The following Free or Low-Cost Assistive Technology programs, software, websites, and apps focus on different forms of writing support. The information about the following applications has been summarized from the applications’ websites and/or from experience testing the applications. We update this page approximately once a year. Please refer to the applications’ websites for the most up to date information.
Content created and shared by Augsburg University. To use, please correctly cite Augsburg University CLASS Office.
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
- 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 and paid Premium version
Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and Chrome Extension
Grammarly
Features:
- An application that can assist with finding 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 in emails, essays, 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: Online Resource and Windows or Mac desktop application
iWordQ
Features:
- Context-based word prediction tool
- Make your own custom abbreviation to simply your writing
- Text-to-Speech function allows for you to listen to your writing to hear any mistakes, make changes and catch up as you proofread
- More Information: iWordQ Website
Cost: $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 $5.83/month for premium version
Compatibility: Online Resource and Chrome Extension
ProWritingAid
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, spell checking, and more
- More Information: ProWritingAid Website
Cost: Free for limited version or $10/month for premium version
Compatibility: Free Chrome, Edge, and Safari Extension; Online Editor; Windows; Mac
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; Mac; Microsoft Word
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
VDWrite
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
- “Word Bank also summarizes and extracts important people, places, a timeline, and numbers from web pages.” (Don Johnston Incorporated, 2023)
- 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
- Gamifies writing through daily challenges
- More Information: Writing Challenge Website
Cost: $1.99 iOS and $1.49 Android
Compatibility: iOS; Mac; Windows; Android; Kindle
Writing Prompts
Features:
- Assist with writer’s block
- Offers a variety of writing prompts
- 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