Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

HazeOver VS ForthWrite

Compare HazeOver VS ForthWrite and see what are their differences

HazeOver logo HazeOver

Focus on one app by dimming all the background windows

ForthWrite logo ForthWrite

Email that sounds like you, and gets measurably more like you every week. Drafts in Gmail, Outlook, and the browser. Free to start.
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  • HazeOver Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-02-02

Too many windows to manage? Large display? Or getting lost in multiple monitors? HazeOver is for you!

Turn distractions down and focus on your current task. HazeOver automatically highlights the front window by dimming background windows.

โ€ข Help yourself focus on one thing at a time. Automagically. โ€ข Spend less time managing windows. The clutter wonโ€™t bother you anymore. No need to minimize, close, or hide windows to keep your workspace neat and tidy. โ€ข Easily see which window has keyboard focus. No more typing in the wrong window due to low contrast. โ€ข Got a bigger display? Then going full screen might make less sense. HazeOver helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many windows. โ€ข Multiple monitors? This app shows which screen is focused, or highlights a window on each monitor. โ€ข Power up macOS Dark Mode and reduce background glare. โ€ข Working at night? Lower interface brightness without sacrificing the legibility or color accuracy of the front window.

Heavy multitasking kills your concentration. Web pages, emails, chat messages, and lolcats stare at you from the background โ€” all fighting for your attention.

Hiding, switching, looking for the right one, more hiding, more switching. Calm down, launch HazeOver and finally concentrate on what matters.

HazeOver automatically highlights the active window or app as you switch. Less important things gently fade into the background, helping you stay focused and productive.

Customize dimming intensity and animation speed to your preference โ€” whether itโ€™s a soft shade to guide your attention or a bold dark background for total immersion.

โ€ข The desktop is automatically revealed when used. โ€ข Toggle shading with a keyboard shortcut or adjust intensity with a gesture. โ€ข Use separate dimming settings for Dark and Light appearance. โ€ข Dragging between apps? Tap the โ€œfnโ€ key, and HazeOver will gracefully fade out. โ€ข Control or schedule HazeOver with the Shortcuts app, Focus Filters, and AppleScript.

  • ForthWrite Landing Page
    Landing Page //
    2026-06-19
  • ForthWrite Dashboard
    Dashboard //
    2026-06-19
  • ForthWrite In Gmail
    In Gmail //
    2026-06-19
  • ForthWrite Pricing
    Pricing //
    2026-06-19

ForthWrite is an AI email writing assistant for Gmail and Outlook that learns your writing style from your real sent mail. The more you use it, the more it sounds like you. Get smart drafts in seconds, auto-draft replies before you open your inbox, and maintain your personal voice at scale. Free to start, no credit card required. Works inside Gmail and Outlook on the web.

How it works

ForthWrite captures your tone, sentence rhythm, and sign-offs from your actual sent emails, then uses that profile to generate drafts that match how you write, not a generic AI voice. Every draft you edit or send improves the model over time.

Key features

  • Auto-draft: replies waiting in Gmail before you open your inbox
  • Voice matching from your real sent mail, not templates
  • Recipient-aware drafts that adapt to who you are emailing
  • Prompt Lab for version-controlling and A/B testing your persona prompt
  • BYOK support: bring your own API key for Claude, OpenAI, Grok, Mistral, and more
  • Works in Gmail and Outlook on the web, plus a standalone browser widget
  • Training data export and full data portability

Who uses it

Professionals who send high volumes of relationship-critical email: lawyers, financial advisors, recruiters, account executives, founders, and anyone who wants their inbox handled without sounding like a chatbot wrote it.

Pricing

Free tier includes 10 drafts per week with no credit card required. Paid plans start at $12/month and include unlimited drafts, custom persona prompts, and auto-draft.

HazeOver

$ Details
paid Free Trial $4.99 / One-off
Platforms
Mac MacOS
Release Date
-
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California

ForthWrite

$ Details
freemium $12.0 / Monthly (Standard plan)
Platforms
Web
Release Date
2026 June
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
City
San Diego
Founder(s)
Curtis Boortz
Employees
1 - 9

HazeOver features and specs

  • Focus Enhancement
    HazeOver dims background windows, allowing you to concentrate better on the task at hand without being distracted by other open applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application is easy to use, with straightforward controls for adjusting the dimming intensity and other settings.
  • Customization Options
    Users can customize the dimming effect to suit their preferences, including choosing the dimness level and applying different settings for different times of day.
  • System Resource Efficiency
    HazeOver runs efficiently in the background without using significant system resources, ensuring it doesnโ€™t slow down your computer.
  • Compatibility
    The app works well with macOS features, supporting multiple monitors and virtual desktops.

