Grammarly vs Hemingway Editor: Which is better in 2026?
Start with your problem: mistakes, or text that is hard to read.
Tested hands-on: 3 tests on a MacBook Pro (M1 Pro), October 23 – November 1, 2026. How we tested
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Quick answer
- Choose Grammarly if: You want mistakes caught as you type in the apps you already use, such as Google Docs, Word, Gmail, Outlook and Slack, starting on a Free plan with grammar and spelling checks, tone detection and 100 AI prompts a month.
- Choose Hemingway Editor if: Your writing is mostly correct but too long, dense or stiff, and you want to see which sentences to cut.
- Price at a glance: Grammarly: Free plan; paid from $30/mo · Hemingway Editor: Free plan; paid from $25/mo
At a glance
 Grammarly |  Hemingway Editor | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Paid plans | From $30/mo | From $25/mo |
| Our tests | Won 2 of 3 | Won 1 of 3 |
| Best for | Individuals and teams of up to 149 people who write in many apps every day and want grammar, tone and clarity fixes, plagiarism checks and shared style rules, rather than long-form SEO content. | Writers and teams who draft their own text and want it shorter, plainer and easier to read, with optional AI fixes, rather than an AI that writes marketing copy from a brief. |
Grammarly and Hemingway Editor are both used to polish writing, but they look for different problems. Grammarly, founded in 2009 and now part of Superhuman, checks grammar, spelling, clarity and tone as you type in more than 1 million apps and websites. Hemingway Editor, a readability editor whose web app has been online since 2013, grades how easy your text is to read and highlights dense sentences, passive voice and words with simpler alternatives; its paid Plus plans add grammar fixes and AI rewrites. Here is how they compare on free plans, prices, AI limits, plagiarism checks, team seats, integrations and trials.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (12-month total) |
|---|---|---|
| Grammarly | ||
| FreeFor individuals; grammar and spelling checks, tone detection, 100 AI prompts a month | Free Free plan | |
| ProPer member; $12/member/mo billed yearly ($144/yr) or $30 billed monthly; 1-149 seats; 2,000 AI prompts/member/mo | $30/mo | $144/yr ($12/mo) |
| EnterpriseContact sales; available through Superhuman Go; unlimited members and AI prompts, SAML SSO, SCIM, data loss prevention | Custom | |
| Hemingway Editor | ||
| FreeFree online editor: readability score and highlights; AI rewrites, advanced grammar fixes and file import need Editor Plus | Free Free plan | |
| Individual 5K1 user, 5,000 AI sentences/mo; $8.33/mo billed yearly ($100/yr); $25 is the price under the page's Monthly toggle | $25/mo | $100/yr ($8.33/mo) |
| Individual 10K1 user, 10,000 AI sentences/mo; $12.50/mo billed yearly ($150/yr); $30 is the price under the page's Monthly toggle | $30/mo | $150/yr ($12.50/mo) |
| Team 10KPer user/month, up to 50 users, 10,000 AI sentences per user/mo; $150/user/yr billed yearly; Admin Only members use no seat | $30/mo | $150/yr ($12.50/mo) |
| EnterpriseCustom pricing via support; unlimited users, 20,000 AI sentences per user/mo; SSO is an optional add-on | Custom | |
Prices checked on .
