Grammarly users are not happy. What was supposed to be an upgrade has turned into what many are calling a complete disaster, with subscribers flooding Reddit and X to complain about changes that have made their beloved writing tool nearly unrecognizable.
Users who have been paying for Grammarly for years say the latest update feels more like a cheap knockoff of ChatGPT than the grammar checker they signed up for. “If that’s the case, it’s better to have a ChatGPT subscription rather than a Grammarly subscription,” wrote one frustrated Reddit user.
The biggest headache seems to be that simple features have become needlessly complicated. Take the synonym tool, which used to let you double-click any word to see alternatives. Now you have to click through an AI chat interface and type out requests like “synonym for the word ‘word'” just to get what used to take one click. When Grammarly’s support team tried to explain this new process, users weren’t having it.
People are also upset that the update forces AI suggestions on everyone, even those who just want basic grammar checking. Many subscribers feel like they’re being pushed toward AI-generated content when all they wanted was help with spelling and punctuation for their original writing.
Users are blaming Grammarly’s new CEO, who came over from the company’s recent acquisition of Coda, for steering the ship in the wrong direction. Long-time subscribers are watching features they relied on daily either disappear or get buried under AI tools they never asked for.
The backlash is real and it’s costing Grammarly customers. Multiple users say they’re canceling subscriptions when they expire, with some already jumping ship to competitors like ProWritingAid, this includes me. Even people who got discount offers to renew are thinking twice about staying.
One user who’s been subscribed for over five years summed up the frustration perfectly: “My subscription ends in a couple of weeks and if there are no changes or an option to go back to classic then I am canceling.”
The free version isn’t escaping criticism either. Users report it constantly pushes AI features, making it almost useless for basic grammar checking without upgrading to paid plans. So for a tool that built its reputation on making writing better, Grammarly might have just made its biggest writing mistake yet.
We’ll just have to wait and see if the backlash will at least force Grammarly to add an option to pick between the classic experience or the new AI-centric model. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1202 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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