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Grammarly vs LanguageTool

Grammarly and LanguageTool are both Chrome extensions that check grammar and spelling as you type across the web. Grammarly is best known for English tone and clarity suggestions with a free and paid tier. LanguageTool supports many languages and offers an open-source-based checker, which suits multilingual writers.

Last reviewed · 2 listings · Independent, not affiliated with Google

Choose Grammarly if…

Choose Grammarly if you write mainly in English and want tone and clarity suggestions.

Choose LanguageTool if…

Choose LanguageTool if you write in multiple languages or prefer a lighter, open-source-based checker.

Grammarly vs LanguageTool: feature comparison
FeatureGrammarlyLanguageTool
Chrome extensionYesYes
Free planYesYes
Multilingual supportLimitedYes
Tone suggestionsYesLimited
Works in Google DocsYesYes
Plagiarism checkingPaid plansNo
Open-source basedNoYes
Paid plansYesYes

Our picks

  1. Grammarly

    Grammar and tone suggestions as you type.

    Freemium Writing ✓ AI-powered

  2. LanguageTool

    Multilingual grammar and style checker.

    Freemium Writing ✓ Privacy-friendly

Grammar checker extensions like Grammarly and LanguageTool underline mistakes directly in text boxes, emails and documents as you type. The main difference is scope: Grammarly focuses deeply on English tone and style, while LanguageTool supports a wider range of languages for multilingual writing.

Grammarly extension for Chrome

Grammarly checks spelling, grammar and tone in real time across most websites, including Gmail, Google Docs and social media. Its free plan covers basic corrections, while paid plans add tone rewrites, clarity suggestions and plagiarism checks. It focuses primarily on English writing.

LanguageTool multilingual grammar checking

LanguageTool checks grammar and style across more than twenty languages, which makes it a common choice for writers working in languages other than English. Its free plan covers basic grammar and spelling; paid plans add style rewrites and an increased text length limit for checks.

Is Grammarly safe to use, and choosing between them

Both extensions need permission to read text on pages you type into, which is required for real-time checking. Choose Grammarly if you write mainly in English and want tone suggestions; choose LanguageTool if you write in multiple languages or prefer a checker with an open-source-based engine.

Grammarly vs LanguageTool: FAQs

Is Grammarly or LanguageTool better?

Grammarly is stronger for English tone and clarity suggestions, while LanguageTool is better if you write in multiple languages. Neither is universally better; it depends on which languages and features you need.

Is Grammarly safe to use as a Chrome extension?

Grammarly requires permission to read text on pages you type into so it can check grammar in real time. This is expected for its function; only install it from the official Chrome Web Store listing.

Is LanguageTool free to use?

Yes. LanguageTool offers a free plan that checks basic grammar and spelling. Paid plans add style rewrites, a longer text limit per check and additional writing suggestions.

Can I use Grammarly and LanguageTool together?

Running both at once is not recommended since they can conflict when underlining the same text. Most people pick one grammar checker extension to avoid duplicate or overlapping suggestions.

Does Grammarly work on Google Docs?

Yes, Grammarly's Chrome extension works inside Google Docs, underlining grammar, spelling and clarity issues as you type, alongside most other text fields on the web.

Is LanguageTool the only good Grammarly alternative?

LanguageTool is a common Grammarly alternative, especially for multilingual writing. Other alternatives include browser and OS-level spell checkers, though they lack tone and clarity suggestions.

Does Grammarly cost money?

Grammarly has a free plan covering basic grammar and spelling. Paid plans add tone rewrites, clarity suggestions and plagiarism checking for users who need more than basic corrections.

Is LanguageTool as accurate as Grammarly for English?

For English, Grammarly generally offers more refined tone and style suggestions, while LanguageTool covers core grammar and spelling well. Accuracy for basic grammar is comparable between the two.

Does LanguageTool work in Chrome and other browsers?

Yes, LanguageTool is available as a Chrome extension and also works in other Chromium-based browsers since they share the same extension platform.

Can I switch Grammarly or LanguageTool off on certain sites?

Yes, both Grammarly and LanguageTool let you disable checking on individual websites through their extension menu or a toolbar toggle. This is useful on sites where you don't want suggestions, such as password fields or code editors.