Local by default
By default, Refine checks your writing with a model running on your Mac. If you connect an AI provider, assigned requests go straight there—not through Refine servers. Setup and licensing can still need internet.
One writing check
With Accessibility permission, Refine uses the text and on-screen position an app exposes to macOS. What's available depends on the app.
A downloaded model runs on your Mac. Tasks assigned to an optional provider go there instead.
Grammar and fluency changes appear as highlights and suggestion cards. Open one when you want to request or view an explanation.
Apply or dismiss the suggestion, or exclude a change and keep the rest.
For each writing task
Choose a provider separately for grammar, fluency, explanations, translation, and rewriting. Tasks set to Local Model all use the local model currently selected in Refine.
Default
Optional
A downloaded local model can run checks without internet. Downloads, license services, and hosted-provider requests still need a connection.
For setup steps and licensing details, read the offline grammar checker guide.
Local checks and Keychain storage stay on your Mac. The table summarizes when other data can leave, where it goes, and what is sent; see the Privacy Policy for details.
| Feature or data | Leaves your Mac? | Destination | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local-model checks | No | Your Mac | The text sent to the local model and its response stay on your Mac. |
| Stored API keys and license data | No | Your Mac | Refine stores them in non-syncing system Keychain items. |
| Synced preferences and data | Yes—when iCloud is available | iCloud | Supported preferences and data use iCloud-backed storage, with a local fallback when it is unavailable. |
| Hosted-provider requests | Yes—for tasks assigned to a hosted provider | That provider | Prompts and context go straight to that provider, and responses return directly to your Mac. None of it passes through Refine servers. |
| Local server requests | Depends on where the server runs | Your configured endpoint | Ollama, LM Studio, and custom compatible endpoints receive requests at the address you configure. If the server runs on this Mac, the request stays on this Mac. |
| Suggestion reports | Yes—only when you choose Report | Refine | The relevant excerpt before and after the suggested edit, the suggestion type, language, provider and model names, any custom instructions, and your Refine and macOS versions. |
| Crash reporting | Yes—when crash reporting is on | Sentry | Crash reporting starts enabled and can be turned off. It is used to diagnose technical problems with Refine, not to analyze your writing. |
| Launch ping | Yes—at launch | Refine | A random anonymous ID, app version, platform, OS version, and timestamp. |
| Setup survey | Yes—only if you submit it | Refine | Your selected answers, any free text, anonymous ID, Refine and macOS versions, and survey configuration version. |
| License validation and activation | Yes—during validation or activation | Refine | Validation sends your license key, email, and a device ID. Activation also sends the OS version and hardware information. The device ID is separate from the anonymous launch ID. |
Inline checking depends on the text and position each app exposes through macOS Accessibility. When an app exposes too little, use the Floating Editor instead.
See tested workflows, limitations, and fallbacks in the Mac app compatibility guide.
The seven-day trial doesn't require a credit card. Try Refine in the apps you use, with your languages and preferred model.
By using Refine, you agree to the Terms & Conditions.