Grammarly is everywhere until a team needs it inside a CMS, a code editor, or a language it handles badly.
Check where the tool actually runs. Browser extensions and document add-ins cover different surfaces, and the gap is where the frustration lives.
Side by side
| Tool | Pricing | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| LanguageTool | Freemium | A European team writing in several languages that cannot send text to a US vendor. | Web, Browser extension, Office add-in |
| ProWritingAid | Freemium | A novelist or thesis writer revising 80,000 words who wants to see repeated habits. | Web, macOS, Windows |
The options, and what each one costs you
- Better if
- A European team writing in several languages that cannot send text to a US vendor.
- You give up
- Suggestions are sometimes pedantic, and the self-hosted version requires more setup than most people want.
- Better if
- A novelist or thesis writer revising 80,000 words who wants to see repeated habits.
- You give up
- Following every suggestion flattens a distinctive voice into generic prose, and it overlaps heavily with Grammarly while costing more at the top tier.
Frequently asked
What is the best alternative to Grammarly?
It depends on what you are leaving for. Check where the tool actually runs. Browser extensions and document add-ins cover different surfaces, and the gap is where the frustration lives. Our closest match on features and price is LanguageTool.
Is there a free alternative to Grammarly?
LanguageTool is free to start. ProWritingAid is free to start.
How much does switching from Grammarly cost?
Migration is usually the expensive part, not the licence: exports rarely preserve permissions, history or automations. Budget a day per active workspace for anything with a database in it.
How we picked
Every tool here is in our Writing & Content directory, which means we have used it and written down where it falls short. Nothing on this page is sponsored, and the order is not for sale.