Advice Request LanguageTool ends free use of Browser Extension, Are There Good Alternatives?

Please provide comments and solutions that are helpful to the author of this topic.
lokamoka820

lokamoka820

Level 41
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 1, 2024
3,085
3
9,951
3,969
Banana Republic
Today, a web page popped up on my browser saying that LanguageTool has ended free use of its browser extension:

We have made the difficult decision to limit the use of LanguageTool’s browser extension to Premium users only. The rise of generative AI has made it more challenging to sustainably monetize our offering. A majority of users use our products for free, and the relatively small percentage of Premium subscribers is all that is subsidizing our continuously increasing server costs. To improve our Premium experience and to sustain our business model, we’ll be making the LanguageTool browser extension available exclusively for paying customers.
Click to expand...
languagetool.org

Important: Upgrade Required - LanguageTool

Instantly check grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors with LanguageTool's AI-powered grammar checker. Enhance your writing in over 30 languages with ease.
languagetool.org languagetool.org

Are there good alternatives?
 
  • Like
  • Applause
Reactions: Brownie2019, Jonny Quest, rashmi and 2 others
lokamoka820 said:
Today, a web page popped up on my browser saying that LanguageTool has ended free use of its browser extension:


languagetool.org

Important: Upgrade Required - LanguageTool

Instantly check grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors with LanguageTool's AI-powered grammar checker. Enhance your writing in over 30 languages with ease.
languagetool.org languagetool.org

Are there good alternatives?
Click to expand...
LanguageTool’s announcement is real: the browser extension is being restricted to Premium accounts, with a 14‑day trial, and then the extension stops underlining/correcting for free users. ([languagetool.org](https://languagetool.org/webextension/premium-announcement))

That said, they also state one important exception: the extension “will continue to work” if you point it at your own self-hosted LanguageTool server (localhost / LAN). ([languagetool.org](https://languagetool.org/webextension/premium-announcement))

Option 1 (stay with LanguageTool for free): self-host the server
If you’re comfortable running a local service:
  • Run LanguageTool’s embedded HTTP server locally (advanced-user workflow). ([dev.languagetool.org](https://dev.languagetool.org/http-server.html?utm_source=openai))
  • Point the extension to your own server (LanguageTool explicitly says the extension will keep working in this scenario). ([languagetool.org](https://languagetool.org/webextension/premium-announcement))

Notes (important):
  • Self-hosting won’t include their cloud-only “AI-based rules” (so it won’t be 1:1 with Premium). ([dev.languagetool.org](https://dev.languagetool.org/http-server.html?utm_source=openai))
  • From a security/privacy angle, self-hosting is the cleanest option because your text doesn’t need to be sent to a third-party cloud for checking (unless you choose to).

Option 2 (replace it with another browser extension)
If you want “works everywhere I type” without running your own server, these are the better-known options:

  • Grammarly (cloud-based): Widely used, has a free tier, and supports Chrome / Edge / Firefox / Safari. ([support.grammarly.com](https://support.grammarly.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000091552-How-to-install-the-Grammarly-browser-extension?utm_source=openai))
  • ProWritingAid (cloud-based): Has free browser extensions; the free plan is limited (e.g., 500 words at a time) but it can be enough for many people. ([help.prowritingaid.com](https://help.prowritingaid.com/article/83-free-trial?utm_source=openai))
  • DeepL for Chrome/Edge/Firefox (cloud-based): Includes “DeepL Write” style/wording improvements inside the extension and is advertised as free to download (with additional features for Pro). ([support.deepl.com](https://support.deepl.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407516019218-Get-started-DeepL-browser-extensions?utm_source=openai))
  • Wordtune (cloud-based): Has a Basic (free) plan with usage limits. ([support.wordtune.com](https://support.wordtune.com/en/articles/8262930-wordtune-s-plans-pricing?utm_source=openai))
  • QuillBot extension (cloud-based): LanguageTool themselves point to QuillBot as a free alternative (supported languages are limited vs LanguageTool’s “30+ languages” claim, but it’s a direct “suggested replacement” from them). ([languagetool.org](https://languagetool.org/webextension/premium-announcement))
  • Harper (local/offline in-browser): A privacy-oriented checker that claims it runs entirely in your browser (so text stays on-device). It’s English-focused, so it’s not a direct replacement for LanguageTool’s multi-language strengths. ([chromewebstore.google.com](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/private-grammar-checking/lodbfhdipoipcjmlebjbgmmgekckhpfb?utm_source=openai))

What I would avoid / be careful about (security & privacy)
  • “Random free” grammar extensions with few users / unclear publisher identity. Writing extensions often get access to everything you type, which is high-risk if the extension is shady or gets compromised.
  • Using any cloud-based writing assistant for sensitive content (passwords, financial info, medical info, internal work secrets). Even reputable tools may process text on their servers as part of providing the service.
  • Microsoft Editor browser extension specifically: Microsoft retired the Editor extensions for Edge and Chrome on October 31, 2025 (Edge users are expected to use built-in proofing instead). ([mc.merill.net](https://mc.merill.net/message/MC1144651?utm_source=openai))

Practical next step
If you want the closest “LanguageTool-like” experience for free with the best privacy, self-hosting LanguageTool + pointing the extension at your own server is the most direct path. ([languagetool.org](https://languagetool.org/webextension/premium-announcement))

If you want “install and go” with minimal setup, Grammarly or ProWritingAid are the most established alternatives, while Harper is the standout if you specifically want local/on-device checking. ([chromewebstore.google.com](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/grammarly-grammar-checker/kbfnbcaeplbcioakkpcpgfkobkghlhen/?utm_source=openai))

Sources
 
  • Like
Reactions: SeriousHoax
  • Like
  • Thanks
Reactions: Brownie2019, lokamoka820 and Gandalf_The_Grey
lokamoka820 said:
Thank you so much for the suggestion; it looks promising, but strangely, it does have apps/extensions for every browser except Firefox.🤔
Click to expand...
Hi lokamoka,
What do you mean, exactly? Do you mean one of the suggestions in the Chipp.in article looks promising but doesn't have an extension for Firefox?
I see there is a Harper add-on for Firefox, but not a QuillBot extension for Firefox. For QuillBot, I guess you would need the app for Windows or macOS (no app for Linux, I suppose).
 
  • +Reputation
Reactions: lokamoka820
Spiff said:
Hi lokamoka,
What do you mean, exactly? Do you mean one of the suggestions in the Chipp.in article looks promising but doesn't have an extension for Firefox?
I see there is a Harper add-on for Firefox, but not a QuillBot extension for Firefox. For QuillBot, I guess you would need the app for Windows or macOS (no app for Linux, I suppose).
Click to expand...
I noticed "QuillBot" but I didn't notice any other options, I only noticed "Harper" from your post, thank you for the clarification.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rashmi
@lokamoka820, Try QuillBot; I access the website, as I use it occasionally and find it more complete than free versions of similar software. They have a Chrome extension and a Windows app; I have tried neither.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: lokamoka820

You may also like...