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Guides · Writing and editing

Do you still need a separate AI writing tool?

Grammarly and friends against what Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace now include. When a separate subscription earns its place, and when it doesn’t.

Checked 07 Oct 2026Research-led5 tools

The verdicts

  1. PickGoogle

    Google Workspace with Gemini

    If your business email is on Google, the AI writing help is already in it: Gemini in Gmail and Docs from Business Standard, at £11.80 a user a month before VAT.

    Wrong forAnyone not on Google Workspace already: switching email for an AI feature is the wrong way round.

    Your data
    Workspace doesn’t use customer data for training without your permission.
    On business plans
    Covered by Google’s Cloud Data Processing Addendum.
    UK / EU data residency
    Data regions in Europe or the US (not the UK) from Business Standard.
  2. PickMicrosoft

    Microsoft 365 with Copilot

    If you’re on Microsoft 365, web Copilot Chat is already included; the Copilot Business add-on lets it work with your own files and email.

    Wrong forAnyone who only wants a better proofreader: that’s a lot of subscription for spelling.

    Your data
    Microsoft’s consumer privacy FAQ says Copilot conversations are used for training unless you opt out, and the UK isn’t excluded. Work accounts are.
    On business plans
    Prompts, responses and work data aren’t used to train the models.
    UK / EU data residency
    EU users stay within the EU Data Boundary (except for Anthropic models). UK customers’ queries may be processed in the US, EU or elsewhere unless you buy Advanced Data Residency.
  3. ConsiderGrammarly

    Grammarly

    Pro is £10 a month, priced in pounds, with 2,000 AI prompts a month.

    Wrong forAnyone whose AI writing needs are already covered by Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.

    The catchYour writing trains Grammarly’s models by default unless you switch off “Product Improvement and Training”, and data is stored in the US.

    Your data
    Used for training by default; switch off “Product Improvement and Training”.
    On business plans
    Off automatically on Enterprise-tier accounts.
    UK / EU data residency
    US only.
    Sources

    Read 07 Oct 2026

  4. ConsiderLearneo, Inc.

    Quillbot

    Paraphrasing and grammar help priced in pounds: Premium is £8.33 a month billed yearly. But on personal accounts your text trains its models by default unless you opt out, and it goes to providers around the world.

    Wrong forAnyone already paying for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, which now include AI writing help.

    The catchOnly the yearly price is shown; the monthly and quarterly prices sit behind a switch we couldn’t use.

    Your data
    By default your text trains its models. Turn that off, and text storage, under Data and Privacy in the settings.
    On business plans
    Team Plan text is never used for training.
    UK / EU data residency
    No UK or EU option: it uses providers worldwide, under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and its UK extension.
  5. SkipAI21 Labs

    Wordtune

    Cheap at $6.99 a month, but your writing is used to develop AI21’s products unless you email to opt out. The AI already in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 is the better deal.

    Wrong forAnyone writing anything confidential.

    Your data
    Content is used to develop AI21’s products; opt out by emailing privacy@wordtune.com.
    On business plans
    Business price and terms not published.
    UK / EU data residency
    US servers.

What it costs

Plans and prices for each tool
ToolPlanPriceWhat it adds
Google Workspace with GeminiBusiness Starter£5.90 a user a monthGemini in Gmail and the Gemini app
Business Standard£11.80 a user a monthGemini in Gmail, Docs and Meet
Business Plus£18.40 a user a monthAs Standard, plus more
Microsoft 365 with CopilotCopilot ChatIncludedWith eligible Microsoft 365 plans
Copilot Business add-on£16.10 a user a month yearly (£13.80 on offer to 31 Dec 2026), before VATWorks with your work data
GrammarlyFree£0100 AI prompts a month
Pro£10 a month2,000 prompts a member a month
QuillbotFree£0Paraphrase up to 100 words at a time
Premium£8.33 a month, billed yearlyFull paraphrasing; plagiarism checks up to 25,000 words a month
Team Plan£89.95 a seat a year, for 2–10 seatsText never used for training; admin dashboard
WordtuneFree$010 rewrites a day
Advanced$6.99 a month, or $4.89 billed yearlyMore rewrites
Unlimited$9.99 a month, or $6.99 billed yearlyUnlimited