Free alternatives to Grammarly
Grammarly's free plan already checks spelling and grammar. LanguageTool is the one to open if you write in more than one language. Hemingway Editor marks long sentences. QuillBot paraphrases text you already wrote. They are not ranked by commissions. None of these Visit buttons is an affiliate link.
The tool itself
Grammarly
- What it does
- Checks spelling, grammar, and tone in the browser and in documents. Paid plans add rewrites and a larger monthly allowance of AI prompts.
- Who it is for
- People who write in English and want a checker sitting inside email, docs, and the browser.
- Free plan
- The free plan covers spelling, grammar, and a small monthly set of AI prompts.
- Price we checked
- Free plan, with 100 generative AI prompts a month on the plans page. Pro is $30 per member per month, or $12 per member per month when billed annually at $144 a year. Grammarly's plans page leads with the $12 figure; the support article spells out the monthly rate.
- The catch
- The $12 price is the annual average, not the month-to-month bill. Pro is priced per member. Regional currency can differ at checkout.
1 · Free tier
LanguageTool
- What it does
- A grammar and style checker for many languages, with a browser add-on and its own editor.
- Who it is for
- People who write in more than one language, or who want a checker that is not only English.
- Free plan
- You can check text without an account in the browser. A free account adds the online editor.
- Price we checked
- A free Basic plan. Premium is €19.90 per month, €39.90 per quarter, €59.89 per year, or €99.90 for two years. Those figures are from LanguageTool's help article updated March 24, 2026, and they include VAT.
- The catch
- Prices are in euros, not dollars. The price band uses that euro number and does not convert it. Students and teachers may see a separate discount.
2 · Free tier
Hemingway Editor
- What it does
- Highlights long sentences, passive voice, and hard-to-read phrases. The Plus plan adds AI rewrites.
- Who it is for
- People who already have a draft and want it shorter and clearer.
- Free plan
- Hemingway lists free online editing tools. Plus, which adds the AI rewrites, starts with a free trial and then an annual plan.
- Price we checked
- The site offers free writing tools and a free trial of Plus. Plus Individual 5K is $8.33 per month, billed annually at $100. Individual 10K is $12.50 per month, billed annually at $150. A month-to-month price was not listed.
- The catch
- The published Plus prices are annual bills, not monthly ones. The highlighter is a guide, not a rule. Short is not always clearer.
3 · Free tier
QuillBot
- What it does
- Paraphrases sentences and checks grammar. Paid plans raise the limits on those tools.
- Who it is for
- Beginners who want help rewording a paragraph they already wrote.
- Free plan
- A free plan exists. The FAQ says Premium is what removes the tighter limits.
- Price we checked
- Free and Premium plans. QuillBot's own FAQ lists Premium at $19.95 a month, or $8.33 a month when billed annually at $99.95 a year.
- The catch
- A middle billing option on the same FAQ does not add up cleanly, so ignore it and read the checkout total. Paraphrased text can still sound unlike you, and it can stay too close to the source.
Questions
- Which one is closest to Grammarly?
- LanguageTool, if you want a grammar checker. Hemingway Editor is a clarity highlighter. QuillBot rewords sentences. Read the what-it-does line.
- Are the prices in dollars?
- LanguageTool's listing is in euros. Hemingway Editor's Plus prices are annual bills. This page does not convert them. Open the full listing.
- Can I paraphrase someone else's article?
- QuillBot's listing says paraphrased text can stay too close to the source. Use it on your own draft.
- Will a checker get clients?
- No. Cleaner sentences are not customers.