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LanguageTool is a strong fit for multilingual writing checks and style suggestions, but its browser extension is now a sticking point: Reddit threads report that using it requires Premium. One commenter also cites £19.90 monthly billing, compared with £59.90 for an annual plan. The alternatives below are not all direct replacements. Grammarly and QuillBot suit general proofreading; others are built for book writing, fiction or team workflows. Check the feature and price fit before switching.
01Why people leave LanguageTool
The extension now requires Premium
Reddit users report that LanguageTool's browser extension now requires a Premium subscription, which can make the free plan less useful.
Monthly billing feels steep
One commenter cites £19.90 per month, versus £59.90 per year; the annual price works out much lower per month.
Self-hosting adds setup work
Commenters say self-hosting is an option, but mention substantial storage needs and server maintenance concerns.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Business proofreading
GrammarlyGrammarlyGrammarly is the closest broad proofreader in this shortlist if you want to move away from LanguageTool's browser extension. Its free plan is described as a good proofreader, and its best-fit users include non-native English speakers writing business emails and students proofreading essays. It starts at $12 and also targets teams that want shared style guides.
Trade-off: Pro rewrites and prompts may not justify the price for casual writers.
6.5/10from
€12/mofree plan - Budget grammar fixes
QuillBotQuillBotQuillBot is a reasonable switch if your main needs are quick grammar fixes and paraphrasing, rather than LanguageTool's multilingual checks. It has a free plan and starts at $8.33. The listed fit includes writers wanting unlimited paraphrase rewrites and teams needing centralized per-seat billing, so it may suit routine editing on a budget.
Trade-off: Its humanizer is not a safe bet for passing AI detectors.
6.0/10from
$8.33/mofree plan - Book-length editing
ProWritingAidProWritingAidProWritingAid makes more sense than LanguageTool if you want planning and editing together for a book project. Its listed audience includes novelists and self-publishers, and it starts at $10 with a free plan. The published summary lists $10 per month on annual billing, giving budget-conscious writers a clear price reference.
Trade-off: Optional AI suggestions may not suit writers who dislike AI features.
6.3/10from
$10/mofree plan - Team writing standards
WriterWriterWriter is worth considering if the reason for leaving is shared writing standards across an organization, not just individual proofreading. Its listed strengths are shared workflows, agent governance and grounding AI in company knowledge. That is a different, more team-oriented use case than LanguageTool's multilingual writing checks.
Trade-off: Pricing is not published, so value is hard to judge.
6.5/10from
Custom - AI manuscript editor
Type.aiType.aiType.ai is a better fit if you want an AI-integrated manuscript editor rather than a general-purpose grammar checker. The listed features include Story Notes, writing rules, offline mode and audio, and it starts at $8 with a free plan. It is aimed at writers working on manuscripts, not teams sharing broad writing standards.
Trade-off: Monthly pricing is uncertain, and credits can burn quickly.
5.8/10from
$8/mofree plan - Fiction drafting
SudowriteSudowriteSudowrite is a specialist switch for novelists who need structured outlining and multiple AI model options, not a like-for-like LanguageTool replacement. Its fiction toolkit is described as deep, and the listed starting price is $10. Consider it when your main problem is developing a manuscript rather than checking everyday multilingual writing.
Trade-off: Reddit discussions repeatedly raise price and credit caps.
6.1/10from
$10/mo
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 LanguageTool LanguageTool (current) | 7.3 | $5.53/mo | Yes | Writers working across several languages |
| Grammarly Grammarly | 6.5 | €12/mo | Yes | Non-native English speakers writing business emails |
| QuillBot QuillBot | 6.0 | $8.33/mo | Yes | Quick grammar fixes on a budget |
| ProWritingAid ProWritingAid | 6.3 | $10/mo | Yes | Novelists wanting planning plus editing together |
| Writer Writer | 6.5 | Custom | No | Marketing teams with shared workflows |
| Type.ai Type.ai | 5.8 | $8/mo | Yes | Writers who want an AI-integrated manuscript editor |
| Sudowrite Sudowrite | 6.1 | $10/mo | No | Novelists drafting full manuscripts |
Questions people ask
Is LanguageTool still free?
The pricing page marks LanguageTool as having a free plan. However, Reddit threads report that the browser extension now requires Premium. The sources do not specify exactly which free features remain available, so check the current plan details if extension access is the reason you are considering a switch.
Which LanguageTool alternative is best for proofreading?
Grammarly is the broadest proofreading pick in this list: its published summary describes a good free proofreader and names business email writers and students among its best-fit users. QuillBot is another option for quick grammar fixes and paraphrasing. Neither listing confirms LanguageTool's multilingual coverage.
Can I keep using LanguageTool without Premium?
Reddit commenters say LanguageTool can be self-hosted using its server software, and one commenter mentions running a personal server. They also raise storage and maintenance concerns. The sources do not establish the exact setup requirements or current limits, so self-hosting may not be the simplest route for everyone.