Kerlig

Kerlig is a native macOS AI writing and communication assistant that streamlines written communication across email, Slack, Jira, and more. It integrates via a global hotkey (⌥+space), allowing you to access AI-powered actions without leaving your current app. The app supports over 350 AI models from providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq, Ollama, and OpenRouter, giving you flexibility to choose the best model for each task. It's ideal for professionals who write frequently—designers, product managers, engineers, and business owners—who want to save time on emails, Slack replies, proofreading, and document analysis. Key features include built-in and custom actions (presets), attachment support (webpages, PDFs, images), chat interface for deeper conversations, and deep research with reasoning models and citations. A recent update (2.6.0) adds the ability to save attachments as Markdown. Kerlig supports local models (Apple Foundation Models, Ollama, LM Studio) and offers a one-time purchase pricing model (no subscription) with strong privacy—messages go directly to AI providers and are stored encrypted on your Mac. Kerlig also offers team deployment via CLI, headless mode, and a chat history with easy navigation. It's a solid choice for macOS users who want a powerful, customizable AI assistant without monthly fees. Positioned as a privacy-focused, subscription-free alternative to cloud-based assistants like Grammarly or ChatGPT, Kerlig requires you to bring your own API keys but eliminates recurring costs beyond token usage.