[opensourcedex]

WritingTools is a free, open source publishing project written in Swift and released under GPL-3.0. It has 2,451 GitHub stars, 159 forks and 79 open issues, and was last pushed 30 days ago. On this registry it ranks #20 of 46 tracked projects in Publishing, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available.

What is WritingTools?

What it is

WritingTools is an open-source, system-wide writing assistant for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is inspired by Apple Intelligence Writing Tools and uses cloud-based or local large language models to proofread, rewrite, summarize, and transform selected text across applications. The project is written in Swift and released under the GPL-3.0 license. The README states it works in nearly any language.

The concrete problem it solves is the lack of a free, cross-platform grammar and text optimization workflow that works across applications. Apple's Writing Tools are tied to Apple devices and models, while WritingTools lets a user select text in almost any program, invoke a hotkey, and replace the selection with AI-assisted output.

Key capabilities

  • Proofread, rewrite, friendly, professional, concise, and custom-instruction actions operate on selected text through the system-wide ctrl+space hotkey.
  • Selected text is replaced with the AI-optimized version, and ctrl+z reverts the change.
  • Summaries can be generated from webpages, documents, emails, and YouTube video transcripts, with Markdown-rendered output.
  • Users can chat with a generated summary to ask follow-up questions.
  • Custom buttons let users define reusable AI actions beyond the built-in commands.
  • Pressing the hotkey without selected text starts a chat with the configured language model, and chat history is deleted when the window closes.

Who uses it and how

  • Windows and Linux users who want an Apple Writing Tools-like workflow across desktop applications use the hotkey to correct or restyle selected text.
  • macOS users can use the native Swift port, including Intel Macs and the EU, where the README describes it as a way to use Apple-style Writing Tools.
  • Researchers and editors select webpage or document text to generate summaries, key points, or tables, then chat with the result to inspect details.
  • Developers and writers use custom instructions to transform text, such as adding comments to code, changing case, or translating content.

Getting started

The provided README excerpt does not give installation or deployment commands. It describes running the application and using ctrl+space to invoke Writing Tools after selecting text.

When to use it — and when not to

WritingTools is useful when a free, open-source, cross-platform alternative to Apple Intelligence Writing Tools or Grammarly Premium is needed, especially with custom AI actions and local model support. A user must choose and operate the model path, whether a cloud API such as Gemini or a local large language model, and the README excerpt does not describe database, storage, SMTP, or server deployment requirements. The project has 79 open issues and no listed contributor count in the provided facts, so users who need a hosted option may need to look elsewhere.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

Writing Tools

🍎 Using a Mac? Jump to the macOS (Native Swift Port) section → macOS

Instantly proofread and optimize your writing system-wide with AI:

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d3ce4694-b593-45ff-ae9a-892ce94b1dc8

Summarize content (webpages, YouTube videos, documents...) in a click:

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/76d13eb9-168e-4459-ada4-62e0586ae58c

Add your own buttons for unlimited potential!

image

✨ What is Writing Tools?

Writing Tools is an Apple Intelligence-inspired application for Windows, Linux, and macOS that supercharges your writing with an AI LLM (cloud-based or local).

With one hotkey press system-wide, it lets you fix grammar, optimize text according to your instructions, summarize content (webpages, YouTube videos, etc.), and more.

It's currently the world's most intelligent system-wide grammar assistant, works in ~any language, and has been featured in 🔥 30+ global publications (Beebom, XDA, How-To Geek, Neowin, Windows Central...).

Writing Tools was also among the 🔥 top 10 most trending AI programs in the world on GitHub in October 2024.

Hi! I'm Jesai, a high school student from Bangalore, and I created and maintain Writing Tools with help from our amazing contributors. I want to especially shout out momokrono, who's contributed extensively, and Arya Mirsepasi, who built the entire macOS port!

Writing Tools will always remain completely free and open-source.

If you find value in it, it would mean the world to me if you could support us as we continue to improve it. ❤️

Support Jesai (Windows/Linux): Support Arya (macOS):
Buy Me A Coffee Buy Me A Coffee

⚡ What can I do with Writing Tools, exactly?

1️⃣ Hyper-intelligent Writing Tools:

  • Select any text on your PC and invoke Writing Tools with ctrl+space.
  • Choose Proofread, Rewrite, Friendly, Professional, Concise, or even enter custom instructions (e.g., "add comments to this code", "make it title case", "translate to French").
  • Your text will instantly be replaced with the AI-optimized version. Use ctrl+z to revert.

