Grammarly

What is Grammarly?

Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps over 30 million people and 70,000 teams communicate more effectively every day. Founded in 2009 by Alex Shevchenko, Max Lytvyn, and Dmytro Lider, Grammarly has evolved from a simple grammar checker into a comprehensive writing platform that analyzes text for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery. The service works across virtually every platform where you write, from emails and documents to social media and messaging apps.

What sets Grammarly apart is its context-aware AI that understands not just grammar rules but writing intent, audience, and tone. The platform catches errors that basic spell checkers miss, suggests ways to make writing clearer and more impactful, and now offers generative AI features that can help draft, rewrite, and ideate content. Whether you’re a student writing essays, a professional crafting business communications, or a content creator producing articles, Grammarly serves as an always-available writing coach that improves your communication instantly.

Key Features

• Grammar and Spelling: Catches contextual spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and punctuation issues that standard checkers miss
• Clarity Improvements: Suggests rewrites to eliminate wordiness, passive voice, and unclear phrasing
• Tone Detection: Analyzes writing tone and suggests adjustments to match your intended audience
• Plagiarism Checker: Compares text against billions of web pages to identify unoriginal content (Premium)
• Vocabulary Enhancement: Suggests more precise or impactful word choices to elevate your writing
• Style Guide: Create custom rules for brand voice, terminology, and writing standards (Business)
• GrammarlyGO: Generative AI assistant that drafts, rewrites, and helps ideate content
• Browser Extension: Works across Gmail, Google Docs, social media, and virtually any website
• Desktop Apps: Native applications for Windows and macOS with system-wide integration
• Mobile Keyboard: Full Grammarly functionality on iOS and Android devices

What’s New in Grammarly 2025

• GrammarlyGO Enhancements: More powerful AI writing assistance with better context understanding and longer content generation
• Voice Detection: Analyzes and helps maintain consistent brand voice across all communications
• Strategic Suggestions: AI-powered recommendations for improving persuasiveness and impact
• Improved Integrations: Enhanced support for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Slack
• Team Analytics: Detailed insights into team writing patterns and improvement opportunities
• Snippet Library: Save and quickly insert frequently used text passages
• Citation Assistance: Help formatting citations in various academic styles
• Multi-Language Support: Expanded support for non-English writing assistance

System Requirements

Windows

• Operating System: Windows 10 or later
• Processor: 1 GHz or faster
• RAM: 4 GB minimum
• Storage: 200 MB for desktop app
• Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari extensions available

macOS

• Operating System: macOS 10.14 Mojave or later
• Processor: Intel or Apple Silicon (native M1/M2/M3 support)
• RAM: 4 GB minimum
• Storage: 200 MB for desktop app

Mobile

• iOS: iOS 14.0 or later (Grammarly Keyboard)
• Android: Android 7.0 or later (Grammarly Keyboard)
• Features: Full grammar checking, suggestions, and GrammarlyGO on mobile

How to Install Grammarly

1. Create Account: Visit grammarly.com and sign up with email, Google, Facebook, or Apple account. Free accounts include basic grammar and spelling checks.
2. Install Browser Extension: Visit grammarly.com/browser and install for your preferred browser. The extension activates automatically on most websites where you type.
3. Install Desktop App (Windows): Download from grammarly.com/desktop. The Windows app provides system-wide writing assistance across all applications, not just browsers.
4. Install Desktop App (macOS): Download from grammarly.com/desktop or the Mac App Store. Enable accessibility permissions when prompted for full functionality.
5. Install Mobile Keyboard: Download Grammarly Keyboard from App Store or Google Play:

   # iOS Setup
   # 1. Download Grammarly Keyboard from App Store
   # 2. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard
   # 3. Add New Keyboard > Grammarly
   # 4. Enable "Allow Full Access"
   
   # Android Setup
   # 1. Download Grammarly Keyboard from Play Store
   # 2. Open app and follow setup wizard
   # 3. Set as default keyboard when prompted
   # 4. Sign in to sync with account

6. Configure Preferences: Access Grammarly settings to set language dialect (American, British, Canadian, Australian English), personal dictionary, and writing goals.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Works everywhere you write with comprehensive platform coverage
• Catches contextual errors that basic spell checkers miss
• Tone and clarity suggestions improve overall writing quality
• GrammarlyGO provides helpful AI writing assistance
• Free tier offers genuine value for basic needs
• Plagiarism checker invaluable for academic and professional writing
• Clean, non-intrusive interface across all platforms
• Vocabulary suggestions expand writing range
• Style guides maintain consistency for teams
• Continuous improvement through AI learning

Cons

• Premium subscription required for advanced features
• Occasional false positives on stylistic choices
• Can be overly aggressive with suggestions for creative writing
• Privacy concerns about text being processed on cloud servers
• Limited offline functionality
• GrammarlyGO prompts limited on free and Premium plans

Grammarly vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Grammarly?

Grammarly is ideal for anyone who writes regularly and wants to improve their communication:

• Students: Essay writing, research papers, and academic communication benefit from grammar and plagiarism checking
• Professionals: Email, reports, and business documents become clearer and more polished
• Content Creators: Blog posts, social media, and marketing copy improved with style suggestions
• Non-Native Speakers: Contextual corrections help improve English writing skills over time
• Remote Workers: Written communication becomes more important when you can’t rely on verbal cues
• Teams: Style guides and analytics ensure consistent, high-quality writing across organizations

Consider alternatives if: You write primarily in languages other than English (LanguageTool supports 30+ languages), you’re a novelist wanting deep style analysis (ProWritingAid), or you need fully offline capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grammarly free to use?

Yes, Grammarly offers a free tier that includes basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation checking. Premium ($12/month) adds clarity, engagement, delivery suggestions, plagiarism detection, and more GrammarlyGO prompts. Business plans add team features and style guides.

Does Grammarly store my writing?

Grammarly processes text on its servers to provide suggestions. The company states it doesn’t sell user data and uses text only to provide and improve services. Enterprise plans offer additional data controls. Users concerned about privacy can review Grammarly’s privacy policy.

Can Grammarly check documents offline?

Grammarly requires an internet connection for full functionality as it uses cloud-based AI. The desktop app can cache some functionality, but suggestions require connectivity. For offline needs, consider downloaded alternatives.

Is Grammarly better than Microsoft Editor?

Grammarly generally offers more comprehensive suggestions, better cross-platform support, and features like plagiarism checking that Microsoft Editor lacks. However, Microsoft Editor is free with Microsoft 365 and integrates more deeply with Word and Outlook.

Will Grammarly work with Google Docs?

Yes, Grammarly works excellently with Google Docs through its browser extension. Suggestions appear inline as you type, and you can accept or dismiss them with a click. Similar integration exists for Gmail, social media, and most web-based text editors.

Final Verdict

Grammarly has established itself as the leading writing assistant by delivering genuine value across the writing spectrum—from catching embarrassing typos to suggesting sophisticated improvements in clarity and tone. The platform’s ubiquitous availability means better writing wherever you communicate, while the AI-powered suggestions continuously learn and improve.

While the premium pricing may give budget-conscious users pause, the free tier provides substantial value, and the investment in Premium pays dividends for anyone whose success depends on clear written communication. With the addition of GrammarlyGO and continued AI advancements, Grammarly is evolving from a passive checker into an active writing partner that helps you communicate more effectively.