Are you tired of being constantly tempted by those purple-highlighted Grammarly Premium suggestions? You're not alone. While Grammarly's free version offers valuable writing assistance, those persistent premium prompts can be distracting and sometimes downright frustrating when you're trying to focus on your work.
The good news is that you don't have to live with this annoyance. Whether you're a student working on an essay, a professional drafting important emails, or a content creator producing articles, there are several effective methods to minimize or completely eliminate those tempting premium suggestions without sacrificing the helpful features of Grammarly's free version.
In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through multiple approaches to stop Grammarly from showing premium suggestions, explain the differences between free and premium features, and help you decide whether the premium version might actually be worth it for your specific needs. Let's dive in and reclaim your distraction-free writing experience!
Understanding Grammarly's Free vs. Premium Features
Before we jump into solutions, it's important to understand exactly what Grammarly offers in its free version versus its premium subscription. This knowledge will help you make informed decisions about which features you truly need.
What Grammarly Free Actually Includes
The free version of Grammarly provides substantial writing assistance that many users find perfectly adequate for their needs:
Basic spelling checks
Fundamental grammar corrections
Punctuation error detection
Conciseness suggestions
Tone detection (formal, informal, etc.)
Browser extension functionality
Microsoft Word and Outlook integration
Basic plagiarism detection
"I've been using Grammarly Free for my college assignments for over two years," says Michael, a university student. "It catches most of my typos and basic grammar mistakes, which is really all I need for most of my work."
How Grammarly Premium Suggestions Appear in the Free Version
When using the free version, Grammarly displays premium suggestions in several distinct ways:
Purple underlines (as opposed to red for basic errors)
Lock icons next to certain suggestions
"Premium" labels on specific correction categories
Pop-up banners highlighting premium features
Email notifications about "missed premium corrections"
These premium suggestions typically include:
Advanced grammar and punctuation corrections
Vocabulary enhancement suggestions
Style and tone improvements
Full-sentence rewrites
Clarity-focused revisions
Plagiarism detection against web sources
Formality level adjustments
"The purple underlines are like little advertisements scattered throughout my document," complains Sarah, a freelance writer. "They're designed to make you feel like your writing isn't good enough without the premium version."
Methods to Disable Grammarly Premium Suggestions
Now that we understand what we're dealing with, let's explore the various methods to stop those premium suggestions from appearing. I've arranged these solutions from simplest to most involved.
Using Grammarly Settings to Minimize Premium Suggestions
The easiest approach is to adjust settings within Grammarly itself:
Click on the Grammarly icon in your browser or application
Select "Settings" (gear icon)
Navigate to "Suggestions"
Uncheck categories that frequently trigger premium suggestions
Toggle off "Show Premium Suggestions" if available
"I found that turning off the style and vocabulary suggestion categories dramatically reduced the premium prompts I was seeing," explains David, a marketing professional. "I still get the basic grammar help, but without the constant upselling."
It's worth noting that this method doesn't completely eliminate premium suggestions, but it can significantly reduce them. Grammarly periodically updates its interface, so the exact location of these settings may vary slightly.
Installing Grammarly Browser Extension Alternatives
If you primarily use Grammarly in your browser, consider alternatives that provide similar functionality without the premium upselling:
LanguageTool: Open-source grammar and style checker with extensions for major browsers
Hemingway Editor: Helps with readability and conciseness
ProWritingAid: Offers a free browser extension with fewer upgrade prompts
"I switched to LanguageTool after getting frustrated with Grammarly's constant premium suggestions," shares Emma, a blogger. "It catches most of the same basic errors but without the aggressive upselling tactics."
Using Grammarly in Offline Mode to Avoid Premium Prompts
Another effective approach is to use Grammarly in offline mode:
Open the Grammarly desktop application
Disconnect your device from the internet
Use the offline functionality for basic grammar checking
Reconnect once you've finished your writing session
"Working offline with Grammarly gives me the basic spelling and grammar checks without all the premium suggestions," notes Jason, a novelist. "It's a bit inconvenient to disconnect, but it's worth it for distraction-free writing."
The limitation here is that some of Grammarly's free features do require internet connectivity, so you'll be working with a more limited tool.
Using Browser Scripts and Extensions to Block Premium Elements
For the more technically inclined, browser scripts and content blockers can selectively remove premium suggestion elements:
Install a userscript manager like Tampermonkey or Greasemonkey
Search for Grammarly-specific scripts that hide premium elements
Alternatively, use element hiding rules in extensions like uBlock Origin
"I created a custom CSS rule in uBlock Origin that hides all elements with the premium suggestion class," explains Alex, a web developer. "Now I only see the free corrections, which is exactly what I wanted."
This approach requires some technical knowledge but provides the most customizable solution for removing premium suggestions while retaining all free functionality.
Pros and Cons of Grammarly's Free Version
Before deciding how aggressively to block premium suggestions, it's worth evaluating the strengths and limitations of Grammarly's free version.
Advantages of Using Grammarly Free
Pros:
Solid basic error detection: Catches most common spelling and grammar mistakes
Cross-platform functionality: Works across browsers, desktop applications, and mobile devices
Clean interface: Intuitive design makes it easy to accept or reject suggestions
Regular updates: Free version continues to receive improvements
No cost barrier: Accessible to students, freelancers, and casual writers
Microsoft Office integration: Works within Word and Outlook
Tone detection: Helps identify if your writing matches your intended tone
"Even with just the free version, Grammarly has significantly improved my writing," says Priya, a non-native English speaker. "It catches mistakes I wouldn't notice on my own, which has been invaluable for my university assignments."
