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.
Apple Writing Tools
$0.00/mo · proprietary, free
Grammarly vs Apple Writing Tools Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Grammarly (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 & License | Proprietary SaaS | free proprietary, free |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopmobileone-click install |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ $0 forever |
Deep Dive: Switching from Grammarly to Apple Writing Tools
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
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.
How to deploy Apple Writing Tools
Built into supported iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems
What it takes to run
Requires Apple Intelligence-compatible hardware, a supported OS, language and region
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
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