10 Best Grammar Checker Tools (2023 Comparison!)
What if I told you that you don’t need flawless writing skills to craft exceptional articles?
With a handy proofreading tool by your side, you can transform your thoughts and ideas into words with confidence.
Grammatical errors, typos, punctuation mistakes — you can iron out these creases within minutes after you prepare your draft.
The main challenge is looking for the best grammar checker that perfectly suits your needs.
That’s what we’ll do today.
This is a roundup post of the best grammar checker software on the web.
Best Grammar Checker
- Grammarly
- ProWritingAid
- Ginger Software
- WhiteSmoke
- Hemingway App
- Virtual Writing Tutor
- Reverso
- PaperRater
- SpellCheckPlus.com
- After the Deadline
Who is this article for?
My long-time readers probably expect this article to be tailored to bloggers.
It doesn’t matter where you are in your blogging career. Your toolbox must have at least one reliable grammar checker tool to polish your content.
But guess what? Us bloggers aren’t the only ones who need them.
A grammar checker app is also useful to:
- Authors
- Freelance writers
- Website owners
- Students
- Educators
- Screenwriters
- Translators
- Journalists
If your daily tasks involve writing, then strap yourself in, and let’s get started.
The Best Grammar Checkers of 2023
What you’re about to read is an in-depth review and comparison of the proofreading tools you should get in 2023.
To make the competition fair, I will rate each tool according to four key factors: usability, reliability, features, and pricing.
- Usability — Is the tool easy to use and learn? A well-designed grammar checker should accelerate — not hinder — your productivity.
- Reliability — How accurate and reliable is the grammar checker’s alerts? The more issues and suggestions it can generate, the higher its ratings.
- Features — On top of checking your draft’s grammar, what else does it bring to the table? Sometimes, the extra feature of a grammar checker is the deciding factor that makes it worth buying.
- Pricing — Lastly, will the grammar checker give you the best value for your money? I’ll also zero in on what makes each tool viable to specific users.
With that out of the way, here’s a summary of the grammar checker tools I’ll cover:
PRODUCT | DETAILS | LINK |
---|---|---|
Grammarly | Web browser extension | |
Mobile App | ||
Desktop App | ||
MS Office integration | ||
Plagiarism checker | ||
Has a free version | ||
$29.95 / Monthly | ||
Offer: 25% Discount | ||
ProWritingAid | Web browser extension | |
Google Docs integration | ||
Open Office integration | ||
MS Office integration | ||
On-demand plagiarism checks | ||
Has a free version | ||
$70 / year, $240 / Lifetime | ||
Offer: 25% Discount | ||
GingerSoftware | Web browser extension | |
Mobile App | ||
Desktop App | ||
MS Office integration | ||
Personalized practice sessions | ||
Rephrase tool | ||
Has a free version | ||
$29.96 / Monthly | ||
Offer: 40% Discount | ||
WhiteSmoke | Web browser extension | |
Mobile App | ||
Desktop App | ||
MS Office integration | ||
Free learning resources | ||
Translation tool | ||
Plagiarism checker | ||
Document templates | ||
$11.50 / Monthly | ||
Offer: 50% Discount | ||
Hemingway Editor | Desktop app | |
Reading level analysis | ||
Basic article metrics | ||
Rich text formatting tools | ||
WordPress integration | ||
Medium integration | ||
Export to word processors | ||
Export HTML document | ||
Has a free version | ||
$19.99/ Lifetime | ||
Virtual Writing Tutor | Rubrics tool | |
Vocabulary tool | ||
Basic article metrics | ||
Text-to-speech tool | ||
Export to MS Word | ||
Free | ||
Reverso Speller | Translation tool | |
Learning resources | ||
Browser extension for translator | ||
Free | ||
PaperRater | Vocabulary builder | |
Reading level analysis | ||
Extra grammar checking | ||
Has a free version | ||
$11.21 / Month |
1. Grammarly
If you’ve been reading about grammar checkers, you won’t find a single post that doesn’t mention Grammarly, and rightfully so.
Put simply, it has the whole package.
In addition to the web-based proofreading app, it also comes with a plagiarism checker, mobile keyboard, browser extension, and more.
As you can see, I’ve done a lot of work with Grammarly over the years.
You can use Grammarly via the free web interface, browser extension, mobile app, or desktop app. If you use Word or Outlook on a Windows 10 device, you can also install the official MS Office integration.
To test its proofreading capabilities, let’s see what Grammarly has to say about the introduction to this post.
I intentionally added grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors to see if Grammarly can pick them all up.
As expected, Grammarly successfully detected them all. It even has a couple of suggestions in other parts of my draft that can be improved.
