What is BEAM?
BEAM is a native ChatGPT app for macOS, built natively rather than using Electron. It features low memory usage, fast responsiveness, and adherence to macOS’s native design language. Users can instantly summon the floating chat window via a hotkey (e.g., Ctrl+Space), ask questions while selecting text and insert answers with one click—all without interrupting their current workflow. The product places a strong emphasis on privacy and security: it runs in a sandboxed environment with no system-level access; all data is stored locally and communicates only with OpenAI servers, ensuring developers cannot access any user input. Since its release, it has earned the trust of over 1,500 users and continues to evolve through regular updates.
Key features
Press a hotkey (such as Ctrl+Space) to bring up the floating chat panel, interact in real time at the top of any app window, and even ask questions directly after selecting text, with replies inserted into the original text with a single click.
You can capture images of any screen area and have ChatGPT analyze and interpret them, enabling “what you see is what you ask” visual interaction.
Use cases and audience
macOS users—especially those who frequently rely on AI for writing assistance, reading comprehension, system automation, and who value privacy, low resource consumption, and a native experience—are ideal candidates.
- Access the floating ChatGPT panel anytime on macOS—no need to switch windows or copy-paste—keeping your current workflow intact.
- After selecting any area on your screen, simply ask ChatGPT a question to enable “Chat With Your Screen.”
- Upload PDF documents and use ChatGPT for summarization, Q&A, and content analysis.
OpenAI API keys, user-selected text, screen-capture regions, local PDF documents, custom prompt templates, and AI configuration files
Text responses generated by ChatGPT, response content that can be inserted into the current application with one click, PDF summaries and Q&A results, and structured outputs populated based on templates
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to use Beam?
No. Beam directly calls the OpenAI API; you only need your own API key—no ChatGPT Plus subscription required.
Do I need developer status or an API key to use Beam?
No developer account is required; however, you must obtain and enter your own OpenAI API key (not your ChatGPT account password).
How to use
- 01
Download the Beam native macOS app.
- 02
Enter your OpenAI API key (no ChatGPT Plus subscription required).
- 03
Press CTRL + SPACE to quickly bring up the floating chat panel.
- 04
Select text or an area on your screen, ask a question, and insert the response with one click.
Pricing and availability
It operates on a “pay-what-you-want” model, with no fixed pricing, no subscription period, and no free trial offered. There’s also no mention of word/character limits, commercial-use restrictions, or annual/monthly payment options.
- Pricing source
- https://www.getbeam.ai/
- Pricing last updated
- 2026-10-29
Prices and limits may change. Check the official website for current terms.
Official website & sources
Sources
Updated on 2026-10-30
