17 Best Grammarly Alternatives and Free Grammar Checkers in 2026

Grammarly changed how people think about grammar checkers. It also got expensive, pushy with its upsells, and made too many style decisions for writers who already have a voice. If you’re here, you’ve probably hit one of those walls. This guide covers the Grammarly alternatives worth switching to, including free tools, open-source options, and AI-powered writing assistants that do parts of Grammarly’s job better than Grammarly does.

I used Grammarly Premium for three years before I started replacing pieces of it with better tools. ProWritingAid handles style analysis far more deeply. LanguageTool catches most grammar issues for free with an open-source engine. Hemingway Editor flags readability issues Grammarly ignores. DeepL Write fixes sentences in ways native speakers actually write. For most writers in 2026, a mix of these specialist tools beats Grammarly’s do-everything approach at a lower total cost.

This guide covers 17 Grammarly alternatives across grammar checking, writing assistance, AI paraphrasing, and proofreading. Some are free forever. Some are open-source. Some are AI-first tools built after Grammarly. Pick the ones that match how you actually write.

Summary: 17 Grammarly Alternatives at a Glance

  • ProWritingAid — Best for long-form writing. 20+ style reports, $399 lifetime beats Grammarly forever.
  • LanguageTool — Best free alternative. Open-source, 30+ languages, free Chrome extension.
  • Hemingway Editor — Best for readability. Flags long sentences, passive voice, and adverb clutter Grammarly ignores.
  • DeepL Write — Best AI rewriter. Native-speaker-quality sentence rewrites in 15+ languages.
  • Quillbot — Best paraphrasing tool. 7 rewrite modes plus a plagiarism checker on Premium.
  • Writer.com — Best for enterprise teams. Custom style guides, brand voice, terminology controls.
  • Ginger Software — Best for ESL writers. Translation + grammar in one tool, $4.99/month.
  • Linguix — Cheapest paid Grammarly clone at $5.99/month with Chrome extension.
  • Outwrite — Best for sentence-level rewrites with statistics tracking.
  • Scribens — Free, no signup. Solid for occasional grammar checks.
  • Wordtune — Best for tone-shift rewrites (formal, casual, shorter, expanded).
  • Microsoft Editor — Free with Microsoft account. Built into Word, Outlook, and Chrome.
  • Claude / ChatGPT — Best AI-powered review. Catches context issues no rule-based checker can.
  • Vale — Best for developers and technical writers. CLI-based, custom style rules.
  • JetBrains Grazie — Best for IDE writing inside JetBrains tools (IntelliJ, PyCharm).
  • WhiteSmoke — Affordable Grammarly alternative at $5/month.
  • Google Docs Grammar — Free, decent, built into the editor most writers already use.

Best Grammarly Alternatives at a Glance

ProWritingAid wins for serious writers. LanguageTool is the best free open-source grammar checker. Hemingway Editor is the simplest readability tool. DeepL Write is the best AI grammar checker for natural-sounding rewrites. For enterprise teams, Writer.com beats Grammarly Business.

  • ProWritingAid: Best overall Grammarly alternative with deeper style analysis, 20+ reports, and lifetime pricing ($30/yr or $399 lifetime)
  • LanguageTool: Best free open-source grammar checker with support for 30+ languages (free, premium $20/mo)
  • Hemingway Editor: Best readability checker that flags complex sentences, passive voice, and adverb overuse ($20 one-time)
  • DeepL Write: Best AI grammar checker for natural-sounding sentence rewrites from the makers of DeepL Translator (free, Pro $10/mo)
  • Quillbot: Best paraphrasing and rewriting tool with integrated grammar checking (free, Premium $10/mo)
  • Writer.com: Best enterprise AI writing platform with custom style guides and team analytics ($18/user/mo)
  • Ginger Software: Best grammar checker for non-native English speakers with translation to 40+ languages ($4.99/mo)
  • Linguix: Best cheaper Grammarly alternative with text shortcuts and snippets ($5.99/mo)
  • Outwrite: Best budget-friendly AI writing assistant (formerly GradeProof, $9.95/mo)
  • Scribens: Best free online grammar checker with no account required
  • Wordtune: Best AI rewriting tool with tone adjustment and word count control (free, Premium $9.99/mo)
  • Microsoft Editor: Best free grammar checker built into Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Edge browser
  • Claude and ChatGPT: Best free AI grammar checker via conversational prompts (Claude and ChatGPT both have free tiers)
  • Vale: Best open-source CLI linter for technical writers and documentation teams (free, FOSS)
  • JetBrains Grazie: Best grammar checker for developers writing comments and docs inside their IDE (free)
  • WhiteSmoke: Best grammar checker for business writing with style and translation features ($5/mo)
  • Google Docs Grammar: Best free grammar checker built into collaborative document editing

