Updated April 2026
Q
QuillBot Review · 2026 — Pricing, Features & Alternatives
The AI writing assistant used by 30 million people
4.5
/5 · 43
QuillBot uses AI to rephrase, correct and improve your texts. Paraphraser, grammar checker, summarizer and translator in one tool. Chrome, Word and Google Docs integrations. The world's most popular AI writing tool.
4.5
/5
Our verdict
QuillBot is an excellent choice for students, writers and professionals wanting to quickly improve their text quality.
Best for: Students, writers and professionals wanting to quickly improve their text quality
Try QuillBotFeatures of QuillBot
Paraphraser
Smart rephrasing with 7 modes
Grammar Checker
Advanced grammar correction
Summarizer
Automatic summarization of long texts
Translator
Translation in 30+ languages
Extensions
Chrome, Word, Google Docs
Plagiarism Checker
Plagiarism detection
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very functional free plan
- Most advanced paraphraser on the market
- Extensions for all work environments
- 30M+ users — reliable and proven
Cons
- Word limit on free plan
- Plagiarism detection reserved for premium plan
- Paraphrases sometimes too far from original meaning
Ratings & Reviews
Use Cases
Text rephrasing Grammar correction Document summarization Translation Plagiarism detection
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Frequently Asked Questions
QuillBot buyers ask three things first: is it cheating to use it (depends on your institution's AI policy — undisclosed paraphrasing of others' text is generally treated as plagiarism, paraphrasing your own draft is universally fine), can it be detected (yes — by 2026 every major detector flags QuillBot output 60-85% of the time), and is it worth paying $4.17/mo for Premium (yes if you write more than 1,000 words/week and use multiple modes). The questions below cover legality, detection, comparisons with Grammarly, ChatGPT and Wordtune, and the actual delta between Free and Premium — synthesized from real student and professional decision points.
What does QuillBot actually do?
QuillBot is an AI writing assistant focused on rewording, summarizing, grammar checking and plagiarism detection. The paraphraser rewrites sentences in 9 different modes (Standard, Fluency, Formal, Academic, Creative, Shorten, Expand, Custom) while preserving meaning. It also includes a citation generator, summarizer and translator across 30+ languages.
Is QuillBot free?
Yes, with limits. The free plan allows unlimited paraphrasing in Standard and Fluency modes (capped at 125 words per session), the grammar checker, basic summarizer and limited citation generator. QuillBot Premium ($9.95/mo monthly, $4.17/mo annual) lifts word limits, unlocks all 7 paraphrase modes and adds the plagiarism checker.
Is it illegal to use QuillBot?
No. Using QuillBot is fully legal everywhere — it's a writing assistant, not an unauthorized service. The legal/ethical question depends on the context: academic submission rules at most universities now restrict undisclosed AI rewording; commercial copywriting and personal writing have no restrictions. Always check your institution's AI policy.
Is using QuillBot cheating in college?
Depends on your institution's AI policy. Most universities now treat undisclosed AI paraphrasing of someone else's text as academic dishonesty (plagiarism). Acceptable use generally includes: paraphrasing your own draft for clarity, brainstorming, grammar fixes. Always disclose AI use if your assignment requires it. When in doubt, ask the instructor.
Can colleges detect QuillBot?
Yes, in many cases. Modern AI detectors (Turnitin AI Detector, GPTZero, Originality.AI, ZeroGPT) flag QuillBot output with 60–85% accuracy depending on the rewording mode and how heavily the text was edited afterwards. Detection improves yearly. Heavily paraphrased + manually rewritten text remains harder to detect, but never assume invisibility.
Does QuillBot get flagged on Turnitin?
Often, yes. Turnitin's AI Detector explicitly flags QuillBot-style paraphrasing as AI-assisted writing — the company markets this as a core feature. Detection rates vary by Turnitin version and the paraphrase mode used. Standard mode is detected more easily than Creative mode. The plagiarism similarity score also catches near-verbatim rewording.
Is QuillBot a safe site?
Yes. QuillBot has been operating since 2017, is owned by Course Hero (parent: Learneo), runs HTTPS with TLS 1.3, and submits to standard SOC 2 audits. It does not sell user data to third parties. Caveats: free-plan inputs may be used to improve the models, and uploaded files are stored unless deleted manually.
Does QuillBot steal your information?
No. QuillBot's privacy policy states user content is not sold or shared with advertisers. Free-tier text may be used internally to improve their models — Premium users can opt out. The company is owned by Course Hero / Learneo, both regulated US entities subject to GDPR, CCPA and FERPA when applicable.
Is Grammarly better than QuillBot?
They solve different problems. Grammarly excels at correctness (grammar, spelling, clarity, tone) and integrates everywhere (browser, Word, Slack). QuillBot excels at rewording (paraphrasing in multiple styles, summarizing). Most heavy writers use both: QuillBot to draft a fresh version, Grammarly to polish it.
