TexTab

TexTab: Customizable AI Keyboard Shortcuts and Productivity Tool for macOS

Introduction:

TexTab is a powerful macOS productivity tool that allows users to turn any AI task into a custom keyboard shortcut. Currently in beta, it enables users to create unlimited AI actions using providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, and Perplexity. By bringing your own API keys, you can trigger AI-powered text processing, web searches, and native plugins across any Mac application without a subscription.

Added On:

2026-02-16

Monthly Visitors:

--K

Productivity

TexTab - AI Tool Screenshot and Interface Preview

TexTab Product Information

TexTab: Turn Any AI Task into a Keyboard Shortcut

In the modern digital workspace, efficiency is paramount. TexTab emerges as a revolutionary macOS utility designed to bridge the gap between your favorite AI models and your daily workflow. By allowing you to create custom AI actions and trigger them instantly, TexTab eliminates the friction of switching between apps and browser tabs to access artificial intelligence.

What's TexTab?

TexTab is a specialized macOS productivity tool, currently in beta, that empowers users to transform any repetitive AI task into a keyboard shortcut. Unlike traditional AI interfaces that require manual copy-pasting, TexTab integrates directly into the macOS environment.

It serves as a lightweight, native bridge between your text and top-tier AI providers. Whether you are coding in an IDE, drafting an email, or browsing the web, TexTab allows you to select text and execute complex AI commands with a simple keystroke. Built with privacy and flexibility in mind, TexTab operates on a "Bring Your Own API Key" model, ensuring you have full control over your data and your costs.

Key Features of TexTab

TexTab is packed with features designed to make AI interaction seamless and highly customizable for power users.

Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

With TexTab, you can create unlimited AI actions. Each action can be assigned a unique keyboard shortcut, allowing you to build a personalized library of commands that work instantly across the entire operating system.

Multi-Provider Support

TexTab does not lock you into a single ecosystem. You can utilize various AI providers, including:

OpenAI
Anthropic
Groq
Perplexity
OpenRouter

This flexibility allows you to switch providers at any time and pick the specific model that best suits your current task.

Bring Your Own API Key (BYOK)

TexTab operates without middleman subscriptions. By using your own API keys, you connect directly to the AI providers. This ensures you only pay for what you use and maintain direct ownership of your AI access.

Privacy and Local Processing

Security is a core pillar of the TexTab experience. Your data stays on your Mac, and API calls are sent directly to the providers. There are no TexTab servers sitting in between your private information and the AI.

Native Plugins and Pre-built Actions

Even in its beta phase, TexTab offers robust functionality through native plugins:

Chat with AI: Engage in multi-turn conversations with streaming responses in a popup window.
Web Search: Use Perplexity to search the web for live data and formatted results.
Built-in Tools: Access a QR Code Generator, Image Converter, and Color Picker.
Ready-to-use Actions: Immediately start with actions like Fix Grammar, Rephrase, Shorten, Formalize, and Translate.

Prompt Enhancement

To ensure you get the best results, TexTab includes a one-click AI-powered prompt improver. This feature turns simple instructions into well-structured prompts optimized for the selected AI model.

Use Case Scenarios for TexTab

TexTab is versatile enough to fit into numerous professional and creative workflows. Here are several ways to leverage its power:

Software Development: Select a block of code in your IDE and use a TexTab shortcut to explain the logic, find bugs, or suggest optimizations using specialized models via Groq or OpenAI.
Content Creation: Highlight a draft in your text editor and trigger a custom "Rephrase" or "Formalize" shortcut to instantly polish your prose without leaving the document.
Communication: While drafting emails, use the "Translate" or "Shorten" actions to quickly adjust your message for international clients or concise internal updates.
Research and Fact-Checking: Use the integrated Web Search plugin powered by Perplexity to get real-time information and links directly within your active application.
Utility Tasks: Quickly generate a QR code for a URL or convert an image format using the native plugins available in the TexTab interface.

How to Use TexTab

Getting started with TexTab is straightforward and designed for immediate productivity:

Download and Install: Get TexTab for Mac (requires macOS 14+).
Connect Your AI: Input your API keys from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Perplexity in the settings.
Create Actions: Define your custom AI actions and assign them specific keyboard shortcuts.
Select and Trigger: Highlight text in any macOS app—browsers, emails, IDEs, or documents—and hit your shortcut to run the AI action.
Refine: Use the prompt improver to fine-tune your actions for better results.

FAQ

Q: Which macOS versions are supported? A: TexTab requires macOS 14+ to run.

Q: Do I need a subscription to use TexTab? A: No. TexTab follows a "Bring Your Own API Key" model. You pay the AI providers directly for your usage, avoiding monthly middleman fees.

Q: Is there a mobile version available? A: An iPhone app is coming soon, allowing you to take your AI shortcuts on the go.

Q: Is my data safe with TexTab? A: Yes. TexTab is designed to be private and local. Your data stays on your Mac, and API calls go directly to the providers without passing through TexTab servers.

Q: Can I use TexTab for free? A: TexTab is currently free to try while in Beta.

Q: Can I use different models for different tasks? A: Absolutely. You can switch providers and pick whichever model you prefer for each specific action you create.

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