Best Grammarly Alternatives: Free & Paid (2026)

Grammarly is the go-to writing assistant for millions of people. But at $12/month (annual) to $30/month (monthly) for the Pro plan, it is not cheap. And depending on what you write, it might not even be the best fit. Fiction writers often find Grammarly’s suggestions too rigid. Multilingual writers need broader language support. And budget-conscious students want something that works without paying anything.

I have tested every major grammar checking tool on the market. Some are free and surprisingly capable. Others cost less than Grammarly but offer features it lacks. This guide covers 8 alternatives, breaking down what each one actually does well and where it falls short.

TL;DR Quick Picks

• Best overall alternative: ProWritingAid ($10/month, unmatched depth for serious writers)
• Best free option: LanguageTool (free tier with 20,000 characters per check)
• Best budget pick: QuillBot Premium ($8.33/month annually with paraphrasing + grammar)

Why Look for Grammarly Alternatives?

Grammarly Pro works well for many people, but common frustrations push users to explore other options:

• Cost. $30/month on the monthly plan is steep for casual writers. Even the annual rate of $12/month totals $144/year.
• Limited language support. Grammarly only checks English. If you write in multiple languages, it cannot help with anything else.
• Aggressive suggestions for creative writing. Grammarly tends to flag stylistic choices that are intentional in fiction, poetry, or literary nonfiction.
• No offline mode. Grammarly requires an internet connection. You cannot check your writing without it.
• No lifetime purchase option. You pay monthly or annually, forever. Some competitors offer one-time purchases.
• AI features feel tacked on. GrammarlyGO (the AI writing assistant) is useful but limited compared to dedicated AI writing tools.

1. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is the closest direct competitor to Grammarly and often the preferred choice for authors and long-form writers.

Overview

Where Grammarly focuses on quick, clean corrections, ProWritingAid goes deeper. It offers 25+ writing reports that analyze your style, sentence structure, pacing, dialogue, and more. If you write fiction, academic papers, or anything longer than a social media post, ProWritingAid gives you insights Grammarly simply does not.

Key Features

• 25+ in-depth writing reports (style, structure, pacing, readability)
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation checking
• Scrivener integration (only major grammar tool with this)
• Word Explorer for finding better vocabulary
• Sparks AI writing assistant for creative suggestions
• Supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Google Docs, MS Word, and desktop apps

Pricing

• Free: 500 words per check with basic suggestions
• Premium: $10/month or $120/year
• Premium Pro: $12/month or $144/year (includes plagiarism checks)
• Lifetime License: $399 (Premium) or $499 (Premium Pro)

Pros

• 25+ writing reports provide far more depth than Grammarly
• Lifetime license option saves money long-term ($399 one-time vs $144/year forever)
• Scrivener integration is a big deal for novelists
• Better suited for creative and fiction writing
• Style analysis catches issues Grammarly misses (echoes, vague words, pacing)

Cons

• Interface is more cluttered than Grammarly’s clean design
• Plagiarism checker costs extra unless you get Premium Pro
• Free tier only checks 500 words at a time
• Learning curve is steeper (more features to navigate)
• Real-time suggestions are slightly slower than Grammarly

Best For

Fiction writers, academic writers, and anyone producing long-form content who wants deep stylistic analysis beyond basic grammar fixes. The lifetime license makes it the cheapest option over 3+ years.

2. LanguageTool

LanguageTool is an open-source grammar checker that supports over 30 languages, making it the best choice for multilingual writers.

Overview

LanguageTool started as an open-source project and has grown into a polished product. Its standout feature is multilingual support. While Grammarly only checks English, LanguageTool works with German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and 25+ other languages. The free tier is genuinely useful, not just a marketing funnel.

