Grammarly alternatives · Writing
Alternatives to Grammarly with a one-time purchase
The Grammarly listing shows no one-time purchase. 21 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Grammarly has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12 per member / month, billed annually. 8 of them are free or have a free plan.
21 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to Grammarly
- Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Hemingway Editor
Readability editor that flags wordy, hard-to-read sentences
- Hemingway Editor starts at $8.33 per month, billed annually ($100); desktop app $19.99 once. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Only Grammarly lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Grammarly lists a browser extension.
- Hemingway Editor can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free trial · from $69.99 one-time
Mellel
Mac word processor for long academic and technical documents
- Mellel starts at $69.99 one-time for Mellel for Mac; iPad in-app purchases from $9.99. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Mellel does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Grammarly lists a web app.
- Only Grammarly lists Windows and Android apps.
- Free plan · from $29.99/yr
JotterPad
Markdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays
- JotterPad starts at $29.99 per year on the App Store; $3.33 per month billed annually on the web. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Only Grammarly lists a Windows app.
- Only Grammarly lists a browser extension.
- JotterPad can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
iA Writer
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode
- iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Grammarly lists a web app.
- Only Grammarly lists an Android app.
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Dabble
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync
- Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer). Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
- Only Grammarly lists iOS and Android apps.
- Free trial · from $99 one-time
Markdown Monster
Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows
- Markdown Monster starts at $99 one-time per user (version 4 license). Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Markdown Monster does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Grammarly lists a web app.
- Only Grammarly lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Scrivener
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner
- Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Grammarly lists a web app.
- Only Grammarly lists an Android app.
- Free trial · from $99.99/yr
Final Draft
Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting
- Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Grammarly lists an Android app.
- Only Grammarly lists a browser extension.
- Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
Typora
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type
- Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Typora lists a Linux app.
- Only Grammarly lists a web app.
- From $147 one-time
Atticus
Book writing and formatting app for ebooks and print
- Atticus starts at $147 one-time. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Atticus does not.
- Only Atticus lists a Linux app.
- Only Grammarly lists iOS and Android apps.
- Free trial · from $199.99 one-time
Vellum
Mac app for formatting ebooks and print books
- Vellum starts at $199.99 one-time, before tax (Vellum Ebooks). Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Vellum does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Grammarly lists a web app.
- Only Grammarly lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Free trial · from $60/yr
Plottr
Visual book outlining and series bible software
- Plottr starts at $60 per year (Plottr); Plottr Pro is $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Grammarly starts at $12 per member / month, billed annually.
- Grammarly has a free plan. Plottr does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Grammarly lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Grammarly lists a browser extension.
9 more that can be bought with a one-time purchase
All 21 in one tableCommon questions
Is there an alternative to Grammarly that you buy once?
Yes. Hemingway Editor, Mellel, JotterPad, iA Writer, Dabble, Markdown Monster, Scrivener, Final Draft and 13 more can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Can you buy Grammarly once instead of subscribing?
The Grammarly listing shows no one-time purchase. The listing was checked on Oct 5, 2026 against the pages it cites.
Which of these writing tools are free?
Hemingway Editor, JotterPad, Campfire, Calmly Writer, bibisco, Slugline, Cold Turkey Writer and 4thewords are free or have a free plan.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Grammarly: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.