Choose DeepL if you write in two languages: its translation and DeepL Write rewriting suit French freelancers writing to clients abroad. Choose ChatGPT or Claude if you already pay for one: both rewrite and edit on request, Claude with a more professional default tone. Keep Grammarly, even on its free plan, if what you need is correction while you type.
Grammarly's strength is that it works everywhere you already type and catches errors an assistant will not flag. Pro costs €12 a month on the French page, with a free plan for basic correction. Freelancers look elsewhere when the rewrites flatten their voice, when they write in two languages, or when they already pay for an assistant that can edit too.
The three tools below each do part of Grammarly's job better, and none of them sits in every text field the way Grammarly does.
The picks that stand out
DeepL
Document translation that keeps the layout, glossaries that hold client names steady, and DeepL Write for rewriting. The free plan covers 50,000 characters a month; Individual is €8.99 a month in France, VAT included. It translates and rewrites, but will not draft from a brief.
Claude
Nuanced long-form output and a professional default tone make it a strong editor for proposals and reports. Pro is €18 a month on monthly billing; the free plan has usage limits. You paste text in rather than having it check as you type.
ChatGPT
A strong free plan, broad capability and Go at €8 a month or Plus at €23. It edits and rewrites well when asked, but it can be confidently wrong on niche topics and does not watch every text field the way Grammarly does.
At a glance
| Criterion |  Grammarly | DeepL | ChatGPT | Claude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used mainly for | Proofreading client emails, tightening proposals | Translating client documents, bilingual proposals | Content writing, research | Long-form drafting, analysis |
| Entry price | €12.00/mo · Pro | €8.99/mo · Individual | €8.00/mo · Go | €18.00/mo · Pro |
| Free plan | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Free trial | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Works on | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension, API | Web, iOS, Android, API | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Documented integrations | Chrome, Google Docs, Word, Desktop app | Word, Outlook, Chrome, CAT tools, API | API, GPT Store, Third-party apps | API, Third-party apps |
| Setup | Easy: minutes | Easy: minutes | Easy: minutes | Easy: minutes |
| Main limitation | Rewrite suggestions flatten distinctive voice | The free plan caps text at 50,000 characters a month and one file translation | Free tier usage caps | Usage limits on free plan |
| Our evidence level | Vendor documented | Vendor documented | Vendor documented | Vendor documented |
| Try it | Try Grammarly ↗ | Try DeepL ↗ | Try ChatGPT ↗ | Try Claude ↗ |
Every cell comes from the tool's record, built from its official documentation and pricing page. The integrations listed are the ones the vendor documents, not tested by us.
Correction is not rewriting
Grammarly corrects while you type, in your email, your browser and your documents. ChatGPT, Claude and DeepL Write rewrite text you give them. Those are different habits. If you mostly want typos caught before sending, Grammarly's free plan may be all you need; if you want a paragraph rewritten, an assistant does it better.
Writing in French and English
Grammarly corrects French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Italian as well as English. DeepL adds translation that preserves the document's layout and glossaries for client and product names: the reason it suits freelancers who deliver the same text in two languages.
Compare like with like
DeepL's French prices include VAT; Grammarly's €12 and the assistants' prices are read on their French pages. ChatGPT and Claude are priced per account, month to month. Read each record's billing line before comparing.
Three writers, three answers
The tax treatment differs from one record to the next, so read each figure as its own.
- You correct client emails before sending them: Grammarly's free plan covers it, and Pro is 144 € a year on monthly billing.
- You write to clients in a second language from your own draft: DeepL Individual is about 91 € a year on yearly billing, VAT included, with glossaries for client names.
- You draft from a brief rather than correct: ChatGPT Plus is 276 € a year, and Claude Pro 180 € a year paid upfront, excluding tax.
When to stay on Grammarly
If you write mostly in English, in many different apps, and want mistakes caught without changing how you work, nothing here replaces Grammarly. Use an assistant for the rewrites and keep Grammarly for the typing.
Pricing side by side
| Tool | Verified price | Billing condition | Free | Checked | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grammarly | €12.00/mo · Pro | monthly billing; 7-day free trial | Yes | 25.10.2026 | Visit ↗ |
| DeepL | €8.99/mo · Individual | 8.99 EUR/month billed monthly, VAT included; annual billing is advertised at 16% less | Yes | 25.10.2026 | Visit ↗ |
| ChatGPT | €8.00/mo · Go | Monthly billing only: OpenAI offers no annual billing for Go, Plus or Pro | Yes | 03.11.2026 | Visit ↗ |
| Claude | €18.00/mo · Pro | €18/month billed monthly; €15/month billed annually (€180 up front); excluding tax | Yes | 25.10.2026 | Visit ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Grammarly?
For translation and rewriting, DeepL's free plan (50,000 characters a month). For editing on request, the free plans of ChatGPT and Claude. None of them corrects as you type in every app the way Grammarly's own free plan does.
Is ChatGPT better than Grammarly?
For rewriting and editing whole paragraphs, often yes. For catching errors as you type everywhere, no. Many freelancers use Grammarly's free plan with a paid assistant.
Does Grammarly work in French?
Yes. Grammar and spelling correction also covers Spanish, French, Portuguese, German and Italian, and it translates into 19 languages.
Is DeepL a Grammarly alternative?
For bilingual work, yes: DeepL translates documents while keeping their layout, and DeepL Write rewrites text. It does not draft from a brief and does not correct as you type in other apps.
Recently at these tools
ChatGPT: Week of 12 October: your dot (the assistant that keeps working between conversations) can be opened from iOS Home Screen widgets and Apple Shortcuts, for accounts with dot access. Source ↗
ChatGPT: Week of 5 October: dots can be created and set up from the ChatGPT mobile app. Source ↗
Claude: Claude Duet opens as a research preview for Pro and Max plans: a separate app where Claude works as a proactive agent. Source ↗
Claude: Claude Haiku 5.5 launches as Anthropic's small, low-cost model, and Max and Team plans now include monthly API credits for the Claude Platform. Source ↗
Read on each vendor's official changelog, not tested by us.