4 Best Online Proofreading Tools For Error-Free Writing

Here’s a little secret:

I love sitting back, reading, and polishing my work to perfection.

Especially with a trusty proofreading tool that helps me finish the job in minutes.

In this post, I’ll unveil my list of the best online proofreading tools that will make your content sparkle.

Let’s dive in.

4 Best Proofreading Tools Online

Before anything else, here’s a quick, side-by-side comparison of the tools we’re about to discuss:

Feature-wise, they all look pretty similar, right?

Not unless we take a closer look at each of them.

Let’s start with one of my all-time favorite proofreading tools:

1. Grammarly

Premium Price: Starts at $29.95 per month or $11.66 per month for one year

Grammarly is one of the go-to proofreading tools that millions of bloggers, students, and other professionals use to turn their writing into flawless pieces of art.

It is an easy-to-use, lightweight, and reliable app that spots spelling and grammar mistakes as you work.

You don’t even need to install any software to benefit from Grammarly.

Grammarly Web Interface

To use Grammarly’s web interface, go to the ‘My Grammarly’ page and click ‘Upload.’

From there, paste your content into Grammarly’s main editor. The tool will then underline all spelling and grammar mistakes that you have missed.

Clicking on the erroneous words should reveal possible corrections, which you can apply in an instant. For a more organized view of mistakes, use the Grammarly Assistant by clicking the ‘Correct with Assistant’ button on the top-right corner of the screen.

The Assistant works by listing down all the alerts that point to errors in your content. You may also correct these mistakes by choosing from one of the suggestions.

Grammarly Browser Extension

While launching Grammarly’s web interface is already convenient, you can further streamline your proofreading by installing the official browser extension for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

This is where the real fun starts.

Once installed, the Grammarly extension will actively monitor absolutely everything you type in your browser. Just make sure it’s activated on the website you’re using by clicking on the Grammarly icon on your browser’s toolbar and enable the ‘Check Grammar and Spelling’ option.

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a blog post on WordPress, a Facebook status update, an email, or a Quora answer — Grammarly will always be there to make sure your writing is perfect.

Personally, using the Grammarly browser extension is the most effective way to use the tool. But in case you prefer running all your writing tools as soon as you start your workday, you may be interested in using the Grammarly desktop or mobile app.

It’s essentially the web interface of Grammarly packaged as a downloadable app. This can help people who don’t use a web-based word processor kickstart their productivity.

Grammarly Premium Features

Like what you’ve learned about Grammarly so far? Then you may want to sign up for a premium plan to avail the following perks:

• Advanced punctuation, context, grammar, and sentence check
• Style suggestions based on your written work’s genre
• Suggestions to help improve your vocabulary
• Plagiarism check

Now, it’s understandable why new bloggers may prefer a free online proofreading tool. But once your blog starts to generate a steady stream of income, a premium proofreading tool is undoubtedly one of the best investments you can ever make, especially with the features Grammarly and every other tool in this post have to offer.

You can also check out this post for a 25 percent discount on your Grammarly subscription — only for Master Blogging readers!

Get Grammarly Now

2. ProWritingAid

Premium Price: Starts at $60 for one year or a one-time payment of $210

Next up, ProWritingAid is another top-notch online proofreading tool with an advanced set of features.

A quick look at the “Web Editor” should tell you that ProWritingAid is for serious writers who care deeply about the quality of their work.

ProWritingAid Web Editor

Similar to Grammarly, ProWritingAid also has a free web-based editor that lets you proofread online.

ProWritingAid then checks your work for grammar, spelling, and style issues in real time. Mistakes are underlined on the main editor field, but you can also click the ‘Real-time’ button on the menu bar to find specific problems.

As you can see from the screenshot above, each type of mistake is color-coded: blue for grammar, yellow for style, and red for spelling.

Yes — unlike other proofreading tools, ProWritingAid can help you improve your article’s overall tone and readability by identifying style issues for free. And similar to the best free proofreading software, the tool also displays possible corrections if you click the underlined words.

While mistake detection and correction recommendations are enough for most people, ProWritingAid has a lot more tricks up its sleeve.

For example, ProWritingAid has a built-in tool that provides a comprehensive readability report of your article using the Flesch Readability Ease scoring system.

