1 Free & Open-Source Grammarly Alternatives
Grammarly's free tier catches basic grammar and spelling, but tone detection, clarity suggestions, and plagiarism checks sit behind a paid plan. LanguageTool is the open-source alternative — its core grammar and style checking is free, and it can be self-hosted if you'd rather your writing never touches a third-party server.
The best Grammarly alternatives
LanguageTool
Our top pickOpen sourceSelf-hostedAn open-source grammar and style checker.
LanguageTool catches grammar, spelling, and style issues across more than 20 languages, with browser extensions and a desktop add-in similar to Grammarly's — and the option to self-host the checking engine entirely.
- Grammar, spelling, and style checking in 20+ languages
- Browser extension and Office/Google Docs add-ins
- Custom style rules for teams
- Self-hosted engine, or LanguageTool's free hosted tier
Licensing and pricing models change over time — confirm current terms on each project's own site before making a procurement or compliance decision.
Frequently asked questions
Is LanguageTool as accurate as Grammarly?
For core grammar and spelling, it's genuinely competitive. Grammarly's tone and clarity suggestions (its more advanced, paywalled features) are generally considered more refined, since that's specifically where Grammarly has invested its AI development.
Can I self-host LanguageTool for full privacy?
Yes — the checking engine is open-source and can run entirely on your own server, so text never has to leave your infrastructure, unlike Grammarly's cloud-only model.
Does LanguageTool work in Word and Google Docs like Grammarly does?
Yes — it has official add-ins for both, along with browser extensions, covering the same everywhere-you-write use case Grammarly is known for.
More free alternatives
Not sure which way to go?
A free Growth Audit can help you weigh self-hosting against the tool you already pay for.