Grammarly vs Ginger vs WhiteSmoke: 2019 Best Grammar Checkers
In this day and age, a few spelling mistakes in an email could be the difference between winning a contract and missing out. Fortunately, there are now some fantastic grammar checkers online and this means you have support whether you’re writing emails, an important essay, or even a future bestseller.
If you were to look at online reviews, there would be three names that appear more commonly than others when talking about the best grammar checkers — Grammarly, Ginger, and WhiteSmoke. Don’t panic, we’re going to take you through each of them in turn so you can decide which tool suits your needs.
1) Grammarly
Overview
As perhaps the most recognizable grammar checker, we want to start with Grammarly. At first, Grammarly fell in line with other checkers in that it could be utilized to fix spelling and punctuation mistakes. Over time, the many updates and growing popularity has transformed it into a one-stop-shop for absolutely everything.
Depending on how you plan to use Grammarly, there’s a web app, browser extension, and even a desktop app. This flexibility is just one reason why it has become many people’s favorite. Just recently, the developers announced a huge upgrade and it looks as though the services are expanding yet again.
While writing or reviewing content, phrases and sentences will be highlighted in different colors depending on the suggestion. As a highly-advanced tool, the comments may refer to tone, changing specific words, and other ways to keep content engaging. You can even tell Grammarly what you’re writing, and it will adjust the comments. Since writing a blog post and a professional email have very different requirements, this is a great feature to have.
If you decide to go with Grammarly, we recommend going for the full experience. The more the tool knows about what you’re trying to achieve, the more appropriate the suggestions will be. Although these advanced features will only be included with a paid subscription, it’s worth the small investment if you write regularly.
Key Features
- Free and paid services
- Grammar, punctuation, spellcheck
- Desktop app for Mac and Windows
- Chrome plugin and web app
- Mobile apps
Pros/Cons
In terms of positives, Grammarly is extremely easy to use and is available across a multitude of platforms and devices. With the new update, you can choose your settings and receive tailored advice depending on what you’re writing rather than just generalized advice. This should allow you to take your writing to the next level.
Furthermore, Grammarly explains why something is incorrect rather than just showing a better solution.
On the other hand, those who don’t write too frequently may be put off by the price. Those who are learning English might find more success with other tools.
Pricing
Finally, how much will you need to pay? If you want more than what the free trial offers, you can upgrade to a paid subscription. If you’re happy to pay for a full year in advance, it works out at around $11 per month. Otherwise, you’ll be charged $30 a month.
2) Ginger
Overview
Why choose Ginger? First, it supports a whopping 60 languages and you’re able to choose from a number of keyboards (and alphabets). If you want to translate from one language to another, this is also possible thanks to their translation tool. In my opinion, it’s a better option than Google Translate.
Next, the Ginger Keyboard app is clean, simple to use, and offers great functionality for emails, text messages, and even social media posts. If you don’t like the default keyboard, simply choose from the list of alternatives. While autocorrect goes some way to improving our mobile writing, Ginger Keyboard is more accurate and picks up on all grammatical and spelling errors. You’ll even benefit from sentence restructuring features.
Launched in 2007, it has a long history in this industry and comes in the form of a Chrome plugin (as well as plugins for other browsers). Additionally, there are apps for Windows and the tool even works with software like Slack. Of course, the Premium service offers more advanced tools and more complete service for a small fee.
In terms of Ginger and Grammarly side-by-side, they both offer a great service. The one you choose will depend on the features. For example, the many languages may pull you towards Ginger, while the Mac app and Word plugin might steer you towards Grammarly.
Key Features
- Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure checks
- Mobile app — Ginger Keyboard
- Web app that automatically formats and sorts headings (unlike Grammarly and WhiteSmoke)
- Full reviews of errors
- Premium service with virtual writing tutors
- Translation tool
Pros/Cons
For us, the advantages of choosing Ginger starts with the sheer number of languages on offer. If you work in a multi-national corporation and you’re frequently dealing with text of different languages, the translation tool is more effective than Google and you can correct mistakes within seconds.
Elsewhere, errors are highlighted in real-time and the app is perfect for people on-the-go.
Sadly, some users have complained about the pop-ups that appear on the tool. Not only are these frustrating, but they can also be distracting while trying to work and write high-quality content.
Pricing
If you’re looking for a free tool, Ginger may not be the one for you since the Premium service is almost a necessity. However, it is cheaper than Grammarly. To pay monthly, this comes in at just under $12 per month. However, great savings are made when you pay quarterly ($7.99 per month) and annually ($4.99 per month).
3) WhiteSmoke
Overview
As the third and final tool in this review, we have WhiteSmoke; a company that has an even more impressive history after first starting in 2002. As well as mistakes in grammar and spelling, WhiteSmoke will pick up issues with sentence structure. In terms of wider use, it works across the majority of browsers. This includes
- Safari
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Opera
However, this does vary depending on your subscription. With WhiteSmoke, you will need internet access for the iOS and Android apps to work properly. After this, the basic software for web browsers is called WhiteSmoke Essential. If you want the Premium version, you’ll have access to more apps, support, and features. One reason why many people continue to use WhiteSmoke is the fact that it runs on Microsoft Office, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Mac, and Windows.
On the whole, it’s fair to say that WhiteSmoke isn’t as extravagant or sophisticated. Yet, it does all of the basics well while also offering a translation service with 55 different languages. According to WhiteSmoke themselves, the software is constantly undergoing improvements due to its “team of linguists.”
How does WhiteSmoke compare to Grammarly and Ginger? It comes in at a lower price than Grammarly and also comes with support for more languages. In terms of accuracy, this seems to be very high for both. Grammarly does excel in speed and intuition, and some users will also tell you that Grammarly’s apps are better in function and aesthetics.
Key Features
- Effective checks in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure
- Mobile apps and tools for most browsers
- Translation opportunities with 55 languages
- Support in Gmail, Outlook, and Office
- Stylistic error tracker — allows for improvements in the use of tense
Pros/Cons
You might decide to choose WhiteSmoke for the real-time editing and checking, the clear highlighting system, or the Android keyboard integration. Also, we found it accurate and perfect for businesses who need a simple checker for emailing clients and staff members.
Unfortunately, the user interface pales in comparison to Ginger and Grammarly. As we’re about to discover, there’s also no option to pay monthly.
Pricing
We’ve mentioned the Essential and Premium, but there’s a third package called WhiteSmoke Business. We’ve broken down what you can expect to pay below:
- Essential — $79 ($6.60 per month)
- Premium — $199 ($10 per month)
- Business — $215 ($18 per month)
As you can see, WhiteSmoke bills differently to Ginger and Grammarly. The monthly payments are just for show and to compare with other services, but it’s billed as one payment; $79, $199, and $215.
4. Which Is Best?
By this point, we hope that you’ve got a better idea of what will work for your needs. With all three offering fantastic features, there’s no wrong decision. We recommend thinking about what you need from a platform before then choosing the tool that best suits these needs. If you need translation, Ginger or WhiteSmoke would be a good choice. If you want a beautiful interface and a tool that works quickly, Grammarly is probably the best option.
Free Tools
Trapica Suggest: Keyword Research Tool
AdEspresso Facebook Ad Examples
Read More:
The Dos and Don’ts of Sustainable Marketing
10 Ways to Use Hashtags to Optimize Your LinkedIn B2B Marketing
