5 Best Grammarly Alternatives for Mac in 2026
Grammarly is powerful, but it's not perfect for every Mac user. It's expensive ($144/year for Premium), processes your text on their servers, and doesn't work in every Mac app. Here are 5 alternatives that solve these problems.
Why Look Beyond Grammarly?
Grammarly is the biggest name in grammar checking, but Mac users have specific pain points:
- Limited system-wide support — Grammarly's Mac app works in some apps, but not all. It relies on browser extensions for web-based writing and has limited support in native Mac apps like Notes, Terminal, or VS Code.
- Privacy concerns — Your text is sent to Grammarly's servers, processed, and stored. Their privacy policy allows using data for product improvement.
- High price — Grammarly Premium costs $12/month billed annually ($144/year), or $30/month billed monthly.
- Resource usage — Grammarly's desktop app and browser extensions can be heavy on memory and CPU.
1. FlowWrite — Best Overall Grammarly Alternative for Mac
FlowWrite is a native Mac menu bar app that does what Grammarly can't — work in every single app on your Mac. Select text anywhere, press Tab, and AI corrects it in place.
FlowWrite vs Grammarly
| Feature | FlowWrite | Grammarly |
|---|---|---|
| System-wide | All Mac apps | Limited apps |
| Price | Free / $2.99/mo | Free / $12/mo |
| Privacy | Never stored | Stored & processed |
| Translation | Any language pair | English-focused |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Writing modes | 5 modes | Grammar + GrammarlyGO |
| Speed | < 2 seconds | 2-5 seconds |
2. LanguageTool — Best for Multilingual Writers
LanguageTool is an open-source grammar checker that supports 30+ languages. If you write in multiple languages regularly, it's the strongest option.
Why Choose Over Grammarly
- 30+ languages vs Grammarly's English-only focus
- Open source — you can self-host for maximum privacy
- Cheaper at $5/month
Limitations
- Mac app doesn't support all applications
- AI suggestions only in premium tier
3. ProWritingAid — Best for Long-Form Writing
ProWritingAid goes deeper than grammar — it analyzes writing style, pacing, readability, and more. Ideal for authors and content creators.
Why Choose Over Grammarly
- 20+ writing analysis reports
- Lifetime purchase option (one-time $399)
- Better Scrivener integration
- Manuscript-level analysis
Limitations
- Limited Mac system-wide support
- Corrections are slower
4. Apple Writing Tools — Best Free Built-In
If you have a Mac with Apple Silicon running macOS Sequoia, you already have basic grammar checking built in.
Why Choose Over Grammarly
- Completely free
- On-device processing (maximum privacy)
- No installation needed
Limitations
- Only works in Apple apps and select third-party apps
- Grammar detection is significantly less accurate
- English-only for most features
5. QuillBot — Best Free Web Option
QuillBot is a browser-based tool that combines grammar checking with powerful paraphrasing.
Why Choose Over Grammarly
- More generous free grammar checking
- Excellent paraphrasing tool
- No account required for basic use
Limitations
- Browser-only — no Mac desktop app
- Grammar checking is secondary to paraphrasing
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | FlowWrite | LanguageTool | ProWritingAid | Apple | QuillBot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System-wide | All apps | Some | Limited | Apple apps | Browser |
| Languages | All major | 30+ | English | English | English |
| Free tier | 20/day | Limited | 500 words | Unlimited | Generous |
| Pro price | $2.99/mo | $5/mo | $10/mo | Free | $10/mo |
| Privacy | Not stored | Self-host | Stored | On-device | Stored |
| Translation | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grammarly worth it on Mac?
Grammarly is worth it if you primarily write in browsers and Google Docs. But if you need grammar checking in native Mac apps like Mail, Notes, Slack, or VS Code, a system-wide tool like FlowWrite is a better fit. Read our full Grammarly worth-it review for details.
What's the cheapest Grammarly alternative?
Apple Writing Tools is free but limited. For a full-featured alternative, FlowWrite at $2.99/month or LanguageTool at $5/month are the most affordable options with generous free tiers.
Which grammar checker has the best privacy?
Apple Writing Tools processes everything on-device. Among third-party tools, FlowWrite never stores your text, and LanguageTool offers a self-hosted option.