ProWritingAid also detects overused words from your article, which is an issue that could put some readers off. All these advanced features are accessible from the top toolbar of the web editor.

The readability and word overuse checkers are only the beginning. You can also use ProWritingAid to check for clichés, wordy sentences, and structural issues within your content.

Free users, however, can only use these features on a maximum of 500 words at a time. It can be tedious, but it’s definitely more than you can ask for if you need proofreading software free of charge.

ProWritingAid for Browsers

Rather than relying solely on the web editor, you can also use the ProWritingAid browser integration to improve your workflow.

It used to be only available for Google Chrome. Today, you can get the ProWritingAid add-on for Safari, Firefox, Google Docs, and even Microsoft Word.

Just remember that there are specific integrations you need to download if you plan to use ProWritingAid on different services. The browser integration for Safari or Chrome, for example, can’t be used to check your work on Google Docs — you’ll have to install a different add-on for that.

ProWritingAid Premium Features

If you plan on getting the premium version of ProWritingAid, here are the advantages you’ll get:

• Quick reports for an unlimited number of words
• 50 free plagiarism checks per year
• Access to the desktop app
• Access to learning resources to improve your writing skills

True — ProWritingAid is on the pricey side as far as online proofreading tools go.

That’s why Master Blogging readers can get a 25% discount on any plan they choose.

Get ProWritingAid Now

3. WhiteSmoke

Premium Price: Starts at $6.59 per month up to $17.95 per month for business users

First of all, WhiteSmoke is the only tool in this list that doesn’t have a free version — at least, one that’s practical for professional writers.

What you can get instead is a basic proofreading tool that can only check up to 250 words at a time.

Suppose you’re a fresh graduate or freelancer trying to build a LinkedIn profile. Proofreading 250 words at a time as you write your summary, work experience, and so on is definitely doable.

Of course, you can also take the free WhiteSmoke mobile app for a spin to gain a better understanding of the tool’s capabilities. However, it’s nowhere near as intuitive and efficient as using the official browser extension or desktop application, which you can only use on a paid subscription basis.

Before you let the “pay-to-use” scheme put you off, take note that their decision is reasonable given everything WhiteSmoke has under the hood.

WhiteSmoke for Browsers

If you decide to get the WhiteSmoke “Essential” plan, you can start proofreading your blog with the premium extension, which is actually compatible with all browsers.

The base plan offers you three tools: the grammar checker, plagiarism checker, and translator.

Just as you would expect, the WhiteSmoke app detects grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors as well as style inconsistencies. What makes it stand out is the fact that suggested corrections appear right above the words as soon as you click ‘Check Text.’

Aside from instant corrections, WhiteSmoke also shows detailed explanations of your writing errors — allowing you to sharpen your skills and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future. This is extremely valuable for those who strive to perfect their writing abilities rather than depend on proofreading software for the rest of their careers.

WhiteSmoke Desktop Application

If WhiteSmoke’s browser extension got your attention, I recommend spending a few extra dollars on the “Premium” or “Business” plan to get the desktop application.

Based on experience, using WhiteSmoke with Microsoft Word is as good as it gets. You can proofread an entire document with one click, check for plagiarism, and get explanations for your writing mistakes — all in one place.

WhiteSmoke Premium and Business Features

Although WhiteSmoke is not a free proofreading tool to begin with, bumping up your subscription to a more expensive plan will include the following benefits:

• Microsoft Office integration
• Use on up to three computers with the Business plan
• Premium desktop application for Windows and Mac

The good news is, WhiteSmoke is the most affordable proofreading solutions in the market — not just in this list.

4. Ginger Software

Premium Price: Starts at $29.96 per month or $4.99 per month for one year

As the oldest software in this list, Ginger is a solution you can’t go wrong with.

Ginger is a reliable proofreading tool that will enable you to write high-quality, polished articles every single time. It can detect errors, offer real-time corrections, provide contextual word definitions, and show suggestions that will help you rephrase your sentences and diversify your writing.

Ginger for Chrome and Safari

Similar to the Grammarly browser extension, Ginger for Google Chrome and Safari is a handy tool that lets you proofread text on the fly.

