Is Grammarly Worth It? My 2020 Review

It makes sense to ask, “Why do I need another spell checker when Google Docs and Microsoft Word come with text editors built-in?” That’s what I thought too before I downloaded Grammarly.

As a program analyst and writing tutor, I spend most of my day behind a computer typing emails, essays, and memorandums, and I use Microsoft Office or Google Docs for about 99% of that work. But see, here’s the brilliant part -- Grammarly works with both of these programs, and in my opinion, it’s better than the grammar and spelling tools that come with Docs and Word by default. Not only that but Grammarly can obviously be used with multiple programs and apps so the editing recommendations stay pretty consistent across your writing projects, and you can log in to your Grammarly account to see your previous work no matter what application you’re working in.

Grammarly comes with various extensions and applications you can use it across your devices:

Grammarly web chrome
Grammarly Chrome plugin
Grammarly MS office add-in
Grammarly desktop app for Windows and Mac
Grammarly for Android and iOS

Is Grammarly worth it if you’re a student?

If you’re in school and have writing assignments to turn in often, the free version of Grammarly is definitely worth it. Most college classes, especially as they get more advanced require you to submit essays or reports. Not all of us are English majors (I actually am). Grammarly will help you figure out whether you need that comma or not and point out where you’re spelling words incorrectly. International students studying in the U.S. can improve their writing through Grammarly as well. It is also worth noting that Grammarly Premium has a plagiarism check and citation tool which is helpful for ALL college students. Even though I’m not a student anymore, Grammarly has significantly improved my writing so I recommend it for every student if you’re wanting to improve your writing too.

Is Grammarly worth it if you’re not in school?

For business professionals (I’m one of those too), Grammarly is great for so many reasons. Beyond the spelling and grammar check, Grammarly also corrects for tone and readability to ensure you’re coming off to your audience in a way that makes sense for your particular job. Having the ability to pretty much guarantee your documents, technical manuals, reports, or whatever your boss has your writing is error-free is worth the investment alone.

Is Grammarly Premium worth it?

Grammarly Premium, unlike regular Grammarly, costs a monthly fee. By paying for Grammarly, you open up extra services like the plagiarism checker. Basic Grammarly checks your spelling and grammar. Grammarly Premium suggests phrases to change, grammatical structures, and vocabulary. It also does checks for plagiarism and gives style suggestions. If you write a lot, I’m thinking Ph.D. candidate or blogger, then you should definitely get the premium version.

Grammarly Premium starts at $29.95 per month and the price goes down for longer subscriptions all the way down to $11.66 a month billed as one payment annually of $139.95. Whether you stick to the free version or upgrade to the Premium version is completely dependent on what your needs are.

Pros of Grammarly:

Is completely free to use without premium.
Works on various apps including most internet browsers (Chrome and Firefox), Microsoft Word, and iOS.
Has an advanced plagiarism checker and citation tool.
The premium option can be as cheap as $11.66 a month.
Checks for tone and style, and can be programmed for your specific audience.
Provides reports comparing your Grammarly activity to other users.
It’s incognito.

Cons of Grammarly:

Some websites do not work with Grammarly (I’ve only ever encountered 1 or 2 of the 1000s I use every year).
Not always 100% correct.

My Final Thoughts

Remember, Grammarly isn’t a replacement for your writing. Still, it can be very helpful if you write a lot or even a little -- it has been for me. If you just want to try it or don’t write often but have a big assignment coming up, definitely download the free version. If you’re an avid writer or need some extra help with proofreading on a daily basis, the Premium version of Grammarly is worth it.

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