Choose ThinkBoxAI if you want a cross-platform AI client with bring-your-own-key flexibility, pay only for what you use, and need Windows or Linux support alongside Mac.
Choose Elephas if you want AI that learns from YOUR documents, works system-wide on Mac with a keyboard shortcut, and provides answers with citations from your personal knowledge base.
ThinkBoxAI vs Elephas represents two different philosophies in AI assistant tools. ThinkBoxAI is a "bring your own key" (BYOK) AI client that gives you direct access to AI providers like OpenAI through their APIs. Elephas takes a different approach—it's a personal knowledge AI that learns from YOUR documents and provides answers grounded in your actual files.
Both tools have their place, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. ThinkBoxAI is about giving you flexible, affordable access to AI chat. Elephas is about making AI understand YOUR context.
What is ThinkBoxAI?
ThinkBoxAI is a desktop AI client available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It uses a "bring your own key" model—you connect your own API keys from providers like OpenAI, and you pay only for what you use rather than a fixed subscription.
Elephas is an AI-powered personal knowledge assistant designed exclusively for Apple devices. Unlike generic AI clients, Elephas transforms YOUR documents into a searchable, intelligent "Second Brain" that provides answers grounded in your actual files—not internet hallucinations.
Key characteristics:
Native Mac app with system-wide ⌘+Space access
"Super Brain" knowledge base from your documents
Integrates with Notion, Obsidian, Apple Notes, web pages
Answers include citations to your source documents
Supports multiple AI models (GPT, Claude, Gemini, local via Ollama)
Privacy-first with local processing options
Works on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
Feature Comparison
Feature
ThinkBoxAI
Elephas
Platform
Mac, Windows, Linux
Mac, iPhone, iPad
Personal Document AI
✗
✓ Super Brain
System-Wide Shortcut
✗
✓ ⌘+Space
API Key Model
✓ BYOK
✓ Optional BYOK
Note App Integration
✗
✓ Notion, Obsidian, Apple Notes
Offline/Local Models
✗
✓ Ollama
Source Citations
✗
✓ From your docs
Prompt Library
✓ Built-in
Limited
Image Generation
✓
✗
AI Models Supported
OpenAI (more coming)
GPT, Claude, Gemini, Ollama
The Fundamental Difference
ThinkBoxAI is a general AI chat interface. You type a question, it sends it to OpenAI (or other providers), and you get an answer from the AI's training data. It's clean, fast, and cost-effective if you prefer pay-per-use over subscriptions.
Elephas is a personal knowledge AI. Before you ask a question, you've already taught it about YOUR world by connecting your documents, notes, and web pages. When you ask "What was the budget for Q3?", Elephas looks in YOUR files and gives you the answer with a citation—not a generic response.
Platform Philosophy
ThinkBoxAI prioritizes cross-platform reach. If you work across Mac, Windows, and Linux, you can use the same AI client everywhere. The BYOK model also means you're not locked into any particular ecosystem.
Elephas prioritizes deep Mac integration. The system-wide ⌘+Space shortcut means you can invoke AI from ANY Mac application. Select text in your email client, hit the shortcut, and Elephas can help you respond—without switching apps.
ThinkBoxAI's pay-per-use model can be economical for casual users. If you only make a few dozen AI queries per month, your API costs might be just a few dollars. But heavy users could see costs add up quickly.
Elephas's all-inclusive pricing provides predictability. At $9.99/month (or $99 lifetime), you get unlimited queries with no surprise bills. Plus, you get the Super Brain knowledge base feature that ThinkBoxAI simply doesn't offer.
The key question: Do you need a general AI chat interface (ThinkBoxAI), or do you need an AI that understands YOUR personal context (Elephas)?
Who Should Use Each Tool?
Choose ThinkBoxAI If You...
Want cross-platform support (Mac, Windows, Linux)
Prefer bringing your own API keys
Like pay-per-use over subscriptions
Want a built-in prompt library for quick tasks
Need image generation capabilities
Are a light AI user who won't hit high API costs
Choose Elephas If You...
Have documents, notes, and files you want AI to understand
Use a Mac as your primary computer
Want answers that cite YOUR actual sources
Use Notion, Obsidian, or Apple Notes heavily
Value privacy and want local AI model options
Need AI assistance while writing in any Mac app
Prefer predictable, all-inclusive pricing
🧠 Before You Decide: Consider This Complement
While ThinkBoxAI optimize how you launch apps, there's a gap neither fills: managing the knowledge you accumulate across all your tools.
Elephas takes a different approach — instead of launching apps, it creates an AI-powered "Super Brain" from your documents. Every answer cites YOUR files, not internet guesses. It's the perfect complement to whichever launcher you choose.
⚡
System-Wide Access
⌘+Space from any app to query your knowledge base.
📎
Cites Your Sources
Every answer links to the actual document. No hallucinations.
🔗
Syncs Your Apps
Connects to Notion, Obsidian, Apple Notes automatically.
Best for:Knowledge workers managing multiple projectsUsers who want AI that knows their context
Best for users who want cross-platform support, prefer pay-per-use pricing, and need a straightforward AI chat interface without personal knowledge features.
WINNER FOR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE
Elephas
Best for Mac users who want AI grounded in their own documents. System-wide access, source citations, and privacy-first design make it the superior choice for knowledge workers.
ThinkBoxAI is a solid choice if you want a clean, cross-platform AI chat client with BYOK flexibility. It's great for users who already have API access and want to avoid subscription fees.
Elephas wins if you're a Mac user who wants AI that truly understands YOUR context. The Super Brain feature transforms how you interact with your personal knowledge—your AI actually knows what you know, and can cite where it learned it.
Our recommendation: If you're a knowledge worker, researcher, or professional with documents you reference frequently, Elephas is the clear winner. Its personal knowledge base capabilities are simply not available in ThinkBoxAI. The $99 lifetime deal makes it an easy investment. If you primarily need general AI chat across multiple operating systems, ThinkBoxAI serves that purpose well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ThinkBoxAI better than Elephas for Mac users?
It depends on your needs. ThinkBoxAI is better if you want cross-platform support and prefer bringing your own API keys with pay-per-use pricing. Elephas is better for Mac users who want AI that learns from their personal documents with system-wide integration.
Can ThinkBoxAI access my personal documents like Elephas?
No. ThinkBoxAI is a general AI chat client that connects to AI providers via API. It does not have Elephas's "Super Brain" feature that creates a personal knowledge base from your documents, Notion pages, or Apple Notes.
Which is more affordable, ThinkBoxAI or Elephas?
ThinkBoxAI has a one-time purchase price plus API usage costs. Elephas offers $9.99/month or $99 lifetime with all AI features included. For heavy users, Elephas's all-inclusive pricing may be more predictable, while light users might save with ThinkBoxAI's pay-per-use model.
Does ThinkBoxAI support Claude and other AI models?
ThinkBoxAI currently supports OpenAI, with Anthropic (Claude) and Google Gemini support planned for future updates. Elephas already supports multiple providers including GPT, Claude, Gemini, and local models via Ollama.
Can I use ThinkBoxAI offline?
No. ThinkBoxAI requires an internet connection to communicate with AI providers via their APIs. Elephas, on the other hand, supports local AI models through Ollama, allowing completely offline operation.
