Writing Tools
Select text anywhere, hit a hotkey, and fix, rewrite, summarize, or obey a custom instruction without opening another tab.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopone-click install
- Installation
- Download the native or portable app, configure a provider or local model, then use the global hotkey
- Operational Setup
- A model API key or a separately running local model is required; some operating systems may warn about an unsigned or unrecognized binary
- Where Your Data Lives
- API keys and settings stay locally; selected text goes to the chosen provider or local model, and transient history is cleared when the app closes
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It is a manual select-text-and-hotkey workflow rather than Grammarly's continuous inline underlines and suggestions across supported apps.
Replaces 7 paid apps
up to $80.41/mo ($965/yr) in subscriptions
Writing Tools FAQ
Common questions
Is Writing Tools free and open source?+
Writing Tools is an open-source tool licensed under GPL-3.0 that runs on local. Select text anywhere, hit a hotkey, and fix, rewrite, summarize, or obey a custom instruction without opening another tab.
What paid software does Writing Tools replace?+
Writing Tools serves as a free replacement for 7 paid SaaS applications: Grammarly, HyperWrite, LanguageTool, PromptDC, QuillBot, Rytr, Wordtune, saving up to $80.41/month ($965/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Writing Tools?+
Installation: Download the native or portable app, configure a provider or local model, then use the global hotkey. Setup notes: A model API key or a separately running local model is required; some operating systems may warn about an unsigned or unrecognized binary
What is the catch or trade-off with Writing Tools?+
It is a manual select-text-and-hotkey workflow rather than Grammarly's continuous inline underlines and suggestions across supported apps.