Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about CommandIt.

What is CommandIt?
CommandIt is a keyboard-first command palette for macOS. Press a hotkey to summon a floating palette, search your snippet library, fill in arguments, and auto-paste the result into any app — all in under two seconds. It also ships a built-in MCP server so AI agents like Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini can read and write your library directly.
Is CommandIt free?
Yes. The free tier includes unlimited snippets, fuzzy + FTS5 search, auto-paste, template arguments, categories/tags, on-device AI features, and the read-only MCP tools. No account, no time limit.
What does Plus add?
Plus ($4.99/mo or $49/yr) adds the things that need a network or paid backend: iCloud CloudKit sync, multi-snippet composition, cloud AI (bring your own API key), the CLI, and the full MCP write toolset (create, render, paste, generate, enhance) so agents can update your library.
How does the free trial work?
Plus subscriptions include a 7-day free trial. Start it from the pricing page (or click Upgrade to Plus inside the app); both go to the same secure checkout where you enter your card. You're not charged until day 8 — cancel any time before then from the link in your receipt email and you owe nothing. After day 7 the subscription auto-converts to your chosen plan. If you cancel later, you keep Plus through the end of your billing period and then revert to the Free tier. Your data is never deleted.
How do I pay / upgrade to Plus?
Buy on the pricing page (or click Upgrade to Plus inside the app — both go to the same checkout). Payment is processed securely by Stripe; no CommandIt account is required. After checkout you'll be brought back to the download page and your license key will arrive by email; paste it into Settings → License to activate. The license is tied to your email, not your Mac, so you can use it on every machine you own.
Can I install via Homebrew?
Yes — from our tap. Install with `brew install --cask chriscox/commandit/commandit` (the slash path resolves the tap automatically, so no separate `brew tap` step is needed). Updates flow through Sparkle for both DMG and Homebrew installs — the cask is marked `auto_updates true`, so there's no need to run `brew upgrade`. We plan to submit the cask to homebrew-cask core after launch, which will shorten the command to `brew install --cask commandit`.
Where is my data stored?
All snippets are stored locally in a SQLite database on your Mac, encrypted at rest with AES-256 via SQLCipher. If you enable iCloud sync (Plus), data syncs through Apple's CloudKit — encrypted in transit and at rest by Apple. CommandIt never sees your data.
Does CommandIt phone home?
Your snippets, search queries, and API keys never leave your Mac. On-device AI runs entirely locally via MLX. If you use cloud AI (Plus), requests go directly to the provider you configured — CommandIt never proxies or stores them. The app uses TelemetryDeck for anonymous, aggregate usage analytics (EU-hosted, no PII, opt-out in Settings). The marketing website uses Cloudflare Web Analytics — cookie-free, no personal data, aggregate pageviews only.
How does the MCP server work?
CommandIt ships a built-in MCP server. Run `commandit install-mcp claude-code` (or codex / gemini / cursor / windsurf) and it registers itself with the agent. Communication is local stdio — no network. Free tier exposes read tools (search, describe). Plus exposes write tools (create, render, paste, generate, enhance) so agents can update your library.
What AI features are included for free?
Free tier includes AI-powered argument detection, snippet description generation, and semantic search via NLEmbedding — all running on-device with no network calls. On Apple Silicon, an MLX model handles these features locally.
What about cloud AI?
Plus users can bring their own API key for Claude, OpenAI, or a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint. This powers NL→command generation (⌘G) and command explanation. Your API keys are stored in your Mac's Keychain.
What macOS version do I need?
CommandIt requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later. Apple Silicon is recommended; it's required for on-device AI features but the rest of the app works on Intel Macs.
Does CommandIt run on Linux or Windows?
No — CommandIt is macOS-only, and there are no plans to support Linux or Windows. It's built on native Apple frameworks (SwiftUI, AppKit, CloudKit) and relies on macOS-specific APIs for the floating palette, global hotkey, and auto-paste. The on-device AI uses Apple's MLX framework, which targets Apple Silicon's unified memory (shared CPU/GPU pool) and doesn't translate to discrete GPUs like AMD Radeon or NVIDIA. If you're on a Mac but not Apple Silicon, the cloud AI option (Plus, bring your own Claude/OpenAI key) works on any Mac.
Is CommandIt on the Mac App Store?
No. CommandIt uses macOS Accessibility and Automation permissions for auto-paste, which requires running outside the App Sandbox. It's distributed directly as a signed and notarized DMG, with automatic updates via Sparkle.
Can I cancel Plus anytime?
Yes. Cancel anytime from the Stripe Billing Portal linked in your receipt email, or from Settings → License inside the app. You'll keep Plus access through the end of your billing period, then revert to the free tier. Your data stays on your device.
Can I get a refund?
Yes — 14-day money-back guarantee from the first paid charge. Email chris@commandit.ai and I'll process the refund through Stripe (typically 5–10 business days). Your local data stays preserved and you keep read access to the free tier.
Who builds CommandIt?
CommandIt is built and maintained by Chris Cox — one developer, not a corporate team. See the about page for the full story.
How do I get support?
Email chris@commandit.ai or use the contact form. Every message gets a response.

Still have questions? Get in touch and you'll get a reply.