Comparison of Grammar Checkers: WhiteSmoke vs. Grammarly

Two of the major computerized grammar checkers are WhiteSmoke and Grammarly. WhiteSmoke became available in 2002. Millions of people now use it, according to the website. The company also sells translation software. People use Grammarly in many homes, businesses and universities throughout the world. The Grammarly website indicates that it had checked over four million documents as of late 2011. These two grammar checkers maintain some similarities. They use Internet-connected servers to perform grammar checks, so customers must connect to the Internet to use their services. Both offer additional functions beyond grammar checking as well.

Many differences also exist. Grammarly provides a plagiarism checker that can generate citations when necessary. It also offers an optional accessory for Microsoft Office that checks users' Outlook and Word documents. In addition to its standard version, WhiteSmoke comes in several different variations with dictionaries and templates tailored to specific professions. They include business, creative writing and bio-tech. The Writer Executive package includes all features of the other four versions, along with material designed for high-tech and legal writers. Both WhiteSmoke and Grammarly check spelling and offer thesaurus capabilities.

These two grammar checkers use somewhat different methods. Grammarly users copy text and paste it into an online grammar checking form, much like many of the free grammar check websites. They use normal web browsers like Internet Explorer or Firefox to access the checker. It does not require any software download or installation, although users can install the Microsoft Office accessory to perform checks within Outlook or Word. On the other hand, WhiteSmoke works directly with almost any application that uses text. To check the text in a program such as Notepad or WordPerfect, WhiteSmoke users simply press the F2 key. It also permits customers to utilize the web-based copy and paste method favored by Grammarly.

When comparing WhiteSmoke and Grammarly, another important consideration is the cost. Grammarly offers potential customers more opportunity to test the service for free. Unregistered visitors can try using a free grammar checking form linked from the homepage of the Grammarly website. It does not perform some of the functions, such as the plagiarism check. However, users may also register and try the full service for up to a week without payment. Grammarly employs a subscription-based payment system; customers pay $19.95 per month. The expense becomes much smaller when paid on a quarterly or annual basis. With large prepayments, it costs as little as $7.95 monthly.

WhiteSmoke offers a free three-day trial download through CNET.com. Rather than using the service on a monthly subscription basis, WhiteSmoke customers pay to use it for one year or forever. As of late 2011, the cost for one year starts at $79.95 and the lifetime membership's price begins at $139.95. It only makes sense to buy the one-year license to use WhiteSmoke for a relatively short-term project that will not be repeated. The exact cost varies depending upon the specific version of WhiteSmoke and any special offers available at the time. Customers may also purchase additional user licenses or CD-ROM backups of the WhiteSmoke grammar checker at extra cost.

Yet another relevant consideration involves the technical requirements of each service. Both grammar checkers recommend using the Firefox, Safari, Chrome or Internet Explorer web browsers. Grammarly urges users to upgrade to Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher; this version does not work under Windows 2000. WhiteSmoke's website indicates that it supports Macintosh OS X as well as Windows 7, 2000, NT, XP and Vista. It requires an 0.47 megabyte download to use the trial version; this will take about two minutes on a dial-up connection and less on broadband. Despite the need for software downloads, some users report that WhiteSmoke's service operates faster than Grammarly overall.

Both grammar checkers work best for some types of people. By eliminating the burden of monthly subscription costs, WhiteSmoke proves desirable for long-term use. It also works better for users of non-Microsoft word processing software and people who prefer simple text editors like Notepad. WhiteSmoke supports Windows 2000 better than Grammarly, an advantage that remains relevant for some small business owners and users of older PCs. Professionals in the fields of biotechnology, creative writing and business may prefer WhiteSmoke because it offers versions specifically designed for them. Lawyers can make use of the Executive Writer package's features.

Grammarly provides a good option for people who switch computers regularly, such as college students living in dorms. They cannot take advantage of the software-based features of WhiteSmoke. The plagiarism checker proves particularly useful for writers who generate large quantities of articles. Its monthly subscription fees appeal to customers who lack the funds to pay large yearly or lifetime fees. Users with short-term needs will also spend less by using Grammarly. For example, a student may only need to use a grammar checker for the last two months of college. At $19.95 per month, this remains less expensive than paying to use WhiteSmoke for a full year.