Grammarly Alternatives Comparison Table

Here’s how these grammar checkers compare on what matters: language support, browser integration, AI features, and pricing.

ToolFree TierPaid PriceLanguagesAI FeaturesOpen Source
ProWritingAidLimited$30/yr or $399 lifetimeEnglishYes (Premium)No
LanguageToolGenerous$20/mo Premium30+Yes (Premium)Yes (LGPL)
Hemingway EditorFree web$20 one-time (desktop)EnglishNoNo
DeepL WriteGenerous$10/mo Pro15+YesNo
QuillbotLimited$10/mo PremiumEnglish + limitedYesNo
Writer.comTrial only$18/user/moEnglishYes (enterprise)No
GingerLimited$4.99/mo40+ (translation)YesNo
LinguixLimited$5.99/moEnglishYes (Premium)No
OutwriteLimited$9.95/moEnglishYesNo
ScribensFree forever$9.90/mo optional5NoNo
WordtuneLimited$9.99/mo PremiumEnglishYes (rewriting)No
MS EditorFree with accountIncluded in M36520+YesNo
Claude/ChatGPTFree tier$20/mo for Plus100+Yes (conversational)No
ValeFree foreverFreeEnglishNoYes (MIT)
JetBrains GrazieFreeFree15+YesNo
WhiteSmokeNone$5/mo55+ (translation)LimitedNo
Google Docs GrammarFreeFree10+YesNo

1. ProWritingAid

Best for: Long-form writers, novelists, and academics who want deeper style analysis than Grammarly offers.

ProWritingAid Grammarly Alternative

ProWritingAid is the Grammarly alternative I actually switched to. It runs the same real-time grammar and spell-check that Grammarly does, plus 20+ detailed reports analyzing style, readability, pacing, sticky sentences, overused words, dialogue tags, cliches, and sentence variation. For novelists and long-form writers, these reports catch issues Grammarly’s simple suggestions miss entirely.

ProWritingAid integrates with Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, Chrome, Firefox, and runs as a desktop app on Mac and Windows. The Scrivener integration alone is worth the price for novelists. Each report flags specific phrases you can act on instead of vague “consider rewriting” suggestions.

Pricing is where ProWritingAid really beats Grammarly. Premium is $30/year (vs Grammarly’s $144/year). The $399 lifetime license means you pay once and never pay again. If you write seriously for more than three years, lifetime is the smart buy. The free tier is limited to 500 words per check, which is enough to evaluate quality but not for daily use.

2. LanguageTool

Best for: Multilingual writers and anyone who wants a free open-source grammar checker that actually works.

LanguageTool Open Source Grammar Checker

LanguageTool is the best free Grammarly alternative. The open-source engine (LGPL license) catches grammar, spelling, and style issues in 30+ languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Russian. The free tier is genuinely useful, not a crippled trial. You can check 10,000 characters per paste with no account required.

LanguageTool runs as browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge), desktop apps (Mac, Windows, Linux), add-ins for Google Docs and Microsoft Word, and integrates with LibreOffice. For privacy-conscious writers, you can self-host the open-source engine and keep your text off cloud servers entirely.

LanguageTool Premium ($20/month or $69/year) adds AI paraphrasing, advanced style suggestions, and longer text limits. Even without Premium, LanguageTool Free matches or beats Grammarly Free for grammar and spell checking. For multilingual content, LanguageTool has no real competitor.

