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Many editing tools claim to be the #1 or best grammar checkers online.
But, how many deliver on their promise?
To find out, I tested the free versions of 10 grammar checkers.
Based on my analysis, Quillbot and LanguageTool emerged as the best grammar checkers. My results aren’t based on subjective opinion, as I compared each grammar checker with a passage edited by an expert editor and ranked them based on their performance.
This article details my methodology for determining the best grammar checkers, their unique features, and the pricing of each tool.
The Experiment
With social listening and reviews from G2, I found 10 popular grammar checkers to test. For the test, I intentionally introduced 13 errors into a text of 123 words and sent it to an expert editor.
The editor sent me two versions of the edited text. In version 1, he corrected grammar mistakes. In version 2, he made a thorough edit, cutting out redundancies, complex, and vague sentences. No grammar checker matched his thoroughness, so I stuck with the version where he corrected only grammar errors.
I passed the unedited text through the list of top grammar checkers and ranked their performance based on:
Accuracy
I observed how many errors each tool could spot once I pasted the text into it. I ranked any tool that hit 10 or more errors high, but for anything less, well, no.
User Experience
How quickly the tool highlighted the errors, and its intuitiveness, is paramount. As you’ll see later, some tools identified all errors quickly, while I had to refresh a few grammar checkers to get them to outline these errors, which I found unsatisfactory.
Contextual Understanding
The rules vary for different kinds of writing. A good grammar checker should be mindful of that differentiation and make suggestions based on the context or premise of the text.
Thoroughness
A good grammar checker should go beyond the bare minimum. It should identify comma errors, redundancies, and vague expressions that create friction for readers.
Ranking of the 10 Best Grammar Checkers
| Grammar checker | Pricing | G2 rating | Correction Score |
| Quillbot | Starts at $9.95/month | 4.4/5 | 13 out of 13 |
| LanguageTool | Starts at $12.45/month | 4.4/5 | 13 out of 13 |
| Hemingway Editor | Starts at $10/month | 4.4/5 | 13 out of 13 |
| Wordtune | Starts at $6.99/month | 4.6/5 | 13 out of 13 |
| Outwrite | Starts at $24.95/month | 4.3/5 | 12 out of 13 |
| Grammarly | Starts at $30/month | 4.7/5 | 11 out of 13 |
| ProWritingAid | Starts at $30/month | 4.5/5 | 9 out of 13 |
| Linguix | Starts at $14.99/month | 4.5/5 | 9 out of 13 |
| Ginger | Starts at $9.99/month | 4.5/5 | 7 out of 13 |
| Scribens | Starts at ₤9.90/month | 4.7/5 | 5 out of 13 |
1. QuillBot
Quillbot performed exceptionally well, highlighting all 13 errors immediately. It has an intuitive interface that details most of its features in a non-distracting manner. The Quillbot grammar checker works for languages like French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Even better, it has an in-app translator that can switch between 42 different languages. More than highlighting the errors, Quillbot provides detailed explanations for edits. This tool understands that grammar is subjective, so you can change your preferences at the top left-hand corner.
QuillBot Features
- Paraphrasing tool
- Plagiarism checker
- AI detector
- Text summarizer
- Text translator
- Citation generator
- Quill flow helps you organize your work into projects, and offers you templates for professional, academic, personal, and email projects.
- Smart Start: a generative AI feature that provides an outline based on the topic you enter.
- Detailed stats which include grammar, fluency, text clarity, and percentage score.
- Integrates with G-Docs
- Available as an AI writing keyboard for mobile phones and extensions for Chrome, Edge, and macOS.
QuillBot Pricing
- Free plan
- Monthly $9.95
- 6-Months plan: $39.95
- 12-Months plan: $49.95
Integrations: Browser extension (Chrome, Edge), AI writing keyboard for mobile devices, Desktop app for Windows and MacOS.
2. LanguageTool
LanguageTool ranked high for accuracy, as it identified all 13 errors immediately. Some sentences had comma errors and this tool highlighted such, showing thoroughness. I find it interesting that LanguageTool has two web versions. There’s the basic web version you can use without signing in, and the sophisticated web version called, “the editor” when you sign in.
LanguageTool has a colorful interface and offers a great user experience. It has a picky mode button to toggle on to edit a text thoroughly. When I switched it on, I didn’t notice any remarkable changes, but it could work better for texts with more grammar errors. As a multilingual grammar checker, this tool outshines others. It has grammar checkers for major languages like German, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. If you work with multiple languages often, then, LanguageTool is right for you.
LanguageTool Features
- Grammar checking for 30+ languages.
- Paraphrasing tool.
- Weekly statistics.
- Picky mode for further grammar edits.
LanguageTool Pricing
- Free plan available
- Monthly: $12.45
- Quarterly: $22.45
- Annually: $34.95
- Biannually: $59.90
Integrations: Browser extension (Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Opera), desktop app for Windows and Mac, mobile app (iOS).
