German grammar checkers are a must-have for any German language learner or non-native speaker using German in everyday life.
The right program should help you to identify and correct mistakes in your writing, making your communication with German speakers more efficient and effective. This will also boost your learning process, helping you to eliminate mistakes in written speech.
Fortunately, there are many different German grammar checkers on the market, but which one is right for you? Should you choose a free or paid one? With color-coding or without? One that automatically edits the text or one that just shows you the mistakes?
The answers to these questions all depend on your needs and writing process. To help you make a decision, we’ve prepared this short article. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular German grammar checkers, compare their features, and figure out which one suits you best. Read on.
Learn German with Langster
Learn German with Langster
LanguageTool is a free online grammar checker that can be used by anyone, regardless of their level of German. It’s probably the most known and commonly used checker tool out there (maybe except for Grammarly), and for a good reason.
It identifies and corrects spelling mistakes in your writing as well as noting typos, punctuation and grammatical errors, and many more errors.
The free version allows you to check up to 10,000 characters, but there’s a paid version that allows a more thorough check for up to 60,000 characters at a time.
If you pay for a premium version (which is about 2,5-10$ per month depending on the plan), LanguageTool will provide you with style and tone checks as well as more advanced suggestions for aspects such as gender pronouns and complex tenses.
This grammar checker is available in several European and Asian languages, which makes it perfect if you’re learning several languages at once.
You can also install a Chrome extension that checks mistakes in any text fields in your browser – a perfect addition, if you ask us. Not only will you be able to check the grammar mistakes in your written works in Google Docs, but you’ll also get a chance to write error-free comments or notes in the German language.
Who Is LanguageTool for?
The free version of this German grammar checker is a perfect tool for those who need to deal with spelling errors, basic grammar mistakes, or typos in their texts. If you’re a student studying German, or if you’re working with German colleagues or business partners, LanguageTool will be more than enough to ensure smooth communication.
Nevertheless, if you need to have a thorough check of the text – for example, in academic writing on higher levels, you might want to opt for a premium version or check out another tool on this list.
Duden is a German grammar checker tool created by the Duden publishing house – one of the most popular and well-known German publishers, specializing in dictionaries and language-related books.
This program comes with three versions: a guest one, for those who need to fix basic spelling and grammar mistakes in short texts; a basic one, for free registered users; and a more complex version, which will thoroughly check your text for style, tone, and readability.
While the first one is the simplest and doesn’t require you to do anything, we strongly recommend going through the free registration – this will allow you to check up to 1500 characters per entry (instead of 850 in the guest option) and check not only spelling, punctuation, and grammar, but also let you change the country settings to Austria or Switzerland.
The last option is perfect for those who write texts that are supposed to be published or read by many people, as well as students or businesspeople who need to deal with occasional spelling or grammar mistakes in their texts.
Apart from all the previous functions, it also provides synonym suggestions, writing style tips, a Microsoft Word add-in, and, of course, freedom from ads.
However, it’s also worth noting that the premium version of Duden is quite expensive – almost three times as much as LanguageTool’s premium version.
This program also includes a browser plugin that is available regardless of the plan you choose.
Who Is Duden for?
This grammar checker is perfect for those who are looking for a more comprehensive tool to help them with their spelling, grammar, and style and need to be sure it’s written flawlessly.
Business people, blog writers or editors, higher-level German university students – these are all the types of German users who will benefit from it.
This is yet another great German grammar checker for those who need an all-in-one solution for their texts. GermanCorrector is a tool that will do basic spell-check and fix your grammar as well as highlight style issues. It’s completely free, has unobtrusive ads, and works in a similar way as LanguageTool.
To use it, you simply have to copy and paste text into the form, and the program will either autocorrect or mark the issues, depending on the settings you use. We do prefer the latter option, since it allows you to correct your mistakes by yourself, and thus learn.
You also can check German grammar in three different variants of the language: German, Austrian, and Swiss (and all for free!).
Who Is GermanCorrector For?
While it doesn’t have a lot of functions, this is one of the easiest online grammar checkers out there, perfect for short texts and people who need a quick solution.
If you don’t need a thorough check and simply want to avoid any serious grammar mistakes, this German grammar checker would be the best option for you.
Reverso is a great translation tool that also offers an online grammar checker – unfortunately, only available in French and English for now. But, don’t worry! While you might not get the functions we’ve mentioned above in other tools, you still can briefly check your text by translating it to see whether you’ve written what you mean.
The great thing about Reverso is that it not only translates the text but also has a context tool, synonyms, conjugations, and more. We’ve placed this platform on our list for one reason: it’s probably the finest tool that will help you ensure that you know all the necessary information to write well and do everything yourself.
You can use Reverso for free without registration, but if you want to keep your progress and take full advantage of the features, you will need to sign up for an account.
Who Is Reverso For?
If you want to check your grammar the old-fashioned way, by yourself, and learn by finding your mistakes, this is the tool for you.
This platform will come in handy if you need a quick translation of a foreign text or want to know more about the context and meaning of words in other languages – not just German.
This Is Just the Start
Of course, this list is just a starting point – there are many more online German grammar checkers out there. Depending on your needs and the types of texts you write, you might consider using something from our list or looking further for a grammar tool that meets your needs.
If you are a student, any of the tools above will probably suit you; however, if you’re starting a German blog, you might need to find a checker that also offers professional-quality SEO analysis and look for other search engine optimization tools.
If you’re a businessman working with German partners, a grammar check might not be enough – you should also know the basics of German business etiquette. And, if you’re a worker in a special sphere, such as medical or IT, you’ll also need to look for dictionaries specializing in vocabulary you use daily.
All in all, don’t stop looking for spell-checking tools. Regardless of your level of German knowledge and personal skills, they will ensure that your German texts are written flawlessly. Even if nothing on our list suits you, there’s a grammar checker out there that will be perfect for your needs.
