Shadowtype
Apple Intelligence alternative

A focused alternative to Apple Intelligence
for writing on Mac.

Apple Intelligence is free, built-in, and great for the occasional rewrite. But if you came here, you probably hit its edges: inline prediction is short-range and mostly in Apple’s own apps, Writing Tools is select-then-transform rather than continuous typing help, and rewrites can route to Private Cloud Compute. Shadowtype is the focused tool for people who want real inline prediction everywhere, a hard guarantee that nothing leaves the Mac, and model choice.

Download Shadowtype free Become a Founder — $39
  • Continuous inline ghost text
  • 100% on-device · offline
  • Works in any app
  • One-time purchase
The honest comparison

Where Apple Intelligence stops, and what to use instead

Apple Intelligence is free and well-integrated — credit where it’s due. This is about the specific gaps a heavy writer runs into, and where a dedicated tool fills them.

Capability Shadowtype Apple Intelligence
Continuous multi-sentence inline predictionYesSelect-to-rewrite only
Works in any app (third-party & web fields)YesApple apps only
Guaranteed 100% on-device for completionYes · zero networkMay use Private Cloud Compute
Works fully offlineYesNot guaranteed
Model choice (Gemma 4 / Qwen3.5 GGUF)YesFixed model
On-device selection rewrite (⌥⌘K)YesWriting Tools
Per-app instructions & personalizationYesFixed tone presets
Quick proofread / tone rewrites built-inYesYes
Price$79 once (Founders $39) + free tierFree, built-in
RequirementsmacOS 14+ · Apple SiliconmacOS 15.1+ · Apple Silicon

Figures reflect Apple’s public documentation as of June 2026. Apple Intelligence is genuinely good and free — this page is about which trade-offs fit how you write.

Why people switch

Built for people who type all day, everywhere.

Real inline prediction, in every app

macOS inline predictive text is short-range and mostly limited to Apple’s own apps; Writing Tools only acts on text you select. Shadowtype runs system-wide and predicts whole sentences as ghost text in any field — Slack, your IDE, the browser — and Tab accepts.

A guarantee, not a maybe

Apple Intelligence rewrites can route to Private Cloud Compute on Apple servers, so it’s not guaranteed to stay on your Mac or work offline. Shadowtype runs every completion 100% on-device with zero network — it works on a plane, and your words never leave the machine.

Your model, your rules

Apple Intelligence gives you one fixed model and fixed tone presets. Shadowtype lets you pick the model (Gemma 4 or Qwen3.5 GGUF), set per-app instructions, and personalize completions — plus on-device rewrite with ⌥⌘K. And it runs on macOS 14, a release earlier than Apple Intelligence requires.

Questions

Apple Intelligence alternative FAQ

Is Apple Intelligence free?
Yes — Apple Intelligence and its Writing Tools are free and built into macOS 15.1+ on Apple Silicon. You’d only choose Shadowtype if you want what Apple Intelligence doesn’t offer: continuous multi-sentence inline prediction in every app, a guarantee that nothing ever leaves your Mac, model choice, and macOS 14 support. If occasional rewrites in Apple’s apps are all you need, Apple Intelligence is a fine choice and costs nothing.
Isn’t inline predictive text the same as Apple Intelligence?
No — they’re separate features. macOS inline predictive text (the short ghost suggestion that shipped in Sonoma 14) is a small on-device autocomplete that works mostly in Apple’s own apps like Notes, Mail and Pages. Apple Intelligence Writing Tools is select-then-transform — Proofread, Rewrite, tone, Summarize — not continuous inline prediction. Shadowtype combines continuous multi-sentence inline ghost text with on-device rewrite in any app.
Is Apple Intelligence fully on-device?
Partly. Some requests run on-device, but Writing Tools can route to Private Cloud Compute, which runs on Apple servers — so it isn’t guaranteed to stay on your Mac or to work offline. Shadowtype runs every completion 100% on-device with zero network, so it works offline and your text never leaves the machine.
Do we support the same Macs?
Both require Apple Silicon. Apple Intelligence requires macOS 15.1 or later; Shadowtype runs on macOS 14 or later, so it covers a release Apple Intelligence doesn’t. Neither supports Intel Macs.
Ready when you are

Keep Apple Intelligence. Add the inline autocomplete it’s missing.

Download Shadowtype free, accept your first sentence with Tab in any app, and upgrade once — never monthly.

Download for macOS Become a Founder — $39
  • Works in any app
  • 100% on-device
  • No account
  • Pay once
  • 14-day refund