Compare LanguageTool and Screencastify: Which Extension is the Best?

LanguageTool impressed us as a solid grammar-checker alternative to Grammarly. It provides excellent multilingual support, is easy to use, and is more affordable but may struggle with longer texts.
Screencastify is a popular Chrome extension for screen recording. It offers a range of features but has shifted many basic functionalities behind a paywall, affecting its overall value.
Key Features
  • Style Suggestions: Offers synonym replacements, concise rephrasing, and formal alternatives.
  • Spell Checker: Identifies and corrects spelling errors.
  • Multilingual Support: Supports over 25 languages including English, German, Spanish, and French.
  • Plagiarism Detection: Checks for duplicate content.
  • Personal Dictionary: Allows users to add custom words for future checks.
  • Privacy: GDPR compliant and ensures secure, encrypted connections and no IP address storage.
  • Record Desktop, Browser Tab, and Webcam: Capture any part of your screen.
  • Edit Video: Trim, merge, and add text directly from your browser.
  • Share Easily: Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3, and share via Google Drive or Classroom.
  • Interactive Questions: Add questions to videos to engage viewers.
  • Annotations: Draw on your screen in real-time to highlight key points.
  • Captions: Add captions in multiple languages to make videos accessible.
Our Rating
8.8
7.8
Total users
3,173,195
6,000,000
Total ratings
16,550
11,733
Average rating
4.8 ⭐
4.0 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
4.75
11.4K+ ratings
2.0M+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.0
3.63
11.7K+ ratings
6.0M+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.8
4.62
567 ratings
801.3K+Users
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Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.7
4.58
4.6K+ ratings
371.9K+Users
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Safari
-
-
Features
9.0

LanguageTool offers a comprehensive set of features that go beyond basic grammar and spelling checks. It supports over 20 languages, making it a versatile tool for multilingual users. The advanced grammar checks are particularly impressive, catching complex issues that many other tools miss. Compared to competitors like Grammarly, LanguageTool holds its own with unique features like custom dictionaries and plagiarism detection.

8.8

Screencastify offers a robust set of features, including screen and webcam recording, video editing and interactive questions.

Leaving aside the fact that many features are only available for a fee, it's fair to say that it offers a lot of features.

While recording, you can easily add spotlights and draw on the screen. The drawing tools offer a nice range of options, so you should have everything you need:

Drawing Tools

The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs.

Here is what the basic editor looks like:

Simple editor of Screencastify

It recently also added an AI feature that automatically adds captions, transcripts, titles, and descriptions.

Furthermore, Screencastify offers another video editor when clicking "Edit Video" in the top right corner.

This will open up another editor where you can do some more video editing. Here is how it looks like:

Second editor of Screencastiy

In our opinion, this editor isn’t necessary if you already have your own video editing software, but it could be useful for some people.

We’re not entirely sure if this is just an older version of the original editor. However, we did discover that you can export videos to MP4 for free, thanks to an "Export" button that lets you do so without any limitations.

We’re not certain if this is intentional, but at least it works for us.

Performance
8.0

LanguageTool does a good job of spotting grammar and style issues. However, it can take a while to process longer texts, and sometimes, clicking on suggestions causes the page to jump to the top, which can be a bit frustrating.

7.5

The speed has deteriorated considerably with the latest updates. This is probably because more and more functions, such as the AI function, are being added.

The tool has become slower, and creating links or accessing older videos takes longer than before. Many users have also complained about the performance in the reviews.

Design
8.0

The design is clean and intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate and utilize the tool effectively. The browser integration is seamless, and the user interface is straightforward.

9.0

The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions.

Value for Money
9.5

The free version gives you the basics, but the premium version really shines with its advanced features.

While Grammarly can be expensive, LanguageTool offers great value at a more affordable price. So, if you’re seeking a budget-friendly alternative to Grammarly, LanguageTool is a solid choice.

5.0

As already mentioned, we are somewhat shocked by the limitations of the free version.

Especially if you have used the app in the past and can export videos for free. In addition, even with the starter package for $7, you are limited to 10 exports.

We find that many other providers offer much more for the money.

Ease of Use
9.0

LanguageTool is very user-friendly, with a minimal learning curve. Most users will find it easy to get started and make the most of its features right out of the box.

8.5

Screencastify is easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. Even beginners can quickly get the hang of it. However, we find that recent updates have introduced some complexities that are not absolutely necessary for a screen recorder.

Security & Privacy
9.5

LanguageTool takes privacy seriously. No account is required for basic features, and the tool ensures that user data is not sold or made public. This focus on privacy is a significant plus.

LanguageTool states that it is GDPR compliant which makes it especially interesting for users in Europe.

8.0

Unfortunately, an account is required, which in our opinion is not necessary for Screen recorder.

However, Screencastify's privacy policy is very comprehensive and complies with standard data protection practices, including compliance with the GDPR and PCI-DSS certification for payment data. Screencastify takes reasonable security measures but, like all online services, cannot guarantee absolute protection.

Conclusion

LanguageTool is a reliable and efficient writing assistant that supports multiple languages. Its advanced grammar and style checks make it a valuable tool for writers and professionals. While the premium version offers excellent features, the free version is somewhat limited. Overall, LanguageTool is a solid choice for anyone looking to improve their writing.

Compared to Grammarly, LanguageTool holds its own, especially if you need to write in multiple languages. When it comes to writing in different languages, LanguageTool is the way to go. But if you’re only writing in English, Grammarly still delivers better results.

Screencastify was a fantastic tool in the past, and we used to use it daily. Unfortunately, recent updates have made it less user-friendly by hiding key features behind a paywall.

For people who need a wide range of features, the tool is still an option. For others who just want to make a recording every now and then to export a video, Screencastify is unfortunately no longer an option.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between LanguageTool and Screencastify, LanguageTool came out on top, scoring 8.8.

Screencastify is the most widely used, with over 6 million users and 12k+ reviews, but LanguageTool outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, LanguageTool has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.76, which supports its strong performance in our review.

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? LanguageTool stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8.
  • Need top performance? LanguageTool stands out with a rating of 8. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Design lovers, take note: Screencastify stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, LanguageTool lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Want to get the most for your money? LanguageTool stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 5.
  • If you hate complicated tools, LanguageTool stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, LanguageTool stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.

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