3. Hemingway Editor
The Hemingway Editor is an all-inclusive editing tool, but its grammar checker comes only with the paid plan. While on the free trial, I pasted the reference passage into the web version, and this tool spotted many errors besides the grammar. Using distinct color codes as shown in the image, Hemingway showed that:
- 1 sentence is very hard to read.
- 3 sentences are hard to read.
- 15 spelling or grammar issues.
- 0 weakeners (adverbs or passive voice).
- 1 word with a simpler alternative.
I was impressed with its thoroughness and comprehensiveness.
Hemingway Editor goes beyond grammar checking to pick out complex sentences and excessive use of adverbs. These are subtle flaws that cause friction for your reader if left unchecked. This app also has a great user interface that’s detailed, yet not distracting. You get to see your readability scores, reading time, and other writing status. While at it, you can change the tone, and length, of your text with the Hemingway Editor.
Hemingway Features
- Advanced editing as well as grammar-checking.
- Rewriting tool
- Option to import HTML and Word Docs file formats
- Hemingway Editor Plus for detailed feedback on your text. (Still in Beta mode)
Hemingway Pricing
- Free plan available
- Monthly plan
- Individual 5k plan: $10/month.
- Individual 10k plan: $15/month.
- Team 10k plan: $15/user/month
- Annual Plan
- Individual 5k plan: $100 billed once per year
- Individual 10k plan: $150
- Team 10k plan: $150/user/year
- Integrations: Online version, desktop version.
4. Wordtune
Signing into Wordtune requires you to share what you’ll mostly use it for, your profession, and your language. This hints that Wordtune is great at contextual editing. It has a beautiful and intuitive interface, allowing you to use it immediately even as a beginner. Speaking of its performance, Wordtune highlighted the 13 errors in the text immediately, placing it at the top of the list.
Wordtune Features
- Options to change the tone and text length.
- An AI generative feature for continuing your writing. (Helpful for when you’ve run out of ideas).
- Pages to let you work on different texts simultaneously.
Wordtune Pricing
- Free plan available
- Advanced plan: $6.99 per month when billed yearly and $13 monthly when you choose to pay monthly.
- Unlimited plan: $9.99/month (yearly) OR $20/month (monthly).
- Teams: $7.99/per person/per month (yearly) OR $15.99/per person/per month (monthly).
Integration: Browser extension (Chrome and Edge), Mobile version for iOS.
5. Outwrite
Just like Wordtune, Outwrite loves to know how you’ll use it: a cue that shows it’s adept at contextual editing, style, and tone. Once you’re in the app, a brief tour guide shows you around, but I’m sure you can get started without it.
The app has a simple interface—perfect for writers who dislike distractions and need minimal help with writing. Outwrite spotted 12 out of 13 errors in the text. This was a surprise, given the modest interface of the tool. It supports Spanish, French, and different English dialects. Overall, Outwrite is perfect for basic grammar checking, rewriting, and paraphrasing.
Outwrite Features
- Rewrite option.
- Plagiarism checker
- Statistics like readability, grade level, etc
- Thesaurus for finding synonyms.
Outwrite Pricing
- Free plan available
Pro plan:
- Monthly: $24.95
- Quarterly: :$44.85
- Yearly: $119.40
- Teams: Starts at $7.95/user/month
Integration: Browser extension (Chrome and Edge), Google Docs add-on, Ms-Word add-in.
6. Grammarly
Grammarly is the most popular grammar checker, with an astonishing 30 million users. As a widely used editing tool, Grammarly did well, with an above-average performance of spotting 11 of 13 grammatical errors. However, when it comes to spotting errors quickly, sometimes, Grammarly falls short, and I speak from experience as I use it in my writing workflow.
Many social media users also mentioned that Grammarly gives irrelevant corrections and tends to contradict itself. However, this editing tool makes up for its shortcomings with features that make writing easy. For instance, our comparison of Grammarly vs ProWritingAid, shows that Grammarly explains its corrections — a feature I absolutely love. Grammarly also has a rich word bank where it pulls synonyms from—just highlight the word and the synonyms will show. It also catches awkward phrasing and passive voice in your text.
Grammarly Features
- Document version history.
- Detailed statistics including text correctness, delivery, clarity, and overall score.
- Expert writing help (for when you’re short on time).
- Option to upload various file types.
- A weekly newsletter providing comprehensive insights on your writing.
- A section to input your writing goals, which ensures tailored feedback.
Grammarly Pricing
- Free plan.
Pro Plan:
- Monthly: $30.
- Quarterly: $20 ($60 every 3 months).
- Annually: $12/month ($144 every year).
- Enterprise plan: Based on demand.
Integrations: Desktop app for Windows, Browser extension, mobile version for Android and macOS.
7. ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid spotted 9 out of 13 errors in the text. Also, it further highlighted 2 phrases that could be reworded for clarity, making it rank high for accuracy. On the ProWritingAid desktop app, there are features for finding overused words, style, grammar, feedback, and more.
While the ProWritingAid tools bar gives detailed feedback on your text, I found it distracting, as some tools could be merged as one or even removed. For example, it has a dedicated icon to spot the repetitive use of initial pronouns and another icon to spot repeated words and phrases. Both functions could be grouped as one. If you love minimalist interfaces, you’d want to consider that while opting for this tool.
ProWritingAid Features
- Detailed statistics like style score, sentence length, readability grade, etc.
- Brief explanation of grammar errors.
- Plagiarism detector.
- Options for making general comments on the text.
- Option to upload documents of various types
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
ProWritingAid Pricing
- Free plan available
Premium plan:
- Monthly: $30
- Yearly: $120
- Lifetime plan: $399
Premium pro plan:
- Monthly: $36
- Yearly: $144
- Lifetime plan: $699
Integrations: Desktop for Windows, Desktop for Mac, Chrome Extension (Firefox, Edge), Google Docs, Microsoft Office, Desktop Editor.
8. Linguix
Linguix flagged 9 out of 13 errors in the text—a fair performance. It has a clean interface and is easy to use. This tool has options to translate, expand, contract, simplify, change the tone, or continue the text. The Copilot helps when you are stuck on a blank page, but it’s only available on the paid plan. Students and corporate professionals will find this tool perfect for their daily use.
Linguix Features
- Comprehensive integrations for various apps, word processors, and web solutions.
- Editable style guide.
- Grammar checker for multiple languages.
- Paraphrasing tool.
- Performance statistics.
Linguix Pricing
- Free plan available
- Monthly: $14.99
- Annually: $71.88
- Biannually: $119.76
Integrations: Browser extension, Linguix for Zoho, Asana, ClickUp, G-Docs, G-Sheets, G-Slides, chat services like Gorgias and Twilio, mobile app (Android/iOS).
9. Ginger
Ginger had a below-average performance as it highlighted 9 out of 13 errors, but in a bid to correct them, introduced more errors. Here’s an example from the second sentence:
Wrong text: “Unfortunately, this cash does not comes after the sell of goods and services…”
Editor’s corrected text: “Unfortunately, this cash does not come after selling goods and services…..”
Ginger Software: “Unfortunately, this cash does not come after the seller of goods and services…”
Ginger’s user experience on the desktop app leaves so much to be desired. When I downloaded the desktop app, I could not copy and simply paste my text into the app. I could only paste by pressing Ctrl + C + C. Also, the working space was small, barely reaching up to half my laptop’s screen, making the whole experience stressful.
Ginger Features
- Sentence Rephraser.
- Text translator (over 40 languages).
- Personal Trainer for non-native English speakers.
Ginger Pricing
- Free Plan
- Monthly: $9.99
- Quarterly: $20.97
- Annually: $60
- Biannually: $96
Integrations: Chrome extension, Mobile app (Android/iOS), Ms-Word add-in.
10. Scribens
Over 1 million people use Scribens, but I might not be one of them anytime soon. Why? Scribens didn’t live up to its promise. It identified only 5 out of the 13 grammar errors in the text.
On the flip side, Scribens provides explanations for highlighted errors, which is ideal for users who are not fluent. Like Grammarly, Scribens has options for switching between British and American English. That said, the interface looks dated, and the tool lags a bit, so you need to refresh it often to update the statistics.
Scribens Features
- Multiple readability checkers.
- Detailed statistics including sentence structure, word pattern, and average word per sentence.
- Paraphrasing tool.
- Available as extensions for your preferred browser, office automation, and mobile app.
- Ability to switch between British and American English.
Scribens Pricing
- Free plan.
- 1-month plan: €9.90
- 3-month plan: €19.90
- 1-year plan: €49.90
- Business pack: ＞€199 yearly
Integrations: Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari), mobile app (iOS and Android), Desktop app for Windows and macOS, extensions for office automation: G–Docs, G-Sheets, etc
My Preferred Grammar Checkers
Before choosing a grammar checker, you need to consider your budget, use case, and how much editing your work usually requires. If you’re a student, you’re probably on a tight budget, so, you’ll need a tool that offers more for less. But, if you’re a corporate professional, marketer, or blogger, your mistakes bear a greater consequence, so you’d want to get a more sophisticated tool.
I’d recommend Quillbot and LanguageTool. Quillbot is ideal for students. It has a citation tool, paraphrasing tool, and other features to ensure you hand in stellar essays—all for roughly $10 monthly. LanguageTool has more sophisticated features for professionals who might also work with other languages occasionally.
Angel Leonard
Angel Leonard is freelance content writer for B2B SaaS and e-commerce companies.
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