PromptDC costs $9/mo.
These cost $0.
3 free alternatives to PromptDC, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
PromptDC vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $9/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page Assist | open source | MIT | Local | ★ 8.1k | PromptDC vs Page Assist → |
| Writing Tools | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local | ★ 2.4k | PromptDC vs Writing Tools → |
| Witsy | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local | ★ 2.0k | PromptDC vs Witsy → |
The picks
3 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Page Assist
open sourceMITLocal8.1kaug 2026A browser sidebar that reads the page, rewrites the selection, and saves custom actions; your local model does the thinking.
The catch vs PromptDCIt can rewrite selections and use page context, but it has no PromptDC-specific pipeline for turning vague coding requests into structured implementation-ready prompts.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobileextensionone-click install
- install
- Install the extension from the Chrome, Edge or Firefox add-on store
- setup
- The extension installs cleanly, but it still needs a running local model endpoint and browser-to-localhost connectivity
- engines
- Ollama, Chrome AI (Gemini Nano) and OpenAI-compatible local endpoints such as LM Studio or llamafile
- your data
- Chats, settings and other extension data are stored in the browser's local storage; only the optional share feature contacts the project's server
- checked
- 2026-08-14
- 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 PromptDCIt can obey a custom prompt from selected text, but it lacks PromptDC's purpose-built coding-request expansion and browser-focused presentation.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopone-click install
- install
- Use the portable Windows ZIP or macOS DMG; Linux currently runs from source
- setup
- You must supply an API key or install a local model; macOS needs Accessibility permissions, while Linux installation and Wayland support remain rough
- engines
- Gemini, native Ollama and any OpenAI-compatible cloud or local endpoint on Windows/Linux; the macOS port also supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, OpenRouter, Gemini, MLX and Ollama
- your data
- API keys and configuration stay on the device; the app does not retain writing or logs, and selected text goes only to the chosen cloud provider unless a local model is used
- checked
- 2026-08-14
- 03
Witsy
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local2.0kapr 2026System-wide selected-text commands, reusable experts, a scratchpad, and document context; bring the model and skip the subscription.
The catch vs PromptDCCustom experts can imitate the behavior, but the coding-prompt structure and one-click website workflow must be designed and maintained by the user.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopone-click install
- install
- Download a desktop binary from GitHub Releases; macOS also supports `brew install --cask witsy`
- setup
- It is BYOK unless you install Ollama and a local model; system-wide commands also need OS accessibility permissions
- engines
- OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI, Meta, Ollama, LM Studio, Mistral, DeepSeek, OpenRouter, Groq, Cerebras, Azure and OpenAI-compatible endpoints, plus optional image, video, speech, search and MCP providers
- your data
- Conversation history, experts, settings and document repositories live in the local application profile; local files are indexed locally, while prompts and retrieved context sent to a cloud model leave the machine
- checked
- 2026-08-14
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · PromptDC open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to PromptDC?+
The top free alternative to PromptDC is Page Assist (open source, MIT). A browser sidebar that reads the page, rewrites the selection, and saves custom actions; your local model does the thinking. Other popular PromptDC replacements include Writing Tools, Witsy.
How much does switching from PromptDC to a free alternative save?+
PromptDC starts at $9/month per seat ($108/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Page Assist saves $540 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own PromptDC clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for PromptDC is YES (the core loop fits in a weekend). A useful personal version is highly one-shot-able: an MV3 content script can capture selected text, send it to an LLM with one of two system prompts, then replace a normal editable field or copy the result. The commercial product earns its keep through Writing profiles (grammar fix, email, social post, shorten, tone), a Coding mode that auto-detects which AI tool you are prompting and tailors the rewrite, polished interaction design, and defensive handling of complex editors where naive DOM replacement can fail or corrupt text.
What is the catch when switching from PromptDC to Page Assist?+
It can rewrite selections and use page context, but it has no PromptDC-specific pipeline for turning vague coding requests into structured implementation-ready prompts.