Despite those minor issues, Grammarly still determined that my draft is somewhat well-written.
According to its proofreading algorithm, the piece is worth an overall score of 84 out of 100. That’s not bad since Grammarly actually recommends aiming for a score of at least 60.
Before I improve my article’s score, the first order of business is to set my personal writing goals. This will fine-tune Grammarly’s performance scoring algorithm to suit the type of project I’m working on.
I explained this process thoroughly in my Grammarly Premium review post. Feel free to check it out to learn more about all the features it has under the hood.
Next, I need to deal with the Grammarly alerts lined up under the “All alerts” column. These pertain to issues regarding my draft’s correctness, clarity, engagement factor, and delivery.
Thanks to Grammarly’s brilliant design, I can fix most of these issues within seconds.
Apart from brief explanations of each issue, basic alerts typically come with corrections that can be applied with one click.
Easy, right?
We’ve barely even scratched the surface on what Grammarly can do. To cut to the chase, here are some of my favorite features:
Grammarly Extra Features
- Mobile Keyboard App — The Grammarly Keyboard (for iOS | for Android) lets you take advantage of simple proofreading and spell-checking wherever you go. It’s useful if you often write emails or create entire documents on a mobile device.
- Plagiarism Checker — Grammarly not only helps you create grammatically-sound articles, but it can also ensure their originality. Its plagiarism checker has a database of over 16 billion web pages worldwide.
- In-depth Article Metrics — The Grammarly Editor can provide you with insightful metrics about your article.
- Vocabulary Enhancement — Even if you thought your piece is already perfect, I bet Grammarly can still find improvement opportunities. It focuses on key aspects like readability, word variety, conciseness, and clarity.
- Rich Text Formatting Tools — Believe it or not, Grammarly Editor is capable enough to be your day-to-day word processor. It has essential rich text formatting tools baked right in — from headings to bulleted lists.
How much does it cost?
Planning to get Grammarly?
For users who only require a simple grammar checker, Grammarly’s free option should suffice.
If you need advanced features like plagiarism checks and vocabulary enhancement, consider purchasing the premium version.
Below are details about Grammarly’s pricing model:
- Monthly Plan — $29.95 per month
- Quarterly — $19.98 per month
- Annual — $11.66 per month
Grammarly Premium may not exactly be affordable, but it has truckloads of features to justify its cost.
Besides, if you don’t have a big budget, you can depend on Grammarly’s free plan for the core proofreading features.
Master Blogging readers can also avail a 25% discount on their first payment. This offer is available for all Grammarly Premium plans.
Grammarly Cons
There’s no question that Grammarly is among the best writing apps ever released, but it’s still isn’t perfect. And as a reviewer, it’s my responsibility to disclose every detail that will help you make the right decision.
On the bright side, Grammarly’s list of disadvantages isn’t long at all:
- Grammarly’s monthly pricing can be too steep for students, especially when working on short-term projects.
- When tested against platforms like Turnitin and Scribbr, Grammarly’s plagiarism checker slightly underperformed.
- The Grammarly extension for Google Docs — currently in its beta version — still needs a lot of work.
Grammarly Ratings
- Usability: 5/5
- Reliability: 5/5
- Features: 5/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Total: 20/20
Click here to experience Grammarly!
2. ProWritingAid
Speaking of popular proofreading tools, ProWritingAid is another name you can find in countless listicles.
ProWritingAid features an online editing tool that you can launch directly from your web browser. Its layout resembles your average word processor, so most users won’t have a problem locating the tools they need.
ProWritingAid will generate real-time alerts the second you paste or write text into the editing tool. These should be underlined and color-coded on the main text editor.
If you don’t feel like manually scanning your document for issues, you can also click the ‘Realtime’ button.
To fix these alerts, hover your mouse over the underlined text to check for suggestions. ProWritingAid should offer corrections you can easily use for common grammatical, punctuation, and readability issues.
Other than suggestions, ProWritingAid gives you the option to add new words to your personal dictionary or ignore alerts altogether. This can help creative writers, authors, and some bloggers when they come up with new concepts or names.
Excellent — ProWritingAid has all the fundamental features you’d want from an online grammar checker.
To grasp how powerful ProWritingAid really is, you need a closer look at the user interface.
On the main menu, you’ll see seven additional tabs that contain even more editing tools.
The ‘Repeats’ tab, for instance, can help you identify the most repeated phrases in your draft.
Heavily overused words can ruin the engagement of readers as well as the impact of your message.
Recognizing repeated words and phrases will give you the opportunity to mix things up and keep your article interesting. This, in turn, will help you improve your vocabulary and add more word variety in future drafts.
