Why it's an alternative to Grammarly: macOS AI writing assistant that fixes grammar, rewrites and translates text in any app.
2 indie alternatives · AI Builders
Indie alternatives to Grammarly (2026)
Grammarly is the default writing assistant, sold as a subscription that runs your text through its own cloud. Mac users often want a native tool that works in every app and lets them choose the AI model. Below are 2 alternatives built by independent makers — RewriteBar and Elephas — with what each does differently, who makes it and any revenue they have shared publicly.
Grammarly alternatives at a glance
Jump to any product for the full write-up.
| # | Product | Maker | Status | Reported revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RewriteBar | Mathias Michel | Active | — |
| 2 | Elephas | Ayush Chaturvedi | Active | $150K/yr |
The 2 best indie alternatives to Grammarly
Each product is made and run by an independent maker or a small, self-directed team.
Why it's an alternative to Grammarly: Mac-native AI assistant that rewrites and drafts text everywhere and can draw on your own documents and notes.
self-reported revenue: $150K/yr
Why choose an indie-made tool?
You talk to the maker
With a small product, support requests and feature ideas usually reach the person who wrote the code, and many makers build in public and reply to users directly.
Focused and fairly priced
Small teams tend to do one job well instead of bundling every feature into enterprise tiers, and many indie tools offer one-time licenses, open-source editions or free plans.
Built by real people
These 2 alternatives come from 2 makers in Germany. Paying them funds a sustainable, independent business.
Meet the makers: Mathias Michel, Ayush Chaturvedi.
More alternatives in AI Builders
Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant
3 indie alternatives
PDF.ai, PDF Pals, FragDasPDF
Alternatives to ChatGPT
5 indie alternatives
TypingMind, BoltAI, Fyzz.chat, Chatbot UI +1 more
Alternatives to Opus Clip
2 indie alternatives
Revid, SNAPVID
Alternatives to Otter.ai
4 indie alternatives
MacWhisper, Whisper Transcription, Aiko, Claap
Grammarly alternatives FAQ
What are the best indie alternatives to Grammarly?
IndieMakerList lists 2 indie-made alternatives to Grammarly: RewriteBar (by Mathias Michel) and Elephas (by Ayush Chaturvedi).
Why do people look for alternatives to Grammarly?
Grammarly is the default writing assistant, sold as a subscription that runs your text through its own cloud. Mac users often want a native tool that works in every app and lets them choose the AI model.
Who builds these Grammarly alternatives?
They are built by 2 independent makers from 1 country, including Germany, rather than a large company. Each maker has a profile on IndieMakerList with their other products and links.
Are these Grammarly alternatives still maintained?
Yes. As far as IndieMakerList knows, all 2 are active and still run by the makers who built them.
How much revenue do indie alternatives to Grammarly make?
Publicly reported figures include Elephas: $150K/yr. These numbers are self-reported by the makers and not independently verified.
Built an indie alternative to Grammarly? Submit a maker to IndieMakerList →