Other writing assistants worth trying
Beyond Grammarly
While Grammarly is the most popular writing assistant, several other tools offer unique features that might better fit your needs. Some specialize in specific types of writing, while others take different approaches to feedback.
ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is similar to Grammarly but offers more detailed reports on writing style, readability, and structure.
What it does: Checks grammar, style, and readability. Provides in-depth reports on sentence length variation, overused words, passive voice, and more.
Best for: Writers who want detailed analysis and are willing to spend time reviewing comprehensive feedback.
Pricing: Free version with limited checks. Premium is $10-20/month or $399 for lifetime access.
How it's different: More detailed reports than Grammarly, but the interface can feel overwhelming for casual users.
Get started at ProWritingAid.
Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor focuses on making your writing clear and concise. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and hard-to-read phrases.
What it does: Assigns a readability grade to your text and highlights areas that could be simpler. It doesn't fix grammar errors but pushes you toward clearer writing.
Best for: Anyone who wants to write more directly and avoid overly complex sentences.
Pricing: Free web version. Desktop app is $19.99 one-time purchase.
How it's different: Focuses on clarity and simplicity rather than correctness. Great for making dense writing more accessible.
Try it at Hemingway Editor.
QuillBot
QuillBot is primarily a paraphrasing tool that helps you rewrite sentences and paragraphs in different ways.
What it does: Rewrites your text while keeping the meaning. Offers multiple modes (standard, formal, creative, etc.). Also includes a grammar checker, summarizer, and citation generator.
Best for: Students or writers who need to rephrase content, avoid repetition, or summarize long texts.
Pricing: Free version with limited features. Premium is $8.33-19.95/month.
How it's different: Emphasizes paraphrasing and rewriting rather than just error correction.
Visit QuillBot to try it.
LanguageTool
LanguageTool is an open-source alternative to Grammarly that supports multiple languages.
What it does: Checks grammar, style, and spelling in over 20 languages. Works as a browser extension, desktop app, or within Google Docs and Microsoft Word.
Best for: Multilingual writers or anyone who prefers open-source tools.
Pricing: Free version. Premium is around $4.99-19.90/month.
How it's different: Strong multilingual support and open-source foundation.
Check it out at LanguageTool.
Using chatbots as writing assistants
Don't forget that chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can also help with writing tasks:
AI prompt: "Review this paragraph and suggest ways to make it clearer and more concise: [paste your text]"
AI prompt: "Rewrite this sentence in a more formal tone: [paste sentence]"
Chatbots are especially useful for rewriting entire paragraphs, adjusting tone, or explaining why something doesn't work. They're less reliable for catching every grammar error but excel at big-picture feedback.
Choosing the right tool
Use Grammarly or ProWritingAid if you want real-time, comprehensive grammar and style checking as you write.
Use Hemingway Editor if you want to simplify your writing and improve readability.
Use QuillBot if you need to paraphrase, rewrite, or summarize content.
Use LanguageTool if you write in multiple languages or prefer open-source tools.
Use a chatbot if you need to generate content, get big-picture feedback, or rewrite sections from scratch.
Many writers use multiple tools: a chatbot for drafting, a dedicated writing assistant for polishing, and Hemingway Editor for final readability checks.
Related resources
For help with drafting and brainstorming, see Which chatbot should I use?. Want to know more about Grammarly specifically? Check out Grammarly: What it does and pricing.