Is Grammarly Premium worth it for students?
What Premium adds
Grammarly Premium goes beyond basic spelling and grammar to check for clarity, conciseness, tone, and plagiarism. It suggests rephrasing awkward sentences and can adjust your writing to sound more formal or confident. For students writing essays, the plagiarism checker alone can be valuable, though it's not a substitute for proper citations.
Premium costs about $12/month billed annually, or around $30/month if paid monthly. Students often get discounts, and some universities provide free access to all students. The free version catches common errors but misses many style and clarity issues.
Is it worth the cost?
If you write multiple papers per semester and struggle with clarity or grammar, Premium can help improve your grades and save editing time. The plagiarism checker can catch accidental copying, but it's limited compared to dedicated tools like Turnitin. If your writing is already strong, the free version or built-in tools in Word/Google Docs may be sufficient.
Before buying, check if your school offers Grammarly Premium for free—many do. Also consider whether you need the plagiarism feature; if not, a cheaper alternative like ProWritingAid might work.
Common mistakes
- Buying Premium without checking if your school provides it for free.
- Relying solely on Grammarly's plagiarism checker; it's not as comprehensive as institutional tools.
- Assuming Premium will make you a better writer without learning the underlying rules.
