LanguageTool is a popular AI-based grammar checker. It is available as a free — limited — version and a premium version that offers more features for a price.
Free LanguageTool users were limited in several ways since the introduction of the service. It lacked the advanced spell, style and grammar checking capabilities of the premium version. However, up until now, free users could use LanguageTool browser add-ons for deeper integration in web browsers.
This integration is being taken away. When you open the comparison of the free and premium version on the official website, you will notice that Learneo, Inc, the owners of the service, have removed browser add-ons support for free users.
The only integration that remains available is for the open source email client Thunderbird. Support for every browser listed on the page requires a premium subscription now.
Why is LanguageTool making the change? The company does not say, but the main reason is likely to drive subscriptions. Free users who have come to rely on the tool may not want to lose access to it. The only option, if they want to continue using the add-ons, is to pay LanguageTool for the privilege.
LanguageTool users may use copy and paste for the checking of style, spelling, and grammar, but it is cumbersome in comparison.
LanguageTool alternatives
There are two groups that I would like to highlight.
- The first offers capabilities that are very similar to LanguageTool. These tools rely on server-side checks, like LanguageTool, which makes them convenient to use but not-so-great for privacy.
- The second group runs locally. This is much better for privacy, but features may be limited because of that or not as powerful.
Best privacy-friendly alternatives
Harper is a free locally-hosted open source grammar checker. That is great for privacy and it does come with browser and services integrations. Since it runs locally, its latency is much lower than that of cloud-based services.
However, the main downside is that Harper supports English only. The developers hinted in the past that other languages would be added in the future, but for now, English and some if its major dialects is all you get.
Self-hosted LanguageTool. It may come as a surprise, but you can actually host a LanguageTool server, if you have the technical know-how to get it up and running. This allows you to continue using the add-ons — I think — and you find starting instructions here. Could be an option for technical users who do not mind setting up their own server and fiddling around with configurations and such.
General alternatives
If you do not mind that your texts are transferred to cloud-based servers for checking, you may find the following tools or services useful.
QuillBot is an all-in-one writing assistant that offers a similar feature set. The free version checks spelling and grammar, comes with a few AI-based features, such as paraphrasing text (up to 125 words), browser extensions (no Firefox apparently), and some other applications and operating systems.
Windows users who use Edge may also check out the free Microsoft Editor of the browser. It offers limited grammar and spell-checking, but lacks deeper functionality.
Grammarly is another popular choice, but it has been criticized heavily in the past for its data collection practices.
Now You: do you use a grammar checker service or something else to make sure that mistakes are kept to a minimum? Feel free to post your suggestions and about your experience with these tools below.
I personally don’t use any grammar checker dedicated service/software/extension.
In my experience English, when spoken/written in simple terms and free of styling (technical/medical for instance) doesn’t confront a user who has a basic knowledge of the language to grammar issues, contrarily to other languages.
In my case French being my mother-tongue and having the chance to master it quite efficiently, a grammar checker would be obsolete. As for English, the only foreign language I happen to deal with, not being fluent with it as with French, my limit will be lesser grammar then speaking/writing English but in simple terms, free of any stylish structures which are often those that lead to grammar issues.
English is apart in that it can support the most simplistic thoughts and writings as well as the most elaborated, which may trick some of us to believe we are fluent in this language given we can order fast-food in Shakespeare’s language yet unable to understand Shakespeare’s writings: it’s a pragmatic language, quasi universal because of basic simplicity, yet includes upper floors where the most talented of use can express the most elaborated thoughts of mankind …
Now, when it comes to spelling, and especially in French, I confess many, many mistakes because there is no rule in spelling, or very few and even less in French: one ‘l’ or two, one ‘t’, ‘p’ or two and so on. Still gets me crazy which is why I extensively use the browser’s native spell checker which points-out mistakes in real-time… and it points-out quite often here 🙂
Be it grammar or spelling the way to improve is to read, not only comics but literature. I confess that I haven’t been for years the reader I was in my younger years.
I am trying Harper now. Now as good LanguageTool , but let’s see how it works.
I do not use any apps to check my gramma, I just call her or stop by and vist for a while.
Ohhhh…. groan.
Well played though. 😉
Hmmm . . . maybe I am using something else; I finished a fresh installation of Windows and setting up a fresh profile in FF and easily installed LanguageTool. It isn’t removed from FF Extensions and is still recommended:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/languagetool/
@VioletMoon,
According to the announcement, for two weeks you can try LanguageTool Premium for free. Afterward, LanguageTool’s grammar checker and paraphraser will stop working for free users on the extension.
https://languagetool.org/webextension/premium-announcement
I use the online checker at the languagetool.org webpage. It has some limitations, but it is enough for what I need.
The Firefox version was updated 6 months ago. But the Chrome extension was updated recently. Upon installing it, the add-on opens a new tab that says. https://languagetool.org/webextension/welcome?new&v=10.0.8
“Experience LanguageTool Premium — Free for 14 Days
Inside the browser add-on, all premium features are now enabled for you. Absolutely free, with no hidden fees.
Timeline:
Today
All premium features unlocked
Get the most out of LanguageTool: Generative AI, advanced grammar checking, translation, paraphrasing, and much more.
January 20
Premium trial ends automatically
You don’t have to do anything. You will not be charged. If you want to continue using the LanguageTool browser add-on, you can subscribe to Premium”
Here is a screenshot of the page and the plugin’s UI.https://postimg.cc/RJ98hxrV/f9fed4e3
Opening the add-on’s Settings page shows this. https://postimg.cc/62Bg5NxB
It says “Your LanguageTool Premium trial ends in 14 days. Upgrade to maintain access to this browser add-on and enhance the quality of your writing.”
So, it looks like the add-on won’t be available for free users.
One can find all the Recommended extensions here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/extensions/
2025 Picks are here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/