7 Best AI Grammar Checkers in 2026 (Beyond Grammarly)

Whether you are polishing a cover letter, finishing a blog post, or editing a business report, a reliable AI grammar checker can save you from embarrassing mistakes and sharpen your writing style. The market has never been more competitive: Grammarly has faced serious challenges from ProWritingAid, QuillBot, LanguageTool, and a handful of other well-funded tools that have all upgraded significantly heading into 2026. For a deeper look, see our roundup of Grammarly alternatives.

This guide reviews the seven best AI grammar checkers available right now, compares them on accuracy, style suggestions, plagiarism detection, and price, and tells you exactly which one belongs in your workflow. If you have ever wondered how Grammarly vs ChatGPT stacks up as a writing assistant, you may also want to check that breakdown — but for dedicated grammar checking, the tools below are in a class of their own. For a deeper look, see our roundup of best AI writing tools.

How We Evaluated These Tools

Each tool was tested on a standardized set of 500-word writing samples containing deliberate grammar errors, style issues, passive voice overuse, wordiness, and tone inconsistencies. Ratings reflect accuracy of error detection, quality of suggestions, ease of use, integration options, and overall value for money. Pricing data was verified in February 2026.

1. Grammarly (Free + Pro) — Best Overall AI Grammar Checker

Grammarly is still the name most people think of first, and in 2026 it has earned that status. The tool has evolved well beyond basic spell-checking into a full AI writing assistant that catches grammar mistakes, suggests vocabulary upgrades, analyzes tone, checks for clarity, and screens for plagiarism — all in real time.

What Grammarly Does Well

• Accuracy: Grammarly’s core grammar engine remains the most accurate of any tool tested. It catches subtle subject-verb agreement errors, misplaced modifiers, and comma splices that other checkers miss.
• Tone detection: The tone detector analyzes how your writing will come across to readers (confident, formal, friendly, etc.) and flags unintended tone shifts.
• Generative AI prompts: The Pro plan includes 2,000 AI prompt credits per month for rewriting paragraphs, generating outlines, and adjusting formality.
• Integrations: Works across Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Gmail, Outlook, Slack, and virtually every browser text field via the Chrome/Firefox extension.
• Plagiarism checker: Compares text against billions of web pages. Available on Pro only.

Where Grammarly Falls Short

• The free plan is increasingly limited; many useful suggestions are paywalled.
• At $30/month billed monthly, it is the most expensive option on this list.
• Deep style analysis for long-form creative writing is not as thorough as ProWritingAid.

Grammarly Pricing (2026)

• Free: $0 — basic grammar and spelling
• Pro (annual): $12/month ($144/year) — best value
• Pro (monthly): $30/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Rating: 4.8/5

2. ProWritingAid — Best for Writers and Long-Form Content

ProWritingAid is the grammar checker built specifically for writers who care deeply about their craft. Where Grammarly focuses on quick, surface-level fixes, ProWritingAid generates 20+ detailed style reports covering sentence length variation, overused words, pacing, dialogue tags, clichés, and more. If you are working on a novel, a research paper, or long-form journalism, this depth is invaluable.

What ProWritingAid Does Well

• Style reports: Unique in-depth reports on readability, sentence structure, transitions, sticky sentences, and more — no other tool comes close at this depth.
• Chapter Critique (Premium Pro): AI-generated analysis of an entire chapter, identifying structural weaknesses.
• Lifetime plan: A one-time $399 purchase (or $699 for Premium Pro) makes it the most cost-effective choice for daily writers who plan to use it for years.
• Word processor integrations: Works with Scrivener, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word. Particularly strong for Scrivener users.

Where ProWritingAid Falls Short

• The interface is denser and less polished than Grammarly; there is a learning curve.
• Real-time suggestions can feel slower than Grammarly, especially in large documents.
• The free plan limits you to 500 words per session, which is quite restrictive.

ProWritingAid Pricing (2026)

• Free: $0 — up to 500 words per session
• Premium (annual): $10/month ($120/year)
• Premium (monthly): $30/month
• Premium (lifetime): $399 one-time
• Premium Pro (lifetime): $699 one-time

Rating: 4.6/5

3. QuillBot — Best Grammar Checker for Paraphrasing

QuillBot started as a paraphrasing tool and has expanded into a full writing suite that includes a grammar checker, summarizer, citation generator, plagiarism checker, and translator. The grammar checker component is solid, but the real reason to pick QuillBot is the paraphrase engine, which remains the best in the market. For students and content creators who need to rewrite existing text while maintaining meaning, QuillBot is essential. We also cover this topic in our guide to AI paraphrasing tools.

