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Best Free
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Best For Academics
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Best For Microsoft Word Users
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Best For Fiction Writers
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As much as we’d like to say humans are perfect, we’re simply not. We proofread our content before letting others read it and sometimes we have editors who analyze every element too. But mistakes still slip through the cracks. That’s why a best grammar checker app can help you catch typos and double check your work.
These proofreading checker apps for online grammar check everything to help make you look professional and polish. Whether it be an email or a novel. We’ve reviewed the best writing editing software by category to help you decide which company is best for your writing style.
Best Proofreading Software For Writers (For Each Category)
When we were reviewing each of these companies we realized how different they are. Each is catered toward a specific type of writing. So instead of having a top three for best proofreading app, we picked our “Best for” categories. If you’re looking for an editor for a specific style of writing, click one of the links in the table above, or read all of the reviews.
Best For Online Writers: Grammarly Review
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The team at We Rock Your Web uses Grammarly for articles, emails, social media posts and more. You can use the desktop app to copy and paste emails or articles or use the browser plugin to scan your social media content before posting.
Either way you use the tool, it underlines what should be fixed, recommends words to reduce redundancy as well as find opportunities to update passive to active voice (in addition to common spelling and grammar).
It also checks for plagiarism to make sure you aren’t inadvertently copying someone else’s work. (Fortunately, we’ve never seen this feature in action).
The only downside, Grammarly cannot be used without an internet connection. We’ve also found it suggests more commas than you need. It also doesn’t allow for “rules” or exceptions.
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Pricing
- Free version
- Premium
- Monthly: $29.95/month
- Quarterly: $59.95/quarter ($19.98/month)
- Annually: $139.95/year ($11.66/month)
See Grammarly In Action
We used Grammarly to edit this article, and after our first draft, the score was 76/100 for spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, style and more. We try to get that number as close to 100 as possible so the reading experience is pleasant for you. After all of our edits, this article now has a score of 92/100.
Best For Online Writers: WhiteSmoke Review
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WhiteSmoke is a well-known grammar checking app. However, we’re a bit bummed that our virus software blocked access to the website.
Fortunately, we were able to visit the mobile website, but wish ESET and WhiteSmoke could get this problem settled since it’s been an issue since 2013.
Besides that, WhiteSmoke is a good grammar checker. It functions similarly to Grammarly, but we like how user-friendly and intuitive Grammarly is, which is why it’s ranked higher.
Plus, WhiteSmoke has fewer online reviews, and most of the ones we managed to find are negative.
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Pricing
Essential plans work for Windows while Premium plans work for Windows or Mac and also include the web and desktop versions.
- Desktop Premium is a desktop download for grammar, spelling, punctuation and style: $13.33/month (or $79.95 annually)
- WhiteSmoke Web is a browser-based grammar, spelling, punctuation and style checker. There is no installation required, and it can work on any computer you use: $10.00/month (or $59.95 annually)
- View all plans
Best For Online Writers: Ginger Review
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Ginger has a professional look to it. A couple of unique features for Ginger are its text reading and word prediction capabilities, translation between 60 languages, and personalized practice sessions.
It works as a Desktop app, with Microsoft or as a browser plugin. Plus they have a 100% money back guarantee on all plans.
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Pricing
Below is Premium pricing.
- Monthly: $29.96/month
- Annual: $12.48/month
- View all plans
Best Free Grammar Checker: Paper Rater Review
Paper Rater isn’t a popular proofreading checker, and we couldn’t find a lot of user feedback online, so we didn’t feel right putting it in our top three. However, we do think it’s worth trying out, which is why it’s our pick for best free service.
We encourage you to try Paper Rater and then see how you like it. If it didn’t catch all of your errors, move on to the next grammar checker service. If you’re a student, this is an excellent option for you.
We should note that the free version only allows for up to five pages of submission at a time, but you could get around that by splitting any papers up into five-page chunks.
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Pricing
- Basic: Free
- Premium: $14.95/month or $95.40/year
Best For Academics: Turnitin Review
Turnitin is geared toward educational institutions to help schools prevent plagiarism. We wouldn’t recommend this to anyone other than teachers, professors, universities and schools.
Prices are not listed online because you have to reach out for a consultation. We didn’t include pros and cons for Turnitin because its primary focus is plagiarism and there isn’t much feedback online about how it performs, which makes sense since most schools and universities normally don’t write online reviews.
Pricing
You have to contact Turnitin directly for a consultation and pricing but below are the two products available.
- Revision Assistant helps students improve writing with instant feedback.
- Feedback Studio provides feedback, assesses the writing and checks for plagiarism.
Best For Microsoft Word Users: StyleWriter Review
StyleWriter is exceptionally detailed in its editing. It checks everything from misused words to sexist writing. Unlike it’s name implies, this editor is not very stylish.
StyleWriter is an add-on software license to Microsoft (MS) Word and only works on Windows machines. If the majority of your work is done through MS-Word, we recommend giving StyleWriter a try for offline proofreading software.
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Pricing
- 14-day free trial
- Starter: $90
- Standard: $150
- Professional: $190
- License extension (can install on up to three devices): $30
Best for Manuscript Editing: AutoCrit Review
AutoCrit is unique in that it is geared toward manuscript editing for fiction writers. If you’re a creative writer looking to save costs on a human editor, Autocrit may be worth considering.
Autocrit helps you pace your novel and hook your readers. It even compares your writing to well-known others. If you’re trying to make it big in the book business, this may be the editing software for you.
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Pricing
- Free Forever: $0/month
- Professional: $30/month
- Elite: $80/month
- View all options
Other Collaboration Tools For Your Team
If your writing team needs other collaboration tools to improve communication and effectiveness we recommend reading this article. It includes project management software, cloud storage companies, online backup companies, video conferencing software and more.
Do you have a common mistake in your writing? For me, it’s comma usage.
Disclaimer: This website contains reviews, opinions and information regarding products and services manufactured or provided by third parties. We are not responsible in any way for such products and services, and nothing contained here should be construed as a guarantee of the functionality, utility, safety or reliability of any product or services reviewed or discussed. Please follow the directions provided by the manufacturer or service provider when using any product or service reviewed or discussed on this website.
ATTENTION! White Smoke is a company that fools its customers. I bought a lifetime license in 2014 but it has been 2 years since it expires as if it were a Trial. After many contacts with an ultra-slow and ineffective service, I decided not to look for more to reactivate my license and to let anyone else fall into this blow.
Our company has been using Grammarly for about a year now, we include it as part of the review process for most all our external communications and presentations, reports etc. Not 100 percent accurate but much better than built in spell checkers.
None of these are much good if your understanding of grammar and usage is poor. Blindly accepting suggestions will often result in poor documents. So, truth be told, these tools are best for people with a decent command of written English but who are a tad careless.