# An AI tone rewriter for your Mac: change how a text sounds, not what it says

> The same message can read as curt, warm or formal depending on a few word choices. Here is how to pick a tone, and how to change it on the text you have just written.

- Page: https://www.tonemateai.com/en/ai-tone-rewriter
- Product: ToneMate, macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Last updated: October 5, 2026

## In short

A tone rewriter changes the register of a text (formal, friendly, direct, apologetic) while keeping its content. ToneMate does this on the text you select on your Mac: you type the tone you want, optionally say who will read it, and compare the rewritten version with your original before you insert it. It works with a local model on your Mac or with your own API key.

## Quick facts

- You type the tone yourself, up to 15 characters, or reuse one of up to 8 saved presets.
- An optional context line (up to 100 characters) tells the model who the reader is.
- The original and the rewrite sit side by side, with a Changes view.
- It runs with a local model (Ollama, MLX) or your own cloud API key.

## How it works

1. **Decide who is reading.** A client, a manager and a friend each expect a different register. Start there, not with adjectives.
2. **Select your draft.** Highlight the text and press the shortcut you assigned to Rewrite.
3. **Type the tone.** Use a word or two, such as “warm” or “firm”, or a preset you saved, and add who it is for.
4. **Compare and insert.** Read the rewrite next to the original, regenerate if it is off, then insert it.

## What “tone” changes, and what it should not

Tone is mostly about register and stance: how formal the words are, how much you cushion a request, whether you open with the point or with a greeting. A good rewrite changes those and leaves the facts, names, dates and numbers alone. That is why ToneMate puts the original beside the result: you can check that nothing factual moved.

A model can still slip. Read dates, amounts and names before you send.

## A simple way to pick a tone

Ask two questions: what do I need from this person, and what is our relationship? The table below is general writing guidance, not a promise of what a particular model will output.

## Keep the tones you use

If you write the same kind of message every day, save the tone, the context line and the language as a preset. ToneMate keeps up to 8, so a “customer, friendly” or “manager, direct” rewrite is one pick away.

## Choosing a tone

| Tone you type | Usually fits | What typically changes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional | Clients, managers, a first contact | Complete sentences, no slang, a clear request |
| Friendly | Colleagues you know, customer replies | A warmer opening, softer asks, less distance |
| Direct | Deadlines, status updates | The point first, shorter sentences, fewer cushions |
| Diplomatic | Disagreement, bad news | Acknowledges the other side before the point |
| Apologetic | Mistakes, delays | Owns the issue and says what happens next |

## Good to know

- The tone field takes up to 15 characters and the context line up to 100.
- Rewrite changes tone and wording, not length on demand; use Expand/Shorten for that.
- What a tone sounds like depends on the model. The table is general guidance.
- It works where you can select, copy and paste text, and needs a local model or your own API key.

## Where it helps

- **A reply you wrote while annoyed.** Ask for “calm” before you send it.
- **A request to someone senior.** Move from casual to professional without losing the ask.
- **A message to a customer.** Warm up a brisk answer.
- **Feedback to a teammate.** Make it direct and kind.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is an AI tone rewriter?

A tool that rewrites a text in a different register, such as formal, friendly or direct, while keeping its content. In ToneMate you type the tone you want and compare the result with your original before inserting it.

### Can I set my own tone instead of choosing from a list?

Yes. The tone is free text of up to 15 characters, and you can save up to 8 presets that store a tone, a context line and a language.

### Will it change facts or numbers?

It is asked to keep your meaning and change only wording and tone, but a model can slip. ToneMate shows the original next to the result with a Changes view so you can check dates, amounts and names.

### Is my text sent to a server?

ToneMate never sends your text to its own servers. With a local model your text is processed on your Mac; with a cloud model it goes straight to the provider whose API key you added. The app only contacts ToneMate to check your license.

### Can I buy or download ToneMate today?

You can download it, but not buy it yet. ToneMate is in free beta: download the app and request a free license key, which has no fixed end date. The plan for the full version is a one-time purchase that includes 2 licenses; when the first stable version comes out, a 30-day free trial starts.

## Status

ToneMate is in free beta: anyone can download it and request a free license key.
One-time purchase that includes 2 licenses, no subscription.