Do professional writers use QuillBot?
Some do, but selectively. Marketing copywriters use it to break writer's block by generating multiple variations of a sentence. ESL writers use it to make their non-native English sound more idiomatic. Few professional journalists or fiction authors rely on it — they value voice consistency and avoid model-driven phrasing.
What does QuillBot Premium cost?
Premium is $9.95/month (monthly), $6.66/month (semi-annual), or $4.17/month billed annually. Premium unlocks all 7 paraphrase modes (Formal, Academic, Creative, Custom, Shorten, Expand, Standard, Fluency), removes the 125-word limit, adds the plagiarism checker, faster speeds and unlimited summarizer length.
How can I use QuillBot for free?
Sign up with an email, no credit card needed. The free plan gives unlimited paraphrasing in Standard and Fluency modes (125 words per submission), the grammar checker, basic summarizer (1,200 words input) and a limited citation generator. To bypass the 125-word limit, paste in chunks. Other modes and the plagiarism checker require Premium.
What are the downsides of QuillBot?
Three main ones: (1) paraphrased output can lose nuance or factual precision — always re-read and verify, (2) most institutions' AI detectors flag QuillBot rewording, so academic risk is real, (3) free plan is limited to 125 words per submission and only 2 of 7 modes — heavy users hit the wall fast and need Premium.
Is QuillBot worth paying for?
If you write more than 1,000 words/week and rewrite often — yes. Premium at $4.17/month annual is cheap relative to the time saved on rewording. If you only paraphrase occasionally or stick to grammar fixes, the free plan plus a free Grammarly account covers most needs. Try the 3-day money-back guarantee on Premium first.
What is better than QuillBot?
For paraphrasing: Wordtune (smoother variations), Jasper (longer-form generation). For grammar: Grammarly. For broad AI writing with control: ChatGPT or Claude (give better quality with the right prompt at higher cost). For free plagiarism check: Plagiarism Checker X. Each wins on a specific axis; QuillBot's edge is the all-in-one bundle at $4–10/mo.
Can QuillBot paraphrasing be detected?
Yes — by 2026, every major AI detector (Turnitin, GPTZero, Originality.AI, Copyleaks, ZeroGPT) flags QuillBot output with 60–85% accuracy depending on rewording aggressiveness. Detection improves quarterly. Heavy manual editing after QuillBot reduces but does not eliminate detection signals. Treat QuillBot output as detectable.
What is the difference between free and Premium QuillBot?
Free: 2 paraphrase modes (Standard, Fluency), 125-word limit per submission, basic summarizer, limited citations. Premium: all 7 modes (incl. Formal, Academic, Creative, Custom), no word limit, plagiarism checker, faster processing, unlimited summarizer up to 6,000 words, no ads and priority support.
Can I use QuillBot for my own writing?
Yes — that's its main legitimate use case. Self-paraphrasing your own first draft to improve clarity, tighten phrasing or shift tone is universally accepted. The grammar checker, summarizer and citation generator are useful for any writer regardless of context. Issues only arise when paraphrasing someone else's text without disclosure.
Is there a free paraphrasing tool without plagiarism risk?
No tool eliminates plagiarism risk by itself — citation discipline does. For zero-cost paraphrasing: QuillBot Free, Wordtune Free, Paraphraser.io. Combine any of these with proper attribution (cite the original source) and you avoid plagiarism. Skip attribution and you're plagiarizing regardless of which tool you used.
Has anyone been caught using QuillBot?
Yes, regularly. Universities increasingly publish cases of students sanctioned for undisclosed AI paraphrasing. Penalties range from a zero on the assignment to expulsion depending on policy and prior offenses. The risk is highest in graduate-level work and journals where reputational damage compounds the formal sanction.
Is QuillBot confidential?
Reasonably so. Inputs and outputs are sent over HTTPS and stored on Course Hero / Learneo servers. Free-tier inputs may be used to improve the models — Premium users can opt out in settings. Don't paste highly sensitive data (medical records, unpublished IP, NDA-protected content) into any cloud paraphrasing tool, QuillBot included.
How do you not get caught paraphrasing?
The reliable answer: don't try to. Cite the source, paraphrase manually for understanding, and if you used an AI tool, disclose it where required. "Detection avoidance" tactics (heavy manual edits, multiple paraphrase passes, model swapping) reduce but don't eliminate detection — and in academia, getting caught after evasion is far worse than disclosure.
What is better, QuillBot or ChatGPT for paraphrasing?
ChatGPT (especially GPT-5) produces higher-quality, more varied paraphrases when given a clear prompt — closer to human rewording. QuillBot is faster, cheaper at scale and doesn't require prompt-engineering skill. For one-off rewording: ChatGPT. For high-volume batch paraphrasing of long documents: QuillBot. Many users keep both.
