Free alternative to Grammarly Premium
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The closest free alternative to Grammarly Premium is LanguageTool. The free plan works in the browser and desktop apps, and the open-source core (LGPL-2.1 on GitHub) can be self-hosted. The catch: style and rewrite features are paid, and free-plan character caps change, so check languagetool.org.
| Grammarly Premium | LanguageTool (free) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid (plans) | Free plan; paid upgrades |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes (LGPL core) |
| Rewrites and style | Yes | Paid |
| Languages | English-focused | 25+ |
Pair it with free translation
For translation, LibreTranslate and Argos Translate are free and self-hostable. See all free writing tools or read free DeepL alternatives.
FAQ
Is LanguageTool open source?
Its core checker is open source under LGPL-2.1 (github.com/languagetool-org/languagetool), and can be self-hosted.
What does free LanguageTool leave out?
Style and rewrite features are on paid plans. The free plan also has character caps that change over time.
Does it support languages besides English?
Yes. The project describes itself as a style and grammar checker for 25+ languages.
Is self-hosting worth it?
If you need privacy or to avoid caps, yes. Otherwise the free browser extension is simpler.