I Tried 35 Editors: 5 Best Editing Tools for Writers in 2025

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Best Editing Tools for Writers in 2025

Today, we’ll be talking about the best editing tools for writers in 2025.

You see, a lot of us are often in a situation where we finish a piece of content, have a second look and realise we need a bit of help with editing. Sometimes, a lot of help especially when it’s a long-form content like a book.

I’ve been there more than I can count over the last 10 years as a copywriter and SEO expert.

So, finding the best editing tool for writers has always been something I’ve given attention to over these years fast forward to 2025.

Trust me when I say having the best editing tools for writers in your arsenal can make or break your writing process.

That’s why over this time I’ve tested 35 different editors to find the ones that hits the right mark. Whether you’re a business owner, freelancer or agency in the UK or anywhere else, the tools I’m about to share are absolutely game changers.

You’re probably using some of them already or just hearing about some of them for the first time. In this blog post, I’ll share the 5 best editing tools for writers that actually works in 2025.

Sounds good? Let’s get right to it!

Best Writing and Editing Tools in 2025 at a Glance

Writing Editor  What it is best for 
Grammarly  Best Editing Tools for Blogs and Articles
Hemingway Best Editing Tool for Readability and Clarity
InstaText Best Editing Tool for Authenticity
ProWritingAid Best Writing Tool for Authors
WordTune Best Writing Tool for Rewrites

How I Vetted the Best Editing Tools for Writers In 2025

I spent a lot of time using each of these writing editors to bring you only the best. I’ve tried everything from popular names to hidden gems that most people never hear about.

So, here are some of the AI editing tools for writing I’ve used over time to round up this list.

  • Slick Write

  • Ginger

  • Autocrit

  • Scrivener

  • Writer.com

  • Writefull

  • LanguageTool

  • PaperRater

  • SpellCheckPlus

  • Writer’s Workshop

  • Cliché Finder

  • Zoho Writer

  • Scribens, Outwrite

  • TextRanch

  • And many more.

I used six key criteria to judge every single editing tool. Let me walk you through each of these criteria used.

  1. Accuracy and depth of corrections – What sort of mistakes can the tool spot? Are they real mistakes or just basic stuff?

  2. Ease of use and integration – A good editing tool for content or book writing should have easy integration with other platforms

  3. Customisation options – It’s important that the tool checks the boxes for your specific writing style.

  4. Plagiarism detection – Does the editing tool have a feature to check for plagiarism?

  5. What you’re using the editing tool for – Is it a great writing and editing tool for blogging book writing, or both? This was also considered.

  6. Cost and value for money – Is it worth actually committing to a paid plan?

The criteria outlined were really important because these are things that count when using a content editing tool as a writer or author.

The five best writing and editing tools for beginners and pros that made the final list hit the mark on most of these factors.

5 Best Editing Tools for Writers in 2025

1. Grammarly (#1 Best Editing Tools for Blogs and Articles)

Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the best editing tools for writers and the most popular writing editor on the market. This sophisticated AI writing tool can do a lot more than correct your spelling mistakes. It can help you with many aspects of writing.

This editing tool finds spelling and grammatical errors and even helps you put commas in the right places in your content. One thing I really like about Grammarly is that it gives you a clear picture of every suggestion made. If you click on an underlined word, it will tell you exactly what is wrong and how to avoid making the same mistake again.

Then, there are also the Grammarly Cards. This helps point out errors and also teaches you the rules of grammar. You’ll know exactly what is awkward and how you can improve the text. Over time, it helps you become a better writer or author.

It’s easy to transition. Grammarly works with American, British, Canadian and Australian English, so you can write in whatever works for you. This is great if you want to stick with your audience’s tone of voice.

The proofreading tool works wherever you write. You can use the browser extension or directly in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Google Docs. This means you can check your spelling and grammar in real-time as you write emails, blog posts or creative writing projects.

Grammarly provides you with detailed reports on how well you are writing. These reports show how much you have improved in spelling, grammar and vocabulary. This information helps serious writers find areas where they need to improve.

Pricing: There are no hidden costs if you decide to stick with the free version of Grammarly. Grammarly Pro costs $30 per month for advanced features or $12 per month if you’re paying annually.

