PromptBar provides one-keystroke access (⌥⌘O) to any AI chat interface from the Mac menu bar. The app presents a distraction-free popover without a Dock icon or separate window, supporting both web-based chat platforms and native streaming connections to OpenAI-compatible API endpoints. (Free, open-source)
Users configure PromptBar to wrap any web-based chat service — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, or others — and switch between services via the menu bar. For API-based connections, the app supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints with native server-sent event streaming and multi-conversation history management. API keys are stored in the macOS Keychain rather than configuration files, keeping credentials away from plain-text storage.
A prompt library allows saving, tagging, and searching reusable prompts across different chat interfaces. The interface supports SF Symbol icons, color tints, and three window sizes. An always-on-top mode keeps the chat popover visible over other windows. One-click clearing of WebKit cookies and cache maintains privacy for web-wrapped chat sessions.
The design follows an “empty by default” principle — no chat services or providers are bundled; users configure only what they want to use.
System requirements: macOS 26 or later. Xcode 26+ required only for building from source.
Pricing: Free. Open source on GitHub. Optional Ko-fi purchase supports the developer; the binary is identical to the free version.
Limitations: Requires macOS 26 or later, limiting compatibility to current macOS. Web-wrapped chats depend on the respective service’s web interface remaining stable. Does not support model selection or system prompt configuration beyond what the wrapped web chat provides natively.
Alternatives: Sidekick provides an Electron-based multi-service AI launcher with broader macOS version support. Raycast AI extension offers AI access as part of the Raycast launcher. PopClip with AI actions provides selection-based AI access without a persistent menu bar window.
Suitable for users who want lightweight, keyboard-driven access to multiple AI chat services from the menu bar without committing to a single provider’s native application.