3. Hemingway Editor

Best for: Writers who want to simplify complex prose and improve readability for general audiences.

Hemingway Editor Readability Checker

Hemingway Editor doesn’t check grammar. It checks clarity. The app highlights hard-to-read sentences in yellow, very hard sentences in red, passive voice in green, adverbs in blue, and complex phrases in purple. You rewrite until the color-coding calms down, and the result reads at a grade level you choose.

For web writing specifically (where 8th-grade reading level wins), Hemingway catches what Grammarly misses. “Consider using a simpler word” is the most frequent suggestion. Content writers, copywriters, and bloggers use Hemingway as an editor-of-last-resort before publishing.

The web version at hemingwayapp.com is free. The desktop app ($19.99 one-time) adds offline use, export to HTML and Markdown, and direct publishing to WordPress and Medium. Hemingway doesn’t replace Grammarly or ProWritingAid. It’s a readability checker that pairs with them. Run your draft through Hemingway last, before publishing.

4. DeepL Write

Best for: Writers who want AI-powered sentence rewrites that sound natural, especially non-native English speakers.

DeepL Write AI Grammar Checker

DeepL Write is the AI grammar checker that handles what Grammarly struggles with: making non-native English sound natural. Built by the team behind DeepL Translator (the translation tool widely considered better than Google Translate), DeepL Write rewrites whole sentences in natural, flowing English instead of just flagging errors.

Paste a sentence, and DeepL Write offers 3-5 alternative phrasings with subtle tone adjustments. Change the style from casual to formal, simple to detailed, or friendly to professional. For writers whose first language isn’t English, this is transformative. Grammar fixes are only one part of writing well. Phrasing is where non-native writers struggle most.

Free tier is generous: 1,500 characters per rewrite, 10 rewrites per day, in 15+ languages. DeepL Pro ($10.49/month) removes limits and adds document upload. For English-second writers especially, DeepL Write is the best AI writing checker I’ve tested.

5. Quillbot

Best for: Writers who need paraphrasing, summarization, and grammar checking in one tool.

Quillbot Paraphrasing and Grammar

Quillbot started as a paraphrasing tool and grew into a full writing assistant. The grammar checker catches spelling, punctuation, and basic grammar errors similar to Grammarly. The paraphraser rewrites sentences in 7 different modes: standard, fluency, formal, simple, creative, expand, and shorten. The summarizer condenses long text into key points.

For students writing essays and researchers working with source material, Quillbot’s combination of paraphrasing and grammar checking fits a real workflow. The Chrome extension works across Google Docs, Gmail, and most web editors. Integration with Microsoft Word adds paraphrasing directly in your document.

Free tier limits paraphrasing to 125 words per attempt. Quillbot Premium ($9.95/month or $79.95/year) removes limits, adds more paraphrasing modes, and unlocks the plagiarism checker. Cheaper than Grammarly with more creative rewriting features.

Tip

Most writers end up using 2-3 grammar tools in combination. ProWritingAid or LanguageTool for the grammar check. Hemingway Editor for readability. DeepL Write or Claude for AI rewriting when something’s off. Stacking specialist tools beats one do-everything tool like Grammarly for almost every writing workflow.

6. Writer.com

Best for: Enterprise teams that need custom style guides, AI writing, and consistent brand voice across content.

Writer.com Enterprise AI Writing

Writer.com is the enterprise-grade Grammarly alternative built for businesses, not individuals. Every feature targets team workflows: custom brand style guides the AI enforces, terminology management so your product names stay consistent, tone and inclusivity checks, analytics tracking how writing quality improves over time, and plagiarism detection at scale.

The AI features go beyond Grammarly Business. Writer.com generates first drafts, summarizes long docs, rewrites passages for brand voice, and integrates with Slack, Google Docs, Outlook, Figma, and most enterprise tools. For marketing teams, product teams, and documentation teams, this replaces both Grammarly Business and a bunch of AI writing tools.

Writer.com starts at $18/user/month. Enterprise pricing on request for teams over 100 users. If your company uses Grammarly Business ($12-$15/user/month), Writer.com is worth evaluating. The custom style guide enforcement alone justifies the upgrade for content teams.

