🤝 no affiliate links · no paid placements · every entry lists honest trade-offs · updated 2026-08

Grammarly Premium alternatives

Killing $12-30/mo (~$144/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.

the answer easy migration
LanguageTool (self-host) · Free self-host / cheaper premium tiers ⭐ 14.9K stars

Open-source grammar & style checker for 30+ languages; browser add-on + API.

you stop paying $12-30/mo → keep ~$144/yr

head-to-head

LanguageTool (self-host)
price Free self-host / cheaper premium tiers
self-hostable yes
license LGPL-2.1-or-later
verified 2026-08
migration easy effort

free & open source (2)

LanguageTool (self-host) oss ⭐ 14.9K self-host LGPL-2.1-or-later
Free self-host / cheaper premium tiers

Open-source grammar & style checker for 30+ languages; browser add-on + API.

trade-offs: Style suggestions weaker than Grammarly Premium

github →
Harper oss ⭐ 14.7K Apache-2.0
Free

Blazing-fast offline grammar checking built in Rust — privacy-first.

trade-offs: English-focused · Fewer integrations

github →

migration guide

Self-host LanguageTool for grammar checking

⏱ ~40 minutes
  1. Run LanguageTool via Docker on any small server or even a Raspberry Pi.
  2. Install the LanguageTool browser extension → settings → point it at your own server URL.
  3. Enjoy: your text never leaves your network again.
  4. Accept honestly: some premium style rules won't exist — the core grammar engine is identical.
  5. Add the Harper plugin if you live in VS Code/Obsidian.
  6. Cancel Grammarly Premium.
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faq

What is the best free alternative to Grammarly Premium?

LanguageTool (self-host) is the top free option — Open-source grammar & style checker for 30+ languages; browser add-on + API.

How much can I save by switching from Grammarly Premium?

Grammarly Premium costs $12-30/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $144/year per seat.

Can Grammarly Premium be self-hosted?

Yes — LanguageTool (self-host) can be self-hosted for free.