Looking for an honest Elephas.app review? Discover its AI-powered writing tools, inline suggestions, templates, pricing, pros & cons, and how it stacks up against other AI writing assistants.
What Is Elephas.app?
Elephas.app is a macOS and iOS–native AI writing assistant that brings the power of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 directly into your favorite applications—Notes, Mail, Pages, Microsoft Office, even Final Cut Pro. Rather than forcing you into a separate web interface, Elephas lives in your menu bar and via a system-wide shortcut, letting you write, edit, brainstorm, and optimize text in any app.
Key Features & How They Work
Feature | What It Does | Tags |
---|---|---|
Inline Suggestions | Summarizes, paraphrases, or expands selected text without leaving your app | inline AI editor, text enhancement |
Global Shortcut & Menu | Invoke Elephas in any app with a keyboard shortcut or menu-bar icon | system-wide AI, menu-bar assistant |
GPT-4 & GPT-3.5 Support | Choose model per request—GPT-4 for high-quality output, GPT-3.5 for speed | GPT-4 writing, AI models |
Custom Prompts & Macros | Create, store, and share reusable prompts or multi-step workflows | prompt library, AI macros |
Templates Library | Pre-built templates for blog posts, emails, social captions, SEO briefs | writing templates, SEO content |
Privacy & Security | Uses your own OpenAI API key; no Elephas-hosted data retention | data privacy, secure AI writing |
Offline Drafts | Compose or edit drafts offline; sync when you’re back online | offline writing, sync |
User Experience & Interface
- Seamless Integration: Works inside virtually any text field—no copy-paste.
- Minimal Learning Curve: A quick 2-minute tutorial walks you through installing the menu-bar helper and setting your OpenAI key.
- Clean, Native UI: macOS Monterey and Ventura design language, dark mode support.
- Speed & Stability: GPT-3.5 responses in ~1 sec; GPT-4 in ~2–3 sec. Occasional rate-limit prompts if your OpenAI rate cap is reached.
Pricing & Plans (as of June 2025)
Elephas offers flexible subscription plans starting at $14.99/month (Standard), with Pro and Pro+ plans available at $19.99 and $24.99 per month respectively. Each plan supports different device limits and feature sets. There is also a 30-day free trial to explore the app’s capabilities before committing to a subscription.
Pros & Cons
Pros
• True “system-wide” AI: use it in any macOS or iOS app without switching windows
• GPT-4 support for nuanced, high-quality text (on Pro)
• Custom macros and templates speed up recurring tasks
• No Elephas-hosted data—your content goes only to OpenAI servers you configure
• Affordable Pro tier compared to standalone web tools
Cons
• Reliant on OpenAI rate limits and pricing—heavy users may incur extra API costs
• GPT-4 quota on Free/Pro plans is limited
• iOS version lacks some Mac-only shortcuts (custom macros)
• Occasional API-key reauthorization needed if token expires
Elephas.app vs. Competitors
Feature | Elephas.app | ChatGPT Web | Raycast AI | Jasper.ai |
---|---|---|---|---|
Native macOS/iOS | ✅ | ❌ (browser only) | ✅ | ❌ (web & desktop) |
System-wide integration | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
GPT-4 support | ✅ (limited on Free) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Custom macros/prompts | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (plugins) | ✅ |
Offline draft support | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Pricing (entry) | Free | Free | Free | $29/mo |
Bottom Line: If you need AI help directly inside macOS or iOS apps—no web browser juggling—Elephas.app is the go-to solution.
Real-World User Feedback
“I write emails, blog drafts, and social captions all day. Elephas living in my menu bar saves me at least 20 minutes per document.” – Marketing Lead, SaaS Startup
“Setting up custom macros was a game-changer. Now one shortcut generates a full SEO outline for new posts.” – Freelance Writer
“The free tier gave me a taste, but upgrading to Pro for the extra GPT-4 calls was totally worth it.” – Product Manager
Who Should Use Elephas.app?
- Content marketers who juggle blog posts, social media, and newsletters
- Freelance writers and consultants needing high-quality drafts on demand
- Developers and technical writers crafting documentation and commit messages
- Business professionals writing emails, reports, and presentations
- macOS/iOS power users who hate context-switching
Final Verdict
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5)
Elephas.app stands out by embedding GPT-powered writing tools directly into your operating system. Its combination of inline suggestions, custom macros, and native UI makes it a productivity boost for any writer or professional. The reliance on your own OpenAI key keeps data private but can add to your API costs. For frequent AI users on Mac and iPhone, Elephas.app is a must-try.
FAQs
Q: Do I need an OpenAI account?
A: Yes—Elephas.app requires your own API key (OpenAI or Azure). No additional accounts needed.
Q: Can I share my custom prompts with teammates?
A: Team plans include a shared prompt library; individuals can export/import JSON prompts.
Q: Is there an Android version?
A: No—currently macOS and iOS only.
Q: How many GPT-4 calls do I get on Pro?
A: 50 calls per day; unlimited GPT-3.5.
Q: Does Elephas store my text?
A: No—your text is sent only to OpenAI endpoints tied to your API key.