Features compared
| Feature | Grammarly | Hemingway Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Brand voice | Yes · Brand tones: 1 on Pro, unlimited on Enterprise; not on Free | Partial · No saved brand voice listed; rewrites aim to match your tone and word choice, with style presets and custom instructions |
| SEO mode | No · No SEO or keyword features listed on any plan | No · No SEO tools listed; it scores readability by grade level instead |
| Plagiarism check | Yes · In the app on Pro and Enterprise, not Free; also a web checker; 16B+ web pages and ProQuest academic papers | No · No plagiarism checker among the listed features |
| Templates | Partial · Snippets only: shared, on-brand messaging templates on Pro and Enterprise | No · No templates; AI tools rewrite text you select |
| Team seats | Yes · Pro 1 to 149 seats; Enterprise unlimited members | Yes · Team 10K up to 50 users; Enterprise unlimited; Admin Only members use no seat |
| API | Partial · Enterprise and Education admins only: analytics, license, writing score, AI and plagiarism detection (beta) APIs | No · No public API listed; the Terms allow automated access only where Hemingway documents or agrees to it |
| Word limits | Yes · AI prompts: 100/mo Free, 2,000/member/mo Pro, unlimited Enterprise | Yes · 5,000 or 10,000 AI sentences/mo (20,000 per user on Enterprise), reset monthly; grammar fixes unlimited |
| Free trial | Yes · Free plan; Pro trials offered periodically (a 7-day trial on the US plans page captured 2026-10-13) | Yes · 14 days, up to 200 AI sentences, no credit card; ends without charging |
| Integrations | Yes · 1M+ apps and sites: Google Docs, Word, Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Salesforce, Jira and more | Partial · Microsoft Word add-in; .docx, Markdown and HTML import/export; WordPress publishing only in the separate $19.99 Classic desktop app |
How we tested
We gave Grammarly and Hemingway Editor the same 3 tasks on the same MacBook Pro (M1 Pro). Each test below lists the task, how we judged it, both results and screenshots; select a screenshot to see it at full size.
- Device
- MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) · macOS 26.6.2 · Chrome 155, Chrome 155 and 156
- Tested
- October 23 – November 1, 2026
- Plans used
- Grammarly: Free · Hemingway Editor: Editor Plus (14-day trial)
- App versions
- Grammarly: Web editor (Grammarly Docs), Web editor, AI Chat · Hemingway Editor: Web editor (hemingwayapp.com), Web editor, custom AI instruction
| Test | Grammarly | Hemingway Editor | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag ten planted readability problems in a dense paragraph | Fail0 of 10 | Pass9 of 10 | Hemingway Editor |
| Fix ten planted spelling and grammar mistakes | Pass10 of 10 | Pass9 of 10 | Grammarlyby Planted mistakes fixed |
| Rewrite a dense notice into short, plain sentences with AI | Pass12.2 words | Partial12.2 words | Grammarly |
| Tests won | 2 | 1 | 0 ties |
Test 1: Flag ten planted readability problems in a dense paragraph
The task
Paste this FICTIONAL paragraph into each tool's free web editor. It has ten planted readability problems: two very long sentences, three passive verbs, two weakening adverbs and three wordy choices with simpler alternatives.
Fernhill Goods sells refillable kitchen cleaning products to renters in small apartments, and the two neighbors who started the shop still answer every customer email themselves, pack the larger orders on Fridays, try each new scent at home for a month, and write the newsletter that goes out each season. Every refill is packed by hand. Orders are shipped on the next working day. In order to keep costs low, the shop uses paper packaging. The paper can be recycled at home. The starter kit is really small and fits under a sink. The lemon scent is extremely popular. Customers can utilize the account page to pause a subscription. The shop will commence selling a bathroom range next spring. Many customers have asked for an unscented version, and the team is now talking with its suppliers about a new formula, a new label and a smaller bottle for people who live alone or travel often for work.
How we judged it
The ten problems: the long sentences about the founders and about the unscented version; "is packed", "are shipped" and "can be recycled"; "really" and "extremely"; "In order to", "utilize" and "commence". A problem counts as flagged when the tool marks it and names the problem or suggests a fix (a shorter sentence, an active verb, dropping the adverb, or a simpler word such as "to", "use", "start" or "begin"). Marks locked to a paid plan are noted, not counted.
Pass: 8 to 10 flagged.
Partial: 5 to 7 flagged.
Fail: 4 or fewer flagged.
Grammarly
Fail 0 of 10
None of the 10 counted: its marks on "are shipped on", "In order to" and "can be recycled" are locked to Plus; its one free card is a serial comma.
Hemingway Editor: Winner
Pass 9 of 10
9 of 10: both long sentences, "is packed", "are shipped", "really", "extremely", "In order to", "utilize" and "commence"; it missed "can be recycled".
Hemingway was used on the account's Editor Plus trial; its readability highlights are the same as in the free editor. Grammarly's three readability marks open only on Plus.
