Private Writing AssistantPrivate Writing Assistant vs Chrome's spell check
Updated October 29, 2026
Chrome's own spell check has two modes. Basic spell check catches misspelled words without sending anything to Google. Enhanced spell check sends what you type to Google for better suggestions. Private Writing Assistant adds grammar, punctuation and rewriting on top, and keeps your text on your computer like Basic does.
| Browser extension | Private Writing Assistant | Basic spell check | Enhanced spell check |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it checks | Spelling, grammar and punctuation, by an AI model that reads the whole sentence | Spelling only | Spelling only, with the suggestions Google Search uses |
| Where your text is checked | On your computer, by Chrome Built-in AI | On your computer, by Chrome or your operating system | On Google's servers |
| What happens to your text | It never leaves your computer. Usage stats without any text are on by default and can be turned off | Nothing is sent to Google | Google says the text isn't stored on its servers, but its language is |
| Account needed | No | No | No |
| Price | Free | Free, built into Chrome | Free, built into Chrome |
| Works offline | Yes, after the one-time model download | Yes | No |
| Rewriting | Yes, in eight styles, with no limits | No | No |
| Browsers | Chrome 138 or newer | Built into Chrome | Built into Chrome |
Facts about the other products were checked on their own pages on October 28, 2026 and are listed under Sources. Prices are in US dollars and can change.
When Chrome's spell check is enough
- You only want misspelled words underlined.
- Your computer can't run Chrome Built-in AI.
When Private Writing Assistant is the better choice
- You want grammar and punctuation checked, not only spelling.
- You want to rewrite a sentence in another style, such as shorter or more professional.
- You want better suggestions than Basic gives, without sending your text to Google as Enhanced does.