What is Hemingway Editor?
Hemingway Editor is a classic readability tool that scores your writing and highlights wordy sentences, passive voice, adverbs, and overly complex wording - like a spellchecker, but for style. The paid Editor Plus add-on layers AI rewrites on top: fixing wordiness, adjusting tone or length, and generating headings and bullet points, while the original free web editor and a one-time-purchase offline desktop app remain available for people who just want the readability highlighting.
Key features
- Readability grading that scores writing like a spellchecker for style
- Highlights adverbs, passive voice, and overly complex sentences
- Editor Plus adds AI sentence rewrites for wordiness, tone, length, and formality
- Advanced grammar checker beyond the free tier
- One-click WordPress publishing and HTML/Markdown export
- Offline desktop app (Mac/Windows) that works with no internet, though without the newer AI features
How to get started
- Paste or write your text at hemingwayapp.com
- Review the color-coded highlights for readability issues
- Manually edit based on the highlights, or upgrade to Editor Plus and click Rephrase, Polish, or Shorten for AI rewrites
- Export to HTML, Markdown, PDF, or Word, or publish directly to WordPress
Hemingway Editor pricing
The core readability editor is entirely free online. Editor Plus adds AI-powered rewrites for $8.33/month (Individual 5K, billed annually) up to $12.50/month for more AI credits or team seats; the classic desktop app is a one-time $19.99 purchase without AI features.
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free (web) | $0 | Readability highlighting without AI rewrites |
| Editor Plus Individual 5K | $8.33/mo (annual) | 5,000 AI sentence rewrites per month |
| Editor Plus Team 10K | $12.50/user/mo (annual) | Teams sharing one bill with admin roles |
Our take: A long-running, well-respected tool that stayed useful by keeping its free readability core intact and only gating the newer AI rewriting behind Editor Plus.
Prices verified 2026-09. Plans change often — confirm on the official site above before you buy.
Use cases
- Bloggers and marketers wanting plainer, more direct prose
- Students and professionals cutting wordiness from drafts
- Writers who want an offline, distraction-free editor
- Anyone who prefers a light, free readability check over a full AI rewrite
Hemingway Editor vs. alternatives
| Tool | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Hemingway Editor | Highlights wordy, passive, and hard-to-read sentences, with an optional AI mode that rewrites them for you. |
| Grammarly | Grammarly focuses more on grammar correction than pure readability scoring. |
| DeepL Write | DeepL Write focuses on tone and phrasing rather than a readability score. |
FAQ
Is Hemingway Editor free to use?
Hemingway Editor's plans: Free web editor; Editor Plus from $8.33/mo (annual); desktop app $19.99 one-time. Pricing and free-tier limits change over time, so check the official site above for the latest details.
What is Hemingway Editor used for?
Highlights wordy, passive, and hard-to-read sentences, with an optional AI mode that rewrites them for you.
Who is Hemingway Editor best for?
Hemingway Editor is a good fit for bloggers and marketers wanting plainer, more direct prose, or students and professionals cutting wordiness from drafts.
What are the alternatives to Hemingway Editor?
Commonly compared alternatives include Grammarly and DeepL Write, see the comparison above for how they differ.
How much does Hemingway Editor cost?
Hemingway's readability editor is free with no account. Editor Plus starts at $8.33/month billed annually (5,000 AI sentence credits) up to $12.50/month for 10,000 credits or team seats; the offline desktop app is a one-time $19.99 purchase without AI.
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DLast updated: 2026-09 · Reviewed by AIKetra editors · How we evaluate tools · Embed a Featured badge