Why LanguageTool is an ethical alternative for Writing Assistance
LanguageTool is a multilingual grammar, style, and spell checker designed to help users improve their writing across over 30 languages. It has been created in 2003 and has since grown into a powerful tool supported by a community of volunteer maintainers, many of whom are native speakers of the languages it supports.
Unlike many writing assistants, LanguageTool does not rely on LLMs for its spell checking. Its core functionality is free and open-source, allowing users to download and use it offline or even self-host it on their own servers. This makes it an ideal choice for privacy-conscious individuals, organisations, and multilingual writers who want to ensure their data remains under their control.
LanguageTool integrates seamlessly with a variety of platforms, including web browsers, LibreOffice and email clients. While the free version offers robust features, a premium version is available for users who need advanced error detection, especially for English and German. The tool’s ability to be self-hosted is one of its most unique advantages, as it allows users to process text locally without sending data to external servers, ensuring complete privacy.
In 2023 LanguageTool has been acquired by American company Course Hero.
Summary
LanguageTool is a privacy-friendly, open-source and self-hostable alternative to Big Tech writing assistants like Grammarly. It offers multilingual support, offline functionality, and a commitment to user data protection.