ProWritingAid Extra Features
- Readability Analyzer — If you’re underwhelmed with ProWritingAid’s core proofreading capabilities, then you need to check out the ‘Readability’ tab. It scans your draft for a handful of readability issues like clichés, sticky sentences, and misused pronouns.
- Sentence Structure Checker — As the primary building blocks of your article, you must pay close attention to the structure of your sentences. You can improve them using ProWritingAid’s actionable insights for aspects like sentence length, transition word usage, and so on.
- Consistency Checker — To make your article more cohesive, you should be consistent with writing rules like hyphenation, capitalization, and ellipsis usage. For this, ProWritingAid will keep track of the rules you use in your article.
- Pacing Checker — Novelists can use ProWritingAid to avoid writing draggy and poorly-paced paragraphs. Some use cases include writing backstories, incorporating subplots, and explaining complex concepts in detail.
- Plagiarism Tool — ProWritingAid’s toolset is complete with a plagiarism checker to guarantee the originality of your piece. The catch is, it requires credits that can be purchased separately from the premium subscription.
How much does it cost?
You may think that you can piggyback ProWritingAid’s free online editing tool for your proofreading needs.
Unfortunately, that is not the case.
The online editing tool has significant limitations that make it impractical for everyday use. For one, its checkers can only process up to 500 words at a time.
To remove the word count limit, you need to buy a ProWritingAid Premium license for:
- 1 Year — $70
- 2 Years —$100
- 3 Years —$140
- Lifetime —$240
ProWritingAid’s pricing model may not be as flexible as tools that offer monthly plans.
However, you have to admit that it’s one of the best-priced tools here in terms of value.
I can also help you reduce the upfront cost with this 25% off discount coupon. Just follow my instructions on how to reveal and use the coupon code.
ProWritingAid Cons
Inflexible pricing aside, here are some of the known disadvantages of ProWritingAid:
- Though I haven’t experienced it firsthand, a couple of users and reviewers report lag when editing long documents with ProWritingAid.
- Unlike Grammarly that bundles in its plagiarism checker with premium subscriptions, ProWritingAid offers it as a separate service.
- The elaborate navigation menus could really use a search function to help new users find their way around.
ProWritingAid Ratings
- Usability: 5/5
- Reliability: 5/5
- Features: 5/5
- Pricing: 4.5/5
- Total: 19.5/20
Click here to experience ProWritingAid!
3. Ginger Software
Looks like our list of grammar checkers is off to a great start.
The first tool is a well-known industry leader, while the second is a widely-used alternative for beginners.
Let’s make things more interesting by adding another top contender: Ginger.
Its lineup of features is tailored to beginners who aspire to develop and perfect their writing abilities over time.
You’ll understand why as we explore Ginger Software’s key features.
For now, let’s take a look at how it works.
The main app is a lightweight browser extension that opens up a mini-window where you can do your proofreading tasks. You can activate it by clicking on the Ginger Software button on your browser toolbar.
If you purchase the premium version, you can integrate Ginger into specific Microsoft Office products or download the desktop app. Similar to Grammarly, you can also launch the tool on your iOS or Android device.
All that sounds great, but the question is, how effective is its grammar checker?
The only way to find out is to put the tool to the test.
Again, I used the same bit of text that I tested on Grammarly.
While Ginger can spot spelling mistakes with ease, it wasn’t able to detect the punctuation error I added.
Ginger’s free version also let most of the minor issues in my draft slide. This includes passive writing and readability problems.
On the plus side, it offers one-click grammar correction suggestions that can resolve errors in your article within seconds.
If you want a more comprehensive analysis of your article, you’ll need Ginger Software’s premium version for that.
What makes this particular grammar checker ideal for beginner writers?
Impressively, Ginger is one of the very few tools with an accurate translation tool. As of writing this article, the app currently supports over 65 major languages across continents.
The translation tool can be accessed by clicking ‘Translate’ from the left menu.
The translation tool is beneficial to new writers who aren’t native English speakers. It works with remarkable accuracy if you type straightforward sentences that are within 20 words in length.
Ginger Software Extra Features
- On-screen Text Reader — One of the habits I’ve adopted as a blogger is to read paragraphs aloud to improve their flow. The Ginger Text Reader will assist you through this process using home-grown text-to-speech technology.
- Synonyms Finder — The browser extension has a built-in synonyms section that can help expand your vocabulary. It will not improve your articles overnight, but it will definitely amplify the engagement factor of your writing with practice.
