10 Best Proofreading Software Programs and Tools (Free & Paid)

10 Best Proofreading Software Programs and Tools (Free & Paid)

Whether you’re a blogger finishing up an article, an overwhelmed student working on a research paper, or a professional editor reviewing a business proposal, proofreading software programs are the best tools to perfect your writing and save you time!

As a freelance proofreader, I find proofreading software to be a total lifesaver. It’s essential for fast-tracking my process and for finding common grammatical mistakes; allowing me to focus on editing the bigger picture.

Taking a proofreading course and buying proofreading software were easily the best investments I made in my journey. Now, I get paid to proofread online and it’s an excellent side hustle for me.

But not all proofreading software is created equally. Each program comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, so today, I’ll provide you with a list of the 10 best software for proofreading and editing.

Best Proofreading Software and Tools

Before we start, it’s important for me to emphasize that proofreading software is not a replacement for an actual professional proofreader, nor is it a guarantee that you’ll ace your paper.

Instead, the software is an extremely useful and convenient tool that can quickly spot common mistakes in your writing and free up your time to focus on the more important components of your task.

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Let’s begin! These are the 10 best free and paid proofreading software programs:

1. Grammarly

One of the most popular plagiarism and grammar checker software, Grammarly is an extremely convenient and easy-to-use writing assistant and proofreading software that you can use pretty much everywhere, from Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Microsoft Office, and Google Docs.

While there are paid Premium and Business plans available, they also offer a free plan that checks your grammar, spelling, punctuation, conciseness, and tone. The Premium and Business plans have even more features, including citation generators, full-sentence rewrites, suggestions for new word choices, style guides, and more.

Image of human hands pressing laptop keys for computer work.

I’ve used the free version extensively as a professional proofreader and blogger and let me tell you, it is beyond helpful. After spending hours staring at a computer screen, it is easy to make (or miss) simple grammatical and punctuation mistakes. Grammarly is a great backup for those long days.

Overall, if you’re looking for the best free online proofreading tool, I can’t recommend Grammarly enough. Click here for details.

Pros of Grammarly

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors in real-time

Quick and easy-to-use

Can be used across many platforms, including Mac, Windows, Androids, iPads, iPhones, Google Docs, and Microsoft Office, and as a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and more

Good mobile keyboard

Built-in plagiarism checker (Premium)

Provides suggestions for clarifying your writing (Premium)

Cons of Grammarly

Doesn’t offer an offline editing mode

Doesn’t catch every mistake

The Premium and Business plans are expensive

Grammarly offers three plans in total: the free plan, the Premium plan for $30 per month, and the Business plan for $15 per month per user (with a minimum requirement of three users). To learn more, check out their website.

2. ProWritingAid

If you’re looking for the best proofreading software for writers, you have to check out ProWritingAid. A tool initially designed for professional authors, it’s now one of the top writing resources available and is perfect for bloggers, proofreaders, and students.

The software is compatible with Windows, Mac, WordPress, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and more and combines A.I. proofreading with human expertise. But what does it do? ProWritingAid is a software that proofreads your writing, and checks your grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, spelling, style, and more.

What makes ProWritingAid even more valuable is that it includes over 3,000 expert-written explanations and videos on grammar and writing style, so you can learn while you’re proofreading.

As a professional proofreader, I find these resources incredibly beneficial for improving and becoming more efficient in my craft. This also allows me to become a better writer over time, making it one of the best proofreading software out there.

Pros of ProWritingAid

Easy-to-use

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors

Can be used across many platforms, including Mac, Windows, WordPress, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word, and as a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and more

Provides suggestions and learning opportunities to improve your writing and proofreading

Plagiarism checker (extra cost)

Offers lifetime plans, which work out cheaper in the long-run

Cons of ProWritingAid

The free version has a maximum document word count of 500 words

Doesn’t catch every mistake

There isn’t a mobile app

ProWritingAid offers two plans: the Free plan and the Premium plan. The Premium plan comes with three payment options: a monthly subscription service that costs $30 per month, an annual subscription service that costs $120 per year, and a one-time payment of $399. To learn more, check out their website.

3. LanguageTool

LanguageTool is an efficient and convenient free proofreading and editing software that corrects your spelling, grammar, punctuation, word choice, and language style. It also offers an A.I.-powered paraphrasing tool, a distraction-free writing experience, and a personal dictionary.

Quick and easy-to-use, LanguageTool is the perfect software for anyone seeking a grammar check, including bloggers, proofreaders, and writers. However, unlike Grammarly and ProWritingAid, it doesn’t come with a plagiarism checker.

A young woman is pressing the keys of a computer keyboard while looking at the screen and working on the computer.

Nevertheless, LanguageTool is one of the best proofreading software for Mac, and it can also be used on Windows, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs, as well as a browser add-on for Firefox, Chrome, and more. And unlike some of the other proofreading software listed, it can proofread in more than 30 different languages!

