Alternatives
The best DeepL Write alternatives for non-native English writers
By ESL Humanizer editorial team · Prices and limits checked September 2026
Short answer
The best DeepL Write alternative depends on why you're switching. If you wrote the text yourself and want it to sound natural without changing your meaning, ESL Humanizer is built for that. LanguageTool is a good fit if you write in German, Spanish, French or other languages as well as English; Grammarly is a good fit if you want real-time grammar help in email, Docs and every browser field.
Why people look for a DeepL Write alternative
- The Pro features require a paid DeepL plan
- There's no way to confirm the meaning of a long paragraph stayed the same
- People want an AI-detection estimate alongside the rewrite
DeepL Write and its alternatives compared
Details come from each tool’s own website in September 2026 and can change. ESL Humanizer is our product, so its row sticks to verifiable facts.
| Tool | Built for | Free option | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESL Humanizer | Polishing English you wrote yourself | 1 rewrite a day (2 when signed in), up to 1,500 characters (~250 words) each | $24.95/month or $89 for 4 months |
| LanguageTool | Grammar and style checking in 30+ languages | Up to 2,000 characters per check, 3 paraphrases a day | Premium — see its pricing page (shown at checkout) |
| Grammarly | Correcting grammar and tone as you write; its humanizer rewrites AI-generated text | Grammar and spelling checks, 100 AI prompts a month, basic free humanizer | Pro from $12/month |
| Wordtune | Rewriting sentences for clarity, tone and length | 10 rewrites and AI suggestions a day | Advanced $6.99/month ($4.89 billed yearly); Unlimited $9.99/month ($6.99 billed yearly) |
| QuillBot | General paraphrasing, grammar and summarizing | Paraphraser up to 125 words per run | $19.95/month or $8.33/month billed yearly |
| DeepL Write (for reference) | Refining text for clarity and tone, alongside DeepL's translator | Free version on the web with limits | Write Pro add-on from €6.99/user/month billed yearly, on a paid DeepL plan |
The alternatives, one by one
1. ESL Humanizer — for English you wrote yourself
ESL Humanizer rewrites a non-native writer’s own paragraph so it reads naturally, then shows every change word by word with a meaning score and an AI-detection estimate. It doesn’t generate content and never promises to beat detectors.
- ESL Humanizer shows a meaning-similarity score for every rewrite.
- You see the AI-detection estimate for the rewritten text — useful if you've been flagged before.
- Built around academic and application writing by non-native speakers.
2. LanguageTool — grammar and style checking in 30+ languages
A multilingual grammar, style and spelling checker with an AI paraphraser.
- Choose it if you write in German, Spanish, French or other languages as well as English
- Watch out for: error correction won't fix sentences that are grammatical but sound translated
- Free option: Up to 2,000 characters per check, 3 paraphrases a day
3. Grammarly — correcting grammar and tone as you write; its humanizer rewrites AI-generated text
A grammar and writing assistant that also offers a free AI humanizer for rewriting AI-generated drafts.
- Choose it if you want real-time grammar help in email, Docs and every browser field
- Watch out for: its humanizer is designed for AI-generated text, not for a non-native writer's own draft
- Free option: Grammar and spelling checks, 100 AI prompts a month, basic free humanizer
4. Wordtune — rewriting sentences for clarity, tone and length
An AI rewriting assistant that suggests alternative versions of sentences, from AI21 Labs.
- Choose it if you like hand-picking the wording of each sentence
- Watch out for: sentence-by-sentence work can leave a paragraph that doesn't flow
- Free option: 10 rewrites and AI suggestions a day
5. QuillBot — general paraphrasing, grammar and summarizing
A paraphrasing suite with several rewrite modes, a grammar checker, a summarizer and a humanizer.
- Choose it if you need a summarizer, citation tool and paraphraser in one subscription
- Watch out for: the free paraphraser stops at 125 words per run
- Free option: Paraphraser up to 125 words per run
When sticking with DeepL Write makes sense
- You translate from your first language and then polish in English
- You want quick suggestions for short emails and messages
Wrote it yourself? Make it sound natural.
Paste a paragraph. ESL Humanizer fixes non-native phrasing, keeps your meaning and highlights every change — free for up to ~250 words.
Quick answers
Is DeepL Write free?
DeepL Write has a free web version with limits. Write Pro, with more features, is an add-on to paid DeepL plans starting at €6.99 per user per month on yearly billing.
Should I translate my essay with DeepL and then fix it?
Translation is a good first draft, but translated text often keeps the structure of your first language. Rewriting the English afterwards — and checking every change — makes it sound natural and keeps it yours.