7. Ginger Software

Best for: Non-native English speakers who want grammar checking plus translation in 40+ languages.

Ginger Software Grammar Checker

Ginger Software catches grammar and spelling errors like Grammarly, but adds something Grammarly doesn’t: a built-in translator for 40+ languages. Write in English, and Ginger translates to Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Hindi, or any of 40 supported languages. For international workers and non-native English speakers, this combination fits real-world writing workflows.

The sentence rephraser suggests clearer alternatives to awkward phrasing. The text reader speaks your writing aloud to catch issues you’d miss reading silently. The personal trainer tracks common mistakes and creates exercises to help you avoid them. For ESL writers, Ginger is built for how you actually work.

Free tier works as a browser extension with basic grammar and spell checking. Ginger Premium ($4.99-$13.99/month depending on term) unlocks unlimited rephrasing, translation, and the personal trainer. Cheaper than Grammarly with features specifically for multilingual writers.

8. Linguix

Best for: Writers who want a cheaper Grammarly alternative with text shortcuts and snippet automation.

Linguix Grammarly Alternative

Linguix is a direct Grammarly competitor at about half the price. Real-time grammar, spelling, and style checking in browser extensions, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word. The editor catches similar errors to Grammarly with comparable accuracy for English writing.

Where Linguix adds value: text shortcuts. Type a short trigger (like “/email” or “/signature”) and Linguix expands it to a full text snippet. For sales reps, customer support, or anyone sending repetitive emails, this feature saves hours. Grammarly doesn’t offer anything similar. The Business plan adds team snippets shared across your organization.

Free tier is limited. Linguix Premium ($5.99/month or $59.88/year) costs less than half of Grammarly Premium ($12/month). For teams, Linguix Business at $8/user/month is significantly cheaper than Grammarly Business at $12-$15/user/month. A budget-friendly Grammarly alternative that most people haven’t heard of.

9. Outwrite

Best for: Students and budget-conscious writers who want AI writing assistance at a lower price than Grammarly.

Outwrite Writing Assistant

Outwrite (formerly GradeProof) is the Grammarly alternative aimed at students. Grammar and spelling checks, plus AI-powered sentence rewrites, readability statistics, and a plagiarism detector. The rewrite feature suggests alternative phrasings for any sentence you highlight, similar to DeepL Write but trained on academic-style English.

The Chrome extension works across Google Docs, Gmail, and web editors. The Microsoft Word add-in handles Word documents directly. Mobile apps on iOS and Android round out the platform coverage. For students writing essays and papers, Outwrite covers the full workflow including the citation-aware plagiarism check.

Free tier catches basic grammar and spelling. Outwrite Pro ($9.95/month or $69.99/year) unlocks AI rewrites, unlimited checks, and plagiarism detection. Cheaper than Grammarly Premium with the features that matter for student writing.

10. Scribens

Best for: Writers who want a free online grammar checker with no account, no signup, and no Premium upsells.

Scribens Free Online Grammar Checker

Scribens is the free online grammar checker that actually stays free. Paste text up to 20,000 characters, click check, get grammar and spelling corrections. No account required. No email collection. No pushy upgrade prompts. The free tier is the product, not a demo.

Scribens supports English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian. The browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox add real-time checking across most web editors. The Microsoft Word add-in checks Word documents directly. Coverage isn’t as comprehensive as ProWritingAid or LanguageTool, but for quick grammar checks on web content, Scribens works without friction.

Scribens Premium ($9.90/month) removes ads and adds advanced style suggestions. Most users don’t need it. For a truly free online grammar checker that respects your time, bookmark scribens.com and use it whenever you need a quick pass. No substitute for ProWritingAid or Grammarly on serious documents, but unbeatable for quick free checks.

11. Wordtune

Best for: Writers who want AI-powered sentence rewriting with tone adjustment and word count control.

