The following Free or Low-Cost Assistive Technology programs, software, websites, and apps focus on different forms of writing support.
Writing
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: Co: Writer Website
Cost: Free trial and $4.99/month
Compatibility: iOS; Chrome Extension; Microsoft Edge add-on
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: Ginger Website
Cost: Free; Paid Premium
Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS; Chrome Extension
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: Grammarly Website
Cost: Free and Premium version
Compatibility: Chrome Extension; iOS; Android
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: Hemmingway 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: $28.99- $34.99
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
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: TextExpander Website
Cost: $3.33/month
Compatibility: iOS
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: Voice Dream Writer Website
Cost: $9.99
Compatibility: iOS
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
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
Download a printable copy with live links of the list of Free and Low-Cost Assistive Technology for Writing Support, please click on the following link: Writing Support AT