DeepL translates your documents. WriteNative helps you write English where you type.
DeepL is one of the best translators there is, and DeepL Write polishes text you paste into it. WriteNative is a different kind of tool: a Mac app that checks your English in Mail, Slack, Notion and the browser as you write, explains each suggestion in your first language, and turns what you write in your language into natural English at the cursor.
Two tools for two different jobs
DeepL translates text and whole files, and its Mac app translates what you select in another app when you press ⌘+C+C. DeepL Write, its writing assistant, corrects spelling, grammar and punctuation and suggests other words and sentences; for English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese you can also pick a style (Business, Academic, Simple, Casual) or a tone (Friendly, Diplomatic, Confident, Enthusiastic).
WriteNative does not translate documents, and it is not trying to. It is for the moment you write an email or a chat message in English at work: it sits in the field you are typing in, underlines what needs a second look, tells you why in your own language, and writes the English for you when you would rather think in your language.
WriteNative and DeepL side by side
Compared with DeepL's own pages (DeepL Write, the Mac app, plans and pricing) in October 2026. Where DeepL is the better choice, the table says so.
| WriteNative | DeepL | |
|---|---|---|
| Translates whole files | No | Yes (the free plan includes 1 file a month) |
| Translates text you paste or select | Writes English from your language at the cursor (press ⌥ twice) | Yes: web, apps, and ⌘+C+C in the Mac app |
| Checks spelling and grammar as you type in Mail, Slack, Notion and Messages | Yes, in most Mac apps | DeepL Write in its browser extension and in Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 |
| Rewrites in a style or tone | Improve, Rephrase, Formal, Casual, Friendly, Confident, Shorter, Clearer | DeepL Write styles and tones (European languages) |
| Languages it improves | English | English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and more |
| Where it runs | Mac only (macOS 14+) | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, browser extensions |
| Google Docs and Word | No | Yes |
| Price | Free spelling; Pro $20/month or $96/year; On-device $49 once | Free version; Pro plans, with Write Pro as an add-on or in Business |
| Your text and training | Not stored, not used for training | DeepL Pro: never used for training |
What WriteNative does where you type
The parts that make it different from a translator:
- Underlines as you type. Spelling and grammar are marked in Mail, Outlook, Slack, Notion, Messages and text boxes in the browser, with no copy and paste.
- Typos fixed by themselves. In native apps such as Notes and Messages, obvious typos are corrected as you finish the word; in Mail, Slack, Notion and the browser a fix goes in with one click.
- A reason you can read. Each suggestion is explained in your first language, with the meaning and pronunciation of the words it suggests.
- Write in your language. Press ⌥ twice with nothing selected, write in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish or another language, and natural English appears at the cursor.
- Rewrite in a tone. Select text, press ⌥ twice and pick Improve, Rephrase, Formal, Casual, Friendly, Confident, Shorter or Clearer; in Mail, Outlook and Slack also Polite no and Gentle nudge.
- Understand what you received. Select a message and WriteNative explains its meaning and tone and offers up to three replies; messages that sound blunt get a tone label.
When DeepL is the better choice
If you need to translate a contract, a slide deck or a PDF, use DeepL: WriteNative does not open files. DeepL also runs on Windows and phones, works in Google Docs and Word, and DeepL Write improves German, French or Japanese text, while WriteNative checks English only.
Many people will want both: DeepL for documents and long texts, WriteNative for the English emails and messages they write every day.
Getting started takes a minute
Download WriteNative, allow Accessibility when it asks, and keep typing where you already write. Spelling and typo fixes are free without an account; a free account adds 30 paragraph checks and 5 AI uses a day, such as a rewrite or writing in your language. Pro starts with a 7-day free trial.
Questions
- What is a good DeepL Write alternative for writing English at work on a Mac?
- WriteNative is made for that: it checks your English inside Mail, Outlook, Slack, Notion and the browser as you type, explains each suggestion in your first language, rewrites selected text in a tone you pick, and turns what you write in your language into natural English at the cursor. For translating whole documents, DeepL remains the better tool.
- Is WriteNative a translator like DeepL?
- No. WriteNative does not translate files or long texts you paste in. It writes English from your language at the cursor, and checks and rewrites the English you type. For documents, use DeepL.
- DeepL Write, Grammarly or ChatGPT: where does WriteNative fit?
- WriteNative works inside the app you are writing in, like a grammar checker, and adds what people writing in a second language need: explanations in their first language and English written from their own. You do not paste anything into a separate window.
- Is WriteNative free?
- Partly. Spelling and typo fixes are free without an account, and a free account adds 30 paragraph checks and 5 AI uses a day. Pro is $20 a month or $96 a year with a 7-day free trial; On-device is $49 once for up to 3 Macs, with checks and translation on your Mac.
- Is my text stored?
- No. WriteNative does not store your text or use it for training. With the On-device plan, checks and translation run on your Mac.
Keep DeepL for documents. Try WriteNative on your next email.
Free to download. Your English is checked where you type it.