BoltAI vs Fluent

BoltAI

• Mac users who want a native app instead of a browser tab
• People who prefer a one-time license to a monthly subscription
• Users with API keys for several providers or local models in Ollama

Fluent

• Mac users who want AI help inside the app they are already in
• People who prefer a one-time license and their own API keys
• Rewriting, replying and summarizing with repeatable actions

BoltAI

• The price covers the app only: you need your own API keys, and each AI provider bills usage separately.
• It runs on macOS 13 or later. Windows is listed as coming soon, and the iPhone, iPad and Android apps are in beta with sign-up through a form.
• Updates, Cloud Sync and mobile access last one year per purchase. After that the app keeps working locally, but sync and mobile pause until you renew.
• Teams and companies are required to buy the Team license, which starts at 5 seats at $99 per seat.

Fluent

• It is Mac only and requires macOS 14.2 or later; local MLX models need a Mac with Apple silicon.
• The license does not include model usage: you supply API keys, an existing AI subscription or local models.
• Licenses are per Mac: Basic covers one, Standard covers two, and Team pricing starts at three.
• The app checks its license online from time to time, so it needs a connection at least once a week.

BoltAI

Your own keys and local models

Connects with your API keys to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Mistral, Azure OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock and others, and to local models through Ollama and LM Studio. No AI credits are bundled.

Instant Chat and ShotSolve

A global shortcut opens a chat overlay on top of any app, and ShotSolve sends a screenshot to a vision model for an explanation, a fix or a summary.

Instant Dictation and AI Workflows

Push-to-talk dictation works in any text field with cloud or local models, and AI Workflows run one-click actions and in-place text transforms inside other apps.

Agents, projects and prompt library

Reusable agents carry their own instructions, knowledge and tools. Projects share context across chats, chats can be forked, and saved prompts are inserted with a shortcut.

MCP tools and code execution

Connects to local and remote MCP servers with individual tools switched on or off, and supports web search, code execution and Claude skills for Office documents and PDFs.

Local storage with optional Cloud Sync

Chats are kept in a local SQLite database and API keys can be encrypted with a passphrase. Optional Cloud Sync shares chats, agents and projects with other devices.

Fluent

Smart Panel in any app

A shortcut opens a panel over the current app with the selected text, clipboard, browser tab or window attached. Results can be inserted back, keeping the original formatting.

Actions for repeated tasks

38 ready-made actions cover jobs such as rewriting, replying and summarizing. Actions can be customized with shortcuts and prompt variables, given their own model, and scheduled.

Your choice of model

Connects by API key to providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral and OpenRouter, signs in with an existing ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI or GitHub Copilot plan, or runs local MLX models.

Chat window and Council

A separate chat window holds longer conversations and history. Council sends one question to several models, has them review each other's answers anonymously, and a chairman model writes the result.

On-device voice dictation

Press the dictation shortcut in any text field and the words appear as you speak, cleaned up by a local model that runs on the Mac.

Integrations and Memory

Built-in integrations, among them Finder, Calendar and Reminders, plus a directory of external MCP servers let a model act on the Mac. Memory about you and your files is kept on the Mac.

BoltAI

• Essential$79

  one-time, 1 device, one year of updates

  For students and hobbyists: every app feature on 1 Mac, with 512 MB of cloud storage for sync and no mobile device.

• Pro$99

  one-time, 2 desktop devices + 1 mobile, one year of updates

  For freelancers and professionals: every app feature, 1 GB of cloud storage and 1 mobile device. Shown as a bundle valued at $200.

• Pro+$199

  one-time, 3 desktop devices + 2 mobile, one year of updates

  For use across more devices: every app feature, 5 GB of cloud storage and 2 mobile devices at once.

• Team Perpetual$99

  per seat, one-time, 5-seat minimum

  One device per seat with 10 GB of shared team storage, the mobile app during its beta and priority support. Optional renewal is $79 per seat per year.

Fluent

• Basic$49

  one-time, 1 Mac, lifetime upgrades

  Every feature on one Mac, including dictation, MCP integrations, Memory, Council and local models, with support by Discord, email and forum.

• Standard$69

  one-time, 2 Macs, lifetime upgrades

  The same features on two Macs. Shown as 30% less than $98, the price of two Basic licenses.

• Team$29

  per license, one-time, starting at 3 Macs

  The same features for three or more Macs, shown as a 40% saving per license.

BoltAI

• Lifetime license

  Perpetual license from $79

  Every license is a one-time purchase that keeps working after its year of updates ends: Essential is $79, Pro $99 and Pro+ $199, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Education

  50% off for students and educators

  Emailing BoltAI from a university address gets a discount code for 50% off, which makes the Essential license $39.50. The 40% renewal discount still applies afterwards.

• Other savings

  40% off renewals for individual licenses

  Individual licenses can renew updates and sync for another year at 60% of the original list price, and the discount does not expire. Team licenses get no renewal discount.

Fluent

• Lifetime license

  One-time license with lifetime upgrades

  Every Fluent license is bought once and includes lifetime upgrades, with no subscription: Basic is $49 for one Mac. A 14-day money-back guarantee applies.

• Education

  Additional 30% off for education

  Educational institutions, teachers and students can get an additional 30% discount by contacting Epic Bits by email.

• Other savings

  Lower per-Mac price for two or more Macs

  Standard covers two Macs for $69, shown as 30% less than two Basic licenses, and Team licenses are $29 each from three Macs, shown as a 40% saving.