Vale
Vale: A programmable prose linter with YAML rules, editor diagnostics, and CI workflows. Ranked #2 of 29 in Writing Style Checkers by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for technical teams needing programmable style checks.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTechnical teams needing programmable style checks
- Free planYes
- Paid from$19/user/mo
- Custom style guideYes
- Founded2017
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Custom YAML rules enforce terminology, vocabulary, and editorial guidance
- Works across editors, repositories, CI pipelines, and pre-commit hooks
- Free open-source CLI with markup-aware linting and blocking actions
Where it doesn't
- The hosted authoring layer requires a paid CMS plan
- The Free plan includes a read-only sample project
- Advanced repository editing and support start with the Pro plan
Our verdict on Vale
Vale is an open-source command-line prose linter for writers, documentation teams, and developers. It checks Markdown, HTML, AsciiDoc, reStructuredText, and other formats against YAML-based rules. Teams can define terminology, vocabulary, and editorial guidance, or use pre-packaged style guides such as Microsoft, Google, and Red Hat. The core CLI runs offline on Windows, macOS, and Linux, while editor integrations bring diagnostics and quick fixes into writing and development workflows.
The pricing separates the free CLI from Vale CMS, the hosted authoring layer. The Free plan costs $0 per month and supports opening folders and ZIP files, live linting against the Vale engine, and a read-only sample project. Pro costs $19 per user per month and adds the full editor for rules, vocabularies, dictionaries, filters, views, and templates; editing and shipping GitHub or GitLab repositories; a hosted MCP server; and Discord support. Site costs $1,000 per year and includes everything in Pro for every address at a domain, with no seat count, MCP for CI and agent accounts, and private Discord support.
Vale fits teams that need style enforcement inside existing technical writing and software workflows. Its integrations cover VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Neovim, Sublime Text, Zed, Emacs, JetBrains IDEs, Obsidian, Oxygen XML, Qt Creator, Vim ALE, GitHub Actions, pre-commit, and Mintlify. Markup-aware, scope-specific linting helps rules apply to supported document structures, while command-line checks can run in repositories and CI. Teams wanting programmable checks, blocking actions, and broad editor coverage should consider Vale. Teams seeking a hosted authoring experience without a paid CMS tier should look elsewhere.
Your product? Our editors can test Vale in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Vale pricing
Vale fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $19/user/mo |
| Custom style guide | Yes |
| Terminology management | Yes |
| Brand voice rules | Yes |
| Editor support | VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Neovim, Sublime Text, Zed, Emacs, JetBrains IDEs, Obsidian, Oxygen XML, Qt Creator, Vim ALE |
| Rule action | Block |
| Team workflow | Yes |
| API access | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome extension |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 16 integrations: VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Neovim, Sublime Text, Zed … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | vale.sh |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Vale integrations
Vale lists 16 integrations on its own site.
- VS Code
- Cursor
- Windsurf
- Neovim
- Sublime Text
- Zed
- Emacs
- JetBrains IDEs
- Obsidian
- Oxygen XML
- Qt Creator
- Vim ALE
- GitHub Actions
- pre-commit
- Mintlify
- Promptless
Alternatives to Vale
- AcrolinxDeep enterprise style governance with broad editor support and sales-led pricing.9.4
- Congree Authoring ServerEnterprise authoring checks with terminology control, reusable approved text, and broad editor integrations.8.9
- ClaritarA focused web tool for measuring and enforcing brand voice across content.8.7
Vale vs the competition
- Vale vs Acrolinx
- Vale vs Congree Authoring Server
- Vale vs Claritar
- Vale vs StyleMCP
- Vale vs Markup AI
- Vale vs WRITER
Compare Vale with any tool side by side →
Used Vale? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Vale for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Vale is listed in our Writing Style Checkers directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/vale/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/vale.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update