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