Mac Context Awareness
Alter reads the current Mac context, including screen and app state, so prompts can use what is already on screen instead of starting from scratch.
Alter
RevendiquerAlter is a native macOS AI assistant for voice workflows, app automation, meeting notes, and contextual help across files, websites, and apps.
What Alter Does
Alter is a native macOS AI assistant that is designed to work inside your existing workflow rather than as a separate chat surface. The product positions itself as “AI for your entire workday,” with features centered on system-wide context, voice actions, meetings, and app automation.
The site says Alter can understand screen and app context, insert actions into other applications, and work with files, folders, emails, screenshots, and websites. It also supports local models and your own API keys, which lets users choose between fully local setups and managed model access.
Pricing is structured around a free core app and optional paid plans. The free tier stays usable with your own providers or local models, while paid plans add managed access to 50+ cloud models, meeting intelligence, advanced voice models, and broader automation features.
Core Features
Native App Actions
The app can insert responses directly into other apps and control native macOS workflows, reducing copy-paste and app switching.
Voice-First Workflows
Voice commands and dictation are built in, with speech-to-text support for quick prompts and faster message drafting.
Meeting Intelligence
Meeting recordings can produce notes, summaries, and speaker identification, with local or cloud processing depending on the plan.
Automation and Integrations
Alter can connect to 2,000+ tools and services, including examples such as Google Workspace, HubSpot, Notion, Gmail, and Linear.
Model Access and Routing
The app provides access to 50+ AI models and routing options, plus support for local models and an OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
Common Ways to Use Alter
Daily Mac Workflows
Use voice-first commands to draft replies, trigger actions, and move through tasks without switching between separate chat and app windows.
Meeting Capture and Follow-Up
Record online meetings or in-person conversations, then generate speaker-aware notes and reports that you can revisit later.
Cross-App Automation
Connect Alter to services such as Google Workspace, Notion, HubSpot, Gmail, and Linear to automate recurring multi-step tasks.
Contextual Research and File Work
Work with files, folders, emails, screenshots, and webpages in a contextual way when you need AI help inside an active workflow.
Privacy-Focused AI Use
Choose local models or bring your own API keys when you want to keep processing under your own control instead of using managed cloud access.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works as a native macOS assistant with screen and app context, not just a standalone chat tool.
- Supports local models and your own API keys for users who want more control over data handling.
- Includes voice commands, meeting recordings, app actions, and automation in one product.
- Offers access to a broad set of models, including routing options for speed or quality.
- The core app is free, and the site says you can keep using it with your own providers or local models after the trial.
Cons
- Some capabilities are split across plans, such as advanced voice models, managed model access, and meeting intelligence.
- The site notes a fair use policy for unlimited model access, so heavy usage may be routed to lower-cost models.
- The home page and pricing page mention many integrations and workflows, but the public site does not provide a complete supported-app list or detailed setup guidance.
FAQ
Is Alter free to use?
Alter offers a 7-day free trial with full access to its models. After that, you can keep using the free app with your own API keys or local models, or choose a paid plan for managed model access and extra features.
What happens when the free trial ends?
Yes. The pricing page says the app remains fully functional after the trial if you connect your own providers or run local models. Paid plans mainly remove upgrade prompts and provide access to managed AI models and other extras.
Can I use my own API keys or local models?
Alter can work with your own AI providers, local models through tools such as Ollama or LM Studio, and its own model routing plans. The pricing page also mentions an OpenAI-compatible endpoint for using Alter in other tools.
What devices and operating systems does Alter support?
Alter is described as a native macOS AI assistant that supports macOS Ventura 13 and newer. The home page says it works with both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Who is Alter designed for?
The site says Alter is built for contextual, system-wide workflows on Mac, including meeting recordings, voice commands, app actions, file and folder work, and automations across many services.
Quick Facts
- Category
- AI assistant / productivity
- Platform
- macOS
- Supported OS
- macOS Ventura 13 and newer
- Notable workflows
- Voice commands, meeting notes, app actions, automation, local models
- Pricing model
- Free core app with optional paid plans