT-4o and GPT-o1 models, it handles everything from casual conversation to advanced analysis with remarkable accuracy.

Price:

• Free tier with daily limits

• Plus: $20/month

• Pro: $200/month (includes priority access to new models)

Pros:

• Most comprehensive AI assistant with voice, vision, and code capabilities

• Native Mac app with excellent system integration and keyboard shortcuts

• Regular updates with cutting-edge AI models and features

Cons:

• Can be expensive for heavy users on paid tiers

• Requires internet connection for all functionality

• Free tier has usage limitations during peak times

Practical Tip: Use the Option+Space shortcut to quickly access ChatGPT from any app. This makes it perfect for instant research, writing assistance, or coding help without breaking your workflow.

5. Elephas - Mac-Native AI Writing Assistant

Elephas brings AI writing assistance directly into your Mac workflow with deep system integration and a unique "Super Brain" knowledge management system.

Unlike web-based AI tools, Elephas works natively across all Mac applications with menu bar access and keyboard shortcuts.

The standout feature of this app is that it can learn from your personal knowledge base. You can ingest content from over 20 file formats to provide contextually relevant data based on your current needs.

What Makes Elephas Special

The app works seamlessly across Pages, Mail, Messages, and virtually every Mac application. This universal compatibility makes it feel like a natural extension of macOS rather than a separate tool you need to remember to use.

Price:

• Free: 30 requests monthly

• Standard: $4.99/month

• Pro: $8.99/month

• Pro Plus: $14.99/month

Pros:

• Deep Mac integration works in all applications system-wide

• Personal knowledge base learns from your documents and writing style

• Offline capabilities for privacy-conscious users

Cons:

• Subscription required for meaningful usage beyond free tier

• Super Brain setup can be time-consuming initially

• iOS companion app less fully-featured than Mac version

Practical Tip: Upload your key documents to Super Brain during setup. This enables Elephas to provide writing suggestions that match your style and reference your existing work.

Website: elephas.app

6. Perplexity - AI-Powered Search Engine

Perplexity has replaced Google for us and its ability to be a researcher and help us discover information far more quickly than Google makes it worth a spot on the list.

Unlike traditional search engines that return links, Perplexity provides direct answers with citations, making research faster and more reliable. The Pro version offers access to advanced models and real-time search capabilities.

Why Perplexity Excels for Research

Perplexity shines as a Google Search alternative that actually understands what you're looking for. The AI doesn't just find information. It synthesizes multiple sources to provide comprehensive answers with proper citations.

For researchers, students, and professionals who need accurate, current information quickly, Perplexity eliminates the tedious process of clicking through multiple search results and comparing sources manually.

Price:

• Free: 5 Pro searches daily

• Pro: $20/month

• Max: $60/month

Pros:

• Provides cited answers instead of just search results

• Real-time search capabilities with current information

• Native Mac app with global shortcuts and voice input

Cons:

• Free tier limited to basic searches with daily Pro search limit

• Can be slower than traditional search for simple queries

• Requires internet connection for all functionality

Practical Tip: Use the ⌘+⇧+P global shortcut to instantly access Perplexity from any app. Perfect for quick research without breaking your workflow.

Website: perplexity.ai

7. TypingMind - Advanced Multi-Model AI Interface

If you're not able to decide which AI chatbot to install on your Mac, why don't you just go with all of them?

TypingMind allows you to use the AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, whatever.
All of them in a simple interface.

You choose the best model for each task while maintaining conversation history and custom prompts across all services.

What Makes TypingMind Powerful

TypingMind's strength lies in its flexibility and cost control. Instead of multiple AI subscriptions, you get one interface that works with all major AI providers.

The one-time purchase model plus API costs often works out cheaper than multiple AI subscriptions, especially for users who want access to different models for different tasks.

Price:

• Basic: $23.40 one-time

• Premium: $47.40 one-time

• Plus API costs (typically $0.01-$0.10 per conversation)

Pros:

• One-time purchase instead of ongoing subscriptions

• Support for multiple AI providers in single interface

• Advanced features like custom prompts, plugins, and conversation management

Cons:

• Requires technical setup and API key management

• No native mobile app, works through Progressive Web App

• Total costs can vary based on API usage

Practical Tip: Start with the basic version and one AI provider (like OpenAI) to test the workflow. You can always add more providers and upgrade later.

Website: typingmind.com

8. Cotypist - Privacy-First AI Autocomplete

Cotypist brings AI-powered autocomplete to every Mac application with complete local processing, ensuring your data never leaves your computer. The app provides intelligent text suggestions system-wide, potentially reducing typing time by up to 50%.

Unlike cloud-based AI tools, Cotypist runs entirely on your Mac using local AI models, making it perfect for privacy-conscious users or those working with sensitive information.

Why Cotypist Stands Out

Cotypist's local processing approach sets it apart in an industry dominated by cloud-based AI. The app learns your writing patterns while keeping all data on your device. This combination of intelligence and privacy is increasingly rare and valuable.

The system-wide integration means AI autocomplete works in every application—from code editors to email clients—without sending your text to external servers. For developers, writers, and professionals handling confidential information, this privacy-first approach is essential.

