The ChatGPT alternative built for Mac
Why pay $20/mo for one model? Elvean gives you ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and 300+ AI models in one native Mac app. Bring your own API keys, pay only for what you use.
Rich Content
Itineraries with inline photos and formatted details
Sortable Tables
Structured data you can sort and explore inline
Built-in Tools
Web search, image search, MCP servers, and charts
Interactive Charts
Chart.js and TradingView charts rendered in conversations
Threaded Conversations
Branch into side threads without losing context
Agentic Research
Multi-step tool calling that fetches and presents findings
Photo Galleries
Image grids fetched and arranged automatically
Apple Maps
Interactive maps embedded in conversations with pinned locations
Works with the models you already use
Ollama 
Claude 
OpenAI 
Gemini 
Grok 
DeepSeek 
Qwen 
Cerebras 
OpenRouter + Groq, LM Studio, MLX, and any OpenAI-compatible API
Features
Everything ChatGPT does, and more
Elvean isn't just a ChatGPT alternative — it's a complete AI workspace for Mac. Every feature is designed to keep you in flow.
Every model, not just GPT
ChatGPT locks you into OpenAI. Elvean connects to every major AI provider and your local models in one native interface. Switch between GPT-4o, Claude, and Gemini mid-conversation. Bring your own API keys, pay providers directly, no markup.
- Ollama, LM Studio, MLX, Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, Grok, Cerebras, DeepSeek
- 300+ models via OpenRouter — including any OpenAI-compatible API
- Switch models mid-conversation with @mentions
- API keys stored in macOS Keychain, never on our servers
Responses that come alive
AI responses shouldn't be walls of text. Elvean renders charts you can interact with, tables you can sort, maps you can explore, and image galleries you can browse — all inline, right in the conversation.
- Interactive Chart.js charts and Mermaid diagrams
- Sortable, filterable tables with structured data
- Embedded Apple Maps with pinned locations
- Photo galleries fetched and arranged automatically
- Real-time weather forecasts via Apple WeatherKit
AI that takes action
Go beyond question and answer. Elvean's agentic tools let models search the web, chain multiple steps together, and connect to external services through MCP. Ask a question, and watch it research, analyze, and present findings.
- Multi-step agentic tool calling with live progress
- Web search with inline citations and source links
- MCP server connections for files, databases, and APIs
- Image and video search built in
Conversations that stay organized
Long conversations get messy. Elvean brings Slack-style threads to AI — branch off into a side discussion without losing your main context. Fork any message to explore a different direction. Your thinking stays structured.
- Threaded conversations — branch without losing context
- Fork any message to explore alternate directions
- Folders, favorites, and full-text search across all chats
- Cmd+F find within any conversation
Native Mac app, not an Electron wrapper
ChatGPT's desktop app is an Electron wrapper — a web page in a frame. Elvean is built with SwiftUI from the ground up. It launches instantly, uses minimal memory, and respects every macOS convention. Keyboard shortcuts, dark mode, and a system-wide prompt panel that works from any app.
- Native SwiftUI — optimized for Apple Silicon and Intel
- System-wide prompt panel: select text anywhere, hit a hotkey, get AI
- Prompt library with variable placeholders and Cmd+/ access
- Per-conversation settings: temperature, tokens, system prompts
Private by default. Not by afterthought.
Your conversations never touch our servers. Local models through Ollama, LM Studio, or MLX run fully offline — no internet, no data leaves your machine. When you use cloud providers, data goes directly to them. API keys live in your macOS Keychain. No telemetry. No tracking. No account required.
And there's more
Pricing
Free to start, Pro when you're ready
No account required. Download and start chatting immediately.
Free
forever
- ✓ 300+ cloud models (BYOK)
- ✓ Ollama, LM Studio & MLX local models
- ✓ Unlimited conversations
- ✓ Folders & organization
- ✓ System-wide prompt panel
- ✓ Fork any message
- ✓ Prompt library
Pro
or $49.99/year (save 40%) · 7-day free trial on all plans
- ✓ Everything in Free, plus:
- ✓ Web, image & video search
- ✓ Interactive charts & diagrams
- ✓ Threads & @mention model switching
- ✓ Markdown editing of responses
- ✓ Unlimited MCP servers
- ✓ Export (Markdown, HTML, PDF)
- ✓ Priority support
What's New
Latest updates
Version 1.2.11
WeatherKit integration, CSV export, expandable charts and maps, and performance improvements.
Version 1.2.5
Improved onboarding flow and UI layout fixes.
Version 1.2.3 (Public Beta)
Native maps integration, videos and photos web search, interactive charts and tables.
FAQ
Common questions
What is the best ChatGPT alternative for Mac?
Elvean is a native Mac app that connects to every major AI model — not just GPT. You get ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, and 300+ models in one app, plus local models through Ollama. It's free to start, with Pro at $6.99/mo — less than half what ChatGPT Plus costs.
Can I still use GPT-4 and ChatGPT models?
Absolutely. Elvean connects directly to OpenAI's API. You get access to GPT-4o, GPT-4, and every OpenAI model. The difference is you use your own API key and pay only for what you use — often much cheaper than the flat $20/mo subscription.
Why is Elvean better than ChatGPT on Mac?
Three reasons: you're not locked into one provider, it's a native SwiftUI app (not Electron), and it costs less. Elvean also adds features ChatGPT doesn't have — interactive charts, threaded conversations, @mention model switching, MCP servers, and a system-wide prompt panel.
Is my data private?
We don't collect anything. No telemetry, no analytics, no conversation history on our servers. Local models are fully offline. API keys live in your Keychain. Your conversations stay on your Mac.
Does it work on Intel Macs?
Yes. Elvean runs on any Mac with macOS 13 or later — Intel or Apple Silicon. Local inference is faster on M-series chips, but the app works great on both.
Get Started
Ready to switch from ChatGPT?
Download, open, chat. No account required.