Grammarly and Microsoft Editor both catch spelling and grammar mistakes, but they work in very different places. Grammarly runs almost anywhere you write, including Google Docs. Microsoft Editor is built into Word, Outlook and Microsoft Edge — and many students already have it through their school's Microsoft 365 account. Here's how their free features, paid plans and student access compare.
you write in Google Docs, the browser or several apps, or you want plagiarism checks, AI-text detection and Grammarly Authorship to document your writing process.
you write mostly in Word, already have Microsoft 365 through your school, and only need spelling, grammar and style suggestions.
| Feature | Grammarly | Microsoft Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Writing across many apps, including Google Docs | Students who write mainly in Word and Outlook |
| Free version | Spelling and grammar checks, tone detection, 100 AI prompts/month | Basic spelling and grammar in Word for the web with a free Microsoft account; built-in proofing in Microsoft Edge |
| Paid option | Grammarly Pro: $12/month billed annually | Microsoft 365 subscription adds refinements (clarity, conciseness, formality, vocabulary) |
| Where it works | Google Docs, Word, browser extension, desktop and mobile apps | Word, Outlook and Microsoft Edge (Editor's Chrome and Edge extensions were retired on October 31, 2025) |
| Google Docs | Yes (browser extension) | No |
| Plagiarism check | Pro only | Word's Similarity Checker in some Microsoft 365 plans — Microsoft is retiring it, with rollout starting October 2027 |
| AI-text detection | Pro only | No |
| Writing-process tracking | Grammarly Authorship (free and Pro) | Version history when files are saved to OneDrive |
| Student access | Some colleges provide Grammarly through a campus license | Office 365 A1 (web apps) free with an eligible school email; Microsoft has also run a limited-time Microsoft 365 Premium offer for college students — check Microsoft's site |
Features and prices from Grammarly's and Microsoft's official pages as of November 2026. They change often — check the official site before you buy.
Best for: students who write in Google Docs and across many apps
Grammarly checks spelling, grammar, clarity and tone in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, your browser and its desktop and mobile apps. The free plan includes core corrections, tone detection and 100 AI prompts a month. Grammarly Pro ($12/month billed annually) adds full-sentence rewrites, tone adjustment, plagiarism and AI-text detection, citation consistency checks and 2,000 AI prompts a month. Grammarly Authorship, available on Free and Pro, records whether text was typed, pasted or AI-assisted so you can show your writing process. Some colleges provide Grammarly through a campus license, so check with your writing center before paying.
Why students use it:
Grammarly is our pick for most students because it works in Google Docs and nearly everywhere else, but if you write only in Word and have Microsoft 365 through school, Editor may be all you need. Check your course's policy before using AI rewrite features.
Best for: students who write in Word and already have Microsoft 365
Microsoft Editor is the writing assistant built into Word, Outlook and Microsoft Edge. With a free Microsoft account, you get basic spelling and grammar checks in Word for the web; a Microsoft 365 subscription adds refinements for clarity, conciseness, formality and vocabulary. Editor supports more than 20 languages. Microsoft retired the Editor browser extensions for Chrome and Edge on October 31, 2025, so it no longer checks Google Docs or other websites outside Edge's built-in proofing. Word's Similarity Checker, offered through Editor in some Microsoft 365 plans, is also being retired, with Microsoft's rollout starting in October 2027. Students with an eligible school email can get Office 365 A1 — web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook — free.
Why students use it:
Spelling and grammar suggestions are allowed in most courses, but AI rewrites or generated text may not be. Check your syllabus and your instructor's AI policy, and keep the ideas and wording your own.