Price:

• Currently free (beta)

• Planned pricing: €10-€20/month after beta

Pros:

• Complete privacy with local AI processing, no cloud dependency

• Works system-wide across virtually every Mac application

• Can reduce typing time by up to 50% with intelligent suggestions

Cons:

• Still in beta with occasional compatibility issues

• Requires Apple Silicon Mac for optimal performance

• Limited compared to cloud-based AI in terms of general knowledge

Practical Tip: Let Cotypist run for a few days to learn your writing style. The suggestions become significantly more accurate as it adapts to your patterns.

Website: cotypist.app

9. Superlist - Beautiful AI Task Management

Superlist combines task management with AI-powered features in an interface so beautiful it makes you want to organize your life. Created by the former Wunderlist team, it brings elegant design and intelligent automation to personal and team productivity.

The app goes beyond simple task lists with AI-powered voice-to-task conversion, smart scheduling suggestions, and collaborative features that work beautifully for couples, families, and small teams.

What Makes Superlist Special

Superlist's strength lies in making task management feel effortless and enjoyable. The AI features aren't overwhelming but enhance the natural flow of organizing your work and life. Voice input automatically creates tasks with proper due dates and contexts.
Unlike enterprise-focused tools, Superlist feels designed for how real people actually want to organize their lives together.

Price:

• Free: Generous personal use

• Pro: $15/month

• Super: $31/month

Pros:

• Exceptionally beautiful and intuitive interface design

• AI voice-to-task conversion works naturally and accurately

• Excellent for couples, families, and small team collaboration

Cons:

• Limited advanced project management features for large teams

• Premium features require subscription for full functionality

• Still building ecosystem of integrations with other productivity tools

Practical Tip: Use voice input to quickly capture tasks while mobile. Superlist's AI does an excellent job of extracting due dates and context from natural speech.

Website: superlist.com

10. Antinote - Mac-Exclusive Quick Notes

This temporary note-taking app includes natural language math capabilities and calculations, making it perfect for quick thoughts, calculations, and ephemeral information.

Built exclusively for Mac using native Swift, Antinote launches instantly and provides a distraction-free space for temporary notes that complement your main note-taking system.

What Makes Antinote Unique

Antinote fills the gap between your main note-taking app and truly temporary thoughts. The natural language math processing means you can type "20% of 450" and get instant results inline with your notes. This makes it perfect for quick calculations, brainstorming, and temporary information storage.

The Mac-exclusive focus shows in every detail, from the native performance to the thoughtful keyboard shortcuts. At just $5 one-time, it represents exceptional value for a tool you'll use daily.

Price:

• $5 one-time purchase with lifetime updates

Pros:

• Mac-exclusive design with native performance and Swift development

• Natural language math and calculation capabilities built-in

• One-time purchase with lifetime updates, exceptional value

Cons:

• Limited to temporary notes, not suitable for long-term information storage

• Mac-only, no cross-platform compatibility

• Minimal features compared to full note-taking applications

Practical Tip: Use the global hotkey (⌥A) to instantly capture thoughts without switching apps. Perfect for quick calculations, temporary phone numbers, or fleeting ideas.

Website: antinote.io

Core Features Comparison of Top 10 AI Apps for Mac

Choosing the Right AI App to Transform Your Workflow

Looking through all the best AI apps for Mac can feel overwhelming, but this variety is actually perfect. Your search isn't about finding one "best" app for everyone

It's about finding the combination of tools that amplifies your specific strengths and addresses your unique challenges.

We've explored everything from comprehensive AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude to specialized tools like Voicy for speech-to-text on Mac and Granola for meeting notes. Each app represents a different philosophy about how AI should integrate into your daily work.

Some tools, like Elephas and Cotypist, focus on seamless Mac integration that feels native to your workflow. Others, like TypingMind and Perplexity, prioritize power and flexibility for users who want maximum control over their AI interactions.

The key insight is that the best AI setup often involves multiple specialized tools rather than trying to force one app to do everything. A content creator might combine Voicy for voice input, ChatGPT for research and editing, and Superlist for project management.

Your Action Plan for AI-Powered Productivity

Now it's time to finally try some of your favorite AI apps for Mac. Here's our recommendation.

Here's how to proceed:

Identify Your Primary AI Need: Don't download all of the apps on this list. Select the ones you are actually interested in and need.

Start Small with 1-2 Apps: Some of these apps can actually be complementary to each other. For example, a note-taking app can definitely be paired up with Voicy for faster notes by simply using your voice.

Test Drive for Two Weeks: Try to integrate these apps into your daily workflow. Don't just play around with them. Make sure that they actually improve the speed at which you work and your productivity. A lot of these apps have beautifully designed UIs that lock you in and keep you excited even though they don't actually add value to your life.

The goal isn't to use every AI app available. It's to find the specific combination of tools that makes your work faster, more creative, and more enjoyable.

Whether you're a student organizing research, an executive managing complex projects, or a creator bringing ideas to life, there's an AI-powered workflow that can transform how you work. The only question is which combination of these powerful tools will unlock your potential.

For more insights on integrating AI into your productivity workflow, explore our guides on how to use dictation in Microsoft Word and check out our comprehensive comparison of Windows note-taking apps to see how AI is transforming productivity across platforms.