11 Best Grammarly Alternatives – Viable Free and Paid Options

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Grammarly is a widely used writing tool that checks your grammar, vocabulary, and writing style. However, its free version doesn’t have advanced features, and the premium plan might be too expensive. 

Many cheap substitutes are available, offering similar grammar reports and analysis. I’ve curated a list of the best Grammarly alternatives you can try. These competitors might appeal to your writing needs more than Grammarly.

What is Grammarly?

Based on its name, Grammarly is an online grammar checking tool that helps writers improve their skills. It also checks your texting for engagement, correctness, clarity, and delivery. 

Beyond technical functions like spelling and grammar, Grammarly also provides context-sensitive style suggestions and real-time assistance. Both non-fiction and fiction writers can benefit from this program’s high level of accuracy and ease of use. 

This online editor is also accessible. You can use the web-based tool, download the browser extension, or install the desktop app. It’s also available as a mobile application and MS Word plugin.

Here are other features of Grammarly:

  • Compatibility with all devices, such as iOS, Android, and Mac.
  • Browser plugin for Google Chrome and Safari.
  • Multiple device access. 
  • Detailed yet clean dashboard for reports and plagiarism-checking.
  • Plagiarism checker that links copied text to the original source. 

You can subscribe to Grammarly Premium at the following pricing options:

  • Monthly: $29.95.
  • Quarterly: $59.95.
  • Annually: $139.95.

Grammarly also offers Grammarly Business for teams of three and more. The price depends on the number of users, starting at $12.50 a month. This version adds brand style guides, account roles, and a team analytics dashboard.

Is Grammarly Worth It?

Signing up for a free Grammarly account affords you standard features. The online editing tool delivers grammar, spelling, and punctuation corrections. It also has limited ways to improve your sentence structure.

The free version is a suitable option for students and casual writers who want to improve their writing skills on a fundamental level. But if you want to create professional and error-free content free from awkward sentences, try the premium version.

I would say it’s only worth the price for users who need it for work purposes. A premium account opens your access to many features like consistency, word choice, polite words, and more.

It’s also ideal for non-fiction writers, bloggers, and content creators who make social media posts. I love Grammarly for improving my fiction work before sending it to my editor. It makes our lives easier.

The most basic plan starts at $29.95. There is also a significant discount for annual subscriptions.

Why You Need Grammarly Alternatives

Although Grammarly has a free version, professional writers will not benefit much. And the premium plans aren’t cheap either. Many grammar checkers offer similar (and more) features at half the price.

Grammarly is Expensive

Yes, it’s a bit pricy and often higher than its competitors. But I personally feel it’s worth it. I swear by the program for its ease of use, reliability, and customer service. Also, other programs tend to bog down my computer’s run time, whereas Grammarly doesn’t.

Grammarly is Focused on English

Grammarly only focuses on correcting your English writing, although it supports various English dialects. It’s not suitable for writers who need to translate their text into other languages other than English.

Grammarly Has Missing Features

The number one online editing tool might have several features that others don’t, but it’s still incomplete. If your goal is to use a specific house style, Grammarly won’t be helpful. It also won’t help you spot all cliches, improper dialogues, and bad pacing. It takes some fiddling and customization to get it working for you.

Free Grammarly Alternatives

If you don’t want to spend at least $30 on Grammarly’s monthly subscription, you can always try other similar tools. There are many free alternatives that offer robust proofreading features. Here are some of them.

  • Ginger.
  • Hemingway.
  • Sapling.
  • Google Docs.
  • Antidote.
  • 1Checker.
  • Linguix.
  • Sentence Checkup.
  • Microsoft Word

Note that some of these writing editors also have paid premium versions. But the free access is enough to correct your spelling, grammar, and writing style mistakes. 

Try 1Checker, Sentence Checkup, Google Docs, and MS Word if you’re looking for a completely free writing editor. 

Paid Grammarly Alternatives

Advanced online writing tools in the market typically require subscriptions. These editors offer extra features like translation, inclusive language suggestions, run-on sentence checkers, etc. 

Here are my recs for the best Grammarly alternatives you can purchase at a cheap price.

  • ProWritingAid.
  • Whitesmoke.
  • Ginger.
  • Hemingway.
  • Sapling.
  • Antidote.
  • Linguix.

Among these options, only Whitesmoke does not have a free version. ProWritingAid offers a trial period for anyone interested. 

Comparison of Grammarly And its Competitors

No matter why you want to try a Grammarly alternative, here are my 11 recommendations. 

Grammarly

Free/Plan

Web editor, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, MS Word plugin, keyboard application, desktop application.

Starts at $12.

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, writing style, plagiarism check, inclusive language.

Ginger

Free/Trial/Plan

Chrome, Safari, Firefox, web editor, 

Starts at $20.97

Text reader, translates into 60 languages, corrects lengthy sentences.

ProWritingAid

Trial/Plan

Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Microsoft Word plugin, Scrivener. 

Starts at $5.

Improves sentence structures, Plagiarism checker, 25 comprehensive reports, several platforms available.

