Writing · replacement recipe

Go from LanguageTool to LanguageTool (self-hosted)

The job: Writing assistant (Grammar, spelling and punctuation checks, Checks in 30+ languages, Browser extension and Word, Google Docs and desktop add-ons (Premium only)). Pick where you are today and where you want to land; the move below follows your pick.

From · what you pay for now
LanguageTool
LanguageTool Premium · $24.90/mo
Year one−$1,161modeled
To · your pickCosts more in year one
LanguageTool (self-hosted)
Self-hosted · $5/mo + 2 h upkeep a month
Change where you land

The money

$24.90/mo today $5/mo

LanguageTool Premium

Year one, net−$1,161
Pays back innever

Modeled from public list prices, with your time at $50 an hour. Show the math

Does it do the job? 2 of 3 covered

  • Grammar, spelling and punctuation checks
  • Checks in 30+ languages
  • Browser extension and Word, Google Docs and desktop add-ons (Premium only)

The work

Setup
About 4 h
Upkeep
2 h a month
Watch out
Doesn't cover: Browser extension and Word, Google Docs and desktop add-ons (Premium only)

Make the move in four steps

  1. Export from LanguageTool

    Download your data and files before you change anything.

  2. Set up LanguageTool (self-hosted)

    Run the LGPL server yourself for rule-based checks in 30+ languages over the same HTTP API; no AI rules or synonyms, and the official browser add-on needs Premium.

    Details

  3. Switch links and integrations

    Point links, embeds and integrations at LanguageTool (self-hosted), then send a test through every one.

  4. Cancel LanguageTool

    Turn off renewal before your renewal date, once the new setup works. Access runs until: The end of the current billing period.

    How to cancel LanguageTool
Open LanguageTool (self-hosted)How to cancel LanguageTool
Modeled, not measured. Savings use public prices and planning assumptions: the bill you stop paying, minus the new tool, your upkeep time and your setup time at $50/hour, over the first 12 months. Paths marked Tested by Stackcut were run end to end by us on our own products. They're our tests, not customer results. Check the must-haves in each recipe before you switch.

The whole recipe: 2 ways out, best first

What you use

  • Grammar, spelling and punctuation checks
  • Checks in 30+ languages
  • Browser extension and Word, Google Docs and desktop add-ons (Premium only)

Not covered

  • AI paraphrasing and rewrites
  • Personal and team style guides and dictionaries
  • Self-hostable open-source server (no AI rules)
  • Proofreading HTTP API

Check before switching

  • You only rely on: Grammar, spelling and punctuation checks, Checks in 30+ languages, Browser extension and Word, Google Docs and desktop add-ons (Premium only)
  • Export your data from LanguageTool before canceling

Agents: get_recipe("replace-languagetool") on the Stackcut MCP server.

2 ways out, best first

Switch vendorHarper (free tier)Saves $249 in year one
$24.90/mo today → $0/mo · setup 1 h · then $299/yr · payback 2 mo
If your use fits the free tier (Free and open source, no account needed; checks run locally; English (American, British, Canadian, Australian, Indian) only).
Covers 33% of the core features (not: Checks in 30+ languages, Browser extension and Word, Google Docs and desktop add-ons (Premium only))
English-only writers can use Harper free in the browser, on macOS and in code editors; it has no AI paraphrasing or other languages.
How we got this
You pay now: LanguageTool Premiumflat price$24.90/mo
New cost: Harper (free tier)free plan$0/mo
Difference each month$24.90 − $0+$24.90/mo
Over 12 months+$24.90 × 12+$299
Setup, once1 h × $50/h−$50
Year one+$299 − $50+$249
  • Not counting your time (1 h in year one): saves $299 in year one.

Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team

Sources: languagetool.orgwritewithharper.com
Open sourceLanguageTool (self-hosted)Costs $1,161 more in year one
$24.90/mo today → $5/mo + 2 h upkeep · setup 4 h
Covers 67% of the core features (not: Browser extension and Word, Google Docs and desktop add-ons (Premium only))
Run the LGPL server yourself for rule-based checks in 30+ languages over the same HTTP API; no AI rules or synonyms, and the official browser add-on needs Premium.
License: open_source
How we got this
You pay now: LanguageTool Premiumflat price$24.90/mo
New cost: LanguageTool (self-hosted)a small server (modeled)$5/mo
Your upkeep time2 h/mo × $50/h$100/mo
Difference each month$24.90 − $5 − $100−$80.10/mo
Over 12 months−$80.10 × 12−$961
Setup, once4 h × $50/h−$200
Year one−$961 − $200−$1,161
  • Not counting your time (28 h in year one): saves $239 in year one.

Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team

Sources: languagetool.orgdev.languagetool.orgraw.githubusercontent.com

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