Wordtune AI Rewriting Tool

Wordtune is an AI rewriting tool that pairs with grammar checking. Highlight a sentence, click the Wordtune icon, and get 5-10 alternative phrasings with options to make the sentence casual, formal, shorter, or longer. Unlike Grammarly’s suggestions that only fix specific errors, Wordtune rewrites whole sentences in different ways.

The Wordtune Read feature summarizes long articles or PDFs into key points. Wordtune Spices adds AI-generated intros, examples, and counterarguments to your drafts. For business writers who produce marketing copy, emails, or sales outreach, these features speed up rewriting without sacrificing voice.

Free tier gives 10 rewrites per day. Premium ($9.99/month or $119.88/year) removes limits and unlocks all features. Cheaper than Grammarly Premium with AI rewriting that actually works well. Pair Wordtune with LanguageTool (free grammar) for a complete free writing stack.

12. Microsoft Editor

Best for: Microsoft 365 users who want a free grammar checker built into Word, Outlook, and Edge browser.

Microsoft Editor Free Grammar Checker

Microsoft Editor is the free Grammarly alternative that’s already installed on most work computers. Built into Microsoft Word, Outlook, Edge browser, and Bing, it catches grammar and spelling issues in 20+ languages with a sign-in (free Microsoft account). The suggestions are solid for business writing and work-grade content.

The Chrome extension extends Microsoft Editor beyond Microsoft apps. Real-time checking on Gmail, Google Docs, LinkedIn, and most web editors. The quality improved dramatically in 2023-2024 as Microsoft integrated OpenAI tech into Editor. For most business writing, Microsoft Editor handles it well.

Free for anyone with a Microsoft account. Premium features (style suggestions, clarity checks) require a Microsoft 365 Personal ($6.99/month) or Family subscription. If you already pay for Microsoft 365 for Word and Excel, the Editor features are included. The cheapest path to a Grammarly-quality checker.

13. Claude and ChatGPT (AI Grammar Checkers)

Best for: Writers who want the most flexible AI grammar checking via conversational prompts.

Claude AI Grammar Checker

Claude and ChatGPT changed what AI grammar checking means. Paste your text into either chatbot, ask it to proofread, and you’ll get better suggestions than Grammarly’s rule-based engine. Both understand context. Both catch issues Grammarly misses. Both explain why a suggestion makes sense.

Beyond grammar, these AI tools handle the jobs Grammarly can’t: rewriting in a specific voice, adjusting for an audience, explaining why a paragraph feels weak, catching factual errors. Prompts like “proofread this for grammar and clarity, then suggest three ways to make the opening stronger” do in one message what takes 30 minutes of back-and-forth with traditional tools.

Both have generous free tiers. Claude’s free tier handles most writing tasks with daily message limits. ChatGPT’s free tier uses GPT-4o mini for grammar and drafting. Paid plans ($20/month for Claude Pro or ChatGPT Plus) unlock the top-tier models with no limits. For writers comfortable prompting, these AI models replace Grammarly entirely for most use cases.

14. Vale

Best for: Technical writers, documentation teams, and developers who need a customizable open-source linter.

Vale Open Source Documentation Linter

Vale is the grammar and style checker for technical writers. Open-source (MIT licensed), CLI-based, and completely customizable. Instead of fixed suggestions, Vale uses configurable style guides. The Microsoft Writing Style Guide, Google Developer Documentation Style Guide, and Write the Docs style guide all ship as Vale configurations. Point Vale at your docs, define which style guide to enforce, and every commit gets checked against those rules.

For documentation teams, Vale integrates with CI/CD pipelines. Pull requests that violate style guide rules fail the check automatically. The GitHub Action runs Vale on every PR. VS Code extension shows violations as you type. For technical content at scale, Vale catches consistency issues no cloud grammar checker handles.

Free, open-source, cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux). 4,700+ GitHub stars. For technical writers and documentation teams, Vale is the Grammarly alternative built specifically for your workflow. Not useful for general writers, but unbeatable for API docs, developer guides, and technical manuals.

15. JetBrains Grazie

Best for: Developers who write comments, commit messages, and documentation inside JetBrains IDEs.

