Cai Pricing 2026
Complete pricing guide for Cai — plans, costs, and free options.
💰 Cai Pricing Overview
Cai uses a open source pricing model. Free and open-source software you can self-host. Current pricing: Free and open source under the MIT licence, with no paid tier, account or API key required. A local model (Ministral 3B via MLX) is bundled, so the default configuration costs nothing to run. Optional back ends — Apple Intelligence on macOS 26+, LM Studio, Ollama, or a cloud API — are the user's own to pay for if chosen. Installed via `brew tap cai-layer/cai && brew install --cask cai` or a direct download.. Cai is a popular productivity tool known for a free, mit-licensed macos action layer: select anything, press option-c, and run chained ai prompts, scripts and destinations locally with a built-in model and no account.. You can get started with Cai for free and upgrade to a paid plan as your needs grow.
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🔍 Compare Before You Buy
See all 5 alternatives →Comparing Cai to similar tools helps you make the best choice for your budget and needs:
Atua
PaidmacOS command runner that chains AI, native Mac tools, and MCP servers under a hotkey
Starting at $29 one-time
Compare with Cai →n8n
Open SourceOpen-source workflow automation with native AI nodes — Zapier but self-hostable
Free to use
Compare with Cai →Desktop Commander
PaidDesktop agent and MCP server that gives any model real file and terminal access on your own machine
Starting at $20 one-time
Compare with Cai →Complete Your Productivity Stack
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Cai Plans & Pricing
Free
Open source under the MIT licence, with no paid tier, account or API key required
* Pricing information is based on publicly available data and may not reflect current promotions, annual discounts, or regional pricing. Visit the official Cai website for the latest pricing.
Is Cai Free?
Cai is open-source software that you can use, modify, and self-host completely for free. This makes it an excellent choice for developers and organizations who want full control over their deployment. Some managed hosting or cloud-based versions may have associated costs.
Check Cai pricing at the source
The breakdown above is our summary of Cai's published pricing, not a quote. Plans, limits and what each tier includes change without notice — confirm on Cai's own pages before you buy.
Official Cai site ↗We do not represent Cai and these links are not paid placements.
Is Cai Worth It?
Cai is a free productivity tool that offers 6 key features including Option-C over any selection in any macOS app — no window switching, Chain actions: AI prompt → script → destination (Slack, webhook, AppleScript, Shortcuts), Context-aware action surfacing for meetings, addresses, code and images. Cai is a free, open-source AI action layer for macOS that sits between a text selection and whatever you want done with it. Select text or an image anywhere in the system, press Option-C, and a list of actions appears: AI prompts, terminal scripts, URL shortcuts, summaries, translations, OCR, opening a GitHub issue over MCP, filing a Linear ticket. The distinction the project draws is precise and worth repeating — a clipboard manager stores your selection, and a chat app requires you to switch to it and paste; Cai acts on the selection inline, where it already is. Actions are composable rather than one-shot: you can save chains that pipe a selection through an AI prompt, then a script, then a destination such as Slack, a webhook, AppleScript or an Apple Shortcut, all behind a single keystroke. It reads what was selected — a meeting invite, an address, a code block, a screenshot — and surfaces the relevant actions automatically instead of showing a fixed menu. A local model, Ministral 3B running through MLX, ships built in, so there is no API key, account or setup step before first use; Apple Intelligence on macOS 26 and later, LM Studio, Ollama and cloud APIs are all supported as alternatives. MIT licensed, installable through Homebrew.
✅ Cai is a good choice if you need:
- •Option-C over any selection in any macOS app — no window switching
- •Chain actions: AI prompt → script → destination (Slack, webhook, AppleScript, Shortcuts)
- •Context-aware action surfacing for meetings, addresses, code and images
- •Built-in local model (Ministral 3B via MLX) — no API key or account
- •MCP support for creating GitHub issues and Linear tickets from a selection
💡 Value Assessment
With a free tier available, Cai is an easy recommendation for anyone looking to try productivity tools without financial commitment. The paid plans offer good value for power users who need the additional features and higher usage limits.
Cai Key Features
Cai comes packed with features that make it a strong contender in the productivity space. Here's what you get:
Option-C over any selection in any macOS app — no window switching helps you work more efficiently with Cai.
Powered by advanced AI models, Cai delivers intelligent content generation capabilities.
Context-aware action surfacing for meetings, addresses, code and images helps you work more efficiently with Cai.
Integrate Cai into your own applications and workflows via the API.
MCP support for creating GitHub issues and Linear tickets from a selection helps you work more efficiently with Cai.
Optional LM Studio, Ollama, Apple Intelligence or cloud back ends helps you work more efficiently with Cai.
Cai Alternatives & Their Pricing
Considering alternatives to Cai? Here's how competing tools compare on pricing:
Atua
PaidmacOS command runner that chains AI, native Mac tools, and MCP servers under a hotkey
Pricing: Lifetime license, one-time $29, with a 7-day money-back guarantee. Bring your own API key — model usage is billed by your provider, not by Atua.
n8n
Open SourceOpen-source workflow automation with native AI nodes — Zapier but self-hostable
Pricing: Open source (Sustainable Use License). Cloud Starter €20/mo, Pro €50/mo, Enterprise custom.
Desktop Commander
PaidDesktop agent and MCP server that gives any model real file and terminal access on your own machine
Pricing: One plan: a monthly AI usage credits bundle ranging from $20 to $200 per month, with model access included, bundle size changeable at any time, and cancellation any time. New accounts get free starting credits. The MCP server can also be installed into an existing MCP client.
Monday.com
FreemiumFlexible work OS with AI automation for projects, CRM & team workflows
Pricing: Free (2 seats, basic). Basic $12/seat/mo, Standard $14/seat/mo, Pro $24/seat/mo, Enterprise custom
Spokenly
FreemiumCross-platform AI dictation with free offline models and an MCP server for coding agents
Pricing: Two permanently free paths: local models ($0 forever, unlimited, offline, no account) and bring-your-own API keys ($0 forever, Spokenly charges nothing). Pro is $8.33/month billed $99.99 per year for high-accuracy cloud models and cross-device sync, with a 14-day refund.
Is Cai your tool?
Claim this listing to get a Featured badge, correct the pricing on this page yourself, and stand out from the 5 alternatives listed above. All plans include a permanent dofollow backlink to your site.
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Visit the official website for the latest pricing and to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cai free to use?
Yes, Cai offers a free open-source version that you can use without paying. The free version includes core functionality.
How much does Cai cost in 2026?
As of 2026, Cai pricing is: Free and open source under the MIT licence, with no paid tier, account or API key required. A local model (Ministral 3B via MLX) is bundled, so the default configuration costs nothing to run. Optional back ends — Apple Intelligence on macOS 26+, LM Studio, Ollama, or a cloud API — are the user's own to pay for if chosen. Installed via `brew tap cai-layer/cai && brew install --cask cai` or a direct download.. Pricing may vary based on billing cycle (monthly vs annual) and region. Visit the official Cai website for the most current pricing.
What are the best alternatives to Cai?
Popular alternatives to Cai include Atua, n8n, Desktop Commander. Each offers different features and pricing structures. Compare them on AISO Tools to find the best fit for your needs and budget.
Is Cai worth the price?
Cai is well-regarded in the productivity space, offering features like Option-C over any selection in any macOS app — no window switching, Chain actions: AI prompt → script → destination (Slack, webhook, AppleScript, Shortcuts), Context-aware action surfacing for meetings, addresses, code and images. Whether it's worth the investment depends on your specific needs, usage volume, and budget. The free tier lets you try it before committing to a paid plan.
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