Grammarly vs. QuillBot: A Battle of the Grammar Wizards
One of these will ensure a more polished writing presentation, but only my 8th-grade English teacher knew everything about language use
Every writer benefits from judicious use of a grammar checker. Yep, I know they're AI, but that doesn't mean they were spawned by the devil. Only you can decide to what extent you allow AI to manipulate your writing, but you sure don't want to publish a piece that says, "After their death, my sisters took the plants outside."
Save this article in your file of Resources for Smart Writers, and let's consider two popular paraphrase/grammar checkers. I've used both and I pay for one or the other each year depending on how their updates have impacted each in a given year. Many others exist; however, these are the most intuitive for me though each has its quirks.
Read on to understand Grammarly first, then Quillbot.
Grammarly
Most professional reviews say Grammarly tops the list in terms of al around accuracy. It's primarily a grammar and style checker that offers plagiarism detection and tone suggestions. Personally, I only use the inline checker—I don't care for all the side notes and style suggestions. I find my style and voice to be just perfect for me—I've been working longer than Grammarly, so there.
I don't recommend using paraphrasing, rewriting, or other generative tools on any of these apps.
Here's what you get
Comprehensive grammar and style checks that correct lots of common errors in grammar, usage, syntax, punctuation, spelling, and so forth.
Tone detection analyzes the tone of your writing and suggests adjustments to better match your intended audience. I contend that a bot should not be doing this; you should.
Plagiarism checker finds potential plagiarism but don't expect miracles.
Personal dictionary allows you to add custom words and phrases you use often. Example: I love the word "squicky," so I added it.
Thesaurus offers synonyms—quite handy.
Grammarly can set and track writing goals. So can I. And I do.
This app integrates with various platforms like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and email clients, so you can install it and not worry about tweaking much.
There's a free version of Grammarly that's better than nothing—it tracks basic grammar and spelling. You should know that the free version has been known to miss important problems like comma placement in some cases.
If you decide to install this app, start with the free version, use it for a while, and try another one as well (Quillbot, Ginger, ProWritingAid, Quillbot, ZohoWriter, WhiteSmoke, etc.) Then decide on a pro version (Grammarly is $12 to $30 a month, depending on the time term you choose.
Here's what users think
Users generally praise Grammarly's accuracy in identifying and correcting grammatical errors, its ease of use, and its helpful style suggestions. Some reviews call it beneficial for improving writing, especially for non-native English speakers. Remember my nag: Don't let AI take over your writing; you'll be sorry in the end.
On the downside, I see some negatives, like style suggestions that are rigid, formulaic, and may take away the personality and unique voice of one's writing. The app's AI prose generator may not produce human-like text—some corrections are heavy-handed. Customer support is not fantastic, and the premium plans are expensive compared to some competitors
Quillbot
This one began as a paraphrasing tool, then added summarizing, grammar checking, and plagiarism detection. I find it less guilt-inducing than Grammarly, but it is a bit glitchy, which means I sometimes have to reinstall it, especially with Google Docs.
This is what you get
Powerful paraphrasing engine with a number of modes to change the tone, formality, and creativity of the text. If you're a capable writer, you'll skip this stuff.
Grammar checker that does what it is supposed to do (very occasionally, I find I disagree with the app's call).
Plagiarism checker that might be a bit more accurate and robust than Grammarly. For me, if I am concerned about plagiarism, I use Hemingway online to verify.
Summarizer condenses long passages into concise summaries—very helpful when you're sourcing material for a story. Does a good job.
SEO optimization if you're heavy into that kind of thing.
Citation generator automatically generates citations in various formats. Not a bad tool to have.
AI detector identifies AI-generated content. Keep in mind that such functions are not reliable and get less so with every new iteration of AI-generators.
Multilingual support supports paraphrasing and translation in multiple languages.
Try the free version to decide if you like the interface and workability, but it's limited to basic paraphrasing and grammar checking. The premium version is $19.95 per month to $8.33, depending on whether you pay monthly, quarterly, or annually. I was delighted to find that Quillbot has a sale price fairly often that can get you as much as half off.
What users think
Pros—Some users like Quillbot's paraphrasing capabilities, its ability to rephrase text in different ways, and its affordability. The interface is quite user-friendly, and there are several unusual features you wouldn't know you needed until you had them.
Cons—There have been complaints about billing issues and customer support, though my personal experience seemed average to competent. Some users say the grammar-checking is not as comprehensive as Grammarly's. However, I didn't notice a problem. When I edit other writers' work, I find more missed issues from Grammarly, but both apps catch most mistakes that matter.
Make special note that a number of users complain that Quillbot's paraphrasing features sometimes result in unintentional plagiarism. Do I have to say again that paraphrasing might not be a thing you want a bot to do? (Okay, I said it.)
Conclusion
Both Grammarly and Quillbot help your writing shine, and both are good at catching typical mechanical errors. writing, but they cater to slightly different needs. Grammarly can be your best friend if you believe your style is not up to par and you want a bot to refine it. It will polish your mechanicals nicely.
Quillbot feels more user-friendly to me