Looking for a Apple Writing Tools alternative? Retext suggests your own snippets as you type, and short on-device AI suggestions when none fits (both in beta), inside a native Mac text expander.
Retext is a Apple Writing Tools alternative if you want suggestions from your own snippets (beta) and a full text expander in the same app. If you want longer AI-written suggestions, Apple Writing Tools goes further.
Writing Tools goes much further than Retext on proofreading, rewriting and summarizing, and it's free on Macs with Apple Intelligence. It works on text you select rather than as you type. Retext suggests your own snippets as you type (in beta), so the two do different jobs and work well together.
Your snippets come first, so saved answers read exactly the way you wrote them
Tab accepts, the right arrow takes one word, Esc dismisses
Accepting a trigger runs the full snippet, fill-in fields and {cursor} included
Off in password fields, terminals, password managers and remote desktops
A full text expander in the same app
| Feature | Retext | Apple Writing Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Inline Autocomplete | Beta | Not available |
| Snippet Expansion | Not available | |
| Grammar & Rewriting | ||
| Privacy & Local Storage | ||
| Cross-Platform |
| Product | Pricing Model | Price | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retext | Freemium | Autocomplete comes with every plan. See the pricing page. | Snippet and AI suggestions, plus 5 snippets |
| Apple Writing Tools | Free | Included with Apple Intelligence; usage limits may apply | Built into macOS on Macs that support Apple Intelligence |
Migration difficulty: easy
Writing Tools is part of macOS, so there's nothing to move, and it keeps working alongside Retext. Use Writing Tools to polish what you wrote and Retext to type the parts you repeat.
Retext suggests your own snippets as you type, and short on-device AI suggestions when none fits (both in beta), inside a native Mac text expander. Writing Tools goes much further than Retext on proofreading, rewriting and summarizing, and it's free on Macs with Apple Intelligence. It works on text you select rather than as you type. Retext suggests your own snippets as you type (in beta), so the two do different jobs and work well together.
Needs Apple Intelligence on a supported Mac; Not available in all languages or regions.
Yes. Apple Writing Tools's free option: built into macOS on Macs that support Apple Intelligence. Paid: Included with Apple Intelligence; usage limits may apply.
Yes. Retext's free plan includes snippet and AI suggestions, plus 5 snippets. Autocomplete comes with every plan. See the pricing page.
Apple Writing Tools is the better choice for polishing an email or note before you send it, changing the tone of something you wrote and summarizing long text.
Writing Tools is part of macOS, so there's nothing to move, and it keeps working alongside Retext. Use Writing Tools to polish what you wrote and Retext to type the parts you repeat.
Download Retext, turn on autocomplete in Settings, and press Tab to accept.
Sources
Apple Writing Tools, checked October 28, 2026: Use Writing Tools on Mac · Apple Intelligence · Apple Intelligence and privacy on Mac
Prices and features change. Check each vendor's site before you buy.