can i fork it?

Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Grammarly · ✍️ ai writing

Grammarly vs Apple Writing Tools

Proofread, rewrite, shorten, or change tone almost anywhere, assuming your Apple hardware made the guest list. Here is how Apple Writing Tools ($0/mo free) stacks up against Grammarly ($30/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.

Grammarly vs Apple Writing Tools Specification Matrix

facts verified 2026-08-10

DimensionGrammarly (Paid)Apple Writing Tools (Replacement)
Monthly Price$30 / mo$0 / mo
1-Year Cost (1 seat)$360 / yr$0 / yr (Save $360)
1-Year Cost (5 seats)$1,800 / yr$0 / yr (Save $1,800)
1-Year Cost (10 seats)$3,600 / yr$0 / yr (Save $3,600)
Source & LicenseProprietary SaaSfree proprietary, free
Where It RunsVendor CloudLocal or hosted (your machine or their cloud)
PlatformsWeb / Cloud
desktopmobileone-click install
GitHub Stars—★ $0 forever

Deep Dive: Switching from Grammarly to Apple Writing Tools

Trade-offs, installation & data architecture

The Catch vs Grammarly

What you trade away

It is restricted to supported Apple hardware and offers fewer continuous cross-app style, brand and writing analytics controls than Grammarly.

Installation

How to deploy Apple Writing Tools

Built into supported iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems

Day-2 Operations & Setup

What it takes to run

Requires Apple Intelligence-compatible hardware, a supported OS, language and region

Data Ownership

Where your data lives

Text is processed on-device when possible; larger requests can use stateless Private Cloud Compute, while optional ChatGPT sends the selected text to OpenAI

Build vs Fork Verdict: KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no)

Why fork Apple Writing Tools instead of vibe-coding a Grammarly clone?

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.

Grammarly vs Apple Writing Tools FAQ

Is Apple Writing Tools a good free alternative to Grammarly?+

Yes. Apple Writing Tools is a verified free replacement for Grammarly. Proofread, rewrite, shorten, or change tone almost anywhere, assuming your Apple hardware made the guest list.

What is the catch when switching from Grammarly to Apple Writing Tools?+

It is restricted to supported Apple hardware and offers fewer continuous cross-app style, brand and writing analytics controls than Grammarly.

How much do you save switching from Grammarly to Apple Writing Tools?+

Grammarly costs $30/mo ($360/yr) per seat, whereas Apple Writing Tools is $0/mo. Switching saves $360/yr for a solo user, $1,800/yr for a 5-person team, and $3,600/yr for a 10-person team.

How do I install or self-host Apple Writing Tools instead of Grammarly?+

Install: Built into supported iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems. Setup: Requires Apple Intelligence-compatible hardware, a supported OS, language and region

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