How to Get the Grammarly Chromebook Extension Set Up (and Working in Docs)

Can You Use Grammarly on a Chromebook?

Yes. A Chromebook runs Chrome OS, which uses the same Chrome browser as Windows or Mac, so the Grammarly extension installs and runs exactly the same way. There's no separate "Chromebook version" — the regular Grammarly for Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store is the one you want.

Grammarly integrates directly into your browser and, according to its Chrome Web Store listing, offers real-time suggestions across Gmail, Google Docs, LinkedIn, and 500,000+ other sites. If you're comparing grammar checkers before committing to one, the grammar checker hub lists other options built for the same job, and the writing extensions category covers tools beyond grammar checking. For more Chrome OS picks in general, see the best Chromebook extensions.

How to Install the Grammarly Extension on a Chromebook

Installing Grammarly on a Chromebook follows the same steps as any other Chrome extension, per Google's own guide to installing extensions.

1. Open the Chrome Web Store and go to the Grammarly listing.
2. Select Add to Chrome, then confirm by selecting Add extension when Chrome shows you the permissions it needs.
3. Wait for the install to finish, then select the puzzle-piece Extensions icon to the right of the address bar.
4. Select the Grammarly icon and choose Sign up or Log in with your existing account.
5. Open Gmail or Google Docs and start typing — Grammarly's underlines and floating icon should appear within a few seconds.

Grammarly Extension vs the Android App on a Chromebook

Some Chromebooks can also run Android apps from the Google Play Store, including Grammarly's Android app. The two aren't interchangeable, and the extension is the better default for most Chromebook writing.

Not every Chromebook supports the Play Store — some lower-end and older models don't. On those devices the extension is your only option anyway, which makes it the simpler starting point for nearly everyone.

Does Grammarly Work in Google Docs on a Chromebook?

Yes. The Grammarly extension checks your writing directly inside Google Docs on a Chromebook, showing underlines and suggestions the same way it does in Gmail or on any other site, based on Grammarly's own Chrome Web Store description.

Grammarly also runs a separate product called Grammarly Docs, described on its listing as its own "dedicated writing space for deep focus and strategic insights." That's a different destination from Google Docs — it's Grammarly's own document editor, not an add-on inside Google's app. For most Chromebook users writing in Google Docs, the browser extension is what you want; Grammarly Docs is worth trying only if you're starting a document from scratch and don't need Google's sharing and collaboration tools.

What's Free vs Pro in Grammarly on a Chromebook

The extension behaves the same on a Chromebook whether you're on the Free plan or Pro — the difference is which suggestions it shows, not which platform it supports.

Free

Grammar, spelling, and punctuation corrections; clarity and tone suggestions; auto-citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago style; AI help to brainstorm, draft, and rewrite, per Grammarly's own feature list.

Pro

Everything in Free, plus sentence rewrites for flow and engagement, tone/formality/word-choice enhancements, audience insights, and plagiarism detection with AI content checks.

If tone coaching and plagiarism checks matter to you, weigh Grammarly against LanguageTool on the Grammarly vs LanguageTool comparison page before deciding whether Pro is worth paying for.

Grammarly Extension Not Working on Your Chromebook? Try This

If Grammarly's icon doesn't underline anything or the floating button never shows up, the fix is usually a permissions or site-access setting rather than a Chromebook-specific bug.

• Check that the extension is turned on: open chrome://extensions, find Grammarly, and confirm the toggle is on, per Google's extension management guide.
• Confirm site access: on the Grammarly card, select Details, then set "read and change all your data on websites you visit" to On all sites if you want it available everywhere.
• Refresh the tab. Extensions that were just enabled or granted new permissions often need the page reloaded before they activate.
• Sign out and back into Grammarly from the extension icon if suggestions stop appearing but the icon is still visible.
• If your Chromebook is managed by a school or workplace, ask your admin whether Grammarly is on an allowed list — organizations can block specific extensions, per Google's documentation.

What Permissions Does Grammarly Need on a Chromebook?

Grammarly's Chrome Web Store listing discloses that the extension handles personally identifiable information, personal communications, location, user activity, and website content — it has to read what you type in order to check it.

The same listing states the developer's data-handling declarations: your data is not being sold to third parties outside approved use cases, not being used for purposes unrelated to the extension's core function, and not being used to determine creditworthiness or for lending. Review the full policy at grammarly.com/privacy-policy before deciding how broadly to grant site access.

Grammarly Alternatives Worth Trying on a Chromebook

If Grammarly's Pro price doesn't fit your budget, or you want a second opinion on a draft, several other extensions run fine on Chrome OS.

Full comparisons live on the grammar checker hub and on Grammarly's own alternatives page, if you want more than a shortlist.