The following free and low-cost assistive technology software programs are available for anyone to use. These programs, software, websites, and apps focus on different forms of writing support.
Free Applications
Ghotit
Features:
- Online Contextual and phonetic spell checker along with grammar and punctuation checker
- Copy text into web page and program will check your grammar, spelling and punctuation
- More Information: http://www.ghotit.com/
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource
Grammarly
Features:
- Eliminate writing mistakes and contextual errors, spelling errors, and poor vocabulary usage
- Find the right word you are looking for with synonym suggestions
- Learn from your mistakes to avoid them in the future
- Grammarly works anywhere your Chrome browser in including emails, essays, social media posts and more
- More Information: https://www.grammarly.com/
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome Extension
LanguageTool
Features:
- Free AI-based grammar and spell checking tool
- Available for more than 25 different languages
- The free version can check up to 10,000 characters
- Style suggestions are available in the premium version
- More Information: LanguageTool Website
Cost: Free for basic and $4.99/month for premium version
Compatibility: Online Resource and Chrome Extension
ProWritingAid Grammar Checker & Writing Coach
Features:
- Writing editor Chrome extension
- Works within websites, emails, Google Docs and other online sources
- With the free version, it scans the first 500 words for various categories in your writing, such as grammar, style, spell checking, word overuse, and more
- More Information: ProWritingAid Website
Cost: Free for limited version and $20/month for premium version
Compatibility: Free Chrome Extension and Online Editor
Written Kitten
Features:
- Encourages words typed by showing a picture of a kitten for every 100 words typed
- The image displayed can be adjusted per user preference
- More Information: Written Kitten Website
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Online Resource
Low-Cost Applications
Co:Writer
Features:
- Word Prediction app that gives you suggestions of words as you type with the option of reading your word options out loud with a swipe of your finger
- Built-in text-to-speech reads back what you’ve typed
- Grammar and spelling support
- Export files to Dropbox, Google Drive, and other programs
- Create topic dictionaries from websites and Wikipedia links
- More Information: http://donjohnston.com/cowriterapp
Cost: $19.99
Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone; iPod touch
Fleksy
Features:
- Increase your keyboard or text input system size to 114% the normal size increase ease of sight using this QWERTY keyboard
- State-of-the-art system powerful enough for individuals who are blind or low vision to use by not needing to look at the screen to type
- Powerful word prediction system and autocorrect system edits your text without the need to even see the keyboard
- More Information: http://fleksy.com/
Cost: $0.99
Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android
Ginger Grammar Checker & Spell Checker
Features:
- Checks your spelling and grammar and fixes it according to the context of your text in Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome
- Suggests different and better ways to express your sentences (Premium)
- Provides training to improve your mistakes (Premium)
- Reads your text out loud (Premium)
- More Information: http://www.gingersoftware.com/
Cost:
Free; Premium $5.10-11.20/month
Compatibility:
Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Chrome and Safari Extension
Hemingway Editor
Features:
- Assists with writing clarity, passive voice editing, and readability
- Displays how many words typed
- Available in the web browser and as a desktop application
- More Information: Hemingway Editor Website
Cost: Free for web browser; $19.99 for desktop application
Compatibility: Windows or Mac
iWordQ
Features:
- Context-based word prediction tool; including homonyms
- Make your own custom abbreviation to simply your writing
- Text-to-Speech function with breathing space added allows for you to listen to your writing to hear any mistakes and make changes and catch up as you proofread
- More Information: iWordQ Website
Cost: $24.99
Compatibility: iOS: iPad
LanguageTool
Features:
- Free AI-based grammar and spell checking tool
- Available for more than 25 different languages
- The free version can check up to 10,000 characters
- Style suggestions are available in the premium version
- More Information: LanguageTool Website
Cost: Free for basic and $4.99/month for premium version
Compatibility: Online Resource and Chrome Extension
ProWritingAid Grammar Checker & Writing Coach
Features:
- Writing editor Chrome extension
- Works within websites, emails, Google Docs and other online sources
- With the free version, it scans the first 500 words for various categories in your writing, such as grammar, style, spell checking, word overuse, and more
- More Information: ProWritingAid Website
Cost: Free for limited version or $20/month for premium version
Compatibility: Free Chrome Extension and Online Editor
QuillBot
Features:
- AI paraphrasing, summarizing, and grammar checking writing tool
- Checks for grammar, provides synonyms and rephrases suggestions for up to 125 words at a time
- 1200 word limit for the summarizing feature and includes a free word counting tool as well
- More information: QuillBot Website
Cost: Free and premium versions
Compatibility: Online editor, Chrome Extension, Microsoft Word Extension
Helperbird
Features:
- Immersive Reader for improved focus and comprehension
- Dyslexia support and reading modes to enhance readability
- Text-to-speech and voice typing tools
- Supports diverse learning styles with customizable settings
- Accessibility tools for web pages, apps, and PDFs
Cost:
- Helperbird Basic: Free, includes essential accessibility and productivity features
- Helperbird Pro: $6.99/month or $60/year, unlocks full access to all features
- Helperbird Pro Unlimited: $99.99/month or $1,200/year, includes premium support and unlimited feature access
Compatibility: Chrome browser extension
More information: Helperbird on Chrome Web Store
Textexpander
Features:
- Type more with less effort using this custom keyboard shortcut app
- Create custom abbreviations called snippets of frequently used words and phrases for easy, quick entry into your documents
- Insert snippets by simply touching on them on your screen
- Use Dropbox to sync your snippets across devices
- More Information: http://smilesoftware.com/TextExpander/
Cost: $4.99
Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
Voice Dream Writer
Features:
- Make fewer mistakes, use the right words and organize your writing better with this app
- Text-to-speech and voice-to-text help you to proofread to avoid awkward sentences or grammatical mistakes
- Dictionary, Phonetic Spell Checker, and Word Finder help you use the correct words when writing
- Outline of paper allows for better structure and ease when restructuring your paper
- More Information: http://www.voicedream.com/writer/
Cost: $9.99
Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
Word Bank Universal
Features:
- Assists with developing a vocabulary for writing by creating a word back highlighting most used words in larger fonts
- Highlights important people, places, a timeline, and numbers from web pages or articles
- Available text-to-speech
- Searchable content
- More Information: Word Bank Universal Website
Cost: $3.99/month
Compatibility: Online Resource
Writing Challenge
Features:
- Offers topic suggestions for writing
- Turns writing into interactive games
- Writing templates
- Group writing features
- More Information: Writing Challenge Website
Cost: $1.99
Compatibility: iOS; Mac; Windows; Android; Kindle
Writing Prompts
Features:
- Assist with writer’s block
- Offers writing prompts based on news, scenes, sketches, texts, and words
- App works on and offline
- More Information: Writing Prompts Website
Cost: $1.99
Compatibility: iOS; Android; Kindle