The Best Grammar Checkers in 2022

Written by

Radoslav Chakarov

Edited by

Nick Galov

Some or all of the products/services listed on this page are from our affiliate partners from which we receive commissions. This, however, does not influence the evaluations in our reviews. Learn more by reading our Advertiser Disclosure.

Need quality copy for your website or paper?

We reviewed the best grammar checker platforms to help you in your search.

Our testing methodology:

  1. We signed up for each service.
  2. We evaluated how well the solutions work.
  3. We reviewed the pricing plans and included only the best-value apps.

Craving for that sumptuous, razor-sharp, yet expressive language on your site? Pick the best grammar checker from the list below!

Show More...

Top 5 Grammar Checker Solutions

A universal tool for taking your writing to the next level, Grammarly is undoubtedly the most versatile and feature-packed solution of them all. The AI-powered style editor is very accurate in spotting mistakes and offering suitable alternatives. Ideal for correcting texts in English. Full Review

  • Extremely accurate
  • Customizable dictionary
  • Real-time grammar corrections

Ease of use
4.5
Integrations
12+
Features
4.5
Free trial
Yes

ProWritingAid is your personal writing coach. The tool works great for both beginner and professional authors who want to produce error-free texts. PWA is AI-powered and employs some of the best specialists in natural language processing in order to continue improving the platform. Full Review

  • Scrivener integration
  • Affordable lifetime license
  • Detailed grammar reports

Ease of use
4.2
Integrations
10+
Features
4.5
Free trial
Yes

Ginger Editor is an industry-leading tool for natural language processing. The platform shines with over 95% accuracy across different kinds of texts, including essays, journalist articles, business materials, and more. The company has developed several complementing products to enrich your writing – Ginger Page (online service) and Ginger Keyboard (for mobile devices). Full Review

  • Built-in thesaurus
  • Personal grammar trainer
  • Perfect for WordPress articles

Ease of use
4.3
Integrations
Microsoft Office
Features
4.1
Free trial
Yes

WhiteSmoke is an all-in-one writing solution that includes grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style checks. The tool is equally useful for native and non-native English speakers due to its advanced natural language processing algorithms. An in-built translator is also part of the deal. Full Review

  • Language translator
  • Easy integration with other platforms
  • Plagiarism checker for 100% unique content

Ease of use
3.7
Integrations
Microsoft Word
Features
3.9
Free trial
No

LanguageTool is an excellent choice if you need to inspect and edit short texts on-the-go. It’s a stand-alone application that relies on easy integrations with different platforms to reach more people. LT supports checks in over 20 languages, including Spanish, German, Dutch, and Russian. Full Review

  • Copy/Paste entire texts
  • Multilingual grammar support
  • Over 5000 patterns for error detection

Ease of use
4.1
Integrations
10+
Features
3.5
Free trial
Limited

Еven the best writers make mistakes – we are human, after all.

So today, we at Web Tribunal are going to find the best grammar checker on the market and review the other top tools to improve your content readability and clarity.

But how did we bring our extensive list of grammar editors down to just the cream of the crop?

Easy! We just followed a careful process that covered all the essential aspects that can help us make an informed decision.

Our Methodology

  • We searched Google for common industry terms like spell checker, grammar correction software, text editing, and more.
  • We evaluated the feature list of each shortlisted candidate, determining its ideal target audience and the value-added options that best suit them.
  • We signed up with each candidate and outlined the user-friendliness of the interface.
  • We uploaded a non-fiction text of around 1,000 words and tested how efficient each tool is for identifying grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
  • We watched out for value-added benefits like stylization tips, synonym suggestions, and content analytics.
  • We contacted the tech support team and asked around some questions to determine their level of knowledge.
  • We compared user reviews over the internet to see if there are any underwater rocks we need to watch out for.
  • We reviewed the pricing plans and the overall cost-effectiveness of each tool.

In the end, we came up with only the most accurate editing tools that can refine our texts and make it stand out from the rest.

The 5 Best Grammar Checkers of 2022

Best for: OVERALL GRAMMAR CHECKING

1. Grammarly

EASE OF USE

4.5

Integrations

12+

Features

4.5

Free trial

Yes

MULTILINGUAL

No

SUPPORT

4

Strengths
  • Real-time grammar corrections
  • Extremely accurate
  • Customizable dictionary
  • Plagiarism checker
  • Advanced writing suggestions
  • Compatible with popular browsers and social media
  • Auto-save mode
Weaknesses
  • English only
  • Limited free version

How Does Grammarly Work?

Activating Grammarly is extremely easy. Whether you want to use the word processor in your browser or on your mobile – signing up and logging in takes a couple of minutes.

Once Grammarly is switched on, the tool will underline all kinds of grammar, punctuation, and style errors. You simply need to hover over them to receive fitting suggestions for improvement. You can sort the mistakes by type and create custom rules for exceptions.

Overall, very clear and comprehensive, even for a complete beginner.

Features

Grammarly offers a Free, Premium, and Business packages. You can utilize the software without paying a dime, but there are limits to the types of errors and websites you can use it on.

The paid plans unlock Grammarly’s full potential.

  • Correctness

Grammarly underlines the most alarming type of errors in red. This includes grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. The platform effectively detects things like verb forms, prepositions, quantifiers, and more. Great with comma tips and one of the few tools that discovered incorrect comma splices.