JetBrains Grazie Grammar Checker

JetBrains Grazie is the free grammar checker built into every JetBrains IDE (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, etc.). It checks text in code comments, string literals, Markdown files, and Git commit messages. For developers who document as they code, Grazie fixes grammar without leaving the IDE.

Grazie supports 15+ languages including English, German, French, Russian, and Chinese. The engine uses a combination of rules-based checks (like LanguageTool) and machine learning for style suggestions. The IDE integration means grammar checking runs inline with your code review workflow, not as a separate step.

Free for JetBrains IDE users. Grazie Pro ($5/user/month) adds advanced style suggestions and enterprise features for teams. For developers who already use JetBrains tools, this is the zero-setup grammar checker. No extension to install, no extra tab in your browser, no friction.

16. WhiteSmoke

Best for: Business writers who need grammar checking plus translation in 55+ languages.

WhiteSmoke Business Writing Checker

WhiteSmoke is a grammar and style checker focused on business writing. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style suggestions alongside a translator that handles 55+ languages. The templates library includes professional email formats, resignation letters, business proposals, and other documents most business writers copy from somewhere anyway.

The WhiteSmoke interface feels more dated than Grammarly or Linguix. The core grammar engine handles common errors well, though it misses subtle style issues that ProWritingAid catches. The value is in the all-in-one package: grammar checker plus translation plus templates plus plagiarism check, all in one subscription.

WhiteSmoke Web is $5/month. WhiteSmoke Premium with desktop app is $6.66/month. WhiteSmoke Business at $11.50/month adds team features. Not the most polished Grammarly alternative, but one of the cheaper ones with comprehensive feature coverage for business users.

17. Google Docs Grammar and Spelling

Best for: Anyone writing in Google Docs who needs free grammar and spelling checks built into the document.

Google Docs Grammar and Spelling

Google Docs has quietly become a capable Grammarly alternative. The grammar and spelling checks run automatically, with suggested corrections appearing as you type. The newer “Help me write” AI feature (part of Google Workspace Gemini) generates first drafts and rewrites passages in different tones. For writers who already live in Google Docs, these features are zero-setup and free.

The accuracy improved dramatically in 2023-2024. Google’s grammar checker now catches most errors Grammarly catches, though it’s slightly less aggressive with style suggestions. For business writers who share documents via Google Drive and collaborate in real-time, there’s no friction. Everyone can see the same suggestions at the same time.

Free for anyone with a Google account. Gemini for Google Workspace (enterprise AI features) runs $20/user/month. For personal and small business use, Google Docs’ built-in grammar checker covers most needs without installing another extension.

Info

Grammarly is still a solid grammar checker. The question isn’t whether it works. The question is whether it’s worth $144/year when you can get equivalent or better grammar checking for free (LanguageTool, Microsoft Editor, Google Docs) or for less (ProWritingAid at $30/year or $399 lifetime).

Specialized Writing Helpers and Related Tools

Grammar checking is one piece of the writing improvement puzzle. These specialized tools solve adjacent problems that pure grammar checkers don’t handle.

Best Paraphrasing and Rewriting Tools

For rewriting sentences in different tones or simpler language: Quillbot, Wordtune, DeepL Write, and Paraphraser.io are the top picks. Claude and ChatGPT work for free if you’re comfortable prompting them directly. For students specifically, Spinbot and Paraphrasing Tool offer basic free paraphrasing, though quality varies. For commercial content rewriting, Jasper and Copy.ai target marketing paraphrasing specifically.

Best Plagiarism Checkers

Grammarly includes plagiarism detection on Premium plans. Cheaper alternatives: Quillbot Premium ($9.95/month) bundles plagiarism checking with grammar. Copyscape ($0.05/scan or $10/month) is the industry standard for web publishers checking if content has been copied. Turnitin ($3/month student access) is the academic standard. Duplichecker offers free basic plagiarism detection for short texts.

Best Readability Checkers

For testing how readable your writing is: Hemingway Editor is the default (free web, $20 desktop). ProWritingAid’s Readability Report uses 6 different readability formulas (Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, Coleman-Liau). Readable.com is a paid readability analyzer at $4-$48/month with more detailed metrics. DataAyze offers a free Flesch-Kincaid calculator for quick checks. For web content specifically, aim for 8th-grade reading level as your target.

