Vale

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Score7.1

Rank#3 of 30

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web, Windows

Summary

Vale is an open-source command-line linter that checks prose against style-guide rules. It runs offline as a single binary, without requiring an account, server, or model. It supports formats including Markdown, AsciiDoc, reStructuredText, MDX, MyST, Quarto, Typst, HTML, XML, DITA, Org, and QDoc, and can extract comments from 19 programming languages. Vale Views target selected content in sources such as OpenAPI, Jupyter notebooks, commit messages, transcripts, docstrings, JSON, YAML, and TOML. Users can write custom rules in YAML and choose which rules and styles apply to files. Ready-made style packages include Google, Microsoft, Red Hat, readability, and Harper grammar styles. Integrations span editors such as VS Code, Cursor, Neovim, Sublime Text, Zed, Emacs, JetBrains IDEs, Obsidian, and Qt Creator. Vale can run in GitHub Actions or as a pre-commit hook; its language server offers autocomplete, diagnostics, hover popups, and quick fixes. Only error-level alerts cause a non-zero exit code in CI; warnings and suggestions pass. The free plan is MIT-licensed; paid plans start at $19/user/mo.

Who it is for

Vale suits individuals and documentation teams that want style-guide checks in editors or alongside code. It can also fit teams that run checks in CI or pre-commit workflows.

What is good

Runs offline without an account, server, or model.
Users can create YAML rules and select styles.
Language server provides diagnostics and quick fixes.
Free plan is MIT-licensed and open-source.

What to know first

Warnings and suggestions pass in CI.
Paid plans start at $19/user/mo.

Verdict

Vale combines customizable prose rules with editor and automation integrations. Its CI behavior is worth noting: only error-level alerts return a non-zero exit code.

Vale plans and pricing

All plans

Vale Free Free · MIT-licensed · open-source vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026

Compared on writing style checkers

Free plan: Yesvale.sh
Paid from: $19/user/movale.sh
Custom style guide: Yesvale.sh
Terminology management: Yesvale.sh
Brand voice rules: Yesvale.sh
Editor support: VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Neovim, Sublime Text, Zed, Emacs, JetBrains IDEs, Obsidian, Oxygen XML, Qt Creator, Vim ALEvale.sh
Rule action: blockvale.sh
Team workflow: Yesvale.sh

Facts

Purpose: Vale is an open-source command-line linter that checks prose against style-guide rules.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Offline use: Vale runs offline as a single binary, without an account, server, or model.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Platforms: Vale runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Markup formats: Vale supports markup including Markdown, AsciiDoc, reStructuredText, MDX, MyST, Quarto, Typst, HTML, XML, DITA, Org, and QDoc.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Code comments: Vale can extract and check comments in 19 programming languages, including Go, Rust, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Java.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Structured content: Vale Views can select prose in OpenAPI, Jupyter notebooks, commit messages, transcripts, docstrings, JSON, YAML, and TOML.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Custom rules: Users can write their own Vale rules in YAML and configure which rules and styles apply to files.docs.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Style packages: Vale offers ready-made packages including Google, Microsoft, Red Hat, readability, and Harper grammar styles.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Editor integrations: Listed editor integrations include VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Neovim, Sublime Text, Zed, Emacs, JetBrains IDEs, Obsidian, Oxygen XML, and Qt Creator.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Automation: Vale can run in GitHub Actions, as a pre-commit hook, and through its language server in LSP-capable editors.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Documentation platforms: Mintlify and Promptless are listed as hosted documentation platforms that run Vale.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Language server: Vale’s language server provides editor autocomplete, diagnostics, hover popups, and quick fixes.docs.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Alert behavior: Only error-level alerts cause Vale to return a non-zero exit code; warnings and suggestions pass in CI.docs.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Support: The project directs users to GitHub issues or Discord for questions and support.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026
Intended users: Vale is aimed at people and teams who want style-guide checks in their editors and alongside their code, including documentation teams.vale.sh · 29 Sept 2026