Limitations and Frustrations with Grammarly Free
Cons:
Persistent premium prompts: Constant reminders about premium features
Limited contextual suggestions: Doesn't always understand complex contexts
Restricted vocabulary enhancement: Basic synonym suggestions only
No plagiarism checking: Limited ability to detect unoriginal content
Basic tone adjustments only: Cannot fine-tune formality levels
Limited document types: Some specialized writing formats aren't well-supported
Occasional false positives: Sometimes flags correct grammar as errors
"The free version of Grammarly is helpful, but it can be frustrating when it repeatedly flags the same 'advanced issues' without letting me fix them without upgrading," notes Marcus, a content writer. "It's like having someone point out problems but refuse to tell you how to solve them."
Alternative Writing Tools with Fewer Premium Prompts
If you're fed up with Grammarly's premium suggestions but still want writing assistance, consider these alternatives:
Free Grammar Checkers That Compete with Grammarly
Several competitors offer robust free tiers with fewer upgrade prompts:
LanguageTool: Open-source with support for multiple languages and fewer ads
Hemingway Editor: Focuses on readability with no premium tier
Slick Write: Comprehensive free grammar checker with minimal upselling
Ginger: Alternative grammar checker with different strengths
QuillBot: AI writing assistant with generous free features
"I switched to LanguageTool after years of using Grammarly," shares Thomas, a graduate student. "It catches most of the same errors but doesn't constantly try to upsell me, which makes for a much better writing experience."
Built-in Grammar Tools in Word Processors
Don't overlook the increasingly powerful built-in tools in modern word processors:
Microsoft Editor: Built into Word and available as a browser extension
Google Docs spelling and grammar: Continuously improving AI-based suggestions
Apple's writing tools: Grammar and style checking in Pages and throughout iOS
"I was surprised by how good Microsoft Editor has become," admits Jennifer, an administrative assistant. "It now catches many of the same issues as Grammarly but is included with my Microsoft 365 subscription with no additional upselling."
Is Grammarly Premium Actually Worth It?
After all this discussion about avoiding premium suggestions, it's worth considering whether Grammarly Premium might actually be a worthwhile investment for your specific needs.
Who Benefits Most from Grammarly Premium Features
Grammarly Premium provides significant value for certain user profiles:
Professional writers: Those whose livelihood depends on polished writing
Non-native English speakers: People who need deeper language assistance
Academic writers: Students and researchers writing complex papers
Business professionals: Individuals writing high-stakes communications
Content marketers: Those creating content that represents brands
"As a non-native English speaker working in corporate communications, Grammarly Premium has been worth every penny," explains Hiroshi, a marketing director. "The advanced suggestions have noticeably improved my writing and saved me from potential embarrassment in client communications."
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grammarly Premium Subscription
When evaluating whether Premium is worth it, consider:
Monthly cost ($30/month) versus annual subscription ($144/year, equivalent to $12/month)
Volume of writing you produce weekly
Importance of writing quality to your career or studies
Time saved by more comprehensive suggestions
Alternative tools you might already have access to
"I calculated that Grammarly Premium saves me about 2 hours of editing time each week," shares Elena, a freelance copywriter. "At my hourly rate, that more than pays for the annual subscription, making it an easy decision."
Step-by-Step Guide to Completely Disable Grammarly Premium Suggestions
If you've decided that you want to completely eliminate premium suggestions, here's a comprehensive approach combining multiple methods:
Adjusting Grammarly Account Settings for Fewer Promotions
Start with your account settings:
Log in to your Grammarly account on the website
Navigate to "Account Settings"
Find "Email Preferences" or "Notification Settings"
Uncheck all marketing communications
Save your preferences
"Turning off email notifications was my first step," says Miguel, a student. "At least I stopped getting weekly emails about all the 'premium issues' in my papers."
Using Browser Tools to Block Grammarly Premium Elements
For a more thorough approach:
Install uBlock Origin or similar content-blocking extension
Add custom filters targeting Grammarly's premium elements:
grammarly.com##.gButton-premium grammarly.com##div[class*="premium"] grammarly.com##.gButton-upgrade
Apply similar rules to the Grammarly browser extension elements
"The custom uBlock filters completely transformed my Grammarly experience," reports Aisha, a journalist. "I now get all the free functionality without any of the premium distractions."
Creating a Custom Stylesheet for Grammarly Web Interface
For the most thorough solution:
Install the Stylus browser extension
Create a new style for grammarly.com domains
Add CSS rules to hide premium elements:
.premium-upsell, .gButton-premium, [data-name="premium-suggestion"], .card-upsell { display: none !important; }Save and apply the stylesheet
"This custom CSS approach has been the most effective solution for me," says Ryan, a technical writer. "It completely eliminates the visual clutter of premium suggestions while preserving all the free functionality."
Conclusion: Balancing Grammarly's Value with User Experience
Grammarly undeniably offers valuable writing assistance, even in its free version. The persistent premium suggestions, however, represent a significant pain point for many users who are satisfied with the free tier's capabilities.
By implementing the methods outlined in this guide, you can create a more focused writing environment that leverages Grammarly's strengths without the constant distraction of premium upselling. Whether you choose to minimize suggestions through settings, use alternative tools, or implement technical solutions to block premium elements entirely, you now have the knowledge to customize your experience.
Remember that Grammarly's business model relies on converting free users to premium subscribers, so some level of promotion is inevitable in a freemium product. If you find yourself frequently wishing you could access premium features, it might be worth considering whether the subscription would actually provide sufficient value to justify its cost.
Ultimately, the best approach is the one that supports your writing goals while minimizing distractions—whether that means tweaking Grammarly Free, investing in Premium, or exploring alternative writing tools altogether.