Pros of LanguageTool

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors

Quick and easy-to-use

Proofreads in over 30 languages

Can be used across many platforms, including Mac, Windows, iOS, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word, and as a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, and more

The free version doesn’t require any sign-up

Cons of LanguageTool

Doesn’t catch every mistake

Doesn’t come with a plagiarism checker

LanguageTool offers three plans: the Free plan, the Premium plan, and the Business plan. The Premium plan offers four payment options with costs that vary from $19.90 per month to $4.13 per month; they have a monthly plan, a quarterly plan, an annual plan, and a 2-year plan. To learn more, check out their website.

4. Ginger Software

With an A.I.-powered writing assistant and an essay checker, Ginger Software is one of the best proofreading software for bloggers, writers, and students.

Checking grammar, spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, and more, Ginger Software speeds up your writing and proofreading. Not only does it work on both Windows and Mac, but you can also use it via a mobile app on your iOS or Android phone.

One thing that makes Ginger Software different from others is that it also comes with a translator. Overall, Ginger Software is the best grammar checker and proofreading software for both writers and proofreaders.

Pros of Ginger Software

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors

Quick and easy-to-use

Includes a translator

Offers writing resources

Can be used across many platforms, including Mac, Windows, WordPress, Microsoft Office, iOS, and Android, and as a browser extension on Chrome, Safari, and Edge (not Firefox)

Cons of Ginger Software

Doesn’t catch every mistake

Doesn’t come with a plagiarism checker

Doesn’t offer an offline editing mode

Customer service could be better

Ginger Software offers a few different plans, including a free plan, a premium plan, and a business plan. The Premium plan offers four payment options with costs that vary from $13.99 per month to $4.99 per month; they have a monthly plan, a quarterly plan, an annual plan, and a 2-year plan. To learn more, check out their website.

5. Hemingway Editor

For document proofing software that’s focused on improving your writing, Hemingway Editor is a great option. With an online free version and an offline paid app, Hemingway Editor helps make your writing shorter, simpler, and more direct. This makes it perfect for both writers and students!

It concentrates on four main writing errors: adverbs, passive voice, complicated words and complex phrases, and long, rambling sentences.

A person is working on their laptop computer.

As a professional proofreader, I find this app perfect for finding the bigger problems within the writing. I recommend using it in conjunction with other professional proofreading software such as Grammarly or ProWritingAid, as they’re more focused on fixing grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Available on both Mac and PC, Hemingway Editor is the best editing app for making your writing more straightforward and concise.

Pros of Hemingway Editor

Checks your use of adverbs, passive voice, vocabulary, and sentence structure

Makes your writing clearer and more concise

Cheaper than most proofreading tools

Quick and easy-to-use

Cons of Hemingway Editor

Doesn’t check grammar, spelling, or punctuation

The free version doesn’t offer an offline editing mode

Can only be used on Windows, Mac, or online

Doesn’t come with a plagiarism checker

Hemingway Editor can be used online for free, or via an offline app that costs $19.99. To learn more, check out their website.

6. Antidote

An article on the best proofreading software would be incomplete without including Antidote. Perfect for both writers and proofreaders, Antidote is a convenient and effective proofreading software that checks your grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, style, and more.

Available on both Windows and Mac, Antidote is the perfect academic proofreading software. Not only does it fix grammatical errors, but it also looks for redundancies, repetitions, and typography issues.

Antidote also comes with many concise and detailed guides on grammar. I find these resources invaluable as a professional proofreader as they help me locate the most common proofreading and writing errors much faster.

Pros of Antidote

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors

Easy-to-use

Can be used on Windows, Mac, iPhones, iPads, and Chromebooks

Provides learning opportunities to improve your writing and proofreading

Offers lifetime plans, which work out cheaper in the long-run

Cons of Antidote

Doesn’t catch every mistake

Doesn’t come with a plagiarism checker

Can’t be used on Android phones

There are no free plans

Antidote offers three plans: the Antidote+ Personal plan, the Antidote+ Family plan, and the Antidote 11. The Antidote+ Personal plan costs $59.95 per year, the Antidote+ Family plan costs $99.95 per year and allows up to five users, and the Antidote 11 charges a one-time payment of $129.95. To learn more, check out their website.

7. PaperRater

PaperRater is a fully-online free proofreading software that checks for grammar issues, spelling errors, and plagiarism. Filled with writing resources and tips, it’s the perfect tool for bloggers, students, authors, and proofreaders.

Since PaperRater doesn’t require any downloads, it’s not usable as an app on Windows, Mac, iPads, or cell phones; instead, their proofreading services must simply be accessed from their website. However, it’s still a convenient aid that improves your writing and proofreading.

A person working from home using a computer.

PaperRater can be used for free, but there’s also a paid premium version that comes without ads, and with faster processing and the ability to proofread larger documents.

