Free Grammarly alternatives for Android
Grammarly isn't the only way to check your writing on an Android phone. Here are the real alternatives, what each is good at, and what it costs.
The best free Grammarly alternative on Android is often already on your phone: Gboard's Proofread on supported phones, or Writing Assist on a supported Samsung Galaxy. QuillBot is the pick for paraphrasing. LanguageTool is strong for many languages, but on a computer, not on Android. Lingently, our app, suits people writing in English as a second language who want each fix explained and turned into practice.
Written by the Lingently team. Based on each app's published features, checked on 18 October 2026 on the official websites and Google Play listings. We didn't run accuracy tests.
The alternatives at a glance
| App | Works on Android as | What's free | Good alternative if you want |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard | Keyboard; Proofread on supported phones | Everything | A free, built-in check |
| Samsung Writing Assist | Built into supported Galaxy phones | Built in | A free check on a Galaxy |
| QuillBot | AI keyboard or floating widget | Grammar check, 2 paraphrase modes, translator | Paraphrasing |
| LanguageTool | Web editor only (no Android app) | Up to 2,000 characters per text field | Many languages, on a laptop |
| Microsoft SwiftKey | Keyboard | Everything listed | Typing in several languages |
| Lingently | Floating character over any keyboard | 5 checks a day, 14 days of Pro on a new phone | To learn from your mistakes |
Why people look for an alternative
Grammarly is good. On Android it now works as a floating button over any keyboard, it explains its corrections, and the free plan corrects spelling and grammar. People usually look elsewhere for one of these reasons:
- Price. Grammarly lists Pro at $12 a month on its site.
- They want something built in, with nothing to install.
- They want paraphrasing more than correction.
- They're learning English and want to stop making the same mistakes, not only fix them.
If none of these is you, Grammarly's free plan may be all you need. See Lingently vs Grammarly for the full comparison.
Gboard: the free one you probably have
On supported phones, Gboard's writing tools add Proofread, a grammar and spelling check for the whole message, and tone options like Professional, Friendly and Shorten. It's free. Google lists the Pixel 9 and 10 series and some recent Honor, Motorola, OnePlus, OPPO, POCO, realme, vivo and Xiaomi phones. On other phones, Gboard still autocorrects spelling. Lingently vs Gboard.
Samsung Writing Assist: the free one on Galaxy
On supported Samsung Galaxy phones, Galaxy AI's Writing Assist checks spelling and grammar and changes the writing style. You turn it on in Settings, under Galaxy AI, and sign in with a Samsung account. Lingently vs Samsung Writing Assist.
QuillBot: for paraphrasing
QuillBot's Android app has an AI keyboard and a floating widget. The free version includes a grammar check and 2 paraphrase modes; Premium unlocks 10+ modes, with in-app prices from $19.95 to $99.95 on Google Play. Choose it if rewriting is the main job. Lingently vs QuillBot.
LanguageTool: for many languages, on a computer
LanguageTool checks over 30 languages, with browser add-ons, office plugins and apps for Windows, Mac and iPhone. We found no official Android app, so on your phone you'd paste text into its web editor. Lingently vs LanguageTool.
Microsoft SwiftKey: a keyboard for several languages
A free keyboard with autocorrect, a spell checker and predictions, in up to five languages at once. Its Play listing also mentions AI tools to rewrite in a different tone. It's a typing tool first, not a grammar coach.
Lingently: to learn while you fix
A character floats over WhatsApp, Gmail, Slack and other apps. Tap it, and the message you're writing comes back corrected, with one line on why each fix was made: "We can discuss about it" → "We can discuss it": "discuss" takes no "about". Tap Replace to put it back. Your fixes turn into short daily practice, a word bank and a list of the mistakes that keep coming back. It checks English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.
The free plan has 5 checks a day, which is less than Grammarly's free plan. Every new phone gets 14 days of Pro free, no card. Pro is $47.99 a year or $6.99 a month.
Which alternative should you pick?
- Free and nothing to install: Gboard Proofread or Samsung Writing Assist, if your phone has them.
- Paraphrasing and translation: QuillBot.
- Many languages, mostly on a laptop: LanguageTool.
- English as a second language, mostly on your phone, and you want to improve: Lingently.
For a wider list, see the best grammar apps for Android.
Questions
Is there a free app like Grammarly for Android?
Yes. Gboard's Proofread (on supported phones) and Samsung Writing Assist (on supported Galaxy phones) are free and built in. QuillBot has a free grammar check. Lingently has a free plan with 5 checks a day. Grammarly itself also has a free plan.
What's the best Grammarly alternative for WhatsApp?
Any keyboard check works in WhatsApp. For a full-message check with explanations, a floating app like Lingently or QuillBot's widget works there too. See grammar check for WhatsApp.
Is Lingently a Grammarly clone?
No. Both float over your keyboard on Android, but Lingently is built around learning: every fix has a one-line reason, and your fixes become daily practice. Grammarly is a broader writing assistant that also runs on laptops and iPhone.
Is LanguageTool a good Grammarly alternative on Android?
Not on Android itself, because we found no official LanguageTool Android app. It's a strong alternative on a computer, especially for languages other than English.
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