CompareAIOur verdict
Grammarly is the rare utility that becomes invisible: after a month you stop noticing it and just notice that your writing has fewer embarrassing moments. The free tier alone prevents most of the mistakes that cost professionals credibility.
Our take: install the free extension and use it for two weeks. Upgrade to Premium only if you find yourself wanting the rewrite suggestions — most casual users never need them.
What is Grammarly?
Grammarly is an AI writing assistant that checks grammar, spelling, clarity, tone, and style everywhere you type — browser, desktop apps, email, Google Docs, and a mobile keyboard. The free tier catches the basics; Premium adds advanced rewrites, tone adjustments, and generative AI drafting.
Its advantage is distribution: because it lives in your browser and keyboard rather than a separate app, it improves the emails, docs, and messages you're already writing instead of asking you to change where you write.
- Best for
- Professionals, students, and non-native English speakers who want everything they write to read cleanly without thinking about it.
- Skip if
- You're already a strong writer who finds real-time suggestions distracting — run it only on final drafts, or skip it.
- Affiliate program
- Grammarly pays $20 per Premium sale plus $0.20 per free signup (plus a $25 activation bonus), 90-day cookie, via Impact. Note: payouts by check/ACH/wire, no PayPal. Terms verified Sept 2026.
Key features
- Grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks in real time
- Clarity, conciseness, and tone suggestions
- Generative AI for drafting, rewriting, and ideation
- Plagiarism checker on higher tiers
- Style guides and brand tones for teams
- Works across browser, desktop, mobile, and major apps
Pricing
Grammarly has a genuinely useful free tier. Premium is a per-person subscription with monthly or annual billing; Business plans add team controls and are priced per seat. Check grammarly.com for current pricing.
SaaS pricing changes often — confirm current prices on the vendor's site before buying.
Pros & cons
What we like
- Works everywhere you already write — no workflow change
- Free tier catches the errors that matter most
- Tone detector saves you from sending the wrong email
- Trusted, established brand people already know
What could be better
- Suggestions can be overzealous — it flags style, not just errors
- Advanced rewrites and AI features need Premium
- It reads what you type, so privacy-conscious users should review the policy
Frequently asked questions
Is Grammarly free?
Yes — the free tier includes grammar, spelling, and basic clarity checks. Premium adds advanced rewrites, tone adjustments, and generative AI features.
Does Grammarly work with Google Docs and email?
Yes — the browser extension works in Google Docs, Gmail, and most web apps, plus there are desktop apps and a mobile keyboard.
Does Grammarly store what I type?
Grammarly processes your text on its servers to provide suggestions. If you handle sensitive material, review their privacy and security policies — Business plans offer additional controls.
Is Grammarly better than built-in spellcheck?
Significantly — it catches grammar, clarity, and tone issues that spellcheckers miss, and suggests actual rewrites rather than just flagging words.