Keep ChatGPT for long conversations, research and reasoning; it has a Mac app, and Plus is $20 a month. Pick ahsk if what you mostly do is write: hold fn, speak, and cleaned-up text lands at the cursor in any app. It also translates into 50+ languages as you speak and answers questions by voice. Many people use both.
Where ChatGPT is the right tool
ChatGPT is a general AI assistant. Its Mac app opens from anywhere with Option+Space, takes screenshots and files, and can work with some other apps. For long back-and-forth conversations, research, reasoning through a problem, or generating images, it is built for that and ahsk is not.
Where ahsk is the right tool
ahsk is built for getting words down. Hold fn, speak, release, and your text is typed at the cursor in Mail, Slack, Docs or VS Code, with fillers removed and punctuation and paragraphs added. There is no chat window to copy from. Voice modes (Informal, Formal, Mail) shape the tone, and a personal dictionary spells your names and jargon.
AI without leaving your app
Highlight text anywhere and a small bar offers Ask, Rewrite, Translate and Search. Hold fn+Control to ask a question by voice and get a web-sourced answer in a card; press Return to insert it. Hold fn+Shift to speak one language and paste another, in any of 50+ languages.
Privacy
ahsk sends audio to the cloud for transcription. Audio is not stored on our servers and is not used for training. Your dictionary and learned words stay on your device.
On price
ChatGPT has a free tier, Go at $8 a month and Plus at $20 a month. ahsk is free for your first 10,000 dictated words with no card, and Pro is €9.99 a month for Mac, Windows and iPhone.
Key Features
Dictate into any app
Text lands at the cursor where you are working. No chat window, no copy and paste.
Cleaned-up text
Fillers removed, punctuation and paragraphs added, in the tone of the voice mode you pick.
Translate as you speak
Hold fn+Shift, speak your language, and the text lands in any of 50+ languages.
Ask by voice
Hold fn+Control, ask a question, and get a web-sourced answer you can insert with Return.
Selection bubble
Highlight text and choose Ask, Rewrite, Translate or Search.
Mac, Windows and iPhone
One account, one dictionary. Ctrl+Win on Windows, a keyboard on iPhone.
Comparison
| Feature | ChatGPT | ahsk |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Chat assistant | Voice dictation with AI cleanup |
| Mac app | Yes, opens with Option+Space | Yes, lives in the menu bar |
| Types into the app you are using | You copy the answer | Yes, at the cursor |
| Translate while dictating | Ask in the chat | Yes, fn+Shift, 50+ languages |
| Long conversations and research | Yes | Short answers in a card |
| Starting price | Free tier; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo | Free for 10,000 words; Pro €9.99/mo |
Try ahsk next to ChatGPT
Stop copying answers out of a chat window. Free for your first 10,000 words.
Download for MacRelated guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ahsk as good as ChatGPT?
They do different jobs. ChatGPT is better for long conversations and research. ahsk is for writing by voice in whatever app you are in, with quick AI rewriting and answers on a shortcut.
Can I use ahsk instead of ChatGPT?
For dictating, rewriting selected text, translating and quick questions, yes. For deep research, long chats or image generation, keep ChatGPT.
Which AI models does ahsk use?
Whisper large-v3 transcribes your speech in the cloud, and a second model cleans up the text. Answers to questions come from a web-search model.
Does ahsk work outside the Mac?
Yes. The same account works on Windows (Ctrl+Win to dictate) and on iPhone as a keyboard. There is no Android app.
Is ahsk free?
ahsk is free to start: 10,000 dictated words, no card required. Pro is €9.99 a month if you need more.