What QuillBot Does Well

• Paraphrasing modes: Seven different rewrite modes (Standard, Fluency, Formal, Academic, Simple, Creative, Shorten) on the Premium plan.
• Grammar checker accuracy: Catches most common errors effectively, with a clean, distraction-free interface.
• Plagiarism checker: Premium includes 20 pages of plagiarism checking per month.
• Price: At $8.33/month on the annual plan, it is among the most affordable paid grammar tools.
• Chrome extension + Word add-in: Good cross-platform coverage.

Where QuillBot Falls Short

• The grammar checker alone is not as sophisticated as Grammarly or ProWritingAid.
• The free plan caps the paraphraser at 125 words at a time.
• Less effective for advanced style coaching.

QuillBot Pricing (2026)

• Free: $0 — limited paraphrasing, basic grammar
• Premium (annual): $8.33/month ($99.95/year)
• Premium (monthly): $19.95/month
• Teams: From $7.50/user/month

Rating: 4.4/5

4. LanguageTool — Best Free AI Grammar Checker

LanguageTool is the best open-source grammar checker available, and it is the top pick for anyone who needs a strong free option or writes in multiple languages. With support for over 30 languages and a free tier that allows up to 20,000 characters per check, it punches well above its weight. The Premium plan adds AI-powered paraphrasing and advanced style rules at a price significantly lower than Grammarly.

What LanguageTool Does Well

• Multilingual support: Checks grammar and style in 30+ languages including German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Polish — better than any competitor.
• Free tier generosity: 20,000 characters per check is enough for most everyday writing tasks.
• Privacy: An on-premise server option exists for enterprise users who cannot send documents to external servers.
• Integrations: Chrome extension, LibreOffice add-on, Microsoft Word add-in, and API access.
• Affordable Premium: Roughly $4.99/month on the annual plan is the lowest among paid options.

Where LanguageTool Falls Short

• Style suggestions are less nuanced than Grammarly or ProWritingAid for English writing.
• No dedicated plagiarism checker.
• The UI feels utilitarian compared to polished competitors.

LanguageTool Pricing (2026)

• Free: $0 — basic checks, 20,000 characters/check
• Premium (annual): ~$4.99/month (~$59.88/year)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Rating: 4.3/5

5. Hemingway Editor — Best Free Tool for Readability

Hemingway Editor is a different kind of grammar checker. It does not hunt for comma errors or spelling mistakes — it focuses entirely on one thing: making your writing bold and clear. Named after Ernest Hemingway’s famously direct prose style, the tool color-codes sentences by complexity, highlights passive voice, flags adverb overuse, and gives every piece of writing a readability grade level.

What Hemingway Does Well

• Readability focus: Instantly shows you which sentences are hard or very hard to read, which is invaluable for web content and marketing copy.
• Free web app: The browser version (hemingwayapp.com) is completely free with no word limits.
• Desktop app: A one-time purchase for offline use with export to Word and Markdown.
• Distraction-free writing: Clean, minimal interface that encourages focused editing sessions.

Where Hemingway Falls Short

• Does not catch grammar or spelling errors — use it alongside another tool, not instead of one.
• Can oversimplify guidance; not every long sentence is a bad sentence.
• No integrations with Google Docs or Microsoft Word in the free web version.
• No plagiarism checking.

Hemingway Editor Pricing (2026)

• Web app: Free
• Desktop app (Mac & Windows): One-time purchase (~$19.99)

Rating: 4.1/5

6. Ginger — Best for Non-Native English Speakers

Ginger combines grammar checking, sentence rephrasing, and translation into a single tool, making it uniquely suited to non-native English speakers who want to write confidently in English. The tool supports translation between English and 40+ languages, and the grammar correction engine is trained on a large corpus of texts to understand context-based errors that rule-based systems miss.

What Ginger Does Well

• Translation integration: Translate from your native language to English and immediately check the result for grammar errors in the same workflow.
• Context-aware corrections: Uses sentence-level context to distinguish between homophones and similar words more accurately than basic tools.
• Sentence rephraser: Offers alternative phrasings for awkward sentences, which is especially useful for ESL writers.
• Personal trainer: The app includes grammar exercises based on the errors you make most often.

Where Ginger Falls Short

• The free plan is limited to 600 characters per check, which is very restrictive.
• The UI has not modernized as quickly as competitors.
• No plagiarism checker.
• Weaker style suggestions compared to Grammarly or ProWritingAid.

Ginger Pricing (2026)

• Free: $0 — limited to 600 characters/check
• Premium (annual): ~$12.48/month (billed yearly)

Rating: 3.9/5

7. Wordtune — Best AI Writing Rewriter

Wordtune takes a distinct approach: rather than simply flagging what is wrong, it actively rewrites your sentences to improve flow and impact. Powered by AI models including GPT-4, Wordtune suggests multiple rewrite options for any selected sentence, letting you choose the version that best fits your voice. In 2026 it has also added a grammar checker and a summarizer, making it a more complete writing assistant.