Test 2: Fix ten planted spelling and grammar mistakes
The task
Paste this FICTIONAL announcement, which contains ten planted spelling and grammar mistakes, into each tool's editor:
Fernhill's new lemon spray goes on sale next week. Each bottle hold 500 ml and lasts about six weeks. The formula do not leave streaks on glass, and its safe to use near food. Refills will be avalable in paper pouches that seal tight, so you do not loose a drop. Last month more then two hundred customers asked for a sample. If you would like one, reply to this email and tell us you're address. Their are only two hundred samples this time. The spray work best on counters, sinks and stove tops. Thank you for supporting a small buisness.
How we judged it
The ten fixes: hold → holds, do not → does not, its → it's, avalable → available, loose → lose, then → than, you're → your, Their → There, work → works, buisness → business. A mistake counts as fixed when the tool marks it and its first suggestion is that fix.
Pass: 9 or 10 fixed, and no suggestion that would make correct text wrong.
Partial: 6 to 8 fixed, or one suggestion that would make correct text wrong.
Fail: 5 or fewer fixed, or two or more such suggestions.
Grammarly: Winner
Pass 10 of 10
All 10 planted mistakes marked with the right first suggestion; its extra "stovetops" and serial-comma tips make nothing wrong.
Hemingway Editor
Pass 9 of 10
9 of 10 fixed with the right first suggestion; it marked "its" but suggested "its" again, calling it a possessive, instead of "it's".
Hemingway checks grammar only on Editor Plus; it ran on the account's 14-day trial, Grammarly on its free plan. Hemingway's check appeared about 20 seconds after the paste.
Test 3: Rewrite a dense notice into short, plain sentences with AI
The task
Ask each tool's AI to rewrite this FICTIONAL notice with the instruction "Rewrite this in short sentences and plain words. Keep every fact."
With effect from the first of March, Fernhill Goods will be implementing a revised pricing structure for its monthly refill subscription, under which the cost of each delivery will increase from $12 to $14, although subscribers who joined before the end of last year will continue to be charged the previous amount until the end of June. Subscribers who would prefer not to continue under these revised arrangements are entitled to cancel at any point prior to their next renewal date without incurring any charge, which can be done by means of the account page.
How we judged it
The five facts: from March 1; each delivery goes from $12 to $14; subscribers who joined before the end of last year keep paying $12 until the end of June; cancelling before the next renewal date costs nothing; it is done on the account page. The original has 95 words in 2 sentences (47.5 words a sentence).
Pass: all five facts unchanged, nothing added, and 15 words a sentence or fewer.
Partial: all five kept but over 15 words a sentence, or one fact softened, changed or lost.
Fail: two or more facts changed or lost, or a new claim or promise added.
Grammarly: Winner
Pass 12.2 words
6 sentences averaging 12.2 words (73 in all); keeps all five facts, including $12 "until June ends" for earlier subscribers, and adds nothing.
Hemingway Editor
Partial 12.2 words
5 sentences averaging 12.2 words (61 in all); keeps March 1, $12 to $14, free cancellation and the account page, but "until June" replaces "the end of June".
Run by the assistant in the owner's Chrome, signed in: Hemingway on its Editor Plus trial on October 23 and Grammarly Free on November 1, 2026 (on October 23 Grammarly's free AI answers came back blurred). Grammarly showed its rewrite as a "Plus suggestion · Free sample". The 15-word limit is applied to the average sentence length, which is also the measurement, so single sentences over 15 words (Grammarly's 17 and 21, Hemingway's 18) do not fail it. Both average 12.2 words; the difference is the June date, which Grammarly keeps ("until June ends") and Hemingway changes to "until June".
Our verdict
Start with your problem: mistakes, or text that is hard to read.
Grammarly is the stronger pick for catching mistakes wherever you type. Its Free plan checks grammar and spelling and shows your tone in more than 1 million apps and sites, including Google Docs, Gmail and Slack, with 100 AI prompts a month. Pro adds full-sentence rewrites, tone adjustment, plagiarism and AI-text detection, and one shared style guide and brand tone for 1 to 149 seats, at $144 per member a year or $30 month to month. Hemingway lists no plagiarism checker.
