The Alter Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Alter in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Alter

The Insider’s Guide

Voice-driven Mac AI assistant that reads on-screen context

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from Alter’s own pages.

Made by Alter · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Alter’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Alter’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.6

GPA, above 23 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade

Alter is a macOS assistant that combines what is on your screen and in the active app with typed or spoken requests, then inserts the result where you are working. It also handles dictation, meeting recordings with summaries, and automations across Apple apps and connected services. The app is free with your own API keys or local models, and paid plans add faster local voice models or managed access to more than 50 cloud models.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Alter, taken from its own pages and our grades.

It also handles dictation and records meetings without a bot joining the call.

From our report card of Alter

1
Best for a Mac assistant that sees the app you're working in
Alter sits on your Mac, looks at the window you're in, takes orders by voice or keyboard, and drops the result where you're working.
2
Paid plans start at $2.42 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $29 per year (Local+), or $3.50 billed monthly.
3
There is a free plan
All core features with your own API keys or local models, no credit card required. Remote tools, model routers and managed access to 50+ cloud models need Pro.
4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
5
Screen and app context
Alter reads what is on screen and in the active app, so a request can refer to the current window, file, email or web page, and the answer can be inserted straight into that app.
6
Voice commands and dictation
Speech-to-prompt and dictation work in more than 50 languages with automatic detection. Local+ and Pro use faster models that transcribe in real time.
7
Meeting recordings
Records online and in-person meetings without a bot joining the call, then produces summaries and reports you can chat with. Speaker identification needs Local+ or Pro.
8
A 2.6 GPA, above 23 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
9
Keep it
To replace Alter you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

Alter at a glance

Pricing: Free plan, from $29 per year (Local+), or $3.50 billed monthly
Free plan: Yes
Free trial: 7 days of unlimited access to 50+ AI models after download, no credit card required.
Runs on: macOS
Made by: Alter
Category: AI Assistants
Our grade: 2.6 GPA, good

The report card

Best for a Mac assistant that sees the app you're working in

Alter sits on your Mac, looks at the window you're in, takes orders by voice or keyboard, and drops the result where you're working. It also handles dictation and records meetings without a bot joining the call. The app is free with your own API keys or local models, but it's Mac only, the managed models are $29 a month or $240 a year, and the license is for personal, non-commercial use.

ToolGPA report cardAlterGraded Oct 10, 2026

Subject	Grade	Comment
Value for money	A	Local+ is $29 for the year, about $2.50 a month, and the core app is free with your own keys. Pro is where it bites: $240 a year for the managed models, or $720 once for the Lifetime license.
Free plan and trial	B	Every core feature is yours free with your own API keys or local models, no card needed, and the first 7 days throw in 50+ cloud models. After that the models are on you, and dictation drops to the slower Whisper.
Features	B	It reads what's on screen, takes typed or spoken orders in 50+ languages and drops the answer where you're working. Add dictation, meeting recordings, 80+ actions and Workspaces over your own files, and the job's covered.
Ease of use	C	The first week needs no setup. After that the free plan wants your own API key, or a local model through Ollama or LM Studio, so there are accounts to sort out first. No App Store rating on record either.
Platforms and integrations	D	Mac only, and macOS 14 or later at that. iPhone, Android and Windows are mentioned only as possible future platforms. On the Mac it connects to Apple Calendar and Mail, and on Pro to Gmail, Slack, Notion and Linear.

Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Alter is for

Fits if you work on a Mac and want an assistant that can see the window you're in
Works for recording meetings on your own machine, with no bot joining the call

Who it is not for

Skip it if you're on Windows or want it on your phone, because it's Mac only, macOS 14 or later
Pricey if you want the managed models month to month, at $29 against $240 for the year
Not for you if it's for work, as the terms grant the license for personal, non-commercial use
Watch out: unlimited means fair use, and past a monthly budget your requests go to lower-cost models
Tight if you use several machines, since every plan is one user with one device in active use at a time

Good to know

Good for

Mac users who want an assistant that sees the app they are working in
People who prefer speaking requests and dictating text
Recording meetings on the device without a bot in the call

Worth knowing

It runs on macOS 14 or later only. iOS, Android and Windows are mentioned only as possible future platforms.
The 2,000+ remote tools, model routers and managed access to cloud models are limited to Pro and Lifetime; the free plan needs your own API keys or local models.
Unlimited use is subject to fair use: past a monthly budget, requests are routed to lower-cost models.
All plans are single-user licenses with one device in active use at a time, and the terms grant the license for personal, non-commercial purposes.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$2.42

A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too

Alter has a free plan. Paid plans start at $29 per year (Local+), or $3.50 billed monthly.

After that the models are on you, and dictation drops to the slower Whisper.

From our grade for free plan and trial

Free
$0
Every core feature with your own API keys or local models. Dictation and meeting recording run on the slower standard Whisper model.
Local+
$29
per year, or $3.50 billed monthly
Adds real-time local speech-to-text models (Whisper Pro and Parakeet V3) for dictation and meeting recordings, with speaker identification. Up to 3 devices.
Pro
$240
per year, or $29 billed monthly
Unlimited requests to 50+ cloud models under fair use, model routers, the API gateway, unlimited meeting recordings and 2,000+ remote tools.
Lifetime
$720
one-time payment
The same access as the subscription plan with no recurring billing, plus future platform upgrades. Single user, one device in use at a time.

The free plan

All core features with your own API keys or local models, no credit card required. Remote tools, model routers and managed access to 50+ cloud models need Pro.