The main difference is, Ginger opens up a mini-window where you can type and proofread as opposed to highlighting mistakes within the interface of the site.

For example, rather than underlining your mistakes as you write an answer on Quora, you’ll need to pull up the Ginger extension window, craft your answer there, and check for mistakes before you post.

Whether or not Grammarly or Ginger does browser-based proofreading better is only a matter of preference. While Grammarly’s on-screen approach can save time, Ginger makes it easier to focus on one paragraph at a time while refining your writing style with the “Rephrase” tool along the way.

Another reason why you should go with Ginger is the scalable “Ginger Business” plan, which lets you add more members to your account as needed. This is helpful if your blog has multiple authors who could use a self-service proofreading tool.

Ginger can also translate text in 40 different languages even with the free version. It may not be as impressive as WhiteSmoke’s translator, which supports over 50 languages, but at least you don’t have to spend a single dime for the feature.

Translation tools are perfect for foreign exchange students and traveling professionals who need to write in a different language. Pair it with Ginger’s proofreading capabilities and you should be able to create a piece that will compel your intended audience.

Perhaps the only complaint I have with Ginger is the lack of a desktop application for Mac OS users, which brings us to the next point of discussion:

Ginger for Windows

For Windows users, acquiring Ginger as your primary proofreading software gives you access to a host of unique features.

The “Personal Trainer” tool, in particular, lets you take personalized practice sessions that could result in drastic improvements in your writing abilities.

Certain people may also benefit from the “Text Reader” feature, which basically reads aloud written content. This allows them to determine if their work sounds natural when spoken by a native English speaker — useful if they’re preparing a webinar script, oral report, or simply trying to improve the overall flow of their writing.

Ginger Premium Features

By now, you should already have one proofreading tool in mind that you’re considering. But before you make a final decision, here’s a quick look at the premium Ginger proofreading plan benefits:

• Access to the Personal Trainer
• Access to the Text Reader
• Unlimited grammar checks
• In-depth mistake analysis

Just like before, I always have my readers’ backs.

Which Proofreading Tool Should You Get?

Now that we had a closer look at the contenders, here’s my final recommendation on which proofreading tool should you choose.

In terms of usability, Grammarly is a tad better than the rest of the tools mentioned in this post. The browser extension alone makes error-free writing highly achievable even for non-native English writers.

WhiteSmoke, on the other hand, is perfect for people on a budget who also use Microsoft Word as their go-to word processor.

Looking at premium features, ProWritingAid does offer a lot more value for your money — thanks to its lineup of proofreading tools. For teams, however, Ginger Business is a must-have, especially if you anticipate your team to grow in size over time.

To summarize:

• Grammarly — Bloggers, students, and professionals who write on browsers, especially on single projects.
• ProWritingAid — Professional writers who require high-caliber proofreading.
• WhiteSmoke — Professional writers who primarily use Microsoft Word.
• Ginger — Writing teams who need a scalable proofreading service, including non-professional writers who need translation and a text reader to create winning pieces.

Bonus: EVEN MORE Proofreading Tools

What’s that?

You still haven’t made up your mind and would like more suggestions?

As I said, I always have your back.

You can continue your search for the best proofreading software with the list below:

Polish My Writing

After The Deadline — previously called PolishMyWriting — is a straightforward proofreading tool that can detect errors and provide writing suggestions. Just write or paste your document into the tool, click ‘Check Writing,’ and let it do its work.

Typely

Typely is another free proofreading tool that’s simply too good to miss. What I like about it is the minimalistic web editor with a surprising collection of features, like the reading time tracker, text reader, and PDF reports.

Proofreading Tool

Though it’s not free, Proofreading Tool strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and effectiveness. It tracks a long list of writing issues that every aspiring writer should be aware of, including clichés, duplicate words, awkward phrases, and confusing sentences.

Conclusion

Made a decision yet?

Good.

The next step is to put your proofreading tool to the test. Go out there, do what you do best, and give your tool a test run.

Only then will you be certain that you chose the proofreading tool that will take your writing to new heights.

Don’t forget to read my guide on how to write high-quality content.

Learning how to write well should help you reap the full benefits of your proofreading efforts.

Cheers!