Hemingway Editor is the stronger pick for turning a correct but heavy draft into plain English. The free online editor grades readability and marks hard-to-read sentences, passive voice and words with simpler alternatives, then leaves the rewriting to you. Plus adds AI rewrites, grammar fixes and written feedback from $100 a year for 5,000 AI sentences a month, and its 14-day trial needs no credit card. Hemingway also says neither it nor its AI providers train models on your writing.
For email, chat and documents spread across many apps, start with Grammarly Free. For long, dense reports or manuals, Hemingway is the better editor. You can also use both: Hemingway for readability, Grammarly for the final check.
Choose Grammarly if
You want mistakes caught as you type in the apps you already use, such as Google Docs, Word, Gmail, Outlook and Slack, starting on a Free plan with grammar and spelling checks, tone detection and 100 AI prompts a month. Upgrade to Pro, at $12 per member a month billed yearly, if you need plagiarism and AI-text detection, full-sentence rewrites, or one style guide and brand tone shared by a team of up to 149 people.
Choose Hemingway Editor if
Your writing is mostly correct but too long, dense or stiff, and you want to see which sentences to cut. Hemingway's free online editor grades readability and highlights hard-to-read sentences, passive voice and words with simpler alternatives. Add Plus when you want AI to rewrite flagged sentences, fix grammar or change tone: Individual 5K costs $100 a year for 5,000 AI sentences a month, and the 14-day trial needs no credit card. Hemingway says neither it nor its AI providers train AI models on your writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hemingway Editor free?
Partly. The free online editor scores readability and highlights hard-to-read sentences, passive voice and words with simpler alternatives. In the editor, grammar and spelling highlights, AI rewrites and file import need Hemingway Editor Plus: Individual 5K costs $100 a year or $25 billed monthly for 5,000 AI sentences a month, and Individual 10K costs $150 a year or $30 monthly for 10,000. A 14-day trial gives up to 200 AI sentences without a credit card and ends without charging you. Hemingway also sells a separate Classic desktop app for $19.99, without the AI features.
Does Hemingway Editor check spelling and grammar like Grammarly?
In the editor, only on Plus. Hemingway's help center says you need Hemingway Editor Plus to see any of its green highlights, which mark grammar, spelling and punctuation issues; on Plus, grammar fixes are unlimited and use no AI credits. Without Plus, the editor concentrates on readability; Hemingway's site also has a separate page it calls a free online grammar checker. Grammarly's Free plan checks grammar and spelling and shows your tone as you type, and Pro adds full-sentence rewrites and tone adjustment.
Which costs less, Grammarly Pro or Hemingway Editor Plus?
It depends on the AI allowance you need. Billed yearly, Hemingway Individual 5K costs $100 and Individual 10K $150, against $144 for Grammarly Pro ($12 a month). Billed monthly, Hemingway costs $25 or $30 and Grammarly Pro $30. For teams, Grammarly Pro is $144 per member a year for 1 to 149 seats, and Hemingway Team 10K is $150 per user a year for up to 50 users, with Admin Only members using no seat. Both also sell custom-priced Enterprise plans. These are US list prices as of October 2026.
Where can I use Grammarly and Hemingway Editor?
Grammarly works in more than 1 million apps and websites, including Google Docs, Word, Gmail, Outlook and Slack, through browser extensions, Windows and Mac apps, mobile apps and Microsoft Office. Hemingway is built around its online editor, plus a Microsoft Word add-in that uses the same account. With Plus, it imports and exports .docx, Markdown and HTML files. One-click WordPress publishing is listed only for Hemingway's separate Classic desktop app for Mac and Windows ($19.99), which does not include the AI features.
Does Grammarly or Hemingway Editor check for plagiarism?
Grammarly does, on Pro and Enterprise: its checker compares text with over 16 billion web pages and academic papers in ProQuest's databases, and Pro also detects AI-generated text. Grammarly runs a separate plagiarism checker on its website as well. Hemingway lists no plagiarism checker on any plan; its tools focus on readability, grammar and AI rewrites of text you select.
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