 Pros:

  • Works great as a free writing software with a handful of useful features

  • Provides correct spelling and grammar suggestions

  • Gives you writing templates and tips on how to write well

  • Works perfectly with popular word processing programs

  • Dedicated app for iOS and Android devices

  • The Pro version has a plagiarism checker

  • Writing space with a clean interface that won’t distract you

Cons:

  • The free version only gives basic style suggestions.

  • Can be too intrusive with suggestions for formal writing

  • It can feel pushy to market the pro version

2. Hemingway (Best Editing Tool for Readability and Clarity)

Hemingway

Hemingway Editor is a unique editing tool that stands out if you’re looking for a decent content editing tool as a business owner or writer. Its purpose is really simple: It makes your writing bold and clear. This writing and editing tool was named after the great writer Ernest Hemingway. It’s quite different from Grammarly and ProWritingAid.

Hemingway is a bit different from other content writing editing apps because it doesn’t only check for spelling or grammatical errors. Instead, it’s a powerful tool that can help you improve your writing style and make your content easy on the eyes.

This content editor uses a clever colour-coding system to indicate which parts need to be revised. When you paste your content into the Hemingway writing area, it lights up in different colours.

Sentences in yellow mean they’re too long or difficult to understand. They need to be shortened. People who read red sentences are confused and need to revise them completely.

Purple, you’re using phrases or words that are difficult to understand. Blue words show you adverbs that are not strong enough and should be taken out. Words or paragraphs labelled in green indicate passive voice that can be changed to active voice to make the text better.

You can use this writing editing tool to find out how easy or difficult your text is to read. Hemingway advises you to be more direct when writing long, meandering sentences. This is a great writing tool for bloggers, advertisers and anyone who wants to get their message across.

The free version works great and is one of the best free editing tools for short pieces. You get all the important features without paying anything. Writing and formatting options include headings, bold text, italics and lists to prepare your article for publication.

Pricing: Hemingway Editor is a free editor that will always be free. However, they have the option of a pro plan that costs just $19.99.

Pros:

  • One of the best tools for beginners to write and modify with a simple user interface

  • Excellent for making your texts easier to read

  • The best free online place for editing short texts

  • Helps you write quickly, concisely and succinctly

  • The best editing tool writers like bloggers and content creators

  • Has basic writing and formatting tools for publishing

  • The one-time payment for the desktop version is affordable

Cons:

  • Not suitable for writing manuscripts, books or long articles

  • The grammar check is not as good as the most advanced software solutions

  • Does not have the organisational features found in full-featured writing software

3. InstaText (Best Editing Tool for Authenticity)

InstaText

Do you know what can be really annoying? It’s when you’re trying to edit your content or book and all most of these editing tools out there can do is rewrite it with AI-generated words.

In the end, a lot of the time you end of having a AI generated content when ran on a AI content detector. This is one area I’ve found InstaText really stands out as one of the best editing tools for writers.

InstaText isn’t trying to be a copycat of ChatGPT. Instead, it’s designed to improve your writing while putting your voice front and centre. I’ve spent years trying out different writing editors, and this one really shines if you’re looking to keep your content authentic.

The first time I came across this tool in 2021, what caught my eye was that InstaText describes itself as an “advanced editing assistant with edits not generated by AI.” That’s a bold statement these days, isn’t it? But it’s a statement they actually live up to.

The writing editor uses advanced language technology, but it doesn’t use generative AI, which is becoming more and more prevalent in other AI writing editing tools.

Let me show you how this really works when you’re writing. You can use the online editor, a Google Chrome plugin, or a Word add-in. I really like the Chrome extension because it works with everything you do online, like Google Docs, emails, and social media posts. It’s like having a writing editor with you at all times.

When you highlight your text and click on the InstaText icon, the miracle happens. A pop-up with an intelligent colour scheme opens and shows different adjustments. Green indicates errors, while other colours point out where your text could be better. But here’s what I really like: nothing changes until you click on the individual recommendations. You have full control over your writing behaviour.

This editor can do much more than just check your spelling. It makes your content clearer and easier to understand, changing the tone and improving the style. If sentences are too complicated, they are even completely rewritten. This is especially good for those long sentences that we all struggle with from time to time.