  • Engagement

Grammarly is an invaluable grammar software when you want to write more interesting and engaging texts. It offers vocabulary enrichment tips even if your choice of words is not wrong per se. There are two types of common mistakes here – overusing standard terms and word repetition. This saves a lot of time from using a third-party dictionary or thesaurus.

  • Clarity

Readers enjoy clean and to-the-point content The tool underlines in blue wordy phrases and sentences, unclear antecedents, and other clarity errors. Indicating the use of passive voice is a great addition to the mix.

  • Delivery

Here is another feature that only the best grammar checker tools provide. Grammarly detects even the slightest inconsistencies that may weaken your message. Think of things like split modifiers, prepositions at the end of the sentence, words that establish a more confident tone.

  • Content Goals

The Goals section gives you the opportunity to outline the purpose of your content and your ideal audience. You can also fine-tune the text type, formality, and tone. From there on, Grammarly will give even more targeted tips on how to best achieve your goals.

  • Plagiarism Checker

The in-built plagiarism checker is a gem if you want to ensure your text is 100% unique. Duplicate content can be very damaging from an SEO standpoint, so Grammarly scans the entire Web for other written text and documents that may match yours.

  • Custom Dictionary

Even the best grammar app is far from a know-it-all. As every niche has its specific terminology and names, Grammarly may incorrectly flag some of them as problematic. This is why you can add exceptions and new rules, creating a fully customized dictionary for future use. Especially useful for students, technical writers, and authors of medical content.

  • Language Choice

Even though Grammarly is limited to English only, the tool lets you choose between different versions of the language – British, American, Canadian, or Australian. This way, you can tailor the tips and suggestions in accordance with the local grammar and syntax rules.

Integrations

The Grammarly developers made sure anyone can take advantage of a professional grammar check on-the-go. Hence, the app is widely available for all kinds of browsers and operating systems.

  • Browser Extensions – Chrome 57+, Firefox 54+, Safari 12+, Microsoft Edge 14+.
  • Operating Systems – Windows (7 and higher) and macOS (10.10 and higher), Android, iOS.
  • Platforms – Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook (Windows only).

We have tested both desktop and mobile versions of the app, and the integrations worked like a charm.

Grammarly Cost

You can use Grammarly for as long as you wish on a free plan or opt-in for one of the two premium solutions.

  • Free

The account includes basic writing suggestions divided into three categories – Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation. Other features, like conciseness tips and tone detection, are only available on a limited number of websites and platforms.

  • Premium

The Grammarly paid plans start from $12/mo. They take all the features from the free package and add advanced functionalities like fluency, readability, and word choice tips. You can also benefit from suggestions about tone and formality. The plagiarism checker is unlocked with a Premium account as well.

  • Business

The Grammarly Business plan is the perfect choice if you work with a lot of collaborators or have a whole team in need of a formal grammar and punctuation checker. The package is well-suited for up to 150 users and comes with perks like centralized billing, style guide, and priority email support. Starts from $12.50/member/month.

Support

You can find an extensive and well-structured knowledge base on the Grammarly website. It contains valuable information about your account basics, billing, and technical issues. If you can’t find answers to your questions inside, you can send a helpdesk ticket to the Grammarly support team. There is an online form as well, connecting you to a sales operator.

The ticket replies took no more than a couple of hours, which is a sure sign of efficiency and knowledgeability.

Privacy & Security

All Grammarly services utilize the industry-leading Amazon AWS servers. The app components employ a private network with load balancers and a custom firewall to ensure impenetrable security.

Grammarly is one of the best grammar checker tools when it comes to data privacy as well. All user data passes through 256-bit encryption and secure SSL/TLS protocols, making it completely safe from prying eyes.

The Bug Bounty Program is a notable addition. Grammarly motivates all its users to report bugs and vulnerabilities, paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars for newly-discovered security issues.

Finally, every employee undergoes multiple trainings and tests to improve their knowledge on topics like data privacy, physical security, and incident reporting.

Grammarly User Reviews

Grammarly is used by millions of people worldwide, and their experience with the tool can greatly vary,

  • Trustpilot score – 1.8 / 5 (440 reviews)
  • SiteJabber score – 3.0 / 5 (411 reviews)
  • Capterra score – 4.7 / 5 (2,593 reviews)

Some users have encountered syntactical errors, others are not satisfied with the level of support they are getting. All in all, it really depends which website for grammar checker reviews you’re investigating.

Trying the Grammarly free version is the best way to get first-hand experience with the usability and support of this tool.

When to Use Grammarly

Grammarly is versatile enough to help with your day-to-day writing, copywriting, or student essays. You can utilize the plagiarism checker to ensure your content meets the SEO standards for uniqueness.

Verdict

When it comes to revising and improving texts in English, nothing can beat Grammarly. The advanced grammar checker assists with errors, style inconsistencies, vagueness, even tone suggestions. The customizable dictionary and plagiarism analytics are wonderful additions that can help you become a better writer.

View More
Best for: PROFESSIONAL WRITERS

2. ProWritingAid

EASE OF USE

4.2

INTEGRATIONS

10+

FEATURES

4.5

FREE TRIAL

Yes

MULTILINGUAL

Some support

SUPPORT

3.5

Strengths
  • Affordable lifetime license
  • Scrivener integration
  • Detailed grammar reports
  • Context-sensitive suggestions
  • Low learning curve
  • Make your own style guides
  • Charts and graphs for content analysis
Weaknesses
  • Free version can only check 500 words at a time
  • Plagiarism checker sold separately

How Does ProWritingAid Work?

