Best Essay and Paper Checker – Free and Paid Options

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Plagiarism and poor grammar can make you lose your credibility as a writer. Your readers will stop visiting your website and citing your academic papers because they do not trust you. That’s where a writing editor can help you.

You might ask, what is the best essay and paper checker for me? This guide will give you a list of free and paid options to consider. 

Comparison Table of the Best Writing Checkers

Grammarly

English grammar and spelling checks, tone detection, clarity-focused rewrites, plagiarism checker.

Starts at $12 per month.

Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge.

ProWritingAid

Spell and grammar correction, check, length, writing style reports.

Starts at $6.58 per month.

Chrome.

EasyBib

Spelling, grammar, plagiarism checks, citation assistant.

Starts at $9.95 per month.

Chrome.

Virtual Writing Tutor

Spelling and grammar checks, essay outliner, paraphrase. 

Free.

None.

Paper Rate

Plagiarism detection, grammar and spell checker, automated scoring.

Starts at $7.95 per month.

None.

Scribens

Basic spelling and grammar corrections.

Free.

Chrome, Firefox, Safari, edge.

My Assignment Help

Spelling and grammar checker, expert assistance on assignments.

Starts at $47.30.

None.

Citation Machine

Built-in citation generator, spelling and grammar checks, plagiarism detector.

Starts at $9.95.

None.

Quillbot

Paraphraser, summarizer, spelling, and grammar checker.

Starts at $8.33 per month.

Chrome.

AntiDote

Spelling and grammar corrector, dictionary, syntax guide.

Starts at $5.00 per month.

Chrome.

Most Popular Essay Checkers

Grammarly

Grammarly is my favorite tool and the most popular essay checker that corrects any mistake in spelling and grammar to improve the quality of your content. The software helps correct your essays and research papers through its in-depth suggestions.

I use it for all my content writing as well as proofing my works of fiction before sending to my editor. I highly recommend it for any type of writer.

Aside from spotting spelling and grammar errors, this grammar tool also corrects your sentence structure, repetitive words, and lengthy sentences. It also improves the consistency of your tone in your writing assignments.

These suggestions come with detailed explanations that will make you understand why you made a mistake. Pay attention to these explanations to improve your writing skills in your future academic paper.

Grammarly has other features that enhance your delivery, engagement, and clarity. There’s also a personal dictionary and thesaurus for vocabulary enhancement.

You also have the option to conduct plagiarism checks on this tool. Subscribe to Grammarly’s premium version so you can perform unlimited checks on its plagiarism tool. It will scan your work against billions of sources, then provide links to duplicate content. 

The premium version prices are higher than other popular essay checkers, starting at $12 per month. But you indeed get more than your money’s worth.

Pros

  • Provides explanations for its correction suggestions.
  • Multiple platform availability.
  • Checks your essay for plagiarism.
  • Most popular AI-powered writing assistant.

Cons

  • Expensive premium version.
  • Heavy advertising on email.

ProwritingAid

Another online tool you can use for editing essays is ProWritingAid. I also use this program, not for papers but as a second line of defense on my content work and fiction.

This complex grammar software has multiple functions to help you achieve your writing goals. Although special functions are dedicated to creative writing, it’s also suitable for academic writing.

ProWritingAid uses artificial intelligence to spot spelling mistakes and grammar issues in your work. The accurate essay checker detects your over-reliance on adverbs, subject-verb disagreement, overused words, and repeated sentence starts.

Its 20+ functions include reports for sticky sentences, transitions, and dialogue tags, which you won’t find in other essay checkers. ProWritingAid is also one of the best plagiarism checkers on the internet that can effectively spot plagiarism issues in your work.

But as with Grammarly, you must make monthly or yearly subscriptions to access the premium features. ProWritingAid starts at only $6.58 per month. But if you want to save more money, try the lifetime subscription for only $399.

Pros

  • 20+ advanced features for grammar.
  • Affordable premium service.
  • Includes a plagiarism checker.

Cons

  • Unnecessary writing reports.
  • Messy interface.