Possible disadvantages of HazeOver

  • Limited to macOS
    HazeOver is only available for macOS, making it inaccessible to Windows and Linux users.
  • Paid Software
    HazeOver is not free; users need to purchase a license after a trial period, which might be a deterrent for some.
  • Limited Functionality
    While useful for focusing, the app offers limited additional features beyond dimming inactive windows.
  • Potential Overhead
    Although generally light on resources, some users with lower-spec machines may notice a slight performance impact.
  • Adaptability Issues
    Some users have reported that HazeOver may not adapt perfectly to all applications, causing minor inconsistencies in the dimming effect.

ForthWrite features and specs

  • Voice Matching
    Learns from your real sent mail, not templates
  • Auto-draft replies
    Replies waiting in Gmail before you open your inbox
  • Batch-drafting
    Draft replies for your entire inbox with one click
  • Works in browser
    Gmail, Outlook, and web browsers
  • BYOK support
    Claude, OpenAI, Grok, Mistral, and more
  • Prompt Lab
    Version control and A/B test your persona prompt
  • Free tier
    10 drafts per week, no credit card required

Analysis of HazeOver

Overall verdict

  • Overall, HazeOver receives positive reviews for its simplicity, user-friendly interface, and effectiveness in enhancing focus and productivity. Users appreciate the ability to adjust dimming intensity and customize settings to suit their preferences.

Why this product is good

  • HazeOver is designed to reduce visual clutter on your desktop by dimming background windows, allowing you to focus on the task at hand. It is particularly useful for improving productivity and reducing distractions in a busy digital environment.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who frequently multitask on their computer.
  • Users seeking to minimize distractions for improved concentration.
  • People who work with multiple windows or multiple displays.
  • Those who prefer a minimalist digital workspace.

Analysis of ForthWrite

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified information about a product called ForthWrite (forthwrite.ai). I cannot confirm its features, quality, or reputation, so I'm unable to provide an accurate assessment of whether it's good.

Why this product is good

  • No reliable data available on this specific product in my knowledge base
  • This may be a newer product, a niche tool, or possibly a fictional/hypothetical name
  • Providing details without verified information could result in inaccurate or fabricated claims

Recommended for

  • Unable to determine without verified product information
  • Consider checking the official website, user reviews on platforms like G2 or Trustpilot, and independent tech review sites for accurate details

HazeOver videos

HazeOver: Distraction Dimmerโ„ข for macOS Tahoe

More videos:

  • Review - Review: HazeOver: dim background apps and get rid of distractions
  • Review - SCOM0922 - Tip - HazeOver - Preview
  • Review - HazeOver Review

ForthWrite videos

No ForthWrite videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to HazeOver and ForthWrite)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Email
0 0%
100% 100
Mac
100 100%
0% 0
Email Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing HazeOver and ForthWrite.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

ForthWrite's answer:

Next.js, React, Supabase, Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, Stripe, Vercel, Chrome Extensions API

What makes your product unique?

ForthWrite's answer:

ForthWrite learns your writing style from your actual sent mail, not a generic prompt. Every draft sounds like you wrote it because it was trained on how you actually write. It also auto-drafts replies before you open your inbox, so your email is partially handled before your day starts.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

ForthWrite's answer:

Most AI email tools give you a blank box and a "write for me" button. ForthWrite builds a voice profile from your sent history and gets more accurate with every draft you edit or send. Unlike ChatGPT or Gemini, it works natively inside Gmail and Outlook with no copy-paste. Unlike Lavender, it writes the draft, not just scores it.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

ForthWrite's answer:

Professionals who send high volumes of relationship-critical email and cannot afford to sound generic: lawyers, financial advisors, recruiters, account executives, consultants, and founders managing their own inbox.

What's the story behind your product?

ForthWrite's answer:

Built out of frustration with AI writing tools that produce text that sounds nothing like the person sending it, and as a way to handle large amounts of daily email. The core insight was that your sent mail is the best training data you already have, and no tool was using it.