You can easily integrate this grammar check program in your desktop or browser, taking advantage of the Free plan without any commitments.

The signup wasn’t as effortless as we hoped. We had some trouble getting our welcome email, so our first PWA tests had to wait.

Once inside the account, ProWritingAid greets you with a 2-minute video tutorial. The errors and suggestions are clear enough, but navigating through the alerts involves many unnecessary clicks. User-friendliness is definitely an area PWA could improve.

Features

ProWritingAid comes with a rich set of features, some unique to this grammar checker tool. Apart from the no-cost plan, there are distinct packages for individuals and businesses with larger teams.

  • Grammar

The tool is quite accurate when it comes to detecting grammar errors. ProWritingAid has an extensive dictionary that comes in handy when the checker needs to spot incorrectly written words, wrong punctuation, or language misuse. Apart from the standard grammar rules, PWA also includes custom alerts, added after investigating thousands of user cases.

  • Style

Correct grammar is essential, but the style of your text is as crucial, regardless of the message you are trying to convey. ProWritingAid proves impeccable when it comes to recognizing excessive passive voice, weak adjectives, even cliches.

  • Spelling

PWA watches out for correct spelling. As with many similar tools, ProWritingAid is accurate with its tips, unless we are talking about names. The solution spotys the most common brands, but others are inevitably flagged despite their capitalization.

  • Readability

ProWritingAid has a whole section dedicated to readability. This one analyzes your text and gives it a score based on several formulas – Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid, Coleman-Liau, and the Automated Readability Index. Includes estimated reading time.

  • Repeats and Echoes

PWA ensures you’re not repeating the same words over and over again. Those are the kinds of errors we often miss during human editing, so the tool is an excellent backup in that aspect. Very effective for both fiction and non-fiction writing.

  • Overused Words

Many of the best grammar checker tools watch out for common terms in similar content and flag them in case you want to change them with suitable synonyms. As useful as that is, ProWritingAid often detects inseparable parts of the speech like it, that, there, and more. Very rarely do those words have viable alternatives, so you will end up just scrolling past those suggestions.

  • Thesaurus Check

Regardless of your grammatical correctness, PWA puts its Thesaurus dictionary in good use. It underlines all kinds of nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs, suggesting a list of synonyms that might better fit your context. To be fair, most recommendations are not that relevant, but you can use them to enrich your vocabulary.

  • Language Reports

ProWritingAid’s alerts are divided into 20+ different reports, more than any other word processing tool out there. The analytics cover different areas of your writing and go way beyond simple grammar and punctuation suggestions.

Integrations

While it doesn’t yet exist as a mobile app, ProWritingAid is available for pretty much every desktop user. You can integrate PWA with:

  • Browser Extensions – Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge.
  • Operating Systems – Windows and macOS
  • Platforms – Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Open Office, Final Draft, Scrivener.
  • Social – Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Medium, Wattpad.

The integration with Scrivener is particularly impressive. This is another top word processing tool that can help with a screenplay, an essay grammar check, or a document translation just as easily.

Some of the useful feats, like the plagiarism checker or the PWA API, are only offered in separate premium packages.

ProWritingAid Cost

Depending on which page you land on, the PWA website might confuse you with a variety of plans, each with its own billing options. Things get more manageable when you determine if you need the solution for a single user or a business with multiple logins.

  • ProWritingAid Standard

The three packages you’ll find on the PWA Pricing page are actually three different billing options for purchasing a single license. You can opt-in for a monthly ($20/mo), yearly ($79/mo), and lifetime subscriptions ($399 one-time fee). There are also discounts for bulk purchasing, up to 25% if you purchase more than 15 licenses.

  • Business Individual

Business accounts remove the 500-word limitation you have with free plans, allowing you to take full advantage of ProWritingAid. This option allows for 20 custom style rules, weekly reports, and helpdesk support. An Individual account with PWA comes at $6/mo, prepaid annually.

  • Business Teams

Starting from $8/per user, the Teams account is perfect for digital agencies and translator services where multiple people need access to the grammar check software. Apart from the isolated access, you also get 1,000 termbase items, 1,000 style guide rules, and team analytics. As an administrator, you can operate everything from the centralized user management area.

  • Business Enterprise

This is the go-to option when you need a more tailored solution for your writer teams. The package allows for custom third-party integrations and on-premise hosting configuration. A dedicated account manager will help you with the onboarding process and the initial setup of your account.

Support

If you want to reach a live person with ProWritingAid, there’s an email. The reply time is up to 48 hours, and our tests confirmed this responsiveness. Most of the times we waited for about a day, which does not work well for critical issues.

The knowledge base is an alternative if you want to find a solution by yourself. The tutorial archive contains over 200 articles on essential topics like billing, integrations, reports, and more.

Privacy & Security

If you’re looking to perform a safe online grammar check, ProWritingAid is definitely a top contender. All your content passes through AES-256 and TLS (HTTPS) encryption, guaranteeing no unauthorized user can gain access to it.

Data privacy is also not an issue. The PWA services come with HIPAA and GDPR compliance, in accordance with the latest industry standards. The company guarantees you have full rights over your writing, and they can’t use it in any outside sources.

ProWritingAid User Reviews

There isn’t an abundance of online reviews about PWA, especially when you compare it to industry giants like Grammarly.

