Why people look for a Grammarly alternative on Mac
These are the four reasons that come up most often, and how Brow handles each.
It only works in the browser
Grammarly's checking lives in a browser extension, so it does not reach native Mac apps. People are surprised it does nothing in Apple Mail, Notes, Pages, Slack, or a code editor, the places they actually write. Brow works in any app: select text, tap Shift twice, done.
It can slow your whole Mac down
On Apple Silicon Macs, users report the Grammarly desktop app dragging the entire system, with the lag disappearing the moment they quit it. Brow is native Swift, not Electron, and opens in under 100ms with a light footprint.
It is expensive for what it does
Grammarly Premium runs up to roughly $144 a year, which is a lot for what most people use it for: catching everyday typos and grammar. Brow's AI is $4.99/mo or $49/year, and the launcher, clipboard, and screenshots around it are free forever.
Your text goes to the cloud
Grammarly processes your writing on its servers, and product-improvement training has been on by default, which worries privacy-minded users. Brow runs grammar on-device with its own models, your text is processed and discarded, never stored or used for training.
Grammarly vs Brow at a glance
| What you need | Grammarly | Brow |
|---|---|---|
| Works in any Mac app | Browser & a few apps | Any app, double-Shift |
| Runs on-device | No, cloud | Yes, on-device |
| Native or Electron | Heavier desktop app | Native Swift, under 100ms |
| Voice dictation | No | Yes, Whisper AI |
| Translation | No | Yes, 19+ languages |
| Deep long-form writing help | Yes, stronger | Basic everyday fixes |
| Plagiarism detection | Yes | No |
| Price | ~$144/year | $4.99/mo, launcher free |
Brow is not trying to out-write Grammarly on a 2,000-word essay. It wins on the everyday case: fast, private grammar fixes everywhere you type, for a fraction of the price.
How grammar works in Brow
Select text in any app, press Shift twice, and Brow corrects grammar, spelling, and punctuation in place. It runs on-device with Brow's own models, so nothing is sent to a server. The same AI layer adds voice dictation with Whisper, keyboard layout auto-fix, and translation in 19+ languages. It is part of Brow Pro, on top of a launcher, clipboard, screenshots, and window manager that are free forever.
Brow Pro · $4.99/mo or $49/yearWhen Grammarly is still the better pick
If your work is heavy long-form writing, Grammarly is the stronger tool. Its engine goes deeper on tone, clarity rewrites, and word choice across a whole document, and it includes plagiarism detection that Brow does not. For students writing essays or writers polishing drafts, that depth is worth the price.
Pick Brow if
You want quick grammar and spelling fixes everywhere you type, not just in a browser, and you care about speed and privacy. You get on-device correction in any app, plus dictation and translation, on top of a free launcher and the rest of Brow's toolkit, for $4.99 a month.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Grammarly alternative that works in all Mac apps?
Yes. Grammarly's browser extension cannot reach native Mac apps, so it does not work in Apple Mail, Notes, Slack, or code editors. Brow works system-wide: select text in any app, tap Shift twice, and it corrects grammar in place.
Does Grammarly work in Apple Mail or Notes?
No. Grammarly's checking is tied to the browser and a limited set of apps, and Apple Mail and Notes are not covered. A native tool like Brow runs in those apps because it works at the system level rather than through a browser extension.
Is there a cheaper Grammarly alternative for Mac?
Yes. Grammarly Premium runs up to about $144 a year. Brow's AI grammar fix is part of Brow Pro at $4.99/mo or $49/year, and the launcher, clipboard, screenshots, and window manager around it are free forever.
Does Grammarly send my text to the cloud?
Yes. Grammarly processes your writing on its servers, and its product-improvement training has been enabled by default for individual users. Brow runs grammar on-device with its own models, so your text is processed locally and never stored or used for training.
Does Grammarly slow down your Mac?
Some users on Apple Silicon Macs report the Grammarly desktop app causing system-wide lag that clears up when they quit it. Brow is built in native Swift rather than Electron, opens in under 100ms, and uses minimal resources.