- Personal Trainer — If you’re still not convinced that Ginger is aimed towards beginners, perhaps the “Personal Trainer” tool will change your mind. It will supply you with personalized practice sessions that let you improve your writing skills at your own pace.
How much does it cost?
Like most grammar checkers in the market, Ginger Software has a free version you can use with some limitations.
If, however, you’re interested in making it your go-to proofreading tool, here are your options:
- Monthly Plan — $29.96 per month
- Annual Plan —$12.48 per month
- Two Years —$9.99 per month
Be on the lookout for discounts that the Ginger Software team occasionally offers. Alternatively, you can forego the long wait and grab a 40% discount right now — exclusive to Master Blogging readers.
Ginger Software Cons
The first Ginger Software con I’d like to mention is the severe lack of functionalities in the free browser extension.
Other than that, here are some of the disadvantages of Ginger Software:
- The Ginger Software desktop app for Windows is excellent — too bad you can’t use it if you use Mac OS.
- Compared to Grammarly, Ginger Software’s core grammar checker detected fewer mistakes.
- Don’t go all-in on Ginger Software if you need a plagiarism checker — they don’t have one.
Ginger Software Ratings
- Usability: 4.5/5
- Reliability: 4/5
- Features: 4/5
- Pricing: 4.5/5
- Total: 17/20
Click here to experience GingerSoftware!
4. WhiteSmoke
WhiteSmoke is another grammar checker that made it to my top four proofreading tools of all time.
While their website may look outdated, WhiteSmoke is still widely regarded as one of the most trustworthy online proofreading platforms. Aside from the web-based interface, it can be used as a browser extension, Office integration, mobile app, and desktop app.
The WhiteSmoke app has three main tools that can help you create top-notch articles.
First off, the ‘Grammar’ tool can detect a host of quality issues in your article within seconds, such as:
- Tense inconsistencies
- Punctuation errors
- Dangling modifiers
- Incomplete sentences
- Spelling mistakes
- Missing words
- Sentence fragments
- Capitalization errors and inconsistencies
Moving on to the ‘Translator’ tool, WhiteSmoke claims that they support full translation for 55 languages. That’s a tad fewer than Ginger Software, but based on my own tests, the accuracy of their translations is comparable.
Finally, WhiteSmoke has a ‘Plagiarism’ tool that scans billions of pages for matching texts in your draft. It’s adequate for bloggers who focus on online content, but academic users may need a more capable plagiarism checker.
For a solution that checks journal articles, books, and private repositories, read my post on the top 11 plagiarism checkers. There, I compared each product’s features, price, and target audience so you can find a tool that matches your needs.
WhiteSmoke Extra Features
- Library of Learning Resources — WhiteSmoke isn’t just a plug-and-play grammar checker — it also helps users grow with their extensive learning library. The learning materials range from video tutorials to a compilation of grammar error explanations.
- Document Templates — If you want to start a new project from scratch, WhiteSmoke can give you a head start with pre-made templates. These can be used for legal documents, letters, contracts, and many more.
- Wide Support for Popular Sites — Although most online grammar checkers have a browser extension, their compatibility with sites you use isn’t guaranteed. WhiteSmoke, however, is proven to work well with major websites and services like Gmail, LinkedIn, Messenger, and Twitter.
How much does it cost?
WhiteSmoke may claim to have a free online grammar checker, but it’s nowhere near as effective as their paid software.
The good news is, WhiteSmoke is more affordable than the majority of grammar checkers I’ve ever reviewed.
Take a gander at their low-cost, premium packages:
- Chrome Extension — $8.33 per month
- Essential Package — $10.00 per month
- Premium Package —$13.33 per month
- Business Package —$22.99 per month
If that’s not cheap enough for you, click here to claim your 50% discount on your WhiteSmoke purchase.
Who should get WhiteSmoke?
I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a less expensive alternative to Grammarly.
If you think about WhiteSmoke vs Grammarly, the latter clearly has an advantage in terms of usability and customizability. But as far as grammar checking goes, both tools are on the same playing field.
WhiteSmoke cons
Due to WhiteSmoke’s outdated-looking website, my first impression with it isn’t the best.
Don’t get me wrong — its grammar checker is on par with heavy-hitters like Grammarly and ProWritingAid.
Nevertheless, WhiteSmoke has some flaws I’d like to point out:
- It may not be a big deal to some users, but WhiteSmoke’s interface looks and feels out-of-date.
- If the lackluster user interface doesn’t bother you, maybe the intermittently slow performance will.
- WhiteSmoke’s lack of a free trial is problematic because their website didn’t explain their product’s features well enough.