  • Trustpilot score – 3.2 / 5 (5 reviews)
  • G2 score – 4.5 / 5 (30 reviews)
  • Capterra score – 4.7 / 5 (240 reviews)

Clients are generally satisfied with the tool, but it’s not perfect. Some users are experiencing problems with slow navigation and strange word suggestions. Others have found it impossible to get a refund, even within the 14-day moneyback period.

All in all, we will be keeping an eye out for more reviews to get a more adequate picture of how the word checker is performing.

When To Use ProWritingAid?

ProWritingAid helps fiction and non-fiction writers get an even better grip of the language and achieve their content goals. Students and educational institutions benefit from special discounts, which makes PWA even more affordable than it is.

Verdict

ProWritingAid did an overall impressive job of identifying grammar and style mistakes, though its suggestions could’ve been more tailored. The dashboard is full of wonderful reports, giving detailed insights on how you can improve your text. PWA is an affordable platform that gets the job done.

View More
Best for: MULTILINGUAL WRITERS

3. Ginger

EASE OF USE

4.3

INTEGRATIONS

Microsoft Office

FEATURES

4.1

FREE TRIAL

Yes

MULTILINGUAL

Yes

SUPPORT

3.2

Strengths
  • Perfect for WordPress articles
  • Personal grammar trainer
  • Built-in thesaurus
  • Corrects as you type
  • Sentence rephrasing suggestions
  • Useful translation tool
  • Activate/Deactivate per site
Weaknesses
  • No plagiarism checker
  • No offline mode
  • No Google Docs integration

How Does Ginger Work?

You can install the Ginger Editor on Chrome, Safari, and MS Office even with a free plan. The setup is relatively straightforward, and you can start utilizing the sentence checker in a matter of minutes.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour for first-time users. The startup wizard takes you through Ginger’s essential editing capabilities, ensuring you don’t get lost from the get-go.

Clean dashboard with ample writing space and left-side menus – what more can you ask for?

Features

Ginger is one of the most popular grammar checking tools, and we can see why.

  • Translation

Unlike many similar platforms, Ginger supports a whopping 60 languages. This allows for a wide international audience and great versatility in terms of linguistic options. Sure, the machine translations are far from accurate when compared to a real human. But this option can save you tons of time when you are dealing with large texts.

  • Word Definitions

You can check the meaning of some terms straight from the in-built dictionary. This functionality worked very smoothly but, unfortunately, struggled with most of the terminology and idioms we tested. Useful for basic checks only.

  • Synonyms

You want to establish a more engaging tone for your content, and synonyms are a wonderful way to do that. You will avoid repeating the same words and phrases over and over again while expanding your vocabulary in the process.

  • Personal Trainer

Complete beginners have a dedicated section to learn more about one of the best grammar checkers online. Ginger developers have created a number of amazing video lessons, aiding your first steps in grammar and style editing. Pronouns, definite articles, tenses, auxiliary verbs – many great ways to refresh your knowledge.

  • Personal Dictionary

Has Ginger ever marked a name or term you’re sure is correctly written? Not a problem – simply add the exception in your very own dictionary. Especially useful if you’re writing niche texts with lots of specific terminology.

  • Text Reader

Sometimes the best way to identify your errors is to read your text out loud. Ginger is prepared to help. Let the text reader go through your content to get a fresh perspective of your tone and style while you’re in the visitor’s shoes. Available for Premium users only.

  • Sentence Rephraser

Professional writers know how hard it is to produce unique content, especially if you cover similar topics for different projects. Ginger’s sentence rephraser is an essential element if you want to avoid repetitiveness and unnecessary fluff. Premium users only.

  • Writing Center

The Writing center contains all the tools you need to get started with different types of texts. The tutorials are divided into three main sections – for job seekers, students, and business writing. Each contains multiple subsections about essential rules and tips when writing essays, CVs, bibliographies, business plans, and more.

Integrations

The Ginger Editor used to be available for desktop users only, but recent changes have added a grammar check app for mobile users as well.

  • Browser Extensions – Chrome and Safari.
  • Operating Systems – Windows, Android, and iOS.
  • Platforms – Microsoft Office.

As long as you have an internet connection (Ginger doesn’t work offline), you can utilize the tool on all kinds of devices. On the downside, there is no Google Docs support.

Ginger Cost

Simplifying things to the maximum, Ginger only offers two plans for its users – Free and Premium. You can easily determine which one would be the best fit when you consider the feature set.

  • Free

Even if you’re not ready to invest in a professional writer editing software, Ginger’s free version is more than enough. The default plan might be limited in terms of the number of checks, but you can take full advantage of the grammar reviewer, translator, synonym finder, and personal dictionary. The free package allows for browser integrations as well.

  • Premium

You can select one of three billing plans. The two-year package comes with the most affordable rate ($6.99/mo). Your other options are yearly prepayments ($7.49/mo) and month-by-month bills ($13.99/mo). All rates carry an extra discount for new customers.

The Premium package adds a few unique extras for content optimization. You can now take advantage of the text reader, sentence rephraser, and error analyzer. The personalized practice sessions are yet another way to improve as a writer.

Support

Ginger strongly relies on your self-support, hence why you get so many free resources for watching and reading. Be it the writing center, video lesson guide, or the tutorial knowledge base – the support information is abundant.

Ginger is far from the best grammar checker tools when it comes to live assistance, though.

The only way to reach a real person would be the online form on the company website. We haven’t found it very efficient. Replies often arrived after more than a day, and one case took some going back and forth until full resolution.

