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LanguageTool languagetool.org

Free alternatives to LanguageTool

LanguageTool costs $5.47/mo on the Team plan, or $65.64 a year. Here are 4 free and open-source options, what each one does, and what you give up compared with paying.

Prices checked Aug 12, 2026Can AI replace it? Bot

01At a glance

AlternativeTypeWhere it runsWorks on
Apple Writing ToolsFreeHosted or self-hostedMac, iPhone
HarperOpen sourceOne-click installMac, Android, Browser extension
Writing ToolsOpen sourceOn your deviceMac, Windows
WritingToolOpen sourceOn your deviceMac, Windows, Linux

02Each alternative, in detail

Apple Writing ToolsFree

Proofread, rewrite, shorten, or change tone almost anywhere, assuming your Apple hardware made the guest list.

Versus paying: It is convenient on supported Apple hardware, but it covers fewer languages and gives less rule-based grammar explanation and customization than LanguageTool.

Setup: Built into current macOS, iOS and iPadOS; enable Apple Intelligence and let the required models download

Watch for: Requires Apple Intelligence-compatible Apple hardware, a supported language/region and several gigabytes of downloaded models

support.apple.com →
HarperOpen source

A fast English grammar checker that stays on your device and mostly keeps its opinions to itself.

14,200 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)

writewithharper.com →
Writing ToolsOpen source

Select text anywhere, hit a hotkey, and fix, rewrite, summarize, or obey a custom instruction without opening another tab.

Versus paying: It relies on generative models for corrections, so checks are less deterministic and its multilingual grammar rules and explanations are much thinner than LanguageTool's.

Setup: Use the portable Windows ZIP or macOS DMG; Linux currently runs from source

Watch for: You must supply an API key or install a local model; macOS needs Accessibility permissions, while Linux installation and Wayland support remain rough

2,400 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)

github.com →
WritingToolOpen source

A LibreOffice extension with long-document checks, style statistics, profiles, and local AI; installing Java is the cover charge.

Versus paying: Its LanguageTool-based checks are strong inside LibreOffice, but browser, email, mobile, and cross-application coverage are much weaker than LanguageTool's.

Setup: Install LibreOffice 24.2+, Java 17+, then add the downloaded .oxt LibreOffice extension

Watch for: Java 17 and a recent LibreOffice are mandatory, and users must manually install and approve the extension

65 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)

writingtool.org →

03What you give up by leaving LanguageTool

  • premium rule set
  • hosted server convenience
  • browser extension premium flows
  • team/admin options
  • support

They pay for hosted convenience, premium rules, and cross-device setup.

04Questions

Is there a free alternative to LanguageTool?

Yes. This page compares 4: Apple Writing Tools, Harper, Writing Tools and WritingTool. 3 of them are open source, so you can run them yourself.

How much does LanguageTool cost?

$5.47/mo on the Team plan (annual billing, per user per month), which is $65.64 a year. Prices checked Aug 12, 2026.

What do you give up with a free alternative to LanguageTool?

Most often: premium rule set, hosted server convenience, browser extension premium flows and team/admin options. Each alternative on this page lists its own gap under “Versus paying.”

Can AI build me my own version of LanguageTool?

Bot. Because the core engine is open source, a technical user can run the grammar checker locally or self-host the server for many use cases.

Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you decide.