Trying it first

7 days of unlimited access to 50+ AI models after download, no credit card required.

Read from alterhq.com on Oct 6, 2026.

Ways to pay less

Annual discount
Save 30% with yearly billing
Alter's pricing page lists a 30% saving on yearly billing: Pro is $240 a year against $29 a month, and Local+ is $29 a year against $3.50 a month.
Stated on alterhq.com
Lifetime license
Lifetime license for $720
A one-time payment gives permanent access at the same level as the subscription plan, including future platform upgrades, for a single user.
Stated on alterhq.com
Education
Student and academic discount
Students and academics can request special pricing by emailing Alter from a university address. The amount is not published.
Stated on alterhq.com
Nonprofit
Non-profit discount on request
Non-profit organizations can request special pricing by emailing Alter with documentation. The amount is not published.
Stated on alterhq.com

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

Place it runs: macOS

Voice-driven Mac AI assistant that reads on-screen context. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, one-time purchase, AI features, meeting notes, dictation, chat assistant.

iPhone, Android and Windows are mentioned only as possible future platforms.

From our grade for platforms and integrations

Screen and app context: Alter reads what is on screen and in the active app, so a request can refer to the current window, file, email or web page, and the answer can be inserted straight into that app.
Voice commands and dictation: Speech-to-prompt and dictation work in more than 50 languages with automatic detection. Local+ and Pro use faster models that transcribe in real time.
Meeting recordings: Records online and in-person meetings without a bot joining the call, then produces summaries and reports you can chat with. Speaker identification needs Local+ or Pro.
Actions and automation: More than 80 built-in actions and your own custom ones run on the current context. Pro connects 2,000+ remote tools such as Gmail, Notion and Linear alongside Apple Calendar and Mail.
Your keys, local models or managed access: Use your own API keys, run models locally with Ollama or LM Studio, or let Pro route requests across 50+ cloud models, which are also exposed through an OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
Workspaces and files: Workspaces group and index files and folders for reference, and chats accept PDF, XLSX, DOCX and other files. YouTube transcripts are summarized without a browser extension.

Where it runs

macOS

What it works with

Gmail
Slack
Notion
Linear
HubSpot
Apple Calendar
Apple Mail
Ollama

Alter is made by Alter.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

23/57

Other AI assistants it is graded above

Alter's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 23 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 6.

It stands best on value for money (A, above 38 of 57) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).

Its paid plans start at $2.42 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 0 of the 38 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. Alter’s own letter is outlined.

AValue for money
Above 38 of 57
BFree plan and trial
Above 34 of 57
BFeatures
Above 28 of 57
CEase of use
Above 3 of 57
DPlatforms and integrations
Above 0 of 57

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 45 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Alter is the marked dot.

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

To replace Alter you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $29 a year.

What you could not

An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
A bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes.
A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
It plugs into other products, Gmail, Slack and Notion among them.
The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. Alter’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

BoltAI, Elephas, Fello AI and ChatGPT

The 4 tools Alter is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

2.4GPA
BoltAI
Free trial · from $79 one-time
Native Mac AI client that runs on your own API keys.
- Alter has a free plan. BoltAI does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only BoltAI lists an iOS app.
- Alter also covers meeting notes.
Alter and BoltAI compared in full
1.8GPA
Elephas
Free plan · from $15.83/mo
Private AI knowledge assistant for Mac with local indexing.
- Only Elephas lists an iOS app.
- Alter can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Alter also covers meeting notes and dictation.
Alter and Elephas compared in full
2.4GPA
Fello AI
Free plan · from $11.99/mo
Native Apple app with 20+ AI models under one subscription.
- Only Fello AI lists an iOS app.
- Alter can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Alter also covers meeting notes.
Alter and Fello AI compared in full
3.4GPA
ChatGPT
Free plan · from $8/mo
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice.
- Only ChatGPT lists a web app.
- Only ChatGPT lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Alter can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Alter and ChatGPT compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is Alter free?

Alter has a free plan. All core features with your own API keys or local models, no credit card required.

How much does Alter cost?

Alter lists 4 plans. Free: $0.

What platforms does Alter work on?

Alter is available on macOS.

Does Alter offer any discounts?

Alter publicly lists the following: Save 30% with yearly billing; Lifetime license for $720; Student and academic discount; Non-profit discount on request.

Does Alter have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Alter is listed for macOS.

Does Alter have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Alter is listed for macOS.

Is Alter open source?

Alter is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.

Does Alter work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

What does Alter integrate with?

Alter's listing names Gmail, Slack, Notion, Linear, HubSpot, Apple Calendar, Apple Mail and Ollama.

Does Alter have a student discount?

Student and academic discount. Students and academics can request special pricing by emailing Alter from a university address.

Does Alter have a free trial?

Yes. 7 days of unlimited access to 50+ AI models after download, no credit card required.

Who makes Alter?

Alter is made by a company of the same name.

What are the alternatives to Alter?

The closest alternatives to Alter in our directory are BoltAI, Elephas, Fello AI and ChatGPT.

How does Alter compare with other AI assistants?

Alter's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 23 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 6.

Is Alter good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Alter A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.42 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 0 of the 38 others that charge start lower.

Could I make my own version of Alter?

To replace Alter you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Alter’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Alter's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-09.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Alter. Prices change, so check alterhq.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

3,189

Tools graded, in 94 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "Alter: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/alter

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See our other guides

The best-graded AI assistants after Alter, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

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Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Alter’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Alter is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Alter. Prices and plans change: check alterhq.com before you buy.