EasyBib

EasyBib is an underrated online essay checker for students and professional writers. While checking your paper for spelling and grammar mistakes, EasyBib also helps you improve your writing style.

Once you upload your document on EasyBib, it will give you targeted feedback on your communication, credibility, and clarity. You can also access a free resource library that will sharpen your writing skills.

EasyBib checks your work for unintentional plagiarism to ensure the integrity of your composition. You will see a percentage that displays how much of your work is original. You can use this to make the proper citation, but teachers may also use it to evaluate your paper.

What makes EasyBib one of the best essay checker apps is its ability to help you with different citation styles. Online plagiarism checkers are incomplete without these tools.

Beyond this program’s basic features, it can help you cite using the seventh and eighth editions of MLA. It can also generate citations for APA 7th edition, Chicago 16th, and 18th edition, etc. The Citation Styles Language powers these styles.

Pros

  • Helps create a list of sources.
  • Includes a free resource for beginners.
  • Has basic correction facilities for spelling and grammar.

Cons

  • Spelling and grammar corrections are limited. 

Virtual Writing Tutor

Are you looking for a free paper checker that performs the usual grammar check on your document? Virtual Writing Tutor provides all the essential features of a writing assistant. It checks for your spelling, style, and punctuation errors.

But it’s not your average editing software. Virtual Writing Software also has an essay outliner to make academic assignments easier. It helps you write your entire content as the tool outlines your argumentative papers, opinion essays, and prioritized list essays. 

The competent paper writer gives students a smoother experience with its paraphrasing feature. Virtual Writing Tutor helps you avoid being accused of plagiarism. It works by scanning your work against other sources, then suggesting changes. 

Other helpful features of Virtual Writing Tutor include the word counter, cliches, power words, and a vocabulary checker. It’s perfect for English learners, content editors, and students. 

Pros

  • Helps spot ESL grammar mistakes.
  • Includes an essay outliner for students.
  • Free online tool.

Cons

  • Limited grammar-checking tools.

Paper Rater

PaperRater is one of the essay checker platforms you should check out for your university essays and regular writings. It foxes basic grammatical errors, like subject-verb disagreement and inappropriate use of “your” and “you’re.” 

The automated proofreader also corrects contextual spelling and punctuation mistakes. It generates results in seconds without all the unnecessary signups and logins. On top of that, PaperRater is also free.

The online writing corrector features unique feedback and writing instructions for users. You’ll see many modules that analyze your text and compare it with students of the same education level.

For example, PaperRater offers a vocabulary score based on the quantity and quality of your words. It indicates a percentage of users you did better than in your work. 

Other feedback forms include your sentence length and variability, passive voice, and sentence starts. It can also perform plagiarism checks on your paper to guarantee academic honesty.

PaperRater recently launched its premium packages that let you check longer documents and plagiarism scans. The pricing starts at $7.95 per month. 

Pros

  • Specifically marketed toward essayists and students.
  • Works well on your browser.
  • Includes a free and affordable premium version. 

Cons

  • Not comprehensive and accurate.
  • No browser extension or mobile application.
  • Has many distracting ads.

Scribens

Scribens is a free essay checker which requires no subscription to access its multiple editing tools. I’d recommend this to students of any level.

Like other tools, it can correct your spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. It features 250 tools that scan your nouns, verbs, prepositions, punctuations, and typos.

It also has basic editing features for your writing style. This AI-based essay scanner tool claims to correct ten times more mistakes than MS Word on your English language document. Thanks to Scribens’ dictionary, you can look for appropriate synonyms for your words.

Scribens also checks for cliches, redundancy, run-on sentences, and comma splices. Click on any part of your work, and it will instantly highlight all issues. Although free, this online writing tool doesn’t have strict limitations, making it a friendly Grammarly alternative.

The only downside to Scribens is its lack of a plagiarism and paraphrasing checker. It won’t evaluate the originality of your work nor recommend alternative sentences. 

If you want to try using plugins for different browsers, you can subscribe to the premium version of Scribens. This version also offers ad-free corrections and a bigger capacity for texts.

Pros

  • Complete spelling, grammar, and punctuation checker.
  • Straightforward interface.
  • Free features with no strict limitations.

