RANKINGS/AI TOOLS/AI ESSAY WRITING ASSISTANTS

Top 10 AI Essay Writing Assistants

10 ranked on capability, adoption, value, momentum and trust, with a plain verdict on every entry.

LISTER SCORE · UPDATED REGULARLY

The top three picks are ChatGPT (best for versatility and quality), Grammarly (best for grammar and style feedback), and Turnitin's WriteCheck (best for academic integrity). ChatGPT excels at generating essays from scratch, Grammarly specialises in real-time writing improvements, and WriteCheck combines plagiarism detection with feedback. Your choice depends on whether you prioritise generation, refinement, or academic compliance.

RANKENTRYSCORETRENDFROM

ChatGPT (OpenAI)Trained on diverse internet text data; capable of generating coherent essays on thousands of topics within seconds95.0NEW$0 (free version); $20/month (ChatGPT Plus)

GrammarlyIntegrates with over 500,000 websites and applications; provides contextual suggestions backed by machine learning92.7NEWFree basic version, Premium from £10/month

Turnitin WriteCheckChecks against the world's largest plagiarism database including academic journals, web content, and student papers90.3NEW£14.95 per paper check

JasperTrained on 100+ million data points; offers over 50 pre-built templates including essays and long-form content88.0NEW$39/month

QuillbotOffers multiple rewriting modes (Standard, Fluent, Creative, Formal) to adapt tone for different essay types85.7NEW$12/month

ProWritingAidGenerates 20+ detailed reports including pacing, dialogue, overused words, and clichs to refine essay quality83.3NEW£85/year or £8.33/month

Copy.aiProvides over 90 writing templates optimised for rapid content generation across multiple formats81.0NEWFree

SudowriteSpecialises in generative fiction and academic essay writing with real-time rewriting and expansion suggestions78.7NEW$10/month

WordtuneProvides multiple rewrite alternatives for each sentence, allowing writers to choose the tone and style that best fits their essay76.3NEWFree (Premium $14.99/month)

Hemingway EditorColour-codes writing feedback (yellow for complex sentences, red for very complex) for immediate visual clarity on readability issues74.0NEW$19.99 (one-time desktop) or free web version

LAST UPDATED 2026-07-20CURATED · UPDATED REGULARLY

The ranking, in detail

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

Conversational AI language model with advanced reasoning

ChatGPT is OpenAI's conversational AI that excels at generating essays, brainstorming ideas, and refining written content across virtually any topic. It engages in dialogue to improve outputs iteratively.

From $0 (free version); $20/month (ChatGPT Plus)Best for Writers, screenwriters, and content creators seeking a flexible, conversational writing partner

95.0

Grammarly

AI writing assistant for clear, error-free essays

Grammarly is a comprehensive writing tool that checks grammar, spelling, punctuation, tone, and clarity in real-time. It works across browsers, email, and desktop applications.

From Free basic version, Premium from £10/monthBest for Essay writing, formal assignments, academic integrity checking, and improving writing clarity and tone

92.7

Turnitin WriteCheck

Academic writing tool with built-in plagiarism detection

Turnitin's WriteCheck combines plagiarism detection with writing feedback, making it ideal for academic essays. It checks against billions of web pages and academic databases.

From £14.95 per paper checkBest for Academic students who need plagiarism detection and originality verification alongside writing feedback

90.3

Jasper

Versatile AI content creation platform with story templates

Jasper is an enterprise-grade AI writing assistant designed for marketers and content creators, with dedicated essay templates and multi-language support.

From $39/monthBest for Content creators and fiction writers seeking quick story structure assistance

88.0

Quillbot

AI paraphrasing and writing enhancement tool

QuillBot specialises in intelligent paraphrasing, rewriting, and synonym suggestions to help users improve essay clarity and reduce redundancy.

From $12/monthBest for Writers seeking editing and enhancement assistance for existing story drafts

85.7

ProWritingAid

Comprehensive writing analysis and editing platform

ProWritingAid provides in-depth writing analysis, identifying issues with grammar, style, readability, and pacing. It includes over 20 different reports for detailed essay feedback.

From £85/year or £8.33/monthBest for Writers seeking comprehensive structural and stylistic analysis beyond basic grammar checking

83.3

Copy.ai

AI writing assistant for stories, blogs, and creative content

Copy.ai is a straightforward AI content generator offering templates for essays, blog posts, and persuasive writing with a clean, intuitive interface.

From FreeBest for Casual writers and hobbyists exploring AI-assisted storytelling without commitment

81.0

Sudowrite

AI writing assistant built for professional novelists

Sudowrite combines language generation with editing suggestions, designed specifically to help writers overcome writer's block and improve essay structure.

From $10/monthBest for Published and emerging authors needing collaborative AI editing within traditional writing environments

78.7

Wordtune

AI-powered sentence rewriting for clarity and impact

Wordtune offers precise, sentence-level rewrites and alternatives, helping writers improve clarity and impact whilst maintaining their original voice.

From Free (Premium $14.99/month)Best for Writers seeking AI-powered sentence-level improvement and tone adjustment for stronger written communication

76.3

Hemingway Editor

Clarity and simplicity in your writing, like Hemingway

Hemingway Editor highlights complex sentences, passive voice, adverbs, and other readability issues, helping writers craft clearer and more direct prose.

From $19.99 (one-time desktop) or free web versionBest for Journalists, marketers, and communicators prioritising clarity and accessibility in public-facing content

74.0

Frequently asked questions

Can AI essay writing tools be used for academic submission without plagiarism concerns?

Most institutions prohibit submitting AI-generated content as your own work. However, using these tools for brainstorming, editing, and improving your own writing is generally acceptable. Always check your institution's academic integrity policies. Tools like Turnitin WriteCheck help verify originality before submission.

Which tool is best for improving grammar without generating new content?

Grammarly is the top choice for grammar checking and style improvement across platforms. ProWritingAid offers more detailed analysis, and Hemingway Editor specialises in readability. For paraphrasing, QuillBot and Wordtune are excellent options. Choose based on whether you prioritise quick feedback or comprehensive analysis.

What is the most affordable option for students on a tight budget?

Hemingway Editor's free online version is completely free with no restrictions. Grammarly's free tier offers basic grammar checking. ChatGPT's free version provides essay generation capabilities. For paid options under £10/month, QuillBot Premium and Grammarly Premium are most affordable, typically around £8/month when billed annually.

Related rankings

More AI Tools rankings to compare.

All AI Tools →

AI TOOLSJUL 20

Top 10 AI Essay Writing Assistants

The ranking, in detail

Frequently asked questions

Can AI essay writing tools be used for academic submission without plagiarism concerns?

Which tool is best for improving grammar without generating new content?

What is the most affordable option for students on a tight budget?

Related rankings

Top 10 AI Chatbots

Top 10 AI Coding Assistants

Top 10 AI Cold-Email Writers

Top 10 AI Contract-Review Tools

Top 10 AI Customer Support Tools

Top 10 AI Data-Analysis Tools