Claude is a powerful conversational AI assistant. Cue is a voice-first utility that uses screen context to execute tasks in any app, powered by Claude models.
Claude is a destination app for conversational AI tasks. Cue is a system-wide utility that adds voice control and screen context to your existing workflow. Cue uses Claude models to power its agent actions.
You want a dedicated app for long-form writing, reasoning, and analysis. You prefer a text-based, conversational interface for interacting with an AI model.
You want to use your voice to execute tasks in any app. Cue sees your screen and selection to turn your spoken commands into finished work, right where you are.
A fair, feature-by-feature look at Cue and the Claude desktop app.
| Feature | Cue | Claude |
|---|---|---|
| Screen context on demandSees active app, selection, and visible content | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes (via Computer Use) |
| Hotkey activation from any appTrigger AI from your current window | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Voice as primary inputBuilt for spoken commands and dictation | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Works inside any desktop appExecute tasks without switching context | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Real-time voice dictationSpeak directly into any text field | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Powered by Claude Sonnet/OpusAccess to Anthropic's models | ✓ Yes (for agent) | ✓ Yes (native) |
| Multi-step agent with tool useCompletes complex tasks and creates artifacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes (Artifacts) |
| macOS supportNative desktop application | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Windows supportNative desktop application | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free tierAvailable without a subscription | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Mobile and Web AppsAccess on iOS, Android, and Web | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
Claude offers subscription tiers with a generous free plan. Cue has a free forever tier and a simple Plus plan.
Cue is not a replacement for Claude, but a different way to access its power on your desktop.
Claude understands the text you give it. Cue understands your context. It sees your active application, selected text, and visible screen content. This allows Cue to take your voice command and apply it directly to the work in front of you. For example, select text in an email and say 'make this more formal'.
Claude's desktop app is a destination. Cue works everywhere else. Press a hotkey from any application to trigger a command. No need to switch windows or copy-paste content between apps.
Claude is built for text input. Cue is built for voice. Use it for real-time dictation into any text field, instant translation, or complex agent commands without touching your keyboard.
They hear what you said.
Cue sees what you're doing.
And does the thing, in any app.
Our goal is to help you find the right tool, even if it's not us.
You want a conversational AI for long writing and reasoning tasks in a dedicated app. You prefer a text-based workflow and benefit from features like Artifacts for generating code or documents. You need access on web and mobile platforms.
You want to use your voice to execute tasks in any desktop app. You need an assistant that understands your screen context to act on selected text or visible content. You want a single hotkey to access AI from anywhere on your Mac or PC.
Cue is a companion to Claude, not a direct alternative. It uses Claude's models but applies them differently. If you want to add voice control and screen context to your workflow, Cue is an excellent tool. If you need a dedicated chat app for writing and reasoning, stick with Claude.
Cue and Claude both offer native apps for macOS and Windows. Claude also has web and mobile apps for iOS and Android, which Cue does not currently offer. Cue is focused exclusively on the desktop experience.
No. Cue is designed for short-form actions and modifications, not long-form generation. For example, you can use Cue to 'rephrase this selected paragraph' but you would use Claude to 'write a 1000-word blog post'. They are different tools for different jobs.
Both have free tiers. Cue's free tier includes unlimited dictation and 20 agent credits per day. The Cue Plus plan is $9.99/mo for unlimited agent use. Claude offers a generous free tier, with its Pro plan starting at $20/mo for higher usage limits and access to premium models.
Cue uses a hybrid model. Core voice transcription (dictation) can run locally for maximum speed and privacy. More complex agent tasks, which use models like Claude Sonnet and Gemini Flash, are processed in the cloud to provide powerful reasoning capabilities.
Cue can be activated from any app with a global hotkey. It can perform real-time dictation into any text field. And its actions are based on your screen context, like selected text or the active app, allowing it to work directly on the content in front of you.
Yes. Your screen context and voice data are only captured when you press the hotkey. This data is sent to AI models like Claude to execute your command and is not stored or used for training. You can read our full privacy policy for more details.
You don't have to switch. Many users use both. Download Cue for free on Mac or Windows. Use it for quick, context-aware tasks via hotkey. Continue using the Claude app for your longer, conversational AI needs. They solve different problems.
Use unlimited dictation on day one. Discover how screen context turns your voice into actions on day two. Free forever.