5 Grammarly Alternatives for iPhone Worth Trying in 2026

Grammarly is the most recognizable name in writing assistance, but it is not the only option on iPhone, and it is not always the best fit for how you write. Some people need less than Grammarly offers (occasional grammar checks); others need more (tone control, custom instructions, model choice). Here are five alternatives worth knowing about, including Grammarly's own free tier as a baseline.

1. QKeyboard

QKeyboard is a custom iOS keyboard built around rewriting text in-place inside whatever app you are already using — Messages, Mail, Notes, Slack, and others. Instead of underlining errors, it offers one-tap tone presets (Professional, Concise, Urgent, Direct, Friendly) plus custom modes you define yourself. It also supports bringing your own API key for OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini-compatible models. Best for: people who rewrite messages into a specific tone throughout the day, across many different apps. The free plan includes 20 rewrites/day (100/day with BYOK); Pro removes the caps for $1.49/mo, $9.99/yr, or a $9.99 one-time Lifetime option.

2. Apple Writing Tools

Built into iOS 18.1+ on iPhone 15 Pro and later, Apple Writing Tools lets you select text in nearly any app and choose Proofread, Rewrite, or a formatting shortcut like Summarize. It requires no setup, no extra permissions, and runs on-device. Best for: people who want occasional grammar checks or a single rewrite pass without installing anything, and who own a compatible device. It offers one rewrite style and no tone presets or custom modes, which is where third-party tools tend to add more control — see our full comparison of QKeyboard vs Apple Writing Tools.

3. ChatGPT app

The ChatGPT app is not a keyboard or a proofreading tool — it is a general-purpose assistant you type or paste text into. It is excellent for drafting something from scratch, brainstorming structure, or asking follow-up questions about a piece of writing. The tradeoff is workflow: to fix a sentence in Mail, you have to switch apps, copy the text, paste it with a prompt, then copy the result back. Best for: long-form drafting and open-ended writing help, not quick in-place edits.

4. Quillbot

Quillbot is a paraphrasing and grammar-checking tool aimed largely at students and writers working on longer documents — essays, reports, articles. Its paraphrasing modes (Standard, Fluency, Formal, and others) rework a passage's wording while preserving meaning, and it includes a grammar checker and citation generator. It is primarily a web and desktop tool; its mobile presence is lighter than its browser extension. Best for: reworking existing paragraphs in a document, less so for quick messages typed on a phone.

5. Grammarly (free tier)

Worth naming as a baseline: Grammarly's own free tier already covers basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks across its keyboard, browser extension, and desktop apps. If your main need is catching typos and you do not need tone rewriting or custom instructions, the free tier may be enough on its own before you look for an alternative at all.

Choosing between them

These tools solve different problems. Apple Writing Tools and Grammarly's free tier are the zero-cost starting points. Quillbot and ChatGPT fit longer-form writing sessions where you have time to switch apps. QKeyboard fits the in-between case: quick messages, typed inline, that need a tone adjustment before you hit send. See our broader roundup of AI writing tools for iPhone for more detail on each category.