Pros of PaperRater

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors

Quick and easy-to-use

Includes a plagiarism checker

Doesn’t require any downloads

Offers writing resources

Cons of PaperRater

Doesn’t catch every mistake

Doesn’t offer an offline editing mode

There’s no mobile app

Can’t be used as a desktop app or as an add-on on Microsoft Office, Chrome, Firefox, etc.

PaperRater offers a free plan and a premium plan. The premium plan comes with two payment options: a monthly subscription service that costs $14.95 per month and an annual subscription service that costs $95.40 per year. To learn more, check out their website.

8. WhiteSmoke

For an easy-to-use proofreading software for Windows, I recommend WhiteSmoke.

Not only does WhiteSmoke check grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style, but it also offers immediate feedback on the writing. As a freelance proofreader, I find these services to be extremely useful in becoming faster and more efficient at proofreading.

However, WhiteSmoke doesn’t offer a free plan, nor is it offered as a desktop app for Mac users. If you’re interested in WhiteSmoke but have a Mac, you can always check out their Web plan; it can be used on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Pros of WhiteSmoke

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors

Easy-to-use

Can be used on Windows and as a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and more

Comes with a plagiarism checker

Includes a translator

Cons of WhiteSmoke

Doesn’t catch every mistake

Doesn’t offer a free plan

Doesn’t offer an offline editing mode

Mac users can only use the Web plan

Customer service isn’t the best

WhiteSmoke offers three plans: the Web plan for $10 per month, the Premium plan for $13.33 per month, and the Business plan for $22.99 per month. To learn more, check out their website.

9. QuillBot

For one of the best English proofreading software, you have to try QuillBot. Checking your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and more, QuillBot is an effective tool for any professional proofreader.

Not only is QuillBot one of the best proofreading software, but it also offers a plethora of writing resources, including a paraphrasing tool, summarizing tool, plagiarism checker, word counter, and translator; making it the perfect software for both writers and students.

A woman is working at her computer desk while using a grammar corrector program.

QuillBot isn’t offered as a downloadable program on Windows or Mac, and can only be used online or as an extension on Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Chrome, or Gmail.

Pros of QuillBot

Catches most grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors

Quick and easy-to-use

Comes with a paraphrasing tool, summarizing tool, and citation generator

Includes a translator

Plagiarism checker (extra cost)

Cons of QuillBot

Doesn’t catch every mistake

There isn’t a mobile app

Can only be used online, or as an extension on Microsoft Word, Chrome, Gmail, and Google Docs

QuillBot offers both free and premium plans. The premium plan comes with three payment options: a monthly subscription that costs $19.95 per month, a semi-annual subscription that costs $13.33 per month, and an annual subscription that costs $8.33 per month. To learn more, check out their website.

10. Slick Write

Last but not least, Slick Write is a free and convenient proofreading software that checks grammar, style, sentence structure, wording, readability, and more. It’s a great tool for everyone from bloggers, to students, writers, and proofreaders.

When I first started out as a professional proofreader, I found Slick Write to be one of the most valuable free proofreading tools. It helps point out some of the harder writing problems such as stylistic errors, readability, and the use of passive voice.

Slick Write isn’t available as a downloadable software on Windows or Mac. You can only use it online or as an extension on Chrome or Firefox. So, while it is a useful tool, I only use it occasionally to double-check complicated pieces of writing.

Pros of Slick Write

It’s quick and easy to access

It checks for grammar, sentence structure, and repetitive wording

It’s completely free!

Cons of Slick Write

It’s a bit basic

It doesn’t catch every mistake

It doesn’t offer an offline editing mode or a mobile app

It doesn’t come with a plagiarism checker

It can only be used online, or as an extension on Chrome or Firefox

Slick Write is completely free!

Must-Have Proofreading Tools: FAQs

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions.

Is Grammarly better than a proofreader?

No, Grammarly isn’t better than a proofreader. While Grammarly is great at quickly proofreading small, casual pieces of writing, like emails, it’s not as effective at proofreading more complicated pieces of writing, like blog posts, research papers, or articles. This is because Grammarly is powered by A.I., so it’s not as good at picking up the context, style, or tone of the writing.

Is there a free proofreading app?

Yes! Grammarly offers one of the best free proofreading apps, but Ginger Software also has a very effective mobile app.

Which software is used for proofreading?

There are many incredible software programs that you can use for proofreading, but some of the best ones are Grammarly, ProWritingAid, LanguageTool, and Ginger Software.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of amazing editing and proofreading software options available to you, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

I find these software programs invaluable as a professional proofreader, as they are perfect at quickly and effectively spotting common writing errors, which allows me to focus on the bigger issues and tasks at hand.

But you don’t have to be a professional proofreader to find good use in these software programs. From bloggers, writers, students, and more, these software can help you greatly improve your writing and proofreading. I hope this article helped you decide which proofreading software is the best one for you!

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