WhiteSmoke ratings
- Usability: 3.5/5
- Reliability: 4.5/5
- Features: 3.5/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Total: 16.5
Click here to experience WhiteSmoke!
5. Hemingway Editor
In the online world, products like the Hemingway Editor prove that you don’t need money to get top-tier functionality.
It offers a free, web-based grammar checker that will turn your writing into refined and easy-to-read masterpieces.
What I love most about the Hemingway Editor is their no-nonsense approach to grammar checking. There are no registrations or sign-ins to do — just head to their site and the tool is at your disposal.
It shouldn’t be hard to see that the Hemingway Editor’s priority is boosting the readability of your article. After the initial analysis, it will rate the readability of your draft based on the education level needed by readers.
Why don’t we go ahead and test if the Hemingway Editor is better than Grammarly?
As soon as I pasted the text, the Hemingway Editor immediately identified several issues. It highlighted the typo, passive writing, and sentences that are hard to read.
The Hemingway Editor also neatly organizes and color-codes the alerts on the right panel.
One-click corrections are available for phrases or words with simpler alternatives. For adverbs that can make sentences wordy, you may use the editor’s convenient ‘omit’ button.
This works like a charm if you’re struggling to keep sentences short and sweet.
As for the reading level, the Hemingway Editor indicates that readers must have a grade level of at least six.
That’s reassuring — because any readability level below grade nine in the Hemingway App is good.
If you need to lower your article’s readability grade level, refer to the alerts below the article word count. The Hemingway Editor will also give you guidelines or goals to help improve your draft.
For instance, my sample above contained one phrase written in passive voice. In the alert, the Hemingway Editor states that up to three cases of passive writing are acceptable.
The downside is, the Hemingway Editor doesn’t detect simple typos and punctuation errors in your text.
Strange — I know. But that’s just because the software is explicitly designed to assess your draft’s readability.
The Hemingway Editor also doesn’t offer suggestions to specific issues like passive writing and hard-to-read sentences. You’ll have to channel your inner Hemingway and tackle those matters yourself.
Of course, you don’t have to address all of those alerts. If you’re satisfied with the readability grade of your draft, ignoring some of them could preserve your authentic writing voice.
Hemingway Editor Extra Features
- Rich Text Formatting Tools — The Hemingway Editor isn’t intended as a word processor, but it definitely has the tools for small projects. You can create bulleted lists, quotes, headings, and even export a PDF of your work with the desktop app.
- WordPress and Medium Integration — If you have the Hemingway Editor desktop app, drafts can be sent directly to Medium or your WordPress blog. This is a massive time-saver for bloggers and contributors who want to publish superb posts.
- Multiple Exporting Options — The integrations above may convince some to use the Hemingway Editor, but what if you don’t publish on those platforms? Don’t worry, the desktop app also lets you export your draft into various formats, including HTML, plain text, and markdown.
How much does it cost?
If you’re a blogger, content writer, or website owner, then I recommend picking up the Hemingway Editor desktop app. Its integrations and exporting options will streamline your content development efforts — from writing to publishing.
By the way, the desktop app costs a one-time payment of $19.99.
Hemingway Editor cons
Going with the free Hemingway Editor?
Sure, but you’ll have to pair it with a dedicated tool for checking spelling and punctuation mistakes.
Let me explain:
- It’s admirable that they’re committed to one goal, but the lack of a spell checker is a turn-off.
- The Hemingway Editor won’t be much help if you need correction suggestions for your draft.
- To be honest, the Hemingway Editor’s adverb goal isn’t always helpful and can diminish the “oomph” factor of your article.
Hemingway Editor ratings
- Usability: 5/5
- Reliability: 3.5/5
- Features: 3/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Total: 16.5
Click here to experience Hemingway Editor!
6. Virtual Writing Tutor
It’s always nice to have some free options when writing a roundup of online grammar checkers.
True — some of the tools we’ve already discussed offer free solutions to underfunded users. But none of them are true, 100% free grammar checkers without limitations.
Virtual Writing Tutor changes this by requiring only an account registration to be fully unlocked.
I also quite like their website’s minimal user interface. Rather than cramming all the tools in one editor, they can be activated in a modular fashion.
For example, let’s say I want to check my draft specifically for grammar mistakes.
Upon pasting the text, all I have to do is click ‘Check Grammar’ and wait for the analysis to finish.
A few seconds later, Virtual Writing Tutor will generate an error profile report of the draft. This is where grammar mistakes, along with their explanations and correction suggestions, are listed.
Metrics like the document’s word count and error density are also shown above the feedback box.
“Wait a minute — I made a mistake. I actually wanted to analyze my article’s sentence structures.”
Don’t panic.
