Get the thought down.
Type it. Dictate it with your usual tool. Select a passage, or leave the whole field ready to rewrite.
A little clarity, right where you type
Say it messy.
Send it right.
The thought is yours. Refract helps it land.
Turn what you type or dictate into the right words for the app you're in.
macOS, Windows & Linux/Your choice of AI
Same thought. A clearer expression.
FITS THE CONVERSATION
MailWhatsAppSlackChatGPTClaudeCursorAnd your next text box
01 / IN YOUR FLOW
One shortcut.
Back to your day.
No trip to another chat window. Refract works with the words already in front of you.
Tap the prism.
Click the floating glass button or tap Ctrl + Shift (on Linux, press Ctrl + Alt + R). Refract picks a preset for the app you're using.
Keep going.
The rewrite lands back in your text field. Your clipboard is restored. You still decide when to send.
02 / RIGHT WORDS, RIGHT PLACE
Same thought.
Different destination.
A chat can sound like a chat.
A bug report can get to the point.
The rough thoughtBEFORE
hey so um I need you to look at the login page cause when I click sign in with google it just spins forever and nothing happens, I think it's the redirect url thing we changed yesterday, can you fix it and make sure it actually works this time
Dictated text from Refract's product examples
RefractedAFTERHey, can you check the login page? When I click Sign in with Google it just spins forever. Reckon it's the redirect URL we changed yesterday. Can you fix it and make sure it actually works this time? 🙏
Keeps it conversational.Recorded example
These are recorded rewrites from the app, so you can compare the presets. The examples send nothing. The feedback form further down sends only what you write in it, and only when you press Send.
03 / STILL YOUR VOICE
A helping hand.
You keep the controls.
Knows where it's going.
App and window rules choose between email, casual replies, AI prompts, social posts and more. Edit the rules to match your day.
Take a second look.
Shift-click the prism to compare Standard and Shorter versions and add a nudge like “a little firmer” before you paste. The Mac review panel also shows what changed.
Keep the original close.
Use the undo shortcut or copy a rewrite to the clipboard. Recent rewrites are kept on your computer so you can look one up again.
Let your edits teach it.
Corrections you make after a rewrite can guide later rewrites in the same app. Turn it off or clear the history in Settings whenever you like.
04 / YOUR SETUP
Bring the AI
you want to use.
Use your own provider key, sign in with your ChatGPT plan, or connect a local model through Ollama or LM Studio.
DeepSeekOpenAIAnthropicGeminiOpenRouterOllama
A local model needs its server running. Provider usage and plan limits still apply.
05 / A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Before you
tap the prism.
Does Refract record my voice?
Refract rewrites text. Use your usual dictation tool to get spoken words into a field, then use Refract to polish them. You can also type normally.
Where does my text go?
Your text goes to the provider you choose. Configured backup providers may receive the same text, and app context may be included to guide the rewrite. Local providers are an option when you want to use a model on your own machine.
History and corrections are stored on your computer, and your keys are kept in the Keychain, Windows DPAPI or your Linux keyring. Saved corrections can be included as examples in later requests. You can clear this history in Settings. Operational logs do not contain your rewritten text.
Are the Mac, Windows and Linux apps the same?
They share the same glass button, app-aware presets and rules, choice of provider, review panel, history and learning, Wispr dictionary support, and live model lists.
The differences: the Ctrl + Shift tap is on Mac and Windows only (on Linux, use Ctrl + Alt + R or click the prism). Short messages are kept light by smart routing on the Mac, and the Mac review panel has one-tap adjustments. On Linux, terminals get the rewrite on your clipboard so you can paste it yourself.
What do I need to set it up?
On macOS, grant Accessibility permission so Refract can work with text fields. Then choose and test a provider in Settings. On Windows, the installer is self-contained and installs for your user account without admin rights.
On Linux, you need Ubuntu 24.04 or later on GNOME, with a keyring for your keys, and the install script puts everything in your home folder. The Windows executable is currently unsigned, so SmartScreen or your company's app policy may block it. For work content, choose a provider your company approves.
Will it send the message for me?
No. Refract puts the rewritten words back in the text field or onto your clipboard. Review the result and send it yourself.
06 / TELL US
Got a thought?
We read every one.
Report a problem, share an idea or ask a question. No account needed, and nothing leaves this page until you press Send.
LESS FUSS. MORE CLARITY.
Your next thought,
ready to go.
Free for macOS, Windows and Linux. Bring the AI provider you already use.
Windows
v…Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Installs for your account only, no admin rights needed.
The installer is not code-signed yet. If Windows SmartScreen asks, choose More info, then Run anyway. The Store version is updated by the Store, so it can trail the direct download by a few days.
SHA-256 shown here once loaded
macOS
v…macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon. Unzip and drag Refract to Applications.
The app is not notarized by Apple yet. The first time, Control-click Refract, choose Open, then confirm — or run xattr -cr /Applications/Refract.app in Terminal. Refract asks for Accessibility permission so it can read and replace your text.
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Linux
v…Ubuntu 24.04 or later on GNOME (Wayland or X11). Installs for your account only, no root needed.
Unpack the archive and run ./install.sh. It needs the GNOME packages that ship with Ubuntu and a keyring for your keys. There is no Ctrl + Shift tap on Linux: press Ctrl + Alt + R or click the prism.
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All three apps update themselves: open Settings and choose Check for updates.
All releases and release notes · Checksums and install help