Privacy & Security

The way word checkers work, the system sends your submitted text to the app’s correction servers and brings back the edited results. You can imagine how this may easily breach data privacy rules and acceptable practices.

That’s why Ginger vouches never to store, use, or transfer your sensitive personal information to third parties. The only time when this provider might collect some of your data is strictly for internal statistical purposes and feature improvements.

Ginger Reviews

Ginger is generally a well-liked tool with a loyal fan base.

  • Trustpilot score – 2.5 / 5 (8 reviews)
  • G2 score – 4.4 / 5 (12 reviews)
  • Capterra score – 4.3 / 5 (46 reviews)

While there aren’t tons of testimonials about this sentence corrector, most of its users are very happy with the error detection accuracy and related suggestions.

Almost all negative comments concern shady billing practices. Even though Ginger advertizes a 7-day moneyback guarantee, customers have struggled to get a refund. The lack of live assistance further added to their frustrations.

When to Use Ginger?

Ginger supports over 60 languages, which makes it a perfect tool for translators and agencies that deal with multilingual texts. You can also get handy tips when trying to enrich your vocabulary and smoothen your sentences. Whether you are looking to perfect your CV for your next job interview or error-check your next novel – Ginger is a noteworthy solution.

Verdict

In terms of performance and feature abundance, Ginger is up there with the best grammar checker tools. The interface ensures smooth UX over different devices and operating systems. The support is mostly limited to tutorial articles and video lessons.

View More
Best for: ACADEMIC WRITING

4. WhiteSmoke

EASE OF USE

3.7

INTEGRATIONS

Microsoft Word

FEATURES

3.9

FREE TRIAL

No

MULTILINGUAL

Yes

SUPPORT

3

Strengths
  • Plugins for all popular browsers
  • Language translator
  • Plagiarism checker for 100% unique content
  • One-click proofreading
  • Advanced NLP technology
  • Profitable affiliate program
  • Phone support on Business plans
Weaknesses
  • No free plan or monthly billing
  • Accuracy could improve

How Does WhiteSmoke Work?

It’s hard to determine the accessibility or ease of use of WhiteSmoke as it doesn’t offer a free grammar and spell check. The only thing that might give starters a better idea of the app is the online demo on the company website.

But what’s that?

At the time of writing, the WhiteSmoke demo on the company page is not loading anything. There are some useful resources around the Web, but generally, you have to make some investments to try WS for yourself.

Features

The three WhiteSmoke packages are robust enough for the needs of reporters and aspiring authors who are looking to refine their English writing.

  • Grammar Checker

WS can be a great helper when it comes to error detection. Unlike similar solutions, you don’t even have to hover over the underlined mistake – the tool directly puts the suggestion on top (just like your high school teacher). To do that properly, WhiteSmoke employs a combination of statistical and rule-based algorithms, destined to effectively correct your grammar.

  • Punctuation Checker

Getting all the rules for commas, dashes, hyphens, and brackets right is next to impossible. An accurate comma checker like WhiteSmoke certainly helps a lot.

  • Spell Checker

Dealing with spell checkers and autocorrectors can be a double-edged sword. But if you’re writing more than the ordinary social media posts, you know well how annoying spelling mistakes can be, especially coming from a reputable business. WhiteSmoke can be an efficient proofreading tool for both fiction and non-fiction texts.

  • Style Checker

Style has got nothing to do with grammatical correctness. Even as a reader, you understand the importance of text flow and writing tone. WhiteSmoke comes with wonderful tips that help avoid monotony, switch tenses, and balance your sentence style. Ideal for non-native writers who are looking to add variety to their English texts.

  • Plagiarism Checker

It’s always good to be able to check your text for duplications, and WhiteSmoke duly delivers that option on all plans. The problem is the tool is somewhat limited. Regardless of the package, you can only do up to 500 checks for free. Removing that limitation is subject to an additional fee.

  • Translator

WhiteSmoke is one of the grammar programs that offer word-for-word and full-text translations in different languages. In fact, WS supports a whopping 55 of them. The tool employs the advanced Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) algorithms to switch your article in the desired language. Again, we always recommend further editing of the translated text to avoid misunderstandings.

  • Pre-made Templates

The extensive database of templates for documents and letters is impressive. Whether you’re looking for the proper format for your next CV, motivational letter, or press release – WS can save you some valuable time digging around.

  • Writing Score & Breakdown

As with similar tools, WhiteSmoke awards your writing with a score. You can easily see the components that make up this number – sentence length and structure, voice, redundancy, language, and word choice. The bar next to each metric will alert you where you need to put the most focus.

Integrations

The WhiteSmoke checker is available in two different forms – as a desktop solution and a web tool. You have a wide array of choices:

  • Browser Extensions – Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Opera.
  • Operating Systems – Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
  • Platforms – Microsoft Word, Outlook.

You can’t be one of the best grammar checker tools without the versatility to work on different platforms and devices. That’s why WhiteSmoke is available for all major browsers and operating systems. You can easily check your grammar on MS Word as well. Google Docs is the only popular option that seems to be missing.

We have to note, we weren’t able to find WhiteSmoke in neither the Apple App Store nor the Google Play Store. It may be a temporary removal, but a fact that might deter mobile users.

WhiteSmoke Cost

The lack of a free plan is undoubtedly a setback for WhiteSmoke, but the grammar checker tries to compensate with affordability. Each of the three packages comes with a 50% initial discount, and you can choose between annual or triennial billing.