2️⃣ Powerful content summarization that you can chat with:

  • Select all text in any webpage, document, email, etc., with ctrl+a, or select the transcript of a YouTube video (from its description).
  • Choose Summary, Key Points, or Table after invoking Writing Tools.
  • Get a pop-up summary with clear and beautiful formatting (with Markdown rendering), saving you hours.
  • Chat with the summary if you'd like to learn more or have questions.

3️⃣ Go wild with your own buttons!

  • They're your own magic buttons. Dream, and it'll magically be done with AI.

3️⃣ Chat with an LLM anytime in a click:

  • Press ctrl+space without selecting text to start a conversation with your LLM (for privacy, chat history is deleted when you close the window).

🌟 Why Choose Writing Tools?

Aside from being the only Windows/Linux program like Apple's Writing Tools, and the only way to use them on an Intel Mac or in the EU:

  • More intelligent than Apple's Writing Tools and Grammarly Premium: Apple uses a tiny 3B parameter model, while Writing Tools lets you use much more advanced models for free (e.g., Gemini 2.0 Flash [~30B]). Grammarly's rule-based NLP can't compete with LLMs.
  • Completely free and open-source: No subscriptions or hidden costs. Bloat-free and uses ~0% of your CPU even when actively using it.
  • Versatile AI LLM support: Jump in quickly with the free Gemini API & Gemini 2.0, or an extensive range of local LLMs (via Ollama [instructions], llama.cpp, KoboldCPP, TabbyAPI, vLLM, etc.) or cloud-based LLMs (ChatGPT, Mistral AI, etc.) through Writing Tools' OpenAI-API-compatibility.
  • Does not mess with your clipboard, and works system-wide.
  • Privacy-focused: Your API key and config files stay on your device. NO logging, diagnostic collection, tracking, or ads. Invoked only on your command. Local LLMs keep your data on your device & work without the internet.
  • Supports multiple languages: Works with any language and translates text better than Google Translate (type "translate to [language]" in Describe your change...).
  • Code support: Fix, improve, translate, or add comments to code with Describe your change...."
  • Themes, Dark Mode, & Customization: Choose between 2 themes: a blurry gradient theme and a plain theme that resembles the Windows + V pop-up! Also has full dark mode support. Set your own hotkey for quick access.

✅ 1 Minute Installation

🪟 Windows:

  1. Go to the Releases page and download the latest Writing.Tools.zip file.
  2. Extract it to your desired location (recommended: Documents or App Data/Local), run Writing Tools.exe, and enjoy! :D

Note: Writing Tools is a portable app. If you extract it into a protected folder (e.g., Program Files), you must run it as administrator at least on first launch so it can create/edit its config files (in the same folder as its exe).

PS: Go to Writing Tools' Settings (from its tray icon at the bottom right of the taskbar) to enable starting Writing Tools on boot.

🐧 Linux (work-in-progress):

Run it from the source code

Writing Tools works well on x11. On Wayland, there are a few caveats:

🍎 macOS

The macOS version is a native Swift port, developed by Arya Mirsepasi. View the README inside the macOS folder to learn more.

To install it:

  1. Go to the Releases page and download the latest macOS .dmg file.
  2. Open the .dmg file, also open a Finder Window, and drag the writing-tools.app into the Applications folder. That's it!

Note: macOS 14 or later is required due to accessibility API requirements.

💎 Why the macOS port is special
  • Truly native: Built in Swift (SwiftUI + AppKit where needed) for a fast, polished Mac experience.
  • Private & on-device: Run local LLMs with MLX on Apple Silicon — no internet required for on-device models.
  • Rich-text aware: Proofread preserves RTF formatting (bold, italics, lists, links) so your documents keep their look while errors disappear.
  • Your workflows, your way: Edit and add your own commands and assign custom shortcuts.
  • Multilingual by design: App UI supports English, German, French, and Spanish, and commands work in many more languages.
  • Choice of intelligence: Connect to top providers or go fully local — switch any time.
  • Themes: Multiple themes (including dark mode) to match your desktop vibe.
🧠 Providers & Models on macOS
  • Cloud: **OpenAI, Google (Gemini),

readme truncated — read the full docs on github

Frequently asked questions

Is WritingTools free to use?

WritingTools is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does WritingTools do?

The world's smartest system-wide grammar assistant; a better version of the Apple Intelligence Writing Tools. Works on Windows, Linux, & macOS, with the free Ge

What is WritingTools written in?

WritingTools is primarily written in Swift. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools, and it has 2,451 GitHub stars.