Best AI Writing Assistants

For AI-first writing help: Claude and ChatGPT are the free general-purpose AI writing assistants. Jasper ($49-$99/month) targets marketing teams. Copy.ai ($49/month) focuses on sales copy. Sudowrite ($10-$30/month) handles fiction and story writing. Writer.com is the enterprise AI writing assistant. Compared to Grammarly’s rule-based engine, AI writing assistants offer full rewriting, idea generation, and content expansion that Grammarly can’t match.

Best Grammar Checkers for Microsoft Word

Many writers specifically need a grammar checker that works inside Microsoft Word. Options: Microsoft Editor (built-in, free with M365), Grammarly Word add-in, ProWritingAid Word add-in (better than Grammarly’s), LanguageTool Word add-in (free), Ginger for Word, and WhiteSmoke Word integration. For most users, Microsoft Editor plus ProWritingAid as a premium upgrade covers every writing need inside Word.

Best Chrome Extension Grammar Checkers

For real-time grammar checking across all websites: Grammarly Chrome extension is the most popular, but LanguageTool browser extension is the free alternative with equivalent quality. ProWritingAid extension adds deeper style analysis. Microsoft Editor extension works across web editors. Ginger and Outwrite extensions are additional options. Don’t run more than two grammar extensions simultaneously. They conflict and slow down your browser.

Best Punctuation Checkers

Most grammar checkers include punctuation as part of their grammar engine. For punctuation-specific checking: LanguageTool catches common punctuation errors for free. Scribens works well for quick free punctuation checks. Grammarly catches subtle punctuation issues (Oxford commas, em-dash placement). For the most thorough punctuation analysis, ProWritingAid‘s Combo Report catches issues all other tools miss. For specific style guides (AP Style, Chicago Manual), PerfectIt ($75/year) is the professional choice.

Which Grammarly Alternative Should You Pick?

Match the tool to your writing situation. Here’s what I’d use based on different needs.

Serious writer on a budget: ProWritingAid Lifetime ($399 once). Best long-term value of any grammar checker. Lasts forever.

Free grammar checker: LanguageTool. Open-source, 30+ languages, genuinely useful free tier.

Non-native English speaker: DeepL Write for AI rewrites + LanguageTool for grammar. Both have free tiers.

Student writing essays: Outwrite ($9.95/mo) with plagiarism check + Hemingway Editor for readability.

Business writer or marketer: ProWritingAid + Wordtune for AI rewriting. Or Writer.com for team environments.

Developer or technical writer: Vale (free, FOSS) + JetBrains Grazie (free) for code-adjacent writing.

Enterprise team: Writer.com or Linguix Business. Both cheaper than Grammarly Business with more features.

Complete free stack: LanguageTool + Hemingway Editor + Claude/ChatGPT. Covers grammar, readability, and AI rewriting without spending a dollar.

Don’t switch to a Grammarly alternative because you’re frustrated with Grammarly in one specific way. Switch because a specialist tool does that one thing better. Most writers need 2-3 grammar and writing tools, not one. Stacking cheaper specialists beats one expensive do-everything tool. Also check my full guide to the best writing apps for Mac for the editor side of the equation.

Related searches: Whether you are looking for Grammarly alternatives, alternatives to Grammarly, free extensions like Grammarly, the best Grammarly alternative for long-form writing, websites like Grammarly, or apps like Grammarly, the 17 tools above cover every angle — ProWritingAid for novelists, LanguageTool for open-source multilingual writers, DeepL Write for sentence-level rewrites, Hemingway for readability, Claude and ChatGPT for AI-powered review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: This site is reader-supported. If you buy through some links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I trust and would use myself. Your support helps keep gauravtiwari.org free and focused on real-world advice. Thanks. - Gaurav Tiwari

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  1. Hello!
    What is the best Grammar/Language Tool for the IPAD?

    Thank you!

    Monika

    • I guess only Grammarly works well for iPadOS. There are some other grammar tools too but none worked for me.