What Wordtune Does Well

• Sentence rewrites: The core rewrite feature is genuinely impressive; it often surfaces phrasings that are more precise and natural than what the writer produced originally.
• Tone adjustment: Can formalize or casualize any sentence with one click.
• Summarize feature: Highlights and summarizes long documents quickly.
• Google Docs integration: Arguably the smoothest integration with Google Docs of any tool in this list.

Where Wordtune Falls Short

• Grammar checking is a secondary feature; it is not as thorough as dedicated grammar checkers.
• The free plan allows only 10 rewrites per day.
• No plagiarism detection on any plan.

Wordtune Pricing (2026)

• Free: $0 — 10 rewrites/day
• Advanced (annual): $6.99/month ($83.88/year)
• Advanced (monthly): $13.99/month
• Unlimited (annual): $9.99/month ($119.88/year)

Rating: 4.0/5

AI Grammar Checker Comparison Table (2026)

Which AI Grammar Checker Should You Choose?

The right tool depends on your use case:

• Everyday professional writing (emails, reports, presentations): Grammarly Pro is the safest choice. Its accuracy, tone detection, and wide integration support make it the most versatile tool in the market.
• Academic writing and students: QuillBot’s academic paraphrase mode combined with its plagiarism checker makes it excellent for university work. For deeper guidance on this, see our guide to AI for academic writing.
• Novels, screenplays, and long-form content: ProWritingAid’s style reports are unmatched. Invest in the lifetime plan if you write every day.
• Budget or free tools: LanguageTool’s free tier is the most generous. Pair it with the free Hemingway Editor for readability. For a broader look at no-cost options, see our roundup of free AI writing tools.
• Non-native speakers: Ginger’s translation-to-grammar workflow is genuinely useful and not replicated elsewhere.
• Content marketers and bloggers: Wordtune’s rewrite suggestions can dramatically improve engagement by helping you express ideas more sharply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grammarly still the best AI grammar checker in 2026?

Grammarly remains the top-rated grammar checker in 2026 for overall accuracy and integration breadth. However, it is no longer the only strong option. ProWritingAid outperforms it for long-form creative writing, QuillBot is better for paraphrasing, and LanguageTool is a stronger free alternative. “Best” depends on your specific writing needs and budget.

What is the best free AI grammar checker?

LanguageTool offers the most generous free plan, with up to 20,000 characters per check and support for 30+ languages. The free version of Grammarly is widely used but has become more restrictive over time. Hemingway Editor is fully free in the browser for readability analysis. Using LanguageTool and Hemingway Editor together gives you strong free grammar and clarity coverage.

Do AI grammar checkers work for academic writing?

Yes, but choose carefully. For academic writing, accuracy and plagiarism detection matter most. Grammarly Pro and QuillBot Premium both include plagiarism checkers. ProWritingAid includes an academic style report. It is important to use these tools as aids rather than replacements for your own judgment, especially in academic contexts where AI-generated text may be restricted.

Which grammar checker is best for non-native English speakers?

Ginger is designed specifically for non-native speakers and includes a translation feature that lets you write in your native language and instantly check the English translation for errors. LanguageTool is also excellent because it supports grammar checking in 30+ languages, allowing writers to improve in both their native language and in English. Grammarly’s tone and clarity suggestions are also helpful for learners.

Is there an AI grammar checker with a plagiarism detector?

Three tools on this list include plagiarism detection: Grammarly Pro checks against billions of web pages and previously submitted academic work. QuillBot Premium includes 20 pages of plagiarism checking per month. ProWritingAid Premium also includes plagiarism reports. If plagiarism detection is a priority, Grammarly Pro has the most comprehensive database, while QuillBot offers the best price-to-feature ratio for students.

Conclusion

The best AI grammar checker in 2026 is the one that fits how you actually write. Grammarly Pro remains the safest all-around choice for most users, and its accuracy, integrations, and tone detection are unmatched. But it is not the only worthy contender. ProWritingAid offers more depth for serious writers, QuillBot delivers better paraphrasing at a lower price, and LanguageTool gives you a genuinely useful free experience.

If you are not sure where to start, try LanguageTool’s free plan alongside the free Hemingway Editor to cover your bases at no cost. When you are ready to invest in a paid tool, compare Grammarly Pro and ProWritingAid based on whether you write short professional documents or long-form creative and academic content. Both offer free trials that let you evaluate the tools before committing. We also cover this topic in our guide to AI content detectors.

The bottom line: AI grammar checkers have become powerful enough that there is no good reason to publish unedited writing. Pick the tool that fits your budget and workflow, make it part of your routine, and your writing quality will improve consistently over time.