You can write in the English that best suits you need, wheather you prefer British or American English. Plus, it also allowws you create a personalised dictionary, if you’re someone who likes to add some twist of words into their writing.

Privacy is also important. It’s nice to know that your texts won’t be stored anywhere when you’re dealing with important information. Also, the premium edition can manage up to 5000 characters at a time, which is a lot for most writing sessions.

Pricing: InstaText has a free version that allows you test the tool but I have to say it’s quite limited. You’ll have to opt into the paid subscription plan which cost $29 if you want full access.

Pros:

  • Retains your own writing style

  • Proofreading that goes beyond just checking the grammar

  • Works perfectly on multiple platforms

  • Allows you to make all the changes you want

  • It does not save any material and, therefore, protects your privacy

  • Can easily edit a decent amount of text at a go

Cons:

  • Since only English is supported, it is more difficult for writers around the world to use the tool

  • It doesn’t have an app

  • You have to pay for a membership to get premium features

4. ProWritingAid (Best Writing Tool for Authors)

Best editing tools for writers
Best editing tools for writers

I’ll be honest with you—I’m not a big fan of ProWritingAid because I don’t write books, fiction or novels. But if you’re an author or someone who writes a lot of manuscripts, this writing editing tool is a great fit.

ProWritingAid calls itself “The Storyteller’s Toolkit,” and I think it actually hits the nail on the head on that aspect. This editing software was developed specifically for writing fiction and editing long texts.

While the four other editing tools I’ve reviewed in this list focus on making quick corrections, ProWritingAid delves deep into your text like a literary detective.

You don’t just get a spelling and grammar checker, although, of course, both are included. What you really get is a complete analysis and comprehensive reports on your material. The writing and editing also analyse everything from your writing style to how well your conversation flows.

The Writing style report is probably what a lot of authors and uers find mostly helpful. It looks at your writing style and provides you detailed comments on your voice. The Grammar report takes care of the essentials, and the “Overused Words” report captures those pesky words we all overuse when we’re writing a really long piece like a book.

But brace yourself, there’s more. The readability report shows you how easy your work is for different groups of people to read. The consistency check makes sure you don’t call your character “John” in the first chapter and “Johnny” in the fifth. The pacing check – now it’s getting clever – analysing the rhythm of your sentences and paragraphs.

Another feature that’s also very helpful is the Dialogue Tags Check. If you write fiction with a lot of dialogue, you can use this tool to ensure that your dialogue flows naturally. The contextual thesaurus provides you with simple synonyms and also suggests terms that fit your situation.

I’ve tried a lot of editing tools, ProWritingAid’s all-in-one approach is really excellent. It’s like having a professional editor who never gets tired of reading what you write. The programme works with popular formatting and writing tools you already use like Google Docs, Word and Scrivener.

The downside? It might feel overwhelming if you just want a quick grammar check. ProWritingAid is designed for authors who want to improve their text on a deeper level. For simple emails or blog posts, it’s obviously overkill.

This writing editor works effectively across many platforms, making it one of the best writing editing tools you’ll use for serious writing tasks.

Pricing: There is a free version that gives you the basics, but it is also quite limited. The free version allows you to check 500 words at a time and has basic features like checking spelling, grammar and punctuation. You can also rephrase things 10 times a day and create documents.

If you’d like to commit, you can start with the premium subscription, which costs $10 monthly.

The Premium Pro subscription costs $12 monthly. This gives you access to unlimited word count, sophisticated style upgrades, unique style guidelines, and more than 24 writing analysis reports. You also have the ability to compare authors and extended AI features.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive analysis with highly detailed articles

  • Excellent for developing stories and extensive material

  • Works with most common word processing programs

  • Provides pedagogical reasons for improvement

  • Excellent for keeping things the same in large texts

  • Provides a context-based thesaurus and advanced style tips

  • Works in both British and American English

Cons:

  • Can be too much for simple writing tasks

  • Costs more than simple grammar checkers

  • Can slow down when working with large files

5. WordTune (Best Writing Tool for Rewrites)

Best editing tools for writers

I’d like to be upfront here. I personally think WordTune is a bit too expensive for what it offers.

But that doesn’t rule this editing tool out because it has some nice features that tick the box for certain types of writers.

Developed by AI21 Labs, WordTune uses deep artificial intelligence to give you alternative ways to say the same thing.

