Not Grammarly review
A focused, free Mac editor for explanations, scoring, and style refinement.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Not Grammarly is a free, open-source desktop grammar checker for macOS. It analyzes copied text and provides grammar corrections, explanations, scoring, and style refinement. Users can choose formal, informal, or concise output, with support for English, Spanish, Portuguese, and additional languages. The product fits Mac users who want a focused writing assistant rather than a broad, cross-platform editing service. Its global keyboard shortcut is designed for analyzing clipboard text, while light, dark, and system appearance settings support different desktop preferences.
The strongest part of the product is its focused editing workflow. Grammar feedback is paired with explanations and scoring, giving users more context than a correction alone. Text refinement adds a practical second layer for changing tone or brevity. Transparency controls and always-on-top mode provide additional control over how the app appears on the desktop. The MIT License and open-source distribution also suit users who prefer software with an openly distributed codebase. However, the workflow centers on copied text and a desktop app, so it is less suited to users who need editing built directly into many writing environments.
Pricing is straightforward: Not Grammarly is free, with no paid tiers described. The application uses the OpenAI API, and users must provide their own API key. That requirement is an important part of the setup and separates the product from tools that bundle access to their own service. Platform coverage is also narrow: macOS is currently available, while Windows is listed as coming soon. Choose Not Grammarly if you want free Mac-based grammar explanations, scoring, and AI-assisted refinement. Choose an alternative if you need broader platform coverage or a wider integration ecosystem.
Not Grammarly pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Grammar corrections include explanations and scoring.
- Refines text in formal, informal, and concise styles.
- Free, open-source macOS app with clipboard analysis.
- Where it doesn't
- Currently limited to macOS.
- Requires users to provide their own OpenAI API key.
- Limited integrations beyond OpenAI API support.
Not Grammarly fact sheet, pricing and score →
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