WritingTools is a cross-platform, open-source grammar assistant that brings Apple Intelligence-style writing help to Windows, Linux, and macOS. It supports free Gemini API and local LLMs, making it a flexible, privacy-friendly alternative.
Apple Intelligence Writing Tools have set a high bar for system-wide grammar assistance on macOS and iOS. For the first time, users could select text in any application and get AI-powered suggestions for grammar, style, and rewriting. Yet this experience is locked inside the Apple ecosystem, leaving Windows and Linux users without a comparable built-in option. Enter WritingTools, an open-source project by theJayTea that aims to fill this gap. It claims to be “the world’s smartest system-wide grammar assistant; a better version of the Apple Intelligence Writing Tools.” In this article, we’ll dive into what makes WritingTools unique, how it works, and why it matters for the future of AI-powered writing.
Writing assistance has traditionally been confined to specific applications—word processors, email clients, or text editors. You may have Grammarly in your browser and spell check in your IDE, but these silos limit consistency. When you write in a less common program, you lose that help.
System-wide grammar assistance changes the game. It operates at the operating system level, intercepting text input and applying AI models wherever you type. Apple Intelligence made this mainstream for Apple users, but its exclusive nature means a significant portion of the desktop market is excluded.
WritingTools directly addresses this need by bringing system-wide grammar assistance to Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is built with Swift, a language traditionally associated with Apple, yet it now runs cross-platform thanks to the maturity of Swift on Linux and Windows. This technical choice demonstrates a growing trend: developers are reaching beyond Apple’s ecosystem to solve broader problems.
WritingTools is an open-source utility that enables AI-powered grammar and rewriting support across any desktop application. The project’s creator, theJayTea, describes it in no uncertain terms: “The world’s smartest system-wide grammar assistant; a better version of the Apple Intelligence Writing Tools.”
The tool is designed to be flexible and transparent. Because it is open source, anyone can inspect the code, understand how it works, and contribute improvements. For users concerned about privacy, this is a major advantage over closed commercial alternatives.
At its core, WritingTools provides a set of writing tools—proofreading, rewrites, tone adjustments, and more—that can be invoked via a keyboard shortcut or a button in your system tray or menu bar. The underlying AI engine can be configured to meet your needs.
WritingTools brings together several important features that set it apart from native OS tools:
These features combine to offer a level of flexibility that no proprietary writing assistant can match. You are not locked into a specific vendor or platform, and you have control over where your text is processed.
According to the project’s GitHub repository, WritingTools supports three desktop platforms and at least two AI backend options. This means you can use it on your existing hardware without being forced into a particular ecosystem.
Let’s compare WritingTools directly with Apple Intelligence Writing Tools across key factors.
Compatibility is the most obvious differentiator. Apple Intelligence works only on macOS and iOS. WritingTools works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. If you use a Linux work laptop or have a Windows gaming rig, WritingTools is the only choice among the two.
Privacy is another critical consideration. Apple Intelligence uses on-device processing for many tasks, but it still operates within Apple’s ecosystem. With WritingTools, you can opt for a local LLM that runs entirely on your machine, meaning your text never leaves your device. This is an incredibly powerful option for professionals handling sensitive data.
Cost is also relevant. While both are free, Apple Intelligence requires you to own Apple hardware, which can be a significant expense. WritingTools is open-source and can run on a $200 PC, giving you AI writing assistance without the hardware premium.
Customization further separates the two. Apple’s tools are a black box; you get what Apple gives you. WritingTools can be tweaked, extended, and connected to new backends by its community. For developers and power users, this is a meaningful advantage.
Ready to give WritingTools a try? Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you up and running.
The setup process is straightforward for anyone comfortable with open-source software. The documentation is community-driven, and you can find help in the project’s issue tracker.
WritingTools is a versatile utility that can benefit a wide range of users.
One of the most compelling uses is in mixed-platform teams. A team can standardize on WritingTools, ensuring everyone, whether on Windows, Linux, or macOS, has access to the same writing assistant.
WritingTools is part of a broader movement toward open-source AI writing assistants. From 2024 to 2025, we’ve seen a rising interest in tools that give users more control over their AI interactions. Projects like WritingTools are at the forefront of this shift.