Let me explain: when you highlight a sentence, WordTune offers multiple rephrasing options based on language models that understand context better than simple grammar checkers.

What sets this writing editor apart from other content editing apps is its focus on sentence-level improvements.

You don’t get comprehensive document analysis like you do with ProWritingAid. Instead, you get five different ways to rewrite individual sentences, with only one option included in the free version.

This is how WordTune really works while you write. The editor has five alternative rewriting modes: “Rewrite It” for general improvements, “Make It Casual” to get rid of formal language, “Make It Formal” for professional communication, “Shorten It” to shorten long sentences, and “Expand It” to add extra depth and clarity.

The free version works as a Chrome extension for Gmail, Outlook, and other major websites, as well as social media and email providers. After you create a free account, you can also use other tools in the online editor. There is even a free add-in for Microsoft Word, although this does not work with all versions.

But here’s the limitation that infuriated me when I tested it: you can only rewrite 10 texts per day. It’s not 10 rewrites for each platform, but 10 rewrites shared between the browser extension, the online editor and the Word add-in. Worse still, the app counts your daily work even if you decide to stick with your original statement after seeing alternatives.

When writing, this editing tool can be somewhat distracting. When you highlight text, the purple logo pops up, which is distracting when you just want to move something around. I had to switch it off when writing and then remember to switch it back on when editing.

WordTune is one of the best editing tools for writers who find it hard to make their sentences clear and structured. It’s absolutely helpful when you don’t know how to say something correctly or when you need to change your tone quickly. The AI recommendations often give you new food for thought on how to put your ideas into words.

Compared to other writing editors on this list, WordTune feels limited in its scope. It doesn’t offer a comprehensive analysis of ProWritingAid or the in-depth grammar checking of other content writing apps. I’d say you’re paying to rewrite sentences with some basic spelling and grammar checks thrown in for good measure.

Pricing: The pricing structure includes a free version with the basic “Rewrite It” option and 10 daily revisions. The Unlimited plan costs $19.99 monthly or $9.99 when billed annually. You can also used the advance plan which cost just $13.99 monthly.

Pros:

  • Excellent for overcoming writer’s block on certain sentences

  • Offers multiple tone adjustments (casual, formal, expanded, abbreviated)

  • Works on all major platforms through a browser extension

  • Includes a free Microsoft Word add-in

  • One of the best editing tools for writers especially beginners who want sentence variety

  • Provides contextual alternatives instead of generic synonyms

  • It can help you write clearer and more engaging content

Cons:

  • Very limited daily revisions in the free version (only 10 in total)

  • Expensive monthly costs for limited functionality

  • It can be distracting during active writing sessions

Conclusion

Alright, we’ve come to the end of our blog post, and I really hope this piece has been worth your while.

Looking at everything we’ve mentioned so far, it’s pretty obvious that the best editing tool you decide to commit to actually depends on your specific need as a writer.

For example, if you’re an author or do a lot of long-form academic writing, ProWritingAid provides the best solution from our list above.

However, if you’re a freelancer, business owner, or agency that writes a lot of blogs, emails, web copy, or B2B content, Grammarly and Hemingway should be perfect.

If you want to retain your unique writing style and avoid using AI-generated phrases or paragraphs, you should stick with InstaText.

Lastly, if you’d love my team and I, to handle all of your content needs as a business owner or agency, JBCONTENTLAB, provide one of the best content writing and copywriting services here in the UK.

And don’t forget, we’re vetted experts in Local SEO, so hiring our team means you’ll be outranking your competitors in the SERPs in no time.

FAQs About the Best Editing Tools for Writers and Authors

What is the best editing tool for blog posts?

Grammarly ranks #1 as the best editing tool when you’re working on a blog post or article if you’re a freelance writer or an agency

What is the best AI editing tool for authors?

If you’re an author working on a book or manuscript, the best editing tool is ProWritingAid because it’s built specifically for book editing or proofreading.

What are the best proofreading tools for content writers and copywriters?

Hemingway and Grammarly are ranked as the best proofreading tools for copywriters and content writers in the UK and the US. 

What’s the best editor for writers?

If we’re talking about the best editors for writers, Grammarly, Hemingway, and ProWritingAid outshine every other editor in the industry. 

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