BoltAI
Native Mac AI client that runs on your own API keys
What is BoltAI?
BoltAI is a native macOS app for working with more than 300 AI models through your own API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Mistral, Azure OpenAI and Amazon Bedrock, or through local models in Ollama and LM Studio. Beyond chat it offers an overlay opened by a global shortcut, screenshot questions, dictation, reusable agents, projects and MCP tools. It is sold as a perpetual license with one year of updates, and chats are stored locally unless optional Cloud Sync is switched on.
BoltAI is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $79 one-time (Essential, 1 device, one year of updates). See every plan
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
BoltAI pricing
- Starts at
- $79 one-time (Essential, 1 device, one year of updates)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- Free trial with limited features and no account required; the site states no time limit.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $79one-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 | $99one-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+ | $199one-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 | $99per 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. |
Read from boltai.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with BoltAI before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Lifetime licensePerpetual 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.
Stated on boltai.com - Education50% 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.
Stated on boltai.com - Other savings40% 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.
Stated on help.boltai.com
Works with
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
- Google Gemini
- Mistral
- Azure OpenAI
- Amazon Bedrock
- Ollama
- LM Studio
BoltAI alternatives
- BoltAI vs TypingMind
Free plan · from $39 one-time
- BoltAI vs Chatbox
Free plan · from $3.50/mo
- BoltAI vs Msty
Free plan · from $149/yr
- BoltAI vs Elephas
Free plan · from $15.83/mo
- BoltAI vs Alter
Free plan · from $29/yr
Common questions
Is BoltAI free?
No, BoltAI is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial with limited features and no account required; the site states no time limit.
How much does BoltAI cost?
BoltAI lists 4 plans. Essential: $79 one-time, 1 device, one year of updates. Pro: $99 one-time, 2 desktop devices + 1 mobile, one year of updates. Pro+: $199 one-time, 3 desktop devices + 2 mobile, one year of updates. Team Perpetual: $99 per seat, one-time, 5-seat minimum. Prices were read from boltai.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What platforms does BoltAI work on?
BoltAI is available on macOS and iOS.
Does BoltAI offer any discounts?
BoltAI publicly lists the following: Perpetual license from $79; 50% off for students and educators; 40% off renewals for individual licenses.
Does BoltAI have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. BoltAI is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does BoltAI have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. BoltAI is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is BoltAI open source?
BoltAI is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does BoltAI 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 BoltAI integrate with?
BoltAI's listing names OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Mistral, Azure OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock, Ollama and LM Studio. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does BoltAI have a student discount?
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.
Who makes BoltAI?
BoltAI is made by BoltAI (Podzim LLC). It dates from 2023.
What are the alternatives to BoltAI?
The closest alternatives to BoltAI in our directory are TypingMind, Chatbox, Msty, Elephas and Alter. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with BoltAI.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.