  • Web

The entry-level deal includes the grammar checker, plagiarism analyzer, and translator tools. Here, WhiteSmoke comes with full browser compatibility but is not available for desktop users. Comes at $5/mo for the year with the introductory discount or $3.47/mo if you prepay for three years.

  • Premium

The Premium version of WhiteSmoke unlocks the power of the desktop app, adding operating systems compatibility to the mix. You can also expect new features like the one-click instant proofreading. Price rates are as low as $6.66/mo or $5.55/mo, depending on the billing period.

  • Business

Bigger enterprises and web agencies often have more than one person in need of a complete sentence checker. WhiteSmoke offers Business accounts with three computer licenses and extended download warranty. Such clients also benefit from premium phone support for any technical difficulties. Price is $11.50/mo or $317.50 for three years.

As you can see, even with the Business plan, the rates are so affordable that practically anyone can take advantage.

Support

Support is one of the areas where WhiteSmoke could definitely improve. While it’s one of the few companies that include phone support, this option is only available for Business users.

All other clients have email as the only means of contact with WhiteSmoke support operators.

The knowledge base is less than impressivel. Instead of an intuitive helpdesk, you are facing a collection of FAQ questions with long blocks of text as an answer. It takes a lot of scrolling, and beginner users will hardly find it user-friendly.

Privacy & Security

WhiteSmoke gets wide approval from many antivirus and antimalware industry leaders. This includes TrustGuard’s Privacy Seal for following the latest security standards.

But apart from the mile-long Privacy Policy page, information about data protection with this word processor is very scarce. Whitesmoke does not boast advanced security mechanisms, and even their FAQ/Support section doesn’t shed more light on the question.

We found something else, though.

WhiteSmoke Reviews

WhiteSmoke might not be as secure as it claims.

  • Trustpilot score – 1.9 / 5 (55 reviews)
  • Sitejabber score – 2.5 / 5 (2 reviews)
  • Capterra score – 4.3 / 5 (12 reviews)

Furthermore, even though it’s pretty accurate as a grammar checker, WS suffered from a lot of negative comments because of its shady billing policies. The company used to offer a lifetime subscription for many years before they suddenly decided to discontinue it and ask for payment again. Some clients even claim the support operators denied they offered such a plan in the first place.

When to Use WhiteSmoke

Non-native English writers will find the best use of the WhiteSmoke grammar correction software. It’s got all the necessary features to help you write more cleanly with fewer errors along the way. Because of its AI-powered translator, WhiteSmoke is able to convert your text in over 50 different languages.

Verdict

WhiteSmoke is a comprehensive online editor with great accuracy in pinpointing mistakes. While you cannot test the tool for free, the premium packages are all very affordable. The lack of adequate support and shady online reputation are the two main aspects that need to keep you wary when choosing to go with ShiteSmoke.

View More
Best for: FREELANCE WRITERS

5. LanguageTool

EASE OF USE

4.1

INTEGRATIONS

10+

FEATURES

3.5

FREE TRIAL

Limited

MULTILINGUAL

Yes

SUPPORT

2.5

Strengths
  • Copy/Paste entire texts
  • Multilingual grammar support
  • Find incorrect checksums in ISBN and IBAN numbers
  • Additional word pairs
  • Switch between six English versions
  • Customize grammar rules
  • Over 5,000 patterns for error detectionlingual grammar support
Weaknesses
  • Very limited free version
  • Navigation too slow

How Does LanguageTool Work?

Regardless if you’re signed up for a free account or not, LanguageTool greets you with a box where you can paste your text or set up the language and variation.

LanguageTool’s free version is quite limited – only 2,500 characters per check, which is about 400 words. You may find it hard to proofread long texts as even the Premium plan has a 40,000 char cap.

LanguageTool flaunts an intuitive interface, but its accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. It does not offer a punctuation checker, so you’ll need another solution if you want one. The cross-tests with Grammarly saw the latter catch many more possible errors.

Still, LT impressed with some unique suggestions, like the proper use of em dash.

Features

LanguageTool is a free online proofreading tool with relatively limited capabilities. Still, it’s robust enough to help freelancers and inexperienced writers get a better grasp of the language.

  • Multilingual

Hands down, one of the best tools when it comes to writing in different languages. The list goes on to cover over 30 languages, including German, French, Italian, Polish, and Dutch. Even less-used dialects like Catalan and Khmer are not a problem for LanguageTool.

  • Different English Versions

LT is not just multilingual – it can help detect errors in all variations of English. And we do mean all. Similar solutions let you switch between British and American English. On top of that, LanguageTool considers the specific language rules in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

  • Typo Detection

Typos can sometimes be really pesky to find, especially as a misspelling can create another real word, undetected by the grammar check software. LanguageTool is doing great in that aspect. It employs an extensive database of word pairs to detect if any typos have slipped in under the radar.

  • Errors in ISBN and IBAN numbers

Here is a unique feature for you. LanguageTool is not limited to correcting your texts – it has a good grasp for numbers as well. The platform easily detects incorrect formats for IBAN and ISBN sequences, delicate information you cannot afford to get wrong. Available in the Premium plans.

  • Wrong Gender Detection (German)

As we mentioned, English is just one of many supported languages with LT. The solution is equally effective in German, covering some of the most common grammar problems, like genders, for example. Wondering if you should use Der, Die, or Das in your sentence? Just ask LanguageTool.

