Claude is a powerful AI assistant that lives in your browser. Cue is a native voice AI agent for your Mac that understands your screen, takes action in any app, and works hands-free. The main difference is where the AI works: in a browser tab or across your entire operating system.
Cue is not confined to a browser tab. Press the Fn key to activate it in any app, from your code editor to your email client. It works with your active application, not just a website.
Cue can see what you're working on, including selected text, open files, and the active app. This allows it to give highly relevant answers and perform tasks without you needing to copy and paste information.
While Claude generates text, Cue is an agent that can perform multi-step actions. Ask it to write code and run it, manage your files, or generate a report from a spreadsheet, all with simple voice commands.
Cue includes a fast, accurate dictation mode in over 20 languages. Hold the Option key and speak to type in any text field on your Mac, from Messages to Microsoft Word, without needing a separate app.
| Feature | Cue | Claude |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Native macOS & Windows app | Web browser |
| Activation | Fn key (voice) or keyboard shortcut | Switching to a browser tab |
| Context Awareness | Reads screen, selected text, active app | Limited to browser tab / uploaded files |
| Task Execution | Yes, runs scripts, manages files | No, generates text and code |
| Voice Dictation | Yes, built-in for any app | No |
| Privacy | History stored locally, screenshots not uploaded | Data processed on server |
| Free Tier | Unlimited dictation, 20 agent credits/day | Limited message count |
| Works Offline | No (requires internet) | No (requires internet) |
They hear what you said.
Cue sees what you're doing.
And does the thing, in any app.
Yes. The Cue Plus plan includes access to premium AI models, including Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o. This gives you the power of Claude's AI with the native integration and context awareness of Cue.
They solve different problems. Use Claude for long-form chat and document analysis in a browser. Use Cue when you need an AI assistant to help you get work done faster inside your apps, hands-free.
Your privacy is a priority. All of your Cue history is stored locally on your Mac. While Cue needs to see your screen to understand context, screenshots are processed on your device and never uploaded to the cloud.
No, Cue works out of the box with any application on your Mac. Because it operates at the system level, it doesn't require special plugins or API access to interact with your software.
Cue is designed for developer workflows. It can read your code, write new functions, and even run scripts directly in your terminal or editor. Claude is useful for generating code snippets that you would then copy and paste.
If you want a powerful AI for brainstorming in a browser, Claude is a great choice. If you need an AI agent that works inside your apps, understands your context, and executes tasks on your Mac, Cue is built for you. Download Cue for free and experience AI that works where you do.