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Grammarly alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Grammarly: text is processed in the cloud, which rules it out for some work, and best features need Pro, and monthly billing is expensive. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Grammarly, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. LanguageTool currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1LanguageTool logoLanguageToolFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 566.5
2Harper logoHarperOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux +15 of 557.2
  1. LanguageTool logo

    1. LanguageToolTop pick

    Best for: People who write in several languages, or who want a checker they can self-host

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Browser extension, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Grammarly

    Covers 30+ languages and has an open-source core, for people who write in more than English.

    Pros

    • Strong support for over 30 languages
    • Open-source engine can be self-hosted
    • Works in Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice and browsers

    Cons

    • Free tier caps text length per check
    • Self-hosted version lacks the premium AI checks
    • Tone and rewriting help is lighter than AI-first tools
    Visit LanguageTool Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LanguageTool a good Grammarly alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Languages
    More than 30
    Checked Oct 25, 2026languagetool.org(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    LGPL-2.1
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Characters per check
    2,000 free / 150,000 Premium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026languagetool.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026languagetool.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop and mobile apps
    Windows, macOS, iOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026languagetool.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Harper logo

    2. Harper

    Best for: Privacy-minded writers and developers who want grammar checks without the cloud

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux, Browser extension

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Grammarly

    Free, open-source and runs entirely on your device, so nothing you write leaves it.

    Pros

    • Runs fully offline, with no account or data upload
    • Works in browsers, Obsidian, WordPress and code editors
    • Free and open source under Apache 2.0

    Cons

    • English only
    • No AI rewriting or tone suggestions
    • Catches fewer issues than commercial checkers
    Visit Harper Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Harper a good Grammarly alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writewithharper.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline
    Yes, privacy-first
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writewithharper.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writewithharper.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    Language server, JS library, Rust crate, extensions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writewithharper.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install
    Homebrew, Scoop and others
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writewithharper.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Grammarly alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

LanguageTool logo

Best Grammarly alternative for most people

LanguageTool

Covers 30+ languages and has an open-source core, for people who write in more than English.

Harper logo

Best Grammarly alternative for a free option

Harper

Free, open-source and runs entirely on your device, so nothing you write leaves it.

ProWritingAid logo

Best Grammarly alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

ProWritingAid

Deeper style and manuscript reports, aimed at long-form and fiction writers.

LanguageTool logo

Best Grammarly alternative for open source

LanguageTool

Covers 30+ languages and has an open-source core, for people who write in more than English.

LanguageTool logo

Best Grammarly alternative for self-hosting

LanguageTool

Covers 30+ languages and has an open-source core, for people who write in more than English.

LanguageTool logo

Best Grammarly alternative for Mac

LanguageTool

Covers 30+ languages and has an open-source core, for people who write in more than English.

LanguageTool logo

Best Grammarly alternative for Windows

LanguageTool

Covers 30+ languages and has an open-source core, for people who write in more than English.

Harper logo

Best Grammarly alternative for Linux

Harper

Free, open-source and runs entirely on your device, so nothing you write leaves it.

QuillBot logo

Best Grammarly alternative for iPhone and Android

QuillBot

Cheaper option if paraphrasing and summarising matter more than tone coaching.

Wordtune logo

Best Grammarly alternative for working in the browser

Wordtune

Focuses on rewriting sentences in different tones, with a lower-priced paid plan.

Grammarly alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Grammarly?

LanguageTool ranks first right now. Covers 30+ languages and has an open-source core, for people who write in more than English. ProWritingAid and Harper follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Grammarly?

Yes. LanguageTool (free plan + paid), ProWritingAid (free plan + paid), Harper (open source) and Wordtune (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Grammarly?

Yes: LanguageTool and Harper. LanguageTool can also be self-hosted.

Which Grammarly alternatives work on Linux?

Harper runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Grammarly?

The complaints we hear most: text is processed in the cloud, which rules it out for some work; best features need Pro, and monthly billing is expensive; mostly English; weak for other languages.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Grammarly, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.