In the growing landscape of productivity tools powered by artificial intelligence, Cluely has emerged as a smart AI companion offering advanced on-screen assistance and automatic note-taking. However, many Mac users are asking the same question: “Is there a free alternative to Cluely for Mac?” Whether you're a student looking for AI-generated summaries, a professional who needs live meeting notes, or a multitasker wanting context-aware assistance, this article dives deep into the available free alternatives that offer similar—if not better—functionality for macOS users.

What Is Cluely?

Before diving into the alternatives, it’s important to understand what Cluely offers. Cluely is an AI overlay tool designed for real-time productivity enhancement. It functions as a virtual assistant that sits on your screen, analyzing your activity and offering smart suggestions, summaries, reminders, and contextual notes. It’s used by students, remote workers, and professionals who need assistance while multitasking across different apps.

While Cluely is feature-rich, its premium pricing and limited free features make many users look for alternatives—particularly ones that offer free or open-source solutions without sacrificing performance.

Why Look for a Free Alternative?

There are several reasons users might seek out a free Cluely alternative:

• Cost Savings: Cluely may require a paid subscription for its full feature set, which might not be affordable for students or freelancers.

• Limited Trial Features: Its free version may not include on-screen assistance or long-form note generation.

• Privacy Concerns: Some users are more comfortable using open-source or offline AI tools where data privacy is more transparent.

• System Compatibility: Not all features in Cluely work seamlessly with every macOS update or app.

Key Features to Look for in a Cluely Alternative

When searching for a free alternative to Cluely, keep an eye out for tools that offer:

• Automatic note-taking

• On-screen overlay or floating assistant

• Meeting and video summarization

• OCR and screen text detection

• AI-powered suggestions or contextual help

• Support for macOS interface integration

Top Free Alternatives to Cluely for Mac

1. Notion AI (Free Tier + Student Plan)

Notion is a popular productivity app, and with its recent integration of Notion AI, it’s become a powerful alternative to Cluely. While Notion lacks a live on-screen overlay, it can still generate summaries, auto-filled notes, and task suggestions with AI prompts.

• Pros: Clean interface, robust AI tools, student-friendly plans

• Cons: No real-time on-screen overlay

• Free Option: Available with limitations, especially for students

2. Tana (Beta Access – Free)

Tana is another emerging tool that blends note-taking with AI automation and contextual linking. While it’s primarily a workspace for structured thinking, its auto-tagging, smart content suggestion, and query-based note linking make it a great free tool for users who want automated insights.

• Pros: Smart structure, AI insights, and automation

• Cons: No floating assistant UI

• Free Option: Currently free in beta

3. Obsidian + GPT Plugins (Free/Open-Source)

Obsidian is a Markdown-based note-taking tool, and with its community plugins, you can integrate GPT models to generate AI-based summaries and even auto-tag or organize notes based on screen content.

• Pros: Fully customizable, offline, privacy-friendly

• Cons: Setup requires manual plugin installation

• Free Option: Fully open-source and free

4. Raycast AI (Free for Basic Use)

Raycast is a macOS productivity launcher that recently introduced AI capabilities. With Raycast, you can run commands and queries using a keyboard shortcut, and the AI will help you write emails, summarize text, and manage tasks. It doesn’t sit on your screen like Cluely, but it’s fast, keyboard-driven, and AI-augmented.

• Pros: Lightweight, fast, AI-enhanced

• Cons: Not an always-on overlay

• Free Option: Basic tier available

5. Screennote + Whisper AI (DIY Setup)

If you’re technically inclined, you can combine free tools like Screennote (for screen recording/annotation) with OpenAI’s Whisper (for transcription) to create a custom on-screen note-taking system. Add tools like PopClip for floating note options and you’re nearly replicating Cluely’s features.

• Pros: Highly customizable

• Cons: Requires manual setup, technical know-how

• Free Option: All tools are free or open-source

Other Honorable Mentions

• Google Keep + Chrome Extensions – For users who want floating notes via Chrome overlays.

• Liner – A free AI-powered reading assistant that summarizes web pages and articles.

• Superpowered – Free meeting assistant for Mac with automatic meeting transcription and AI summaries (ideal for Zoom, Google Meet, etc.).

• Krisp AI – Offers meeting summaries along with background noise cancellation.

How to Decide Which Tool Is Right for You

Here’s a quick comparison based on specific needs:

If you want the closest experience to Cluely without paying, you might need to combine 2-3 free tools (e.g., Superpowered + Raycast + Obsidian). While none of them alone perfectly replicate Cluely’s features, together they form a powerful alternative ecosystem.

Final Thoughts: Cluely Is Great, But Not the Only Option

So, is there a free alternative to Cluely for Mac? Absolutely—many, in fact.

From powerful note-takers like Notion AI to developer-friendly tools like Obsidian and even real-time summarizers like Superpowered, the Mac ecosystem offers a wide range of free tools that can match or even exceed Cluely’s value in specific scenarios.

If you're willing to explore and experiment, you can build your own personalized productivity system using a combination of free Mac-compatible tools. Whether you prioritize privacy, minimalism, or comprehensive AI integration, there’s something out there that fits your workflow—without breaking the bank.

Tip: If you need a starting point, try Superpowered for live meeting summaries and Notion AI for post-meeting notes. Combine with Raycast or Alfred for rapid command execution—and you’re set with a free Cluely-style setup.