User comments

Share your experience with using HazeOver and ForthWrite. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare HazeOver and ForthWrite

HazeOver Reviews

Best 6 Mac Window Managers
Until Apple brings better window management to Macs, these third-party tools are the best way to improve organization and productivity. Most of them let you snap windows into position by dragging them to the edge of your displayโ€”similar to the window snapping found in Microsoft Windows. But others, like Amethyst, Mosaic, and Moom, offer some interesting alternatives....
Source: mackeeper.com
What productivity tools are most useful
If you are multi-tasker and have the habit of toggling between multiple windows to get thingsdone. Thank heavens, HazeOver removes all the distractions by automatically highlighting thewindow that you are currently working on and it fades out other windows (from soft dimmingto intense black) until you finish the most important task at hand. This app is for Mac usersonly. For...
Source: clariti.app

ForthWrite Reviews

  1. curtisboortz
    ยท Founder at ForthWrite ยท
    I built ForthWrite to fix generic AI email, and I still use it every day

    I built ForthWrite because I kept sending emails that sounded like they came from the same generic AI as everyone else. After launching it, I still use it for my own inbox every day, which is about the most honest endorsement I can give.

    The Chrome extension lives inside Gmail and Outlook on the web. Open a thread, hit Alt+Shift+D, and a draft comes back in your voice, not a template. The free tier is real: 10 drafts per week, no API key, no credit card. Voice matching is included on free, because that is the point.

    What keeps it useful compared to Gemini or a chat tab: it learns from what you actually send. Every edit you make before hitting send becomes a signal. Over time the drafts drift closer to how you really write, and the dashboard shows the improvement curve so you can see it happening.

    The web compose surface lets you draft from forthwrite.ai without installing anything, useful for people who want to try before committing to the extension.

    Standard adds recipient-aware and intent-aware drafting plus AI coaching. Pro adds auto-draft (replies waiting when you open Gmail), batch replies, and Prompt Lab for version-controlling your prompts. Teams adds a shared persona and seat-level analytics.

    ForthWrite is not for everyone. If you just need quick replies and tone does not matter, Gemini is free and already in your inbox. ForthWrite is for people where tone does matter: client communication, relationship-driven threads, external correspondence where sounding off costs something real.

    Disclosure: I am the founder and use it daily. Happy to answer questions in the comments.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Jace.ai, Fyxer, Mailmeteor
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Drafts land inside gmail and outlook; no copy-pasting from a chat window|Voice matching is on the free tier, not paywalled behind paid plans|No api key, no credit card to start; free tier runs on a server-side proxy|Learns from every edit you make before sending; drafts improve over time|Full keyboard flow: alt+shift+d to draft in any thread, no mouse required|Byok on paid plans, 9 providers supported, keys encrypted at rest|Web compose at forthwrite.ai works without installing the extension at all
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    10 free drafts/week is enough to evaluate, not enough for a heavy inbox|Auto-draft, batch replies, and prompt lab all require the pro tier|Early-stage product; fewer third-party integrations than mature inbox tools|No mobile app: the extension and add-in are desktop-only (chrome on web, or the outlook desktop add-in)

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, HazeOver seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 22 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

HazeOver mentions (22)

  • Alan.app โ€“ Add a Border to macOS Active Window
    In a similar vein, but different concept - https://hazeover.com/ - dimming inactive windows. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Alan.app โ€“ Add a Border to macOS Active Window
    Instead of adding a border to the active window, I use an app that fades out the background windows: https://hazeover.com. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Alan.app โ€“ Add a Border to macOS Active Window
    I run a tool that I like much better both in terms of not being distracting on-screen and reducing the light blasting my eyes: https://hazeover.com I'm not affiliated, but I love it and recommended it to friends. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Alan.app โ€“ Add a Border to macOS Active Window
    A similar app I really like is HazeOver, which is a configurable dimmer for everything on the screen except the front window. https://hazeover.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Everyone seems to forget why GNOME and GNOME 3 and Unity happened
    > Edit: also if Apple cares so much about this, why do they make the close/minimize buttons so tiny? My guess would be that daily users graduate to โŒ˜W and โŒ˜M fairly quickly, while power users graduate to the window manager they prefer. > โ€ฆI'm still slower at this specific thing on Mac OS because I always first have to make sure the right window is focusedโ€ฆ You might find this useful:... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
View more

ForthWrite mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ForthWrite yet. Tracking of ForthWrite recommendations started around Jun 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing HazeOver and ForthWrite, you can also consider the following products

FocusList - Daily planner & focus timer based on timeboxing and pomodoro

ReclaimAI - Helps users prioritize their work and personal calendars

Hocus Focus - A Mac menu bar utility that hides your inactive windows

Superhuman - Superhuman is an email management tool.

Flux - Application Architecture for Building User Interfaces

Shortwave - Email smarter & faster with a reinvented experience for your Gmail