AI writing assistants (ai writing) , by Adam and Ben Long (Hemingway App LLC) , since 2013
Hemingway Editor
Readability-grading editor that flags dense, hard-to-read sentences
- WEB
- DESKTOP
What Hemingway Editor does
Rules-based readability and style checker that highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and adverbs, scoring text with a Hemingway grade level. Offers a free web editor, a one-time-purchase desktop app, and a newer AI-powered 'Plus' subscription.
What you get: Readability grading, Passive-voice/adverb highlighting, One-time-purchase desktop app, AI proofreader (Plus).
Typical jobs: Simplifying dense prose; Blog/marketing copy readability checks; Quick style pass before publishing.
Worth knowing: Monthly-only price for the Plus web subscription was not directly disclosed on the pages fetched; only the $100/year figure and its 17%-discount framing were confirmed via the official billing FAQ text surfaced during research.
What users complain about: Plus is confirmed at $100/year (~$8.33/mo), 17% less than paying month-to-month, implying the standalone monthly price is noticeably higher (Hemingway billing FAQ)
Pricing and plan limits
Verified August 2026| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free web editor | Free | Free | Unlimited use of the readability/style highlighter; no account required; no AI rewriting, grammar depth, or export |
| Desktop app (Classic) | not disclosed | n/a | $19.99 one-time purchase (Mac/PC); does not include newer AI features |
| Hemingway Editor Plus | not disclosed | $100 | $100/year (~$8.33/mo effective, ~17% less than month-to-month per official billing FAQ); adds AI grammar/tone fixes |
Where it wins
- One-time $19.99 desktop purchase with no recurring subscription for the core editor
- Extremely simple, fast readability grading with no account or login required for the free web tool
- Long track record (since 2013) as a standard 'simplify your prose' tool
Where it falls short
- Free web editor gives only readability/style scoring, no deep grammar-rule checking or plagiarism detection
- The $19.99 desktop app explicitly excludes the newer AI features, which are sold separately as the Plus subscription
- Feature set has evolved slowly compared to AI-native competitors like Grammarly or Wordtune
How we scored it
Full methodology| Criterion | Weight | Score | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capability | 30% | 5.5 | 1.65 |
| Value for money | 25% | 8.0 | 2.00 |
| Ease of use | 15% | 9.0 | 1.35 |
| Maturity | 15% | 8.0 | 1.20 |
| Support & docs | 10% | 5.0 | 0.50 |
| Momentum | 5% | 4.0 | 0.20 |
| Weighted total | 100% | 6.9 | 6.90 |
Alternatives to Hemingway Editor
Chosen by editors, not sponsors
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