If you want to try a different report, just scroll back up and click on the tool you want to use.
Virtual Writing Tutor works in such a way that you stay on the same page as you run different tests.
Whenever you run a new tool, Virtual Writing Tutor will only refresh the feedback box. Your original text and the rest of its toolbox will remain untouched.
This smart implementation keeps the user experience surprisingly smooth and intuitive.
To drive home the point, here’s another screenshot that shows off Virtual Writing Tutor’s sentence checker report:
I remember using Virtual Writing Tutor’s sentence checker back in the day. The compact report section made it effortless to maintain a consistently low word count across my posts.
Writing sentences that are 20 words or less is a crucial SEO tactic that will boost your keyword rankings. With a tool like Virtual Writing Tutor, long and wordy sentences will stick out like a sore thumb.
Impressed yet?
If not, maybe the features below will pique your interest.
Virtual Writing Tutor Extra Features
- Text-to-Speech Technology — Premium grammar checkers like Ginger Software aren’t the only ones with on-screen text readers. With Virtual Writing Tutor’s text-to-speech tool, you can also check how your article sounds when read by a native speaker.
- Voice Recognition — If for some reason, you can’t use your keyboard, you may use Virtual Writing Tutor’s voice recognition software. It can be wonky if you’re not a native speaker, but it’s an impressive feature given it’s a free tool.
- Vocabulary Analyzer — Virtual Writing Tutor can also optimize the readability of your article through the vocabulary checker. This creates a complete breakdown of your draft’s word profile — tallying the number of beginner words, conjunctions, transitions, and more.
- Quick Download to MS Word — For grammar checkers, being able to export your work into a locally-saved file is always a welcome feature. Virtual Writing Tutor checks this box by letting you download your draft into a word document with a single click.
How much does it cost?
Hint: the answer is $0.
Virtual Writing Tutor is 100% free — there are no premium or subscription-based plans to purchase.
Virtual Writing Tutor cons
I know there’s no reason to complain about Virtual Writing Tutor since it’s totally free. But then again, you — including the developers behind the tool — deserve to know its cons:
- In my experience, the registration and verification processes were a bit buggy, especially if you have multiple tabs open.
- As impressive as the text-to-speech tool is, browsers like Safari doesn’t seem to support it fully.
- Logging into your Virtual Writing Tutor account can also be unnecessarily tedious due to server errors.
Virtual Writing Tutor ratings
- Usability: 4/5
- Reliability: 4/5
- Features: 4/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Total: 17
Click here to experience Virtual Writing Tutor!
7. Reverso Speller
Here’s another free grammar checker you might like.
Reverso is a modest web-based tool that checks text for grammar and spelling errors without asking for a single cent. You just have to type or paste the words into the main text field.
Clicking ‘Check’ doesn’t merely tell Reverso to look for grammatical or spelling issues in your text. It instructs the tool to find and fix them in one fell swoop.
For example, Reverso immediately fixed my typo for the word “challenge” once the check completed.
A tooltip should appear explaining the nature of the error if you hover your mouse pointer over the replaced word.
What makes Reverso interesting is that its grammar checking technology is actually powered by a premium tool we’ve already reviewed.
Care to take a guess?
The answer is Ginger Software.
In other words, you’re basically taking advantage of Ginger Software’s core feature without paying for it. The only problem is, Reverso only allows you to check up to 600 characters of text at a time.
That significant restriction makes it hard for me to include Reverso in this list. But since it’s free and basically has the same grammar checking capabilities of Ginger Software, I think it’s worth mentioning.
Besides, Reverso’s online interface is reasonably fast. If you can’t afford a premium grammar checker and only work on short write-ups, you should give it a go.
Reverso Extra Features
- Translator Browser Extension — Don’t think of Reverso as a product that only piggybacks everything. I find its translation browser extension to be more usable than Ginger Software’s own translation tool.
- Learning Resources for Proofreading — Reverso’s main interface contains links to useful resources for word definitions, conjugation, synonyms, and proper grammar. Given that it seems to emphasize its translation tool, I’d say their target users are writers who aren’t native speakers.
- Paid Translation Service — If you wrote an academic paper, short story, or anything in your native language, Reverso can translate it for you. The first 2,500 words are free, but you’ll have to pay if you want more translations.
How much does it cost?
Just like Virtual Writing Tutor, Reverso’s grammar checker is absolutely free.
Due to the character count limitation, I’d only recommend Reverso if you’re writing an email, social media post, or anything short. Unless, of course, you’re willing to go back and forth between your word processor and the tool as you work.