  • Personal Dictionary

The option to add your own word exceptions and specific terms is another excellent addition to this sentence checker. Even the most robust platforms will fail to identify all terminology, especially if it’s a more scientific niche. This way, you can improve LanguageTool’s accuracy as you write, making it even more efficient.

  • Rule Management

The LT platform is entirely rule-based, which means that it follows strict grammar and spelling regulations. Still, sometimes those guidelines are not relevant to the case in hand. Ignore the ones you want to skip. You can add and remove rules at any point, which is especially useful if you write different types of content.

  • API Access

Apart from the two packages for writers, there is a deal that targets developers as well. Opting for it gives you full access to LT API. It’s an HTTPS REST-style service, where you can easily input your text and get an error report in a JSON format. You get full freedom to tinker with the code to customize LanguageTool for your needs.

Integrations

Blending with different platforms is fundamental for any solution that wants to compete for the best grammar checker. LanguageTool seems well-prepared in that aspect:

  • Browser Extensions – Chrome, Firefox.
  • Operating Systems – Windows, macOS.
  • Platforms – Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice.

While other solutions on this list have more possibilities for integrations, LT still covers all major browsers and writing platforms. LibreOffice is the one to note here as it’s one of the most popular free alternatives of the MSOffice package.

LanguageTool Cost

The three LT options you can find on the company website are suited to completely different types of customers.

  • Free

As you can imagine, the Free plan is rather limited. You can only check blocks of text of up to 2,500 characters, and that does not include any advanced suggestions. It’s an ideal way to test the LanguageTool with zero initial investments. Still, if you intend to utilize it long-term, you better consider combining it with other tools for better punctuation and style.

  • Premium

The Premium plan unlocks almost all features of this word checker. You can now analyze texts of up to 40,000 characters and the rates are more than reasonable. Starting from $4.99/mo (paid $59.90 for the whole year), this is one of the most affordable grammar apps for students and freelance writers.

There's also a plan for Teams, though its price varies depending on the number of members you sign up. For instance, a two-member subscription costs $8.99/mo or $107.82/year.

  • Developer API

The best option for agencies and publishing houses. You get full control over the LanguageTool API and can run in for multiple devices and team members. Unlike any other package, your rate here depends on the number of API calls per month. Prices start from $29.00/mo for 250 requests, or you can contact the LT support team for a more custom deal.

Support

No live support is available for LT clients. Instead, the company operators can be reached via email or support ticket. It takes a bit of looking around to even find the options, and the reply times were far from satisfying – even simple questions took days, and one was left unanswered.

How About the Self-Helpers?

LanguageTool’s knowledge base contains only about 20 articles, much fewer than the other competitors on our best grammar app list.

Surprisingly enough, the best assistance came from the forums. The LT community is pretty active, and users often get timely solutions within a couple of hours.

If you have some struggles with the app – this is the way to go.

Privacy & Security

The company privacy policies are standard for the industry. LanguageTool may collect your feedback from error reports, but they will never tinker with your content.

No additional information regarding the security measures applied by the software developers.

LanguageTool Reviews

You can’t find any grammar checker reviews about LanguageTool in TrustPilot, which is something you don’t see every day (in this case, literally).

  • G2 score – 4.2 / 5 (20 reviews)
  • Capterra score – 3.9 / 5 (15 reviews)

From what we could gather, existing LT users are quite happy with the performance and accuracy of the tool. It integrates well with other platforms, and the wide choice of languages certainly wins some loyal fans as well.

On the other side of the spectrum, clients often mention they would enjoy the solution even more if it adds a punctuation checker and support for mobile devices.

When to Use LanguageTool?

LanguageTool is efficient when checking smaller texts for grammatical errors. Still, the lack of a style or punctuation checker means you’d probably have to use LT along with another similar tool. A worthy consideration for students, freelancers, and non-profit organizations.

Verdict

LanguageTool is a wonderful rule-based grammar checker, which accurately identifies errors in over 30 languages. Available with a desktop and web version, LT is simple, clean, and easy to use, regardless of your experience. Active forums for additional support with the app.

View More

Best Grammar Checker Alternatives

Our in-depth reviews cover only the best of the best grammar and punctuation checker tools you can find online. That doesn’t mean you are limited to the above choices, though. On the contrary – the market is full of similar solutions, and you might discover your next content helper among the many alternatives.

  • After The Deadline – AtD works great on WordPress.com, Chrome, Firefox, and Open Office. It can help your editing in five different languages, and the suggestions are mostly accurate. Not to mention it’s completely free. On the downside, the checker does not differ between British/American/Canadian English, and your customization options are down to a minimum.
  • Hemingway – The app is very user-friendly and utilizes color codes to outline the different types of errors. It detects the use of weak adverbs, checks for excessive passive voice usage and hard-to-read sentences, even offers simpler alternatives when possible. Another nice addition is the estimated reading time, so you can ensure you won’t lose visitors due to the volume of your text. You can make a free grammar check with Hemingway or purchase a license for Windows and MAC for $19.99.
  • Reverso – This is a completely free text editing tool that lets you check content in 15+ languages, efficiently catching all kinds of spelling and grammar mistakes. For example, it was one of the few solutions that correctly identified the difference between your and you’re. Reverso comes with a bunch of proofreading tools as well, including word definitions, synonyms, and conjugations. Even though there isn’t a premium version, you have to create an account with the company to avoid the default 450 character limit.
  • SpellCheckPlus – the app has a free and premium version, offering quick and easy grammar checking. It barely made our best Grammar Checker list because of the lack of accuracy in title capitalizations or identifying word alternatives. You can try the SpellCheckPlus Pro version for free for the first five days. It removes all SCP advertising and adds a resizable editor, error summary, and text archiving in the mix.

