- Pick it if you are:
- Bloggers focused on readability; Business writers needing concise communication
- Top complaint:
- No grammar checking - only style analysis
- Price:
- Free plan, paid from $10/mo
- Pick it if you are:
- Writers in German, French, Spanish, Dutch or Portuguese; Non-native English speakers writing in two languages
- Top complaint:
- LanguageTool browser extension is no longer free
- Price:
- Free plan, paid from $16.63/mo
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Hemingway Editor
- No grammar checking - only style analysis(8/10)
- Flags EVERY long sentence as a problem(7/10)
- AI rewrites strip unique voice and feel generic(7/10)
- Doesn't recognize idioms or colloquialisms(6/10)
- AI rewrites sometimes make sentences more complex(6/10)
- Passive voice detection inconsistent(6/10)
LanguageTool
- LanguageTool extension uses huge memory and crashes Firefox(8/10)
- LanguageTool slows LibreOffice with large documents(5/10)
Hemingway Editor
- Free version doesn't help fix highlighted errors(6/10)
- Not suitable for long documents(6/10)
- No explanations for why changes suggested(5/10)
LanguageTool
- LanguageTool keeps detecting the wrong language(5/10)
- LanguageTool less accurate than Grammarly for English(5/10)
- LanguageTool false positives and irrelevant suggestions(4/10)
Hemingway Editor
- Multiple confusing purchase options(5/10)
- Monthly AI rewrite limits feel restrictive(5/10)
LanguageTool
- LanguageTool browser extension is no longer free(9/10)
- Why is LanguageTool Premium so expensive monthly?(6/10)
- LanguageTool free version limits: 2,000 characters and 3 AI rephrases a day(6/10)
Hemingway Editor
- Plus version requires internet - no offline AI(5/10)
LanguageTool
- LanguageTool not working in Google Docs after updates(7/10)
- LanguageTool not working in Overleaf(6/10)
Hemingway Editor
No signals
LanguageTool
- LanguageTool Word add-in suggestions don't apply(7/10)
Hemingway Editor
No signals
LanguageTool
- LanguageTool support slow, forum no longer monitored(6/10)
Hemingway Editor
No signals
LanguageTool
- LanguageTool mobile keyboard limited, especially on Android(4/10)
Hemingway Editor
No signals
LanguageTool
- Self-hosting LanguageTool to stay free takes work(5/10)
Pricing Comparison
Hemingway Editor
Users: 1 user
Limits: Paste text into the web editor; grammar checks and rewrites need Plus; no cloud document storage
Users: 1 user
Limits: No AI rewrites, no grammar checker, no sync; manual saving
Users: 1 user
Limits: Monthly AI credit cap; needs internet
Users: 1 user
Limits: Same AI credit cap as monthly
Users: Multiple users
Limits: Per-user AI caps still apply
LanguageTool
Users: 1 user
Storage: 2,000 characters per text field
Limits: No browser extension, 2,000-character limit per check, 3 AI rephrases per day, limited style (Picky) checks, no personal style guide
Users: 1 user
Storage: 150,000 characters per text field
Users: 1 user
Storage: 150,000 characters per text field
Users: 1 user
Storage: 150,000 characters per text field
Users: 1 user
Storage: 150,000 characters per text field
Users: 2 to 1,000 users
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Hemingway Editor | LanguageTool |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Readability grade scoring Shows grade level | ||
| Complex sentence highlighting Yellow/red coding | ||
| Passive voice detection Green highlighting | ||
| Adverb flagging Blue highlighting | ||
| Grammar checking NOT included - needs separate tool | ||
| Checking | ||
| Multilingual grammar and spell check Strongest outside English | ||
| Plagiarism checker | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Google Docs add-on | ||
| Microsoft Word add-in | ||
| LibreOffice extension | ||
| WordPress publishing Desktop app only | ||
| Medium publishing Desktop app only | ||
| Browser extension Not available | ||
| Plus Features | ||
| AI rewrites Plus subscription only | ||
| AI | ||
| AI paraphrasing 3 per day free, unlimited on Premium | ||
| Desktop Features | ||
| Offline editing Desktop app only | ||
| Style | ||
| Personal and team style guide Premium / Teams | ||
| Privacy | ||
| Self-hosted server Open source, needs Java | ||
| Mobile | ||
| iOS keyboard Requires Full Access | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Free web version Unlimited use | ||
| One-time purchase option $19.99 desktop | ||
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