How does Alter compare with MacGPT?
TLDR: Alter outperforms MacGPT by offering a free plan with all features, support for local models, and multiple AI providers. It integrates seamlessly with Finder for file and folder actions, includes ready-to-use AI actions, and allows reusing AI outputs for greater workflow flexibility. Alter offers web search capabilities and extensibility.
In contrast, MacGPT lacks a free plan, local model support, and AI actions, limiting its functionality. While MacGPT offers voice mode, Alter provides a more comprehensive set of features and integration options for macOS users.
| Alter | MacGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan |
|
|
| Most popular pricing plan | $240/year | $20/year, free updates, AI consumption is excluded from the price |
| Max consumption per month with a paid plan |
|
|
| Support for local models (Ollama, LM Studio) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Keyboard shortcuts | ✅ Automatic, Mnemonic | 🚧 Open app |
| Ready-to-use AI models | ✅
Multi-providers: OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Groq, Together
| ❌ Bring your own API keys |
| Support for OpenAI compatible endpoints | ✅ | ❌ |
| Chat + history | ✅ | ✅ |
| Act on apps | ✅ | ❌ |
| Act on screenshot capture | ✅ | ❌ |
| Act on text-selections | ✅ | ✅ |
| Act on files and folders | ✅ From Finder selections | ❌ |
| Create presentations, diagrams, charts and export in HTML or PDF | ✅ Artifacts to create all kinds of HTML mini apps | ❌ |
| Generate images | ✅ Flux models | ❌ |
| Ready-to-use AI actions | ✅ | ❌ |
| Reuse AI output with other actions | ✅ | ❌ |
| Voice mode | ❌ | ✅ |
| Extensibility | ✅ | ❌ |
| Web search, Perplexity like | ✅ | ❌ |
| Native app | ✅ MacOS 13+, 45MB | ✅ |
*A message has 4296 tokens, which is roughly 3 200 words.