Best Grammar Checker Alternatives

  1. After The Deadline
  2. Hemingway
  3. Reverso
  4. SpellCheckPlus

Grammar Checker Comparisons

As if our in-depth analysis of each tool wasn’t enough, we pinned the best grammar checkers against each other. This was the best way to determine their competitive advantages and outline the best use cases.

Grammarly vs ProWritingAid

Grammarly relies on an intuitive interface, which ensures great user experience and easy navigation. The tool is very accurate when revising non-fiction texts and has one of the best plagiarism checkers on the market.

ProWritingAid is a more affordable alternative to Grammarly. Apart from the monthly plans, this platform offers a $399 lifetime license to cover all your future needs. This advanced grammar check app allows for easy integrations with industry-leading tools like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Scrivener, and others. More writing reports than any other editing software.

Grammarly vs Ginger

Grammarly is ideal for beginners who are looking to improve their writing in English. The platform lets you create your custom dictionary and put error exceptions and refined suggestions there. Easily connects with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Chrome through plugins.

Ginger is one of the oldest editing solutions for aspiring online writers. The tool offers support for over 40 languages, compared to only one in Grammarly. The text-to-speech feature is a rather unique addition that can offer an alternative if you’re not into typing.

WhiteSmoke vs ProWritingAid

WhiteSmoke is a universal solution that combines a grammar corrector, plagiarism checker, and translator. Depending on the package of your choice, you can integrate the platform with various browsers, operation systems, and third-party tools like Gmail and MS Office.

Unlike WhiteSmoke, ProWritingAid offers users a free version that includes essential grammar checks and style editor. But you are limited to 500-word reviews at a time. You can purchase a lifetime license or go for a monthly/annual subscription. This adds grammar reports, contextual synonyms, sentence length visualizing, and other useful feats.

LanguageTool vs Grammarly

LanguageTool is a rather simplistic solution, which focuses on finding grammar and style errors in over 20 languages. Still, even the premium version of LT doesn’t add a lot of extra features, and you’re still limited to 40,000 characters per check.

Grammarly might only work as an English grammar checker, but its versatility is unmatched. The Free plan is good for critical errors, and the Premium packages unlock a lot of amazing perks like advanced punctuation checks, vocabulary enhancement tips, and a plagiarism checker.

Grammar Checkers vs Human Editor

Text editing tools provide invaluable help in many cases. They are always available when you need them, and can save heaps of time when identifying errors. Not to mention the benefits of such tools for non-native writers – they can enrich their vocabulary while learning how to avoid common mistakes.

Still, automated checkers are far from replacing human editing.

A real person can carry the know-how or perform academic research. They will always be preferred for niche texts where field-specific terms are often employed. While automated tools are continually enriching their scope of expertise, a knowledgeable human editor can spot incorrect word pairing or improper use of synonyms much easier.

Now, regardless if you have a human editor or utilize an app or website that analyzes your writing, the best way to improve as an author is to do some proofreading yourself. Here are a few helpful hints:

Proofreading Tips

  • Don't start editing right away. Give your mind a brief respite so you can focus on the new task.
  • Read backwards. Start editing from the bottom and make your way up, sentence by sentence. 
  • Do multiple checks. Each time look for different errors – punctuation, repetition, style inconsistencies, etc. 
  • Identify your common errors. This will help you focus more on them and ultimately eliminate them with time. 
  • Verify names and numbers. Avoid misspelling the brand/product or putting an extra zero in that financial analysis.
  • Read it once aloud. There is no better way to see if what you wrote is exactly what you meant. 

Keep in mind, it’s not just about grammatical correctness. You are also refining your style, smoothening your content flow, and finding the right balance in your sentence and paragraph length.

Wrap Up

Do you already have a favorite for the best grammar and punctuation checker?

Even if you don’t see it in the above list, you can consider the entries as excellent alternatives. You can even utilize multiple tools to guarantee you can spot and eliminate even the tiniest mechanical mistakes. And remember:

Smooth and error-free content = happy readers.

FAQ
What is the best free grammar checker?

A lot of the top editing tools like Grammarly and Ginger have free versions. However, they are noticeably limited compared to the premium plans. If you’re looking for a completely free-of-charge solution, you can check platforms like Hemingway or After The Deadline.

How do I check my grammar on Google?

There is a very easy way to let Google check your formal grammar if you’re using one of their products. You simply need to go to the Tools menu on top and choose the Spelling and Grammar option (or just Spelling in some products). Alternatively, if you’re in Google Docs, you can use Ctrl+Alt+X as a shortcut.

Is there anything better than Grammarly?

Grammarly is a feature-packed solution and probably the best grammar checker when editing content in English. However, if you’re writing in another language, this tool wouldn’t be able to help. In such cases, you can try alternatives like Ginger and ProWritingAid.

Share:
Radoslav Chakarov
Radoslav Chakarov

The relationship between Rado and Web Hosting has been going on for 12+ years now and neither of them knew it would be so passionate. Bred as a digital marketer, Rado is fascinated by words and how they can affect people. Collects cow memorabilia. Yeah, go figure…