This trend is driven by several factors. First, the cost of AI models is declining, and many high-quality models are now available under open licenses. Second, users are increasingly concerned about data privacy and want local processing options. Finally, developers are demanding transparency and customization from their tools.
WritingTools exemplifies these principles. It is built in the open, supports local models, and offers system-wide integration that goes beyond what most proprietary tools provide. As more users contribute to its development, it will likely become even more capable.
Learning about the technical architecture of WritingTools can help you trust its security. The Swift codebase is structured with modularity in mind. AI backends are abstracted behind a common interface, so adding a new provider is straightforward.
When you use the Gemini API, your text is sent to Google’s servers. This is a typical trade-off for cloud-based AI. However, with a local LLM, everything stays on your machine. This makes WritingTools an excellent choice for security-sensitive environments.
The open-source nature of the project means that security vulnerabilities are more likely to be spotted and fixed quickly. The community can audit the code for data leaks or malicious behavior. That’s a level of assurance no closed-source tool can offer.
No tool is perfect, and WritingTools has a few potential drawbacks to keep in mind.
Learning curve: Installing and configuring a tool with multiple backends can be intimidating for non-technical users. However, the documentation is improving, and the community is helpful.
API rate limits: The free Gemini API may have usage limits. For heavy users, this could be a bottleneck. A local LLM removes this concern but requires adequate CPU/GPU resources.
Model quality: The quality of suggestions depends on the backend you choose. Local models are improving, but they may not yet match the best proprietary cloud models for nuanced writing tasks.
Despite these challenges, the transparency and flexibility of WritingTools mitigate many concerns. Users can start with the Gemini API and later switch to a local model as models improve.
WritingTools represents a microcosm of the future of desktop computing. AI is increasingly becoming an operating system feature, and tools like WritingTools are pioneering this integration. The success of this project could inspire more developers to build system-level AI utilities for all platforms.
Moreover, the cross-platform Swift development trend is worth watching. WritingTools proves that Swift code can be compiled to run on Windows and Linux without sacrificing performance. This opens up new possibilities for the Swift ecosystem beyond Apple’s borders.
As local LLMs continue to evolve, we can expect WritingTools to become even more powerful. With a strong community behind it, the project is well-positioned to adapt to new AI breakthroughs and user demands.
WritingTools is a remarkable open-source project that brings Apple Intelligence-style writing assistance to everyone, regardless of platform. With support for Windows, Linux, and macOS, flexible AI backends, and a strong emphasis on privacy, it addresses many of the gaps left by proprietary solutions.
Whether you’re a content creator, developer, or privacy-conscious professional, WritingTools offers a compelling way to supercharge your writing workflow. Its transparent, community-driven development model ensures that it will continue to improve and adapt to emerging needs.
If you’re looking for a cross-platform grammar assistant that puts you in control, I encourage you to explore WritingTools on GitHub. It might just be the writing assistant you’ve been missing.
WritingTools is an open-source, cross-platform grammar assistant that provides system-wide AI-powered writing help on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Unlike Apple Intelligence Writing Tools, which are limited to Apple's ecosystem, WritingTools lets users on other operating systems get similar grammar, style, and rewriting suggestions. It is built with Swift but runs beyond Apple platforms, making it a flexible alternative.
To get started, visit the WritingTools project page on GitHub (by theJayTea) and download the latest release for your operating system. You'll need to configure an AI backend, such as the free Gemini API or a local LLM, then enable the system-wide assistant. After installation, you can select text in any application and invoke WritingTools to receive grammar and rewriting suggestions.
Yes, WritingTools supports local LLMs, which is a great option if you want to avoid sending your text to external servers. Running a local model keeps your writing data on your machine and gives you more control over privacy. This makes it particularly appealing for users handling sensitive or confidential content.
Swift has matured as a cross-platform language, so developers can now write code that compiles and runs on Windows and Linux as well as Apple platforms. WritingTools takes advantage of this to create a single codebase that works across all major desktop operating systems. This technical choice reflects a broader trend of using Swift beyond Apple's ecosystem for system-level utilities.
WritingTools is designed to complement or replace those tools depending on your needs. Because it works system-wide, it can provide consistent AI grammar assistance in any application, unlike browser-only extensions or editor-specific plugins. However, for advanced style guides or specialized workflows, you might still prefer a dedicated tool. Its open-source nature also means you can customize and extend it to suit your own workflow.
