Compare Grammarly and Tab Notes: Which Extension is the Best?

Grammarly is a comprehensive writing assistant offering real-time grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style suggestions. With over 44 million users, it’s a trusted tool for enhancing your writing.
Tab Notes lets you jot down notes right in your browser tabs. It's got an easy-to-use interface and works smoothly, making it a great tool for anyone looking to boost their productivity.
Key Features
  • Grammar Checker: Detects and corrects grammatical errors.
  • Spelling Checker: Identifies and fixes spelling mistakes.
  • Punctuation Checker: Ensures proper punctuation usage.
  • Tone Detector: Analyzes the tone of your writing.
  • Auto-Citations: Generates citations for online sources.
  • Generative AI: Produces instant drafts, ideas, and replies.
  • In-Browser Note-Taking: Tab Notes excels in allowing users to take notes directly within their browser, eliminating the need to switch between applications.
  • Synchronization: The ability to sync notes across multiple devices ensures that users have access to their notes wherever they go, though this feature is limited to the premium version.
  • Customizable Interface: While the interface is clean and user-friendly, it offers limited customization options, which could be expanded to enhance user experience.
  • Open Source: The code can be read in full on GitHub
Our Rating
8.8
7.9
Total users
54,568,609
1,459
Total ratings
47,132
40
Average rating
4.2 ⭐
4.8 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.5
3.70
42.8K+ ratings
39.0M+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
5.0
5.0
7 ratings
1.0K+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
3.9
3.69
1.1K+ ratings
14.9M+Users
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.1
4.15
3.2K+ ratings
663.7K+Users
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.6
4.64
33 ratings
459Users
Safari
-
-
Features
9.5

Grammarly goes beyond basic grammar and spelling checks. It offers advanced features like tone detection, vocabulary enhancement, and generative AI capabilities. Compared to competitors, Grammarly provides a more comprehensive set of tools, making it a valuable asset for any writer.

7.0

In our tests, the functions of Tab Notes proved to be ideal for quickly creating notes directly in the browser. If you need to develop ideas or jot down information quickly while browsing, you don't have to jump back and forth between apps.

notes

Notes can be synchronized across different devices with GitHub gists to keep everything in one place.

There is a dark and light mode function, but we would like to see more customization options here.

The option to access your notes offline can also be an advantage. This also includes the export function, where the notes are exported as a text file.

txt

Functions such as “Customize: Edit font, font size and more” and “Styled text: Make your text bold, italicized or underlined.” are listed as features on Github. These were not found in our tests in the extension on Chrome and Firefox. We feel that this function is important to be able to structure the notes a little, which would further improve the extension.

Performance
9.0

Grammarly performs well across different platforms, providing real-time suggestions without significant lag. The tool is reliable and helps improve writing efficiency.

7.5

In terms of performance, Tab Notes is fast and responsive. It doesn't take up any resources, so your browser runs smoothly. Only the settings selection page didn't work for us. Selected options could not be saved here.

Design
8.5

The design is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate. The color-coded underlines for suggestions are helpful, and the interface is user-friendly. However, some users might find the pop-ups slightly intrusive.

8.0

The user interface is very clear and easy to use. We had no problems finding my way around and using the tool. In our test, we noticed that we would like to see a few more themes and color options. The layout is intentionally simple to minimize distractions, but it would be important to have different layout options for the font.

Value for Money
8.5

While Grammarly offers a free version, the Premium plan is relatively expensive. However, the advanced features and comprehensive feedback justify the cost for those who need a robust writing assistant.

Grammarly is the priciest option for a reason—because, in our view, it's the best writing tool available in its category. If you're looking for the best writing assistant, go for the Premium plan, you won't regret it!

8.0

The price-performance ratio of Tab Notes is fine. The extension is completely free. Compared to other free tools, however, the functions and customization options are somewhat limited. However, if you are looking for a simple extension for short notes without any frills, you will find it here.

Ease of Use
9.0

Grammarly is straightforward to use, with a minimal learning curve. The browser extension integrates seamlessly with various platforms like Google Docs and Gmail, allowing you to get started right away.

8.2

We found Tab Notes to be super easy to use. Installation and subsequent navigation is a breeze, and you can get started straight away without needing a manual. Due to the small number of functions, it is suitable for anyone, no matter how tech-savvy they are, to take simple notes. Only the non-functioning of the settings page can confuse new users.

Security & Privacy
8.0

Grammarly takes privacy seriously, with stringent security measures in place. While an account is required, the company assures users that their data is not sold or made public. However, some users may still have concerns about data processing.

8.5

Tab Notes uses standard encryption to protect your data. Advanced security options are not available. The privacy policy is also kept very simple and does not provide detailed information about data management. In general, the basic security and data protection guidelines are adhered to, but in our opinion they could be presented in more detail.

Conclusion

In our eyes, Grammarly is the best choice for anyone who wants to write professional articles or other things in English.

Even though Grammarly has an expensice price tag, you can't get anything better on the market. We have been using Grammarly for a long time now. And even in the world of ChatGPT and other AI tools, Grammarly is just super handy and helpful. For us, the Premium plan is worth every penny.

This only applies as long as you are in the English-speaking world. If you need other languages, we would recommend LanguageTool instead.

Tab Notes is a good tool for anyone who wants to write down ideas as a note as quickly as possible without having to sort them out too much.

Its intuitive and simple design increases productivity by reducing distractions when you just want to make a quick note. It could still be improved in areas such as customization and the number of features.

Overall, it's worth considering for anyone who wants to quickly collect notes and possibly sort them into another application later.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Grammarly and Tab Notes, Grammarly came out on top, scoring 8.8.

Grammarly is the most widely used, with over 55 million users and 47k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews for Grammarly reflect our findings, while we rate Tab Notes lower than users do.

Notably, Tab Notes has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.80, which is even higher than our rating of 7.9.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? Grammarly stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Need top performance? Grammarly stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Design lovers, take note: Grammarly stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Grammarly stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Grammarly stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.2.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Tab Notes stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Grammarly lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.

If you want a quick recommendation, Grammarly is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.