If you’re interested in their paid translation services, here are the price points:
- 2,500 words — €10
- 10,000 words —€30
- 50,000 words —€100
Reverso cons
As workable as Reverso’s grammar checker is, it’s apparently not their core product.
They’re a translation service provider that happens to have a grammar checking tool.
I’d be happy to use Reverso from time to time — you should try it as well. But if you have the budget for a premium tool, choose that instead.
Here are three more reasons why:
- Since Reverso doesn’t focus on grammar checking, it’s safe to assume that their grammar checker is already stagnant development-wise.
- If you need to proofread a long article, the 600-character limit will bottleneck your productivity.
- Reverso’s spelling and grammar checker doesn’t give enough details about the detected errors.
Reverso ratings
- Usability: 3.5/5
- Reliability: 3.5/5
- Features: 3.5/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Total: 15.5
Click here to experience Reverso Speller!
8. PaperRater
If you’re still not happy with the free grammar checkers we’ve examined so far, here’s one more for the road.
PaperRater lets you run a spelling and grammar analysis by pasting or uploading your article. It also allows you to define your target reading level and document type.
To tell you the truth, I learned about PaperRater just recently. Even though I didn’t have a lot of time experimenting with it, I was taken aback by the results.
PaperRater was on the same level as the likes of ProWritingAid when it comes to proofreading. Beyond the typical grammatical and spelling mistakes, it also analyzes readability aspects like word choices and writing style.
PaperRater also gives you the option to enable plagiarism checking on your document. And, to be fair, it did manage to catch the plagiarized text as well as locate the original sources.
While PaperRater’s interface is far from visually appealing, the overall experience is fairly decent.
Clicking on the alerts, on the other hand, is a chore.
It seems like you can click the entire boxes like they’re buttons. Instead, you need to click the text labels themselves.
Other navigation elements like the ‘Next’ and ‘Close’ buttons are also out of place.
PaperRater Extra Features
- Academic Vocabulary Tracker — Formal, academic writing isn’t something you can master overnight. It’s a slow process that can be accelerated with PaperRater’s vocabulary builder and scholarly vocabulary tracker.
- Auto Grader — PaperRater took a page out of the Hemingway Editor’s book and implemented an automatic grading system. It factors in your draft’s word choices, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structures to calculate its reading level.
- Additional Readability Modules for Premium Accounts — By purchasing PaperRater’s premium version, you’ll gain access to additional readability indices. These will help you build better articles through the Flesch Reading Ease, Fry Readability, Dale-Chall Readability Formula, and so on.
How much does it cost?
I’m pleased to inform you that PaperRater’s essential features are available for free. It should be enough for most bloggers, students, freelancers, and anyone who cares about their writing.
For those who really want to take their writing to the next level, they can purchase PaperRater premium for:
- $11.21 per month
- $71.55 per year
PaperRater cons
When rating free tools, one shouldn’t be too nitpicky.
That doesn’t give anyone an excuse to pinpoint flaws that can help users and developers know where to go next.
- When I deliberately copied and pasted the text I checked, PaperRater inaccurately only detected 13% plagiarism.
- It doesn’t matter if the report page is detailed — navigating through the alerts still feels clunky.
- The PaperRater report page has ads on places where you can easily click them by accident.
PaperRater ratings
- Usability: 3.5/5
- Reliability: 4/5
- Features: 4/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Total: 16.5
Click here to experience PaperRater!
More Grammar Checkers You Should Try
Out of all the grammar checkers I ever tried, the tools above represent the best ones I’ve used.
However, your journey to find the perfect proofreading partner shouldn’t end there.
There are dozens of other grammar checkers out there that may fit your writing style and workflow.
That said, I decided to add two more tools just to give you a wider set of options.
9. SpellCheckPlus.com
SpellCheckPlus.com is an odd tool that does grammar checking right, but kind of behaves weirdly in other things.
They offer a “Pro” version for $14.99, but I advise against purchasing it and let me tell you why.
When I tested my draft, it did detect the spelling and grammar mistakes I put on purpose. However, it also gave me strange suggestions that don’t make any sense.
This type of error would be incredibly confusing and frustrating for users who aren’t native English speakers. Granted, the grammar checker is satisfactory, but it doesn’t have anything else to offer.
I also liked the to-the-point interface. Sadly, the number of ads shown on the site was distracting.
SpellCheckPlus.com ratings
- Usability: 3/5
- Reliability: 2.5/5
- Features: 2.5/5
- Pricing: 4/5
- Total: 12
10. After the Deadline
If you’re new to the world of writing, there’s nothing wrong with testing as many free tools as you can.
How else will you find a tool that just “clicks” if you’re not up for a little trial and error?
