Indie Alternatives

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Indie alternatives to Grammarly

8 products made by independent developers and small teams that do what Grammarly does, 8 of them with a free plan. Free and open-source options come first.

At a glance

ProductPriceOpen sourceSelf-hostPlatforms
HarperFreeYes–Browser extension, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web
DeepL WriteFree plan––Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension
Hemingway EditorFree plan––Web, Windows, Mac
HyperWriteFree plan––Web, Browser extension
LanguageToolFree planYes–Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension, API
ProWritingAidFree plan––Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension
QuillBotFree plan––Web, Browser extension
WordtuneFree plan––Web, Browser extension

The alternatives

1. Harper

Private, open-source grammar checker

Fast open-source grammar checker that runs locally in editors, browsers and Obsidian without sending text to a server.

Free · Browser extension, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web · Website ↗

2. DeepL Write

AI writing assistant for clearer text

AI tool from DeepL that rephrases and corrects text to improve clarity and tone.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension · Website ↗

3. Hemingway Editor

Highlights hard-to-read sentences to make writing clearer

Hemingway Editor flags long sentences, passive voice and complex words so you can make writing bold and clear, in the browser or as a desktop app.

Free plan · Web, Windows, Mac · Website ↗

4. HyperWrite

AI writing assistant and research tools

AI writing assistant with autocomplete, rewriting and research tools that works across the web.

Free plan · Web, Browser extension · Website ↗

5. LanguageTool

Grammar, style and spell checker for many languages

A multilingual grammar and style checker available as browser extension, desktop and office add-ins, with an open-source core.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension, API · Website ↗

6. ProWritingAid

Grammar checker and style editor for writers

A writing assistant that checks grammar and style and offers in-depth reports on readability, pacing and repetition, aimed at authors and students.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension · Website ↗

7. QuillBot

Paraphrasing and AI writing tools

Online writing tools for paraphrasing, grammar checking, summarizing and citation generation.

Free plan · Web, Browser extension · Website ↗

8. Wordtune

AI rewriting and writing assistant

AI writing assistant that suggests rewrites, tone changes and summaries as you write.

Free plan · Web, Browser extension · Website ↗

Questions

Is there a free alternative to Grammarly?

Yes. 8 of the 8 indie alternatives listed here have a free plan or are free: Harper, DeepL Write, Hemingway Editor, HyperWrite and 4 more.

Is there an open-source alternative to Grammarly?

Harper and LanguageTool are open source.

Which Grammarly alternatives work on Mac, Windows, iPhone or Android?

On Mac: Harper, DeepL Write, Hemingway Editor and 2 more. On Windows: Harper, DeepL Write, Hemingway Editor and 2 more. On Linux: Harper. As a browser extension: Harper, DeepL Write, HyperWrite and 4 more.

What makes these alternatives to Grammarly “indie”?

They are built by independent developers or small teams rather than large companies. Each one is listed because it does the same core job as Grammarly.

Ask your AI instead

Add Indie Alternatives to ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor and ask “a cheaper Grammarly alternative that works on my Mac” in your own words, with your budget and platform. Set it up

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