Several AI grammar checkers have real free plans, but the limits differ a lot. Some cap how much text you can check, some limit AI prompts and some move features behind a paid plan. This guide compares four, explains what to watch for and gives a safe way to proofread with a chatbot.
What to check in a free grammar checker
Text limits. Does it cap the length of each check?
Where it works. A website only, a browser extension, or inside your apps.
AI allowance. How many AI rewrites you get.
Languages. Many tools focus on English.
Privacy. Don’t paste confidential text into a tool you haven’t checked.
The four options
Grammarly Free. Checks spelling, grammar and tone in browsers and apps, with about 100 AI prompts a month. It’s the most widely integrated option. Pro adds full rewrites and plagiarism checks. See our Grammarly review and pricing guide.
QuillBot Free. Includes a basic grammar checker, a summarizer and a paraphraser capped at 125 words per run. It’s better for rewording than for line editing. See our QuillBot review.
ChatGPT Free. Can proofread text you paste in, subject to usage limits, but it doesn’t check as you type. It can change your wording unless you tell it not to.
LanguageTool. An open-source-based checker covering 30+ languages, useful if you write in more than one. Recent 2026 sources say its free plan checks up to 2,000 characters per text field with 3 AI rephrasings a day, and that the browser extension needs Premium. Older articles quote 10,000 or 20,000 characters, so limits have changed. Check its current page.
Which should you use?
You write English emails and documents all day: Grammarly Free.
You mainly reword or shorten text: QuillBot Free.
You write in several languages: LanguageTool.
You want a one-off proofread of a short text: ChatGPT.
Many writers combine two, such as Grammarly Free for checking and QuillBot for rewording. See Grammarly vs QuillBot.
A safe proofreading prompt
Chatbots tend to rewrite more than you ask. This prompt keeps your wording:
Proofread the text below. Only correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Do not change my wording, tone or meaning. List each change you made so I can review it. Text: [paste text]
Using any checker well
Don’t accept every suggestion. Reviewers of AI checkers report suggestions that are wrong, that change meaning or that flatten voice, so read each change. Keep a copy of your original. Follow your school’s or employer’s rules on AI tools, and don’t paste confidential material into a tool you haven’t checked.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free AI grammar checker?
Yes. Grammarly, QuillBot, LanguageTool and ChatGPT all have free options with limits.
Is Grammarly free?
Yes. The free plan covers core checks and about 100 AI prompts a month.
Which free grammar checker has no limits?
Limits change often and most free plans have some. Check each tool’s current page.
Is ChatGPT a good grammar checker?
It can proofread pasted text, but use a prompt that forbids changing your wording, and check its edits.
What is the best paid option?
See our list of the best AI writing tools.
How we researched this guide
This guide is based on our tool reviews, recent 2026 pricing and limits reported for LanguageTool and independent write-ups (checked November 2, 2026). We haven’t run our own tests. Free limits change often, so confirm on each tool’s website.