Grammarly costs $30/mo.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Grammarly, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Grammarly vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $30/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harper | open source | — | — | ★ 14k | Grammarly vs Harper → |
| Writing Tools | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local | ★ 2.4k | Grammarly vs Writing Tools → |
| WritingTool | open source | LGPL-2.1 | Local | ★ 65 | Grammarly vs WritingTool → |
| Apple Writing Tools | free | proprietary, free | Local or hosted | ★ $0 forever | Grammarly vs Apple Writing Tools → |
The picks
3 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Harper
open source14kaug 2026A fast English grammar checker that stays on your device and mostly keeps its opinions to itself.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobileextensionone-click install
- 02
Writing Tools
open sourceGPL-3.0Local2.4kmay 2026Select text anywhere, hit a hotkey, and fix, rewrite, summarize, or obey a custom instruction without opening another tab.
The catch vs GrammarlyIt is a manual select-text-and-hotkey workflow rather than Grammarly's continuous inline underlines and suggestions across supported apps.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopone-click install
- install
- Download the native or portable app, configure a provider or local model, then use the global hotkey
- setup
- A model API key or a separately running local model is required; some operating systems may warn about an unsigned or unrecognized binary
- engines
- Gemini, OpenAI-compatible APIs, Ollama, llama.cpp, KoboldCPP, TabbyAPI and vLLM
- your data
- 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
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
WritingTool
open sourceLGPL-2.1Local65jul 2026A LibreOffice extension with long-document checks, style statistics, profiles, and local AI; installing Java is the cover charge.
The catch vs GrammarlyIt is centered on LibreOffice rather than working continuously across browsers, email and arbitrary desktop apps like Grammarly.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopone-click install
- install
- Install Java 17 or newer, LibreOffice 24.2 or newer and the WritingTool extension
- setup
- Java and LibreOffice are mandatory, and optional AI needs a separately configured service
- engines
- LanguageTool plus optional OpenAI-compatible services, especially a local LocalAI server
- your data
- Documents remain normal LibreOffice files; checking is local unless a remote LanguageTool or AI endpoint is configured
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
Apple Writing Tools
freeproprietary, freeLocal or hostedProofread, rewrite, shorten, or change tone almost anywhere, assuming your Apple hardware made the guest list.
The catch vs GrammarlyIt is restricted to supported Apple hardware and offers fewer continuous cross-app style, brand and writing analytics controls than Grammarly.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobileone-click install
- install
- Built into supported iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems
- setup
- Requires Apple Intelligence-compatible hardware, a supported OS, language and region
- engines
- Apple on-device foundation models, Private Cloud Compute for larger requests, and optional ChatGPT
- your data
- Text is processed on-device when possible; larger requests can use stateless Private Cloud Compute, while optional ChatGPT sends the selected text to OpenAI
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Grammarly open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Grammarly?+
The top free alternative to Grammarly is Harper (open source). A fast English grammar checker that stays on your device and mostly keeps its opinions to itself. Other popular Grammarly replacements include Writing Tools, WritingTool, Apple Writing Tools.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Grammarly?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to Grammarly, 1 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Apple Writing Tools (proprietary, free).
How much does switching from Grammarly to a free alternative save?+
Grammarly starts at $30/month per seat ($360/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Harper saves $1,800 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Grammarly clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Grammarly is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). You can build grammar checks and rewrites, but Grammarly's moat is cross-app extensions, inline UX, enterprise controls, writing telemetry, and long-running language quality.
