Grammarly vs LanguageTool
A side-by-side look at Grammarly (the paid SaaS) and LanguageTool (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Grammarly | LanguageTool | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | AI-powered grammar, spelling, and tone checker. | Open source grammar, spelling, and style checker. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | LGPL-2.1 |
| Pricing | Free tier; Premium from $12/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 2/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Best for
Grammar and style checking that can run fully offline on your server.
LanguageTool strengths
- Supports 25+ languages.
- Self-hostable — your text never leaves your server.
- Browser extensions and editor integrations.
LanguageTool weaknesses
- Grammar feel less polished than Grammarly on edge cases.
- Premium rules require paid tier or self-host config.
- Java-based deployment footprint.
What's the catch with Grammarly?
- Cloud-based — your writing is sent to Grammarly servers.
- Premium features are paywalled aggressively.
- Browser extension can feel invasive.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Grammarly: see Grammarly alternatives, or learn more about LanguageTool on its project page.
Recommended reading
When self-hosting goes wrong: seven failure modes and how to avoid them
An honest retrospective on the ways self-hosted setups break — not in theory, but in practice — and the small habits that prevent most of them.
Will the open source project you depend on still exist in three years?
Bus factor, maintainer burnout, funding models, and the signals that separate OSS projects that survive from those that quietly decay.
From SaaS to self-hosted: a 30-day migration playbook
A week-by-week plan to move one service off SaaS and onto your own server without breaking your team's workflow.