Our rating: 3/5 for this setup

Writing Tools: a free, open-source Grammarly alternative on a hotkey

An open-source desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. Select text in any app, press Ctrl+Space and pick Proofread, Rewrite, Concise or your own instruction; the text is replaced with the AI-edited version (Ctrl+Z undoes it). Works with the free Gemini API, local models (Ollama, llama.cpp) or other OpenAI-compatible providers.

New Added Oct 17, 2026 · ✓ Last checked Oct 17, 2026

It broke for meBroke?

Diagram drawn by AppToBot from this recipe's source. It shows the flow, not a screenshot of the product.

Setup steps

Download the latest release for Windows or macOS (Linux: run from source)
Add a free Gemini API key or point it at a local model (Ollama, llama.cpp)
Select text in any app and press Ctrl+Space
Pick Proofread, another option, or type your own instruction
Check the replaced text; press Ctrl+Z to undo

Steps summarized from the original GitHub source ↗. Use “Copy” to grab them with the tools and source link, or copy an AI prompt.

Try it with AI

Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude or your own agent for step-by-step help. Prompt written by AppToBot from this recipe's data, not by the original author. It keeps drafts for your review and asks before anything is sent or paid.

Help me set up this automation using Writing Tools (open source) + Gemini API or a local model via Ollama: "Writing Tools: a free, open-source Grammarly alternative on a hotkey".
Goal: replace Grammarly.

How it should work:
- Trigger: You select text and press Ctrl+Space
- Then: Pick Proofread, Rewrite or your own instruction
- Then: The AI model you chose edits the text
- Result: Selected text replaced in place (Ctrl+Z to undo)

Setup steps (summarized from the original source):
1. Download the latest release for Windows or macOS (Linux: run from source)
2. Add a free Gemini API key or point it at a local model (Ollama, llama.cpp)
3. Select text in any app and press Ctrl+Space
4. Pick Proofread, another option, or type your own instruction
5. Check the replaced text; press Ctrl+Z to undo

Guide me one step at a time. Ask me for anything you need (accounts, sheet or channel names) before you start.

Safety rules:
- Build and test with sample data first, and show me a sample result before anything goes live.
- Keep anything that goes to other people (emails, posts, replies, record updates) as drafts for my review until I say otherwise.
- Never send, post, buy, pay, delete or change records without my approval.
- Tell me about any cost (paid plans, API usage) before I'd incur it, and help me set a spending limit.
- Keep API keys and passwords out of shared docs and chats.
- Privacy: Selected text goes to the AI provider you choose (Google for Gemini); with a local model it stays on your computer. The README says the app does no logging or tracking.

Based on: https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools

From the source

Writing Tools from the project README: the custom-button editor for your own AI instructions — Image from github.com, the source of this recipe, shown as a reference. It belongs to its owner. Downloaded Oct 17, 2026.

GrammarlyWriting Tools (open source) + Gemini API or a local model via Ollama

Tool names link to each official site (opens in a new tab).

Cost afterFree app; free Gemini API tier or free local models (per README)

SetupEasy · Not reported

Time savedNot reported

SkillBeginner

Running cost: Free to run Free open-source app; the README names the free Gemini API tier and free local models. No-code How we sort costs
Stack: Gemini · Ollama
Replace an app: AI bots that replace Grammarly

App vs bot, side by side

Old app vs bot
	Old app / habit	Bot
Tool	Grammarly	Writing Tools desktop app + Gemini API or a local model
Monthly cost	Not reported	Free app; free Gemini API tier or free local models (per README)
Setup	None (already in use)	Not reported · Beginner
Your time	Baseline	Not reported
Maintenance	Handled by vendor/you as before	Update the app; manage your API key or local model.
Privacy	Data stays with the app vendor	Selected text goes to the AI provider you choose (Google for Gemini); with a local model it stays on your computer. The README says the app does no logging or tracking.

Full comparison

Replaces	Grammarly
Bot / agent stack	Writing Tools desktop app + Gemini API or a local model
Monthly cost before	Not reported
Monthly cost after	Free app; free Gemini API tier or free local models (per README)
Setup time	Not reported
Time saved	Not reported
Skill level	Beginner
Reliability	3/5: popular open-source tool built by its developers; no long-term usage data in the source. You see every edit and can undo it.
Maintenance	Update the app; manage your API key or local model.
Privacy & data	Selected text goes to the AI provider you choose (Google for Gemini); with a local model it stays on your computer. The README says the app does no logging or tracking.
Best for	People who want one-hotkey proofreading in every app
Not for	People who don't want to manage an API key or a local model

Pros and cons

Pros

One hotkey in any app
Custom buttons for your own instructions
Free with a local model or Gemini's free tier

Cons

Linux support is a work in progress (Wayland has caveats)
Cloud providers see the text you send

Source and evidence

Open-source project README (GPL-3.0, about 2.5k GitHub stars when we checked). Comparisons with Grammarly are the developers' own claims; the source has no usage reports.

Read the original GitHub source ↗

“Not reported” means the source doesn't say. We never fill gaps with guesses. Numbers marked “per author” or “vendor claim” are the source's own and weren't independently tested. Source last checked Oct 17, 2026.

Our rating is an editorial opinion based on the public source above, not lab testing. Spot an error? Request a correction.

Plain-text summary (for search and AI assistants)

Writing Tools: a free, open-source Grammarly alternative on a hotkey. Replaces Grammarly with Writing Tools desktop app + Gemini API or a local model. Cost before: Not reported. Cost after: Free app; free Gemini API tier or free local models (per README). Setup: Not reported, Beginner. Time saved: Not reported. Reliability 3/5: 3/5: popular open-source tool built by its developers; no long-term usage data in the source. You see every edit and can undo it. Best for: People who want one-hotkey proofreading in every app. Not for: People who don't want to manage an API key or a local model. Source: https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools

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