How Proofread Bot Compares to Built-in Grammar Checkers in Browsers and Word

Updated

Proofread Bot is worth considering if your writing happens inside web input fields — Gmail, Messenger, and forms — where browser spellcheck and Word can't reach. It underlines grammar and spelling issues directly in the focused field and lets you accept or ignore fixes without leaving the page. If most of your writing happens in a word processor, Word's built-in Editor covers similar ground and you likely don't need it.

Where each tool actually works

The core difference is the surface each tool can check, not the quality of its suggestions.

Tool Works in web input fields Works in Google Docs Works in Word
Proofread Bot browser extension Yes (focused field) No — the Chrome extension does not run in Docs No
Proofread Bot Docs add-on No Yes (separate add-on) No
Proofread Bot web editor (/app) Paste or write in the standalone editor No No
Browser built-in spellcheck Limited to text fields the browser recognizes No No
Word Editor / spelling & grammar / Read Aloud No No Yes

Two things follow from this table:

  • Proofread Bot's browser extension and its Google Docs add-on are separate tools. Installing the extension does not give you Docs coverage, and the Docs add-on does not check Gmail or forms.
  • Word's built-in tools stay inside Word. They can't follow you into a browser tab.

How Proofread Bot works in the browser

The extension checks the field you're currently typing in.

  1. Click into a text field in Gmail, Messenger, or any form.
  2. Type. Proofread Bot underlines grammar and spelling issues in orange.
  3. Accept the fix or ignore it in place — you don't leave the page.

You can also trigger a check on the focused field by right-clicking or pressing Alt+Shift+P.

Available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

What Word gives you instead

Word ships with its own Editor, spelling and grammar checks, and Read Aloud. For long documents, manuscripts, or anything you're drafting and revising in one file, that's a complete workflow and there's no reason to add a browser tool on top.

Where Word falls short is exactly where Proofread Bot aims: short-form writing typed directly into websites. A reply in Gmail, a message in Messenger, a support form — Word never sees any of it.

How to decide

Use Proofread Bot if a meaningful share of your writing happens in browser input fields and you want corrections without copying text into another app. The in-place accept/ignore flow is the main draw.

Skip it if you write almost entirely in Word or another desktop editor, or if browser spellcheck already catches the errors you care about.

Use both if you draft in Word and also write frequently in web forms — they cover non-overlapping surfaces.

If you want a single workspace instead of an extension, Proofread Bot also offers a standalone editor at /app where you can paste or write text directly. It's available on web, Android, and iOS.

A note on pricing

Proofread Bot's site links to a pricing page, so the product is not presented as unconditionally free. Check that page before committing if cost matters to you.