Why Look for Grammarly Alternatives?
Grammarly is excellent, but it's not perfect for everyone. Here's why thousands of writers are exploring alternatives:
- Cost: Grammarly Premium is $144/year â that's $12/month for grammar checking
- Privacy: Your writing is processed on Grammarly's servers (concern for sensitive docs)
- Limited free tier: Free version only catches basic errors
- AI revolution: Tools like Claude and ChatGPT offer grammar checking PLUS content generation
- Niche needs: Fiction writers, academics, and ESL learners often need specialized tools
ProWritingAid is the most comprehensive Grammarly alternative, especially for serious writers. It offers 20+ writing reports that analyze style, pacing, dialogue, and more â features Grammarly doesn't have.
â Pros
- Deeper style analysis than Grammarly
- One-time purchase option ($399 lifetime)
- Integrates with Scrivener & Word
- 20+ detailed writing reports
- Better for fiction writers
â Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Mobile app less polished
- Can be overwhelming for casual users
LanguageTool is an open-source grammar checker that supports 30+ languages. The free version is more generous than Grammarly's, with no daily word limits. It's perfect for multilingual writers and privacy-conscious users.
â Pros
- Supports 30+ languages
- Open-source (privacy-friendly)
- No word limit on free tier
- Self-hosted option available
- Browser extensions for all major browsers
â Cons
- Style suggestions less advanced
- UI not as polished as Grammarly
- Premium features require subscription
Hemingway Editor focuses on making your writing clear and readable. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and adverbs â helping you write punchy, direct prose. Named after Ernest Hemingway's famously concise style.
â Pros
- Excellent readability scoring
- Free web version
- Desktop app is one-time purchase
- No account required
- Works offline (desktop)
â Cons
- No grammar checking
- Limited integrations
- Can't customize rules
QuillBot combines grammar checking with powerful paraphrasing capabilities. If you need to rewrite content, avoid plagiarism, or find better ways to phrase sentences, QuillBot is unmatched.
â Pros
- Best-in-class paraphrasing
- Multiple rewriting modes (fluency, formal, etc.)
- Grammar checker included
- Summarizer tool
- Chrome & Word extensions
â Cons
- Free tier has word limits
- Grammar checking less thorough
- Can over-paraphrase sometimes
Claude isn't just a grammar checker â it's a full AI assistant that can edit, rewrite, explain grammar rules, and help you write from scratch. For $20/month, you get unlimited grammar help PLUS an AI writing partner.
â Pros
- Grammar checking + content generation
- Explains why corrections are needed
- Handles 100K+ word documents
- Can match any writing style
- Better at nuanced edits
â Cons
- No browser extension (yet)
- Requires copy-pasting text
- Not real-time like Grammarly
Ginger excels at helping non-native English speakers. It includes a sentence rephraser, translation for 60+ languages, and a personal trainer feature that helps you learn from your mistakes.
â Pros
- Great for ESL learners
- Built-in translator (60+ languages)
- Personal grammar trainer
- Text-to-speech feature
â Cons
- Dated interface
- Aggressive upselling
- Fewer integrations
Wordtune by AI21 Labs focuses on rewriting sentences to be clearer, more formal, or more casual. It's perfect when you know WHAT to say but struggle with HOW to say it.
â Pros
- Excellent rewriting suggestions
- Casual â Formal tone options
- Works inline in browser
- AI-powered summaries
â Cons
- Limited free rewrites (10/day)
- Basic grammar checking
- No desktop app
Sapling is designed for professional communication, especially customer support. It offers grammar checking plus autocomplete snippets, making it ideal for teams who send lots of emails and messages.
â Pros
- Built for business communication
- Smart autocomplete snippets
- Team analytics
- CRM integrations
â Cons
- Overkill for personal use
- Less focus on creative writing
- Enterprise pricing unclear
Slick Write is a completely free grammar and style checker with no word limits, no account required, and no premium tier. It's simple but effective for basic proofreading.
â Pros
- 100% free forever
- No account needed
- No word limits
- Detailed writing statistics
â Cons
- Basic suggestions only
- No browser extension
- Dated interface
If you already pay for Microsoft 365, Microsoft Editor is a no-brainer. It's built into Word, Outlook, and Edge, offering grammar checking and style suggestions without any extra subscription.
â Pros
- Included with Microsoft 365
- Deep integration with Word/Outlook
- Works offline
- Browser extension available
â Cons
- Full features need M365 subscription
- Not as thorough as Grammarly
- Best for Microsoft ecosystem only
Like Claude, ChatGPT can check grammar, explain rules, and help you write. Its ubiquity and conversational interface make it a popular Grammarly replacement for many writers.
â Pros
- Versatile writing assistant
- Can explain grammar rules
- Helpful for brainstorming
- Mobile app available
â Cons
- No real-time checking
- Requires copy-paste workflow
- May miss subtle errors
Quick Comparison: Grammarly Alternatives
| Tool | Best For | Free Tier | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProWritingAid | Fiction writers, long-form | â (500 words) | $120/yr or $399 lifetime |
| LanguageTool | Multilingual, privacy | â (unlimited basic) | $59.90/year |
| Hemingway | Readability & clarity | â (web) | $19.99 one-time |
| QuillBot | Paraphrasing | â (limited) | $8.33/month |
| Claude AI | AI writing + editing | â | $20/month |
| Ginger | ESL learners | â (limited) | $13.99/month |
| Wordtune | Rewriting sentences | â (10/day) | $9.99/month |
| Sapling | Customer support | â | $25/month |
| Slick Write | Budget users | â (full) | Free forever |
| Microsoft Editor | M365 users | â | Included w/ M365 |
| ChatGPT | General AI writing | â | $20/month |
â Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict: Which Grammarly Alternative Should You Choose?
- Best overall: ProWritingAid â comprehensive, affordable, lifetime option
- Best free: LanguageTool â generous free tier, multilingual
- Best for readability: Hemingway Editor â simple, effective, cheap
- Best for paraphrasing: QuillBot â unmatched rewriting capabilities
- Best AI-powered: Claude â grammar + writing assistant in one
- Best for M365 users: Microsoft Editor â already included
The right choice depends on your needs. If you write fiction or long-form content, invest in ProWritingAid. If you want free and multilingual, go with LanguageTool. And if you want the future of writing assistance, try Claude or ChatGPT â they're changing the game.
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we've tested and believe in.