Cons

  • Inaccurate grammar checker.
  • No paraphrasing and plagiarism tools.
  • No options for multilingual corrections.

My Assignment Help

My Assignment Help is a website where you can seek help for your college application essays and other documents. The essay checker service has a default grammar checker you can use for your general papers, custom essays, and more.

But its primary function is to help every user receive an expert review of their work from those with professional experience. My Assignment Help’s professional writers all have Ph.D. credentials to give you writing assistance. 

It offers grammar and style correction for all subjects. Regardless of your educational level, the platform can give you the exemplary service you need. These experts also review your work for plagiarism using software programs like Turnitin.com.

Pricing starts at $47.30, depending on the deadline of your work. It features a 100% money-back guarantee through PayPal and free SMS updates about your assignment status.

Pros

  • Includes online spell and grammar checker.
  • Ideal for college assignments.
  • Real people will give your work expert assistance.
  • 100% money-back guarantee.

Cons

  • Difficult to use for new users. 

Citation Machine

If you need an APA, MLA, and Chicago Style Citation Generator, Citation Machine can help you. The comprehensive tool helps college students and other academicians avoid citation mistakes so they can maintain their credibility,

The tool also helps observe proper citation no matter the type of your source. For instance, citing video materials differs from citing books, even if you only use one style. This software offers innovative technology to resolve these issues.

Citation Machine’s new plagiarism and grammar checker are game-changers, making it competitive against other essay checkers. It can finally spot over 50 errors in grammar using its advanced technology while helping you avoid duplicate content.

This online citation generator is affordable, starting at $9.95 per month.

Pros

  • Good usability for spelling and grammar checks. 
  • Features citations for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.
  • Includes a plagiarism checker.
  • Affordable.

Cons

  • Not as accurate as Grammarly.
  • No human reviews.
  • Limited device compatibility. 

Quillbot

Quillbot is an AI-based software that students and content writers use to paraphrase and summarize their work. The tool also brings together a plagiarism detector and a grammar checker. I found it easy to navigate and very user-friendly, so this is an excellent option if you’re not tech savvy.

Its unique selling point is the paraphrase, which content publishers use to remove complicated language and duplicate parts. You can choose between different writing modes that will serve as a basis for the rewrites, like formal, simple, and creative.

Quillbot also helps users produce the perfect paper through its summarizer tool. It starts at $8.33, a reasonable price for its advanced features. 

Pros

  • Provides different writing modes.
  • Rephrases and summarizes your writing.
  • Offers affordability for students and content writers.

Cons

  • Inaccurate paraphrasing feature.
  • Limited browser extensions.

AntiDote

AntiDote is ideal for writers who want to learn as they write and edit their essays. Its approach to your essay is more educational, convincing you to analyze your spelling, grammar, and structure issues.

This online writing tool underlines any potential issue in your text, then explains why it’s a problem. All you need to do is hover on the section, and it will give you the explanation you need. 

You can either accept or reject AntiDote’s suggestions. The AI software also features a dictionary that lets you know the meaning of the word you use. AntiDote has an Android and iOS version, allowing you to edit your work from a mobile device.

Pricing starts at $5.00/ month, but you can opt for a one-time purchase of $129.95 and have the program forever.

Pros

  • Decent proofreading software.
  • Secure writing tool.

Cons

  • Slow loading time.
  • No mobile apps.

Can Grammarly Check Essays?

Grammarly Free is a reliable essay-checking software that evaluates all text types for grammar and spelling errors. It checks sentences for clarity, proper diction, engagement, and inclusive language. 

There’s also a premium version that offers more grammar suggestions plus a plagiarism checker. Grammarly Premium scans your work against billions of websites and articles to avoid intentional and accidental plagiarism.

Check Your Essay Before Submitting

Spelling, grammar, and plagiarism mistakes make your writing look unprofessional. But this list of the best essay and paper checkers will help you reduce these writing flaws. It includes both free and paid options you can choose from.

Pick the best tool that will solve all your writing issues. But never take human judgment for granted when editing your work.