This brings us to the next and final tool in this list: After the Deadline.
It’s open-source software utilizes artificial intelligence and natural language processing to detect errors in written text.
You can download After the Deadline for free or go to the ‘Demonstration’ tab to instantly run some tests.
Upon analyzing my draft, After the Deadline detected the typo, passive writing, and a word that it considers “cliché.” On the flip side, it didn’t recognize the punctuation error nor the readability issues that tools like Grammarly picked up.
After the Deadline ratings
- Usability: 4/5
- Reliability: 3.5/5
- Features: 3/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Total: 15.5
Overall Grammar Checker Rankings [Infographic]
Grammar Checker FAQs
Can’t choose from the list above?
This FAQ section should help you decide once and for all by answering the most common concerns writers have:
What about the built-in spelling and grammar checker in MS Word?
Technically, writers who use MS Word already own a grammar and spelling checker.
The built-in ‘Spelling & Grammar’ tool can, indeed, detect most grammatical and spelling mistakes in your article. In fact, I solely relied on it during the early stages of my blogging career.
But after I finish using the built-in spelling and grammar checker, standalone tools like Grammarly still detected issues.
Anyhow, did I mention that it also has text-to-speech and translation features?
If only it had readability and style analysis tools, it could’ve been a feasible alternative to full-fledged grammar checkers.
You could create error-free articles with MS Word alone, but there’s no reason to settle for it. All of the tools I mentioned in this list can do what it does and more.
What’s better: Grammarly vs ProWritingAid
As the top two rated grammar checkers in this list, picking between Grammarly and ProWritingAid can be tricky.
I, myself, am a Grammarly Premium subscriber and believe that it’s the king in terms of usability. The ability to set your own proofreading goals is also a huge advantage.
I’m inclined to say you should pick Grammarly, but you should give ProWritingAid’s free editing tool a shot. If it helps, I would undoubtedly recommend ProWritingAid over Ginger Software and WhiteSmoke.
How about Grammarly vs Ginger Software?
Grammarly beats Ginger Software in almost every category — from usability to pricing. Ginger Software, however, has a more developed desktop application for Windows devices.
If compatibility with Windows is important to you, there’s no harm in trying Ginger Software. I’d even pick it over ProWritingAid any day Otherwise, Grammarly — our top-rated grammar checker — is a much safer bet.
What about Grammarly vs WhiteSmoke?
Honestly, WhiteSmoke is my least favorite out of the top premium grammar checkers.
I’m a huge fan of well-designed user interfaces, so WhiteSmoke’s outdated-looking app doesn’t appeal to me. But if you want an affordable and reliable grammar checker that’s compatible with most sites, it might work for you.
MS Word users should also give WhiteSmoke a chance for its well-made integration.
Can grammar checkers work offline?
It should be understandable why most grammar checkers require an internet connection whenever in use.
Grammarly, Ginger Software, ProWritingAid — these premium solutions require hundreds of gigabytes of data to generate advanced reports.
Of course, internet connectivity shouldn’t be a problem to most people by now. If you’re having intermittent problems with your connection, you can use the Hemingway Editor’s desktop app offline.
MS Word’s built-in spelling and grammar checker may also work during emergencies. But if I were you, I’d wait for my connection to be restored and use a proper grammar checker tool.
Should I get a premium tool with a monthly subscription or an annual one?
It depends.
If you anticipate a steady writing workload for several months, then purchasing an annual subscription makes sense. Grammar checkers, after all, offer discounts if you choose their yearly billing plans.
A monthly subscription, on the other hand, is a better choice if you’re working on a short-term project. Doing so is also practical if you’re unsure if a tool is the right solution for you.
What’s the best plagiarism tool?
Any of the tools above with a plagiarism checker should be enough for bloggers and writers who publish online.
However, there are significantly better plagiarism checker tools on the web that can do a better job.
What’s the point of a mobile grammar checker?
We covered a lot of grammar checkers that have a mobile app.
If you do most of your writing on a computer, you may be wondering why they even exist.
In a nutshell, mobile grammar checkers can be useful if you write emails or social media posts on a mobile device. An increasing number of people also use tablets with attachable keyboards to write articles.
Professionals may also need a suitable mobile grammar checker when communicating with clients via their phones.
Conclusion
Alright — I hope you found the best grammar checker that complements your writing style and workload!
I also think congratulations are in order. By reading this post, you’ve proven to have the initiative to build your own writing toolbox.
That’s one of the characteristics that separate the average writer from those who are meant for success.
If you liked what you read, feel free to leave a comment below. Share your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions if you have any!
Cheers!