Alternatives
The best Writefull alternatives for non-native English writers
By ESL Humanizer editorial team · Prices and limits checked September 2026
Short answer
The best Writefull 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. Grammarly is a good fit if you want real-time grammar help in email, Docs and every browser field; LanguageTool is a good fit if you write in German, Spanish, French or other languages as well as English.
Why people look for a Writefull alternative
- Academic-journal style can feel formal for personal statements
- Writers want a focused tool without installing an add-in
- No view of how a rewrite affects AI-detection estimates
Writefull 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| DeepL Write | 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 |
| ProWritingAid | Style analysis and editing for long documents | 500 words per document, 2 line edits and 10 rephrases a day | Premium $30/month or $120/year; lifetime from $399 |
| Writefull (for reference) | Researchers and students writing academic English | See its pricing page for current free limits | Premium — see its pricing page |
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 scores meaning on each rewrite, so you can see whether your message survived.
- It targets naturalness for essays, applications and emails, not only academic register.
- It shows an AI-detection estimate for the rewritten text.
2. 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
3. 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
4. DeepL Write — refining text for clarity and tone, alongside DeepL's translator
DeepL's writing assistant, which suggests clearer wording and corrections, from the company behind DeepL Translator.
- Choose it if you translate from your first language and then polish in English
- Watch out for: its Pro features need a paid DeepL subscription
- Free option: Free version on the web with limits
5. ProWritingAid — style analysis and editing for long documents
A grammar checker and style editor with in-depth writing reports, popular with fiction and long-form writers.
- Choose it if you're writing a novel or long report and want detailed style analysis
- Watch out for: reports take time to act on and assume strong English already
- Free option: 500 words per document, 2 line edits and 10 rephrases a day
When sticking with Writefull makes sense
- You write journal articles, theses or grant applications, especially in Word or Overleaf
- You want language feedback tailored to academic style
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 Writefull good for non-native English speakers?
Yes, particularly for research writing: it is built on academic text and shows edits as suggestions you can accept or reject. It is less focused on personal statements, cover letters and everyday writing.
Does Writefull work in Microsoft Word?
Yes. Writefull offers an add-in for Word that gives language feedback and paraphrasing inside the document, as well as an Overleaf integration.