Grammarly AI Review (2026): Is Premium Worth It? vs ChatGPT

In 2026, Grammarly is fighting a war on two fronts. On one side, it has ChatGPT (which writes for free). On the other, it has "AI Humanizers" (which rewrite text to bypass detection). So, is the classic green-checker still relevant?

With 1.8 million monthly searches, Grammarly remains the king of corrections. But the recent addition of Grammarly GO (Generative AI) and the AI Detector has transformed it from a simple spell-checker into a full-stack writing coach. This review breaks down the new features and the "Premium" value proposition.

What’s New in Grammarly (2026)?

Grammarly isn't just about commas anymore.

• Grammarly GO (GenAI): You can now highlight text and say "Make this sound more professional" or "Shorten this," and it rewrites it instantly—similar to Notion AI but available everywhere (Gmail, Word, Slack).
• Strategic Suggestions: Instead of just fixing errors, it now suggests tone shifts. It might say, "This email sounds too aggressive; consider softening your opening."
• Citation Generator: A massive win for students. It automatically generates APA, MLA, and Chicago citations for websites you visit, saving hours of bibliography work.

Grammarly vs. ChatGPT vs. Quillbot

Why pay for Grammarly when ChatGPT is free?

Feature	Grammarly	ChatGPT	Quillbot
Core Function	Correction & Polish	Generation (Writing from scratch)	Paraphrasing
Integration	Everywhere (Browser, Word, Desktop)	Web Only (mostly)	Web & Extension
Plagiarism Check	Excellent (Premium)	None	Good (Premium)
AI Detection	Yes (Detects if you used AI)	No	No

Grammarly Pricing (2026)

Is the upgrade worth it? Let’s look at the numbers.

• Free Plan: Corrects spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Good for casual emails.
• Premium (~$30/mo or $144/yr): Unlocks "Clarity," "Tone," and "Plagiarism" checks. If you write professionally or academically, the Plagiarism Checker alone justifies the annual cost (which drops to $12/mo).
• Business: Adds style guides (e.g., "Always capitalize 'Product X'") for teams.

Is It Legit?

Yes. Grammarly is the standard. It doesn't sell your data to advertisers (unlike some free chrome extensions). It is SOC 2 compliant and safe for corporate use.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Grammarly detect AI writing?

Grammarly has launched features to help you identify AI-generated text, but primarily, it encourages responsible AI use. It won't flag your own writing as "fake" unless you pasted it directly from ChatGPT without editing.

2. How do I get a student discount?

Grammarly does not offer a direct "Student Discount" for individuals. However, many universities provide Grammarly Premium for Education for free. Check with your campus IT department.

3. Is the Plagiarism Checker reliable?

Yes. It compares your text against ProQuest databases and 16 billion web pages. It is widely considered the second best checker after Turnitin.

4. Can I use it on Google Docs?

Yes. The Grammarly Chrome Extension integrates natively with Google Docs, allowing you to see suggestions in the sidebar without leaving your document.