What Grammarly subscription does
Grammarly is a writing tool that checks your text for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style issues as you type. The free version catches basic errors. The paid subscription, called Grammarly Premium, adds features like tone detection, plagiarism checking, and suggestions for clarity and engagement.
Grammarly works inside your browser, email, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and many other writing platforms. When you type, it underlines potential errors in real time and offers corrections you can accept or ignore. The subscription version gives you more detailed feedback and access to features the free version does not include.
You pay a monthly or annual fee to use Grammarly Premium. The cost varies depending on how long a subscription you buy — annual plans cost less per month than month-to-month plans. Grammarly also offers a Grammarly Business plan for teams, which has different pricing and features.
Key Takeaways
- Grammarly Premium costs less per month if you pay for a year upfront than if you pay month to month, though the exact price changes periodically.
- The free version catches basic grammar and spelling; Premium adds tone detection, plagiarism checking, and advanced clarity suggestions.
- Grammarly works inside your browser, email, Word, Google Docs, and other writing apps without requiring you to copy and paste text.
- You can cancel your subscription at any time, and Grammarly offers a money-back may provide within a certain window if you are not satisfied.
How to set up a Grammarly account
Go to grammarly.com and click the sign-up button. You can create an account using your email address, Google account, or Apple ID. After you verify your email, you will land in the Grammarly dashboard, where you can choose to stay on the free plan or upgrade to Premium.
If you choose Premium, Grammarly will ask you to enter a payment method — credit card, debit card, or PayPal. You will then select whether you want to pay monthly or annually. After your payment processes, your subscription begins when ready.
Next, install the Grammarly browser extension or read the desktop app, depending on where you write most often. The extension works in your browser, email, and many web-based writing tools. The desktop app is a separate program you can use for longer documents.
What Premium features you get
Tone detection reads your writing and suggests whether it sounds formal, confident, friendly, or other tones, and lets you adjust it if needed. Plagiarism checking compares your text against billions of web pages and academic sources to flag passages that may match existing content. Advanced clarity suggestions go beyond basic grammar to recommend rewording that makes your point clearer or more concise.
Premium also includes a Goals feature where you tell Grammarly who your audience is and what you are trying to accomplish — for example, "writing a formal email to my boss" — and it tailors its suggestions to that context. The Full Critique feature gives you a detailed report on your writing after you finish, rather than just inline corrections.
You also get access to Grammarly's generative AI features, which can help you rewrite sentences, generate ideas, or expand sections of text. These features vary by subscription tier and update over time as Grammarly adds new capabilities.
Pricing and payment options
Grammarly Premium pricing changes periodically, so the exact amount you pay depends on when you sign up. Generally, annual subscriptions cost significantly less per month than paying month to month. For example, an annual plan might cost around $12 per month when paid upfront, while a monthly plan might cost around $30 per month — but these figures vary.
You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Grammarly charges your payment method on the same day each month (for monthly plans) or each year (for annual plans). If your payment fails, Grammarly will attempt to charge you again before suspending your account.
Grammarly offers a money-back may provide if you are not satisfied with Premium. The window for requesting a refund is typically 30 days from your purchase, though you should check the current terms on their website since this can change.
How to manage your subscription
Log into your Grammarly account and go to your account settings or billing page. There you can view your current plan, see when your next charge is due, and update your payment method. You can also switch between monthly and annual billing, though this may affect your renewal date.
To pause or cancel your subscription, go to the same billing page and look for a cancel or pause option. Grammarly will ask you why you are leaving and may offer you a discount to stay. If you cancel, your Premium features stop working at the end of your current billing period — you do not lose access when ready.
If you cancel and later want to resubscribe, you can log back in and restart your subscription at any time. Your account and any saved documents remain in your Grammarly account even if your subscription is paused.
Free version versus Premium: what changes
The free version of Grammarly catches basic grammar mistakes, spelling errors, and punctuation problems. It also flags some style issues like sentence fragments or unclear phrasing. You can use the free version in your browser, in email, and in many web-based writing tools.
Premium adds tone detection, plagiarism checking, advanced clarity and engagement suggestions, the Goals feature, and generative AI tools. Premium also gives you more detailed explanations for why Grammarly flagged something, which helps you learn as you write. If you write a lot or need to check for plagiarism or match a specific tone, Premium is worth considering. If you write casually and mainly need a spell-checker, the free version may be enough.
Grammarly Business for teams
Grammarly Business is a separate subscription designed for organizations and teams. It includes all Premium features plus team management tools, centralized billing, and the ability to set company-wide writing goals and style guides. Managers can see usage reports and manage team members' accounts from a single dashboard.
Grammarly Business pricing is based on the number of users and is quoted per seat. It is not available as a self-service purchase the way Premium is — you contact Grammarly's sales team to set up an account. If you work for a company that uses Grammarly Business, your employer typically handles the subscription and provides you with login credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Grammarly on my phone?
Grammarly has a mobile keyboard app for iPhone and Android that works in most messaging and email apps on your phone. The mobile keyboard is included with Premium and available as a limited free version. The full Grammarly app for desktop and browser offers more features than the mobile keyboard.
Does Grammarly save my writing?
Grammarly stores your writing in your account so you can access it later from any device. You can delete documents from your account at any time. Grammarly's privacy policy explains how they use and protect your data — you can read it on their website if you have concerns about what they do with your writing.
What happens to my account if I cancel?
Your account stays active, but Premium features stop working at the end of your billing period. You keep the free version and can still see your saved documents. If you resubscribe later, you regain access to Premium features when ready.
Can I share a Grammarly Premium subscription with someone else?
A single Premium subscription is for one person's use. If multiple people in your household or organization need Grammarly, each person needs their own subscription. Grammarly Business is the option if you need to cover multiple team members under one account.
Is Grammarly safe to use with sensitive documents?
Grammarly encrypts your data in transit and at rest. However, Grammarly does process your text on their servers to provide corrections and suggestions. If you work with highly confidential information, review Grammarly's security and privacy documentation, or check with your organization's IT or legal team before using it with sensitive documents.