Key Features

• Grammar, spelling, and style checking in 30+ languages
• AI-powered sentence rephrasing
• Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
• Google Docs, MS Word, LibreOffice, and Thunderbird add-ons
• Style guide for teams
• API access for developers
• Open-source core (self-host option available)

Pricing

• Free: 20,000 characters per text field, basic suggestions
• Premium: $4.99/month (annual) or $19.90/month (monthly)
• Teams: Starting at $9.48/month for 2+ users
• 14-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans

Pros

• 30+ language support is unmatched by any competitor
• Free tier is generous (20,000 characters per check)
• Premium at $4.99/month (annual) is far cheaper than Grammarly
• Open-source core means self-hosting is an option
• Clean, simple interface that stays out of your way
• Student and teacher discounts (up to 20% off)

Cons

• English-specific suggestions are less advanced than Grammarly
• No plagiarism checker on any plan
• AI rephrasing is basic compared to tools like QuillBot
• Fewer integrations than Grammarly (no Scrivener, limited mobile)
• Style suggestions are less nuanced in English

Best For

Multilingual writers, students, and budget-conscious users who need grammar checking in languages beyond English. Also excellent for privacy-conscious users who want to self-host.

3. QuillBot

QuillBot is primarily a paraphrasing tool that also includes a grammar checker, making it unique among Grammarly alternatives.

Overview

QuillBot made its name as a paraphrasing tool and has expanded into a full writing assistant. Its grammar checker, AI detector, summarizer, and translator are all bundled into one subscription. For non-native English speakers who need help rewording sentences, QuillBot is often more useful than Grammarly.

Key Features

• Paraphraser with multiple modes (Standard, Fluency, Formal, Creative, Expand, Shorten)
• Grammar checker with support for English, German, French, Spanish, and Portuguese
• Plagiarism checker (25,000 words/month on Premium)
• AI Detector to check if text sounds AI-generated
• AI Humanizer to make AI text sound more natural
• Summarizer, Translator (50 languages), and AI Chat
• Chrome extension and Word add-in

Pricing

• Free: Paraphraser (125 words per use), basic grammar checker, AI Detector, 50 AI prompts/day
• Premium Annual: $8.33/month ($99.95/year)
• Premium Semi-Annual: $13.31/month ($39.95 per quarter)
• Premium Monthly: $19.95/month
• 3-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Paraphrasing is best-in-class (multiple modes for different needs)
• 8 tools in one subscription is strong value
• AI Humanizer is useful for making AI drafts sound more natural
• Grammar checker works in 5 languages
• Free tier includes the core paraphrasing and grammar features

Cons

• Grammar checking is not as thorough as Grammarly or ProWritingAid
• Plagiarism checker limited to 25,000 words/month on Premium
• Paraphraser on the free plan only handles 125 words at a time
• No desktop app (browser and Word only)
• Style and tone suggestions are basic

Best For

Non-native English speakers, students, and content creators who need strong paraphrasing alongside grammar checking. The combination of tools makes it a good value at $8.33/month annually.

4. Hemingway Editor

Hemingway Editor takes a completely different approach from Grammarly. Instead of fixing grammar, it focuses on making your writing clear and readable.

Overview

Named after Ernest Hemingway’s famously direct writing style, this tool color-codes your text to highlight readability issues. Complex sentences get yellow highlights. Very hard-to-read sentences turn red. Adverbs get blue highlights. Passive voice gets green. It does not fix things for you. It teaches you to write better.

Key Features

• Color-coded readability analysis
• Grade-level readability scoring
• Highlights adverbs, passive voice, and complex sentences
• Word and sentence count statistics
• Hemingway Editor Plus adds AI-powered sentence rewrites
• Desktop app works offline (one-time purchase)

Pricing

• Web version: Free (full readability analysis)
• Desktop app: $19.99 one-time purchase (works offline)
• Editor Plus (AI features): $8.33/month ($100/year annual plan)
• 2-week free trial for Editor Plus

Pros

• Free web version is fully functional for readability checking
• $19.99 desktop app is a one-time purchase (no subscription)
• Teaches you to write better instead of just fixing mistakes
• Dead simple interface with zero learning curve
• Works offline with the desktop app

Cons

• Not a grammar checker (does not catch spelling or grammatical errors)
• No browser extension or Word integration
• AI features require a separate subscription
• Cannot replace Grammarly for grammar and spelling corrections
• Limited to English only

Best For

Writers who want to improve their clarity and readability. Best used alongside a grammar checker like LanguageTool or Grammarly, not as a replacement. The free web version and $19.99 desktop app are hard to beat on value.

5. Ginger Software

Ginger is a Grammarly alternative that emphasizes learning, with built-in English lessons based on your mistakes.

Overview

Ginger checks grammar, spelling, and punctuation like Grammarly, but adds a personal trainer element. It analyzes your errors and creates customized English lessons to help you improve over time. For non-native speakers actively trying to get better at English, this learning-focused approach is unique.

Key Features

• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation checking
• Sentence rephraser for alternative wording
• Personal trainer with lessons based on your errors
• Text reader (reads your text aloud)
• Translation in 60+ languages
• Works on Chrome, Safari, iOS, and Android

Pricing

• Free: Basic grammar and spelling checking with limits
• Premium: Around $13.99/month or $89.88/year ($7.49/month)
• Occasional discounts bring annual pricing lower

Pros

• Personal trainer feature is genuinely useful for improving English skills
• Text-to-speech helps catch errors by hearing your writing
• Translation supports 60+ languages
• Mobile apps for iOS and Android
• More affordable than Grammarly on annual plans

Cons

• Correction accuracy is noticeably below Grammarly
• Interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives
• Limited integrations (no Google Docs add-on)
• Personal trainer content can be repetitive
• Browser extension is not as smooth as Grammarly’s

Best For

Non-native English speakers who want grammar checking combined with English learning tools. The personal trainer feature makes it more educational than pure grammar checkers.

6. Wordtune

Wordtune focuses on rewriting your sentences to be clearer, more casual, or more formal. It is less about catching errors and more about improving how your writing sounds.

Overview

Made by AI21 Labs, Wordtune is a rewriting tool at its core. You highlight a sentence, and it offers multiple rewrites in different tones. It also includes a summarizer for reading long documents and an AI writing assistant for generating new content. Think of it as a style coach rather than a grammar police.

Key Features

• Sentence-level rewriting with multiple tone options (casual, formal, shorter, longer)
• AI writing assistant for generating content
• Summarizer for long documents and YouTube videos
• Browser extension and editor interface
• Spices feature for expanding ideas with examples and analogies

Pricing

• Free: 10 rewrites per day
• Plus: $24.99/month or $9.99/month annually
• Unlimited: $37.50/month or $14.99/month annually
• Business: Custom pricing for teams

Pros

• Rewriting quality is excellent (natural-sounding options)
• Tone adjustment is more intuitive than Grammarly’s
• Summarizer handles long documents and YouTube videos
• Free tier gives you 10 rewrites daily to test it
• Clean, distraction-free interface

Cons

• Not a full grammar checker (misses technical grammar errors)
• Starting at $9.99/month annually, it is not cheap for what it does
• Limited integrations (mostly browser-based)
• 10 free rewrites per day feels restrictive
• Does not replace a grammar checker for error correction

Best For

Professionals who write emails, reports, or client-facing documents and want to quickly adjust their tone and clarity. Works best as a companion to a grammar checker, not a replacement.

7. WhiteSmoke

WhiteSmoke is a long-standing grammar checker that bundles translation and style checking into a single tool.

Overview

WhiteSmoke has been around since 2002 and offers grammar checking, style analysis, translation, and a plagiarism checker. It works across multiple platforms and includes document templates for business writing. While it is not as polished as newer competitors, its all-in-one approach appeals to business users.

Key Features

• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation checking
• Style and clarity suggestions
• Translation in 55+ languages
• Plagiarism checker
• 100+ document templates (letters, resumes, emails)
• Works on Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, and MS Office

Pricing

• Web plan: $5.00/month (annual billing)
• Premium: $6.66/month (annual billing) with desktop app
• Business: $11.50/month (annual billing) with full features
• 1-year and 3-year plans available

Pros

• Very affordable starting at $5/month annually
• Translation in 55+ languages is built-in
• Document templates are useful for business writing
• Plagiarism checker included on higher tiers
• Multi-platform support

Cons

• Interface feels outdated compared to Grammarly and ProWritingAid
• Grammar checking accuracy is below industry leaders
• No free plan (only occasional free trials)
• Customer support can be slow
• Browser extension is less reliable than competitors

Best For

Budget-conscious business writers who want grammar checking, translation, and document templates in a single affordable package.

8. ChatGPT and Claude as Grammar Tools

AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude can function as surprisingly capable grammar and style checkers when prompted correctly.

Overview

While not dedicated grammar tools, ChatGPT and Claude can check grammar, suggest rewrites, adjust tone, and explain why changes are needed. You paste your text, ask for corrections, and get detailed feedback. The advantage is flexibility. You can ask for specific types of edits, request explanations, or have the AI rewrite entire sections.

Key Features

• Grammar, spelling, and style checking through prompts
• Tone adjustment (formal, casual, academic, creative)
• Explanations for every suggested change
• Can rewrite entire sections or just fix errors
• Works with any language the model supports
• No word limits per check (within context window)

Pricing

• ChatGPT Free: Limited GPT-4o mini access
• ChatGPT Plus: $20/month
• Claude Free: Limited access
• Claude Pro: $20/month

Pros

• Far more flexible than any dedicated grammar tool
• Can explain the reasoning behind every correction
• Handles any language the model was trained on
• No word or character limits per check
• Can combine grammar checking with rewriting and style coaching

Cons

• Requires manual copy-paste (no browser extension)
• No real-time checking as you type
• Sometimes introduces new errors while fixing others
• No plagiarism checking
• $20/month for a grammar checker is expensive if that is all you need

Best For

Writers who want detailed explanations for grammar corrections and the flexibility to ask follow-up questions. Best used for occasional deep editing rather than real-time checking.

Comparison Table

Tool	Price (Annual)	Free Plan	Languages	Plagiarism	Best Feature
ProWritingAid	$10/month	500 words	English	Extra cost	25+ writing reports
LanguageTool	$4.99/month	20K chars	30+	No	Multilingual support
QuillBot	$8.33/month	Limited	5	25K words/mo	Paraphrasing modes
Hemingway	$8.33/month	Full web version	English	No	Readability scoring
Ginger	~$7.49/month	Limited	60+ (translate)	No	English learning
Wordtune	$9.99/month	10 rewrites/day	English	No	Sentence rewriting
WhiteSmoke	$5/month	No	55+ (translate)	Yes	Document templates
ChatGPT/Claude	$20/month	Yes	Many	No	Flexibility

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to Grammarly?

LanguageTool offers the most useful free tier with 20,000 characters per check and support for 30+ languages. The free version of Hemingway Editor provides full readability analysis. QuillBot’s free plan includes basic paraphrasing and grammar checking. For English only, LanguageTool is the strongest free option.

Is ProWritingAid better than Grammarly?

It depends on what you write. ProWritingAid is better for long-form and creative writing because of its 25+ in-depth reports and Scrivener integration. Grammarly is better for quick, everyday writing because of its clean interface, browser extension, and real-time speed. ProWritingAid’s lifetime license ($399) also makes it cheaper long-term.

Can I use ChatGPT instead of Grammarly?

ChatGPT can catch grammar errors and suggest rewrites, but it requires manual copy-pasting and does not work in real-time as you type. For occasional deep editing, ChatGPT is excellent. For continuous writing assistance across your browser, email, and documents, a dedicated tool like Grammarly or LanguageTool is more practical.

Which Grammarly alternative is best for non-native English speakers?

QuillBot’s paraphrasing modes help non-native speakers find better ways to express ideas. Ginger includes personalized English lessons based on your mistakes. LanguageTool supports 30+ languages if you write in multiple languages. For active English improvement, Ginger plus QuillBot is a strong combination.

Does any Grammarly alternative offer a lifetime plan?

ProWritingAid offers lifetime licenses at $399 (Premium) and $499 (Premium Pro). This is the only major Grammarly competitor with a one-time purchase option. If you plan to use a grammar checker for 3+ years, the lifetime license saves money compared to any subscription.

Conclusion

Grammarly is a strong product, but it is not the only game in town. ProWritingAid at $10/month gives serious writers more depth with its 25+ reports and lifetime purchase option. LanguageTool at $4.99/month (or free) is the clear winner for multilingual writers. QuillBot at $8.33/month bundles paraphrasing with grammar checking for great value. And the free Hemingway Editor web app teaches you to write more clearly without costing anything.

Pick the tool that matches how you write. If you produce long-form content, go with ProWritingAid. If you write in multiple languages, use LanguageTool. If you need help rewording sentences, try QuillBot. And if you just want cleaner, punchier prose, bookmark Hemingway Editor. You do not need to settle for Grammarly if it does not fit your needs or budget.

For more insights, check out our guide on AI grammar checkers.

For more insights, check out our guide on AI paraphrasing tools.

For more insights, check out our guide on AI writing tools for SEO.