Best AI Apps for Mac (2026)
The best AI apps for Mac are ChatGPT and Claude for cloud assistants, Raycast for AI inside a launcher, and Ollama or LM Studio for running models locally and offline. Each installs with one Homebrew command.
How we pick: every app here installs via Homebrew, runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel, and is ranked on real-world use, value, and maintenance. Our methodology.
- 1
ChatGPT
FreeOpenAI’s native Mac app with a launcher shortcut, screen and voice context, and the latest GPT models.
Best for: General-purpose AI assistance
brew install --cask chatgpt - 2
Claude
FreeAnthropic’s native Mac app for long-context reasoning, writing, and coding with file uploads.
Best for: Long-document reasoning and coding
brew install --cask claude - 3
Raycast
FreeA fast launcher with built-in AI commands and quick AI chat woven into your workflow.
Best for: AI inside a launcher
brew install --cask raycast - 4
Ollama
FreeRun open-source LLMs (Llama, Mistral, Qwen) locally and offline through a simple command line.
Best for: Private, offline local models
brew install --cask ollama - 5
LM Studio
FreeA desktop GUI to discover, download, and run local LLMs with a chat UI and a local API server.
Best for: Running local models without the terminal
brew install --cask lm-studio