Sapling

Free/Plan

Edge, Firefox, and Chrome extensions.

Starts at $26.

Snippets, autocomplete, custom dictionaries, errors, and models.

Whitesmoke

Free/Trial/Plan

Chrome, Safari, Firefox, web editor, 

Starts at $20.97

Text reader, translates into 60 languages, corrects lengthy sentences.

Hemmingway App

Free/Plan

Web application, desktop application

Starts at $19.99

Simplifies sentences.

Google Docs

Free

Google Docs

Free

Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks. 

Antidote

Free/Plan

Desktop app, web editor

Starts at $129.95

Error analysis, custom dictionaries, grammar diagnostics.

1Checker

Free

Desktop app, plugin for MS Word and Outlook

Free

Contextual suggestions, suggestions for non-native English speakers.

Linguix

Free/Plan

Chrome web browser, web editor, Android and iOS keyboards.

Starts at $18.95 a month

Snippets, vocabulary enhancements, punctuation checker.

SentenceCheckup

Free

Web editor

Free

Identifies run-on sentences, improves readability, spots sentence fragments.

Microsoft Editor

Free

Microsoft Word

Free

Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation check.

1. Ginger

Ginger software is a Grammarly substitute that helps with spelling and grammatical errors. This online tool offers alternative vocabulary suggestions for overused words and real-time corrections.

The online editor is most famous for its text reader, which lets you listen to your writing flow. You can also evaluate how engaging your text is with Ginger’s paid subscription feature.

If you need accurate translations of your text into another language, count on Ginger to do the work. Unlike Grammarly, it translates content into 60 languages, such as French, German, and Spanish. 

When it comes to pricing, Ginger and Grammarly are almost the same. But users who need to translate their works might find Ginger more helpful.

Pros

  • The translation tool translates into 60 languages.
  • Text reader for the user to hear their writing flow.
  • Chrome browser extension. 
  • Personal dictionary feature.

Cons

  • Requires time to correct errors.
  • Expensive premium plans.
  • Limited-time free version.

Read my full Ginger review for more information.

2. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is an online editor that offers Grammarly’s same basic spelling and grammar suggestions. But this style checker has unique features for your content, like spotting sticky sentences and removing clichés.

The “writing mentor” also gives feedback on the following:

  • Overused words.
  • Punctuation mistakes.
  • Passive voice.
  • Homonyms and alliterations.
  • Dialogue tags.
  • Incorrect tenses.
  • Plagiarism.

ProWritingAid is available as a desktop application and browser plugin. But it doesn’t have any mobile applications yet.

The premium plan of this writing assistant is less expensive yet equally worth it as Grammarly, especially for fiction writers. For instance, you can grammar-check a whole novel at once. ProWritingAid also checks for overused adverbs and the pacing of your story.

Pros

  • Corrects sticky sentences.
  • Has a plagiarism detector feature.
  • The user can access up to 25 reports.
  • Has a specific house style.

Cons

  • Too strict in terms of readability.
  • No mobile application.
  • Some lag

Read my full ProWritingAid review for more information.

3. Sapling

Sapling is an AI-powered writing assistant that has a business approach. The tool claims to catch up to 60% of issues in writing, including grammar mistakes and spelling errors. 

It offers intelligent suggestions through a machine learning system applied in millions of English sentences. Other additional features of Sapling include grammar and spelling checks, snippets, and a personal dictionary. 

One advantage of Sapling over Grammarly is that it’s the only grammar checker with an on-premise deployment or a no-data retention policy.

Pros

  • Offers a free plan.
  • Learns from your writing style over time.
  • Perfect for bloggers and other business writers. 
  • Team-based configuration and control.

Cons

  • No browser extensions for iOS, Android, and Safari.
  • Expensive compared to other Grammarly alternatives.

4. Whitesmoke

Whitesmoke has been around since 2002, so it’s no wonder it’s a worthy opponent of Grammarly. The basic editing features include punctuation edits, a spell checker, and grammatical suggestions for flawless content.

There are over 100 templates that Whitesmoke offers, making it an excellent tool for students and casual errors. It’s perfect for anyone who needs to create quick documents without spelling and grammar errors.

Over 50 languages are available and supported by WhiteSmoke, thanks to its team of linguists who make online translation possible. Enjoy these features on Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. It also works with Google Docs and MS Office.

Pros

  • Ideal for enterprises.
  • Offers instant translations.
  • Provides plagiarism detection. 

Cons

  • Clunky interface.
  • Slow loading time.
  • The browser extension isn’t free.

5. Hemingway App

Hemingway Editor references Ernest Hemingway, an author known for his straightforward writing style. Use this application to improve your complex sentences and create high-quality content.  

All you need to do is paste your work into this freestyle editor, and it will underline any passive voice, adverb, and hard-to-read sentences. You can also work to become a better writer by optimizing the readability score.

Pricing is only for the desktop app, costing $19.99. 

Pros

  • Clean interface.
  • Focuses on simplifying your text.
  • Works offline. 

Cons

  • Inadequate grammar checks.
  • Cannot spot missing words.
  • Not for creative writing. 

6. Google Docs

Are you using Google Docs to write your documents? Then why the need to download external editors? The word-processing site or application has its editor for proofreading grammar and spelling mistakes.

The popular tool spots the most common errors but not the ones you find in complicated sentences. This web-based application has limited features based on machine translation. 

It offers real-time suggestions, excluding passive voice, run-on sentences, and overuse of words. Unlike Grammarly, Google Docs also doesn’t have plagiarism checkers or accuracy scores.

Pros

  • Completely free. 
  • Easy to use as it offers all features of a word processing tool.
  • Offers suggestions in real-time while you’re typing.
  • Spots punctuation errors.

Cons

  • No offline version.
  • Doesn’t offer advanced grammar suggestions, including subject-verb agreement.
  • No practical word choice suggestions.

7. Antidote

Antidote may not be a famous grammar tool, but it has many comparable and unique features that help professional writers. Paste your document into Antidote or download the Word plugin. 

This grammar checking tool scans style errors, typos, and language mistakes. It offers a personal dictionary so you can add technical terms, character names, and your made-up words. 

Antidote runs locally as a desktop app, helping writers keep their sensitive documents safe. You don’t have to upload any information online either. While there is no plagiarism tool, Antidote supports different English dialects for your needs.  

Pros

  • Clean user interface.
  • Perfect for users who dislike monthly subscriptions.
  • Available on mobile. 

Con

  • Expensive annual subscription. 

8. 1Checker

1Checker is another online proofreading platform that non-native English speakers will enjoy when making awesome content. This Grammarly alternative tool offers a wide variety of advanced corrections for spelling, style, vocabulary, and grammar.

The platform also offers the following features you won’t find in other writing tools:

  • Incorrect article use.
  • Confusing words (affect vs. effect, etc.).
  • Wrong order of adjectives.
  • Incorrect preposition and pronoun use.

This platform is available as a plugin for Outlook and Word. You also can download the application on Windows or Mac iOS.

1Checker is a must-have for beginners because of its simple design. It provides a basic overview of your mistakes marked in blue and red. The suggestions will appear on the right, along with the explanations.

Pros

  • Detects common errors of non-native English speakers.
  • Context-related suggestions. 
  • Simple user interface.

Cons

  • Doesn’t check for passive voice and writing styles.
  • Takes a while to analyze text.

9. Linguix

Linguix is an AI-powered grammar checker that checks for spelling and grammar errors. Many consider this application the best grammar and punctuation checker because of the context-appropriate recommendations.

Make your content pieces more high-quality by copy-pasting your text and following Linguix’s suggestions. This tool will give you the best alternative words, whether you have the web application, Chrome extension, or Android/iOS keyboards.

The only downside to Linguix is that it doesn’t have a desktop version. But you can avail the premium version to enjoy snippets, more typos, and vocabulary improvements. 

Pros

  • Easy to use. 
  • Accurate suggestions in different English types.
  • Offers snippets. 
  • Offers statistics.

Con

  • No MS Word plugin or desktop application.

10. SentenceCheckup

SentenceCheckup is a simple tool that checks your sentences for free. It’s not necessarily a spelling checker as it focuses on fixing fragments and run-on sentences. SentenceCheckup also helps with grammar corrections and writing style. 

You don’t need to download this writing tool anymore, but you need an internet connection every time you use it. Paste the text in the box provided, then click the “Checkup” button. 

The web editor is for those who are experts in spelling and grammar but want to enhance their sentence structure. It may not be as robust as Grammarly, but it’s enough as a basic grammar checker. 

Pros

  • Completely free.
  • Identifies run-on sentences.
  • Makes suggestions based on readability.

Cons

  • No plagiarism checker
  • Very basic features.
  • Not available as a mobile application. 

11. Microsoft Editor

Microsoft Word’s built-in proofreading tool will come to the rescue if you don’t want to download other writing apps. This spelling and grammar tool also serves as a style checker because of its ability to correct common mistakes.

Despite the basic features, Microsoft Word is commendable for its accuracy in proofreading. It allows users to improve their English skills in writing by pointing out the errors in red and blue lines. 

Note that Microsoft Office isn’t free. But once you’ve availed of the program, you can quickly access the spelling and grammar checker on the different software apps. 

Pros

  • Spots basic grammar errors and punctuation mistakes.
  • No need to use third-party grammar checking tools.

Con

  • No detailed reports like readability score.
  • Does not offer robust grammar checking.
  • Does not spot wordy sentences

Verdict: Is Grammarly Still the Best?

You’ve read through the 11 competitors of Grammarly, which you can try as substitutes. Some of these writing tools are free, while others come at a cheap price. Personally, I’ll always recommend Grammarly above all else. But what works for me may not work for you.

Consider a Grammarly alternative if you have specific writing needs or are unwilling to splurge on Grammarly Premium. My recommendations feature similar spelling and grammar checks but cater to different types of writers.