Vale

Overview

Vale is an open-source command-line linter for applying style-guide rules to prose. It suits writers and documentation teams who want editorial checks close to their code and editors. Its offline, rule-based approach is a strong fit for consistent standards across varied writing workflows, but not a substitute for an online writing assistant.

Key features

Checks across formats and workflows

Vale supports Markdown, AsciiDoc, reStructuredText, MDX, MyST, Quarto, Typst, HTML, XML, DITA, Org and QDoc. It can also extract comments in 19 programming languages, including Go, Rust, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript and Java. Vale Views target prose inside OpenAPI documents, Jupyter notebooks, commit messages, transcripts, docstrings, JSON, YAML and TOML. That breadth matters for teams whose editorial standards need to reach beyond standalone documents, though setting up the right selections and rules takes configuration.

Users can write custom rules in YAML and choose which rules and style packages apply to files. Ready-made packages include Google, Microsoft, Red Hat, readability and Harper grammar styles. This combination lets teams align checks to a house style, but Vale's value depends on maintaining rules that reflect the guidance they want enforced.

Editor and automation integrations

Integrations include VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Neovim, Sublime Text, Zed, Emacs, JetBrains IDEs, Obsidian, Oxygen XML and Qt Creator. Its language server adds autocomplete, diagnostics, hover popups and quick fixes in LSP-capable editors. Vale can also run in GitHub Actions and as a pre-commit hook, while Mintlify and Promptless are hosted documentation platforms that run it.

Vale runs offline as a single binary, without an account, server or model. That favors users who want local checks integrated into development work rather than a hosted writing service. One CI behavior deserves attention: only error-level alerts return a non-zero exit code, so warnings and suggestions do not fail a build. Teams relying on CI to block weaker severities need to account for that distinction.

Pricing

The Vale plan is free: free, MIT-licensed and open-source. It includes the rule-based approach and custom style guide, terminology and brand voice rules, with editor support and a block rule action. For individuals and teams willing to work with Vale's configuration and workflows, the free plan offers a substantial starting point without a software fee.

Paid plans start at 19 /user/mo. This is the stated entry price; the plan is not described further, so readers should not assume particular quotas or team limits. The free plan is the clear fit for users who want the open-source tool, while a reader considering paid use should confirm what the paid offering adds and how its per-user price applies to their team. Questions and support go through GitHub issues or Discord.

Platforms

Vale is available for Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted use. Its command-line and offline design is especially suited to local development environments, while editor integrations make checks accessible where writing happens.

Who it's for

Vale is best for developers, technical writers and documentation teams who need repeatable style checks in editors or alongside code, especially when their content spans markup, source comments and structured files. It is less suited to someone seeking a standalone online assistant rather than a configurable linter, or to teams expecting every warning or suggestion to block CI by default.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Broad markup, source-comment and structured-content coverage lets teams apply style rules to more than conventional prose files.
• Pro: YAML rules, selectable style packages and editor integrations support tailoring checks to a house style and writing workflow.
• Pro: Offline operation as a single binary avoids dependence on an account, server or model.
• Con: Customization means teams must configure and maintain the rules they want to enforce.
• Con: Warnings and suggestions pass in CI; only error-level alerts produce a non-zero exit code.
• Con: The free plan is clear, but the paid starting price alone does not establish what a team gets for its per-user fee.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Writing Style Checkers.

StyleMCP is worth considering for API-oriented use: its free plan includes 5,000 requests per month, all API endpoints, basic rule-based rewrites and a default SaaS pack, while Pro is 9.00. Vale is the stronger fit when offline command-line linting and configurable style rules are the priority.

Claritar suits users who prefer a web-based analysis service, with its free plan capped at one client, one seat and five analyses per month; its Starter plan is $19 a month for three clients, two seats and 50 analyses. Vale instead targets checks integrated into editors and code workflows.

Sapling is an alternative for users looking for AI-detection limits and snippets, with a free plan that includes 2,000 AI detector characters per check, five files per batch and 20 snippets. Vale is oriented around configurable prose rules rather than those stated Sapling allowances.

Trinka is another freemium alternative for readers comparing writing tools.

DeepL Write is a fit for users on Android or iOS who want a writing assistant on mobile; its Write Pro add-on is €6.99 a month, billed annually with VAT included, and is available as an add-on to Individual or Team.

Revise is an alternative with API, self-hosted and web platforms for readers considering those deployment options.

ProWritingAid is an option for extension users who want report runs and rephrasing: its free plan allows 500 words per report run, two report runs per day and 10 Rephrases per day. Vale is more directly aimed at enforcing style rules in editorial and development workflows.

Markup AI may suit teams evaluating a paid service with a published annual word allowance: its Starter plan is $249 a month with annual discount, covering 12 million words checked a year, unlimited users and community support. Vale starts with a free, open-source plan for teams that favor a configurable linter.

Verdict

Choose Vale if you want offline, configurable style-guide checks embedded in editors and code workflows, particularly across documentation and structured content. Its breadth and free open-source plan are compelling; look elsewhere if you need a hosted writing assistant or expect warnings and suggestions to stop CI builds.