Looking for Apple Writing Tools alternatives? Compare all the best autocomplete apps for Mac including pricing, features, and use cases.
The best Apple Writing Tools alternatives are Retext (for your own snippets first, with short AI suggestions (in beta)), Cotypist, and Typeahead. Your best choice depends on whether you want longer AI-written suggestions, or your own snippets first with short AI help.
Native Mac text expander that suggests your own snippets as ghost text, and a few words from Apple's on-device model when none fits (both in beta). Press Tab to accept.
Autocomplete comes with every plan. See the pricing page.
Snippet and AI suggestions, plus 5 snippets
On-device AI autocomplete for Mac that suggests the rest of your sentence as you type
Private AI autocomplete for every Mac app, running a local model on your Mac
Cloud-based writing assistant that checks grammar, tone and clarity as you type, with AI rewriting and drafting, on Mac, Windows, mobile and the web
Apple's built-in predictive text for Mac, which finishes the word or phrase you're typing in gray, inline
| Feature | Retext | Apple Writing Tools | Cotypist | Typeahead | Grammarly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inline Autocomplete | Beta | Not available | |||
| Snippet Expansion | Not available | Not available | Not available | ||
| Grammar & Rewriting | Not available | ||||
| 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 |
| Cotypist | Freemium | Plus 6/month or 72/year (1 Mac); Pro 9/month or 108/year (up to 3 Macs) (currency not shown) | 100 accepted words a day, plus a 30-day Pro trial with no card |
| Typeahead | Flat Rate | $96/year, or Lifetime $149 once with every future update; monthly plan available | |
| Grammarly | Freemium | Pro $12 (billing period not shown); Enterprise by quote | Spelling and grammar checks, tone detection and 100 AI prompts a month |
| macOS Inline Predictions | Free | Free, built into macOS | Included with macOS Sonoma and later |
Retext, Cotypist, Typeahead, Grammarly and macOS Inline Predictions. The right one depends on whether you want longer AI-written suggestions, or your own snippets first with short AI help.
Retext, Cotypist, Grammarly and macOS Inline Predictions have a free plan or trial. Check each one's limits in the pricing table above.
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.
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
Cotypist, checked October 28, 2026: Cotypist · Cotypist pricing
Typeahead, checked October 28, 2026: Typeahead
Grammarly, checked October 28, 2026: Grammarly plans · Grammarly for Mac · Can I use Grammarly offline? · Grammarly snippets
macOS Inline Predictions, checked October 28, 2026: Get typing suggestions on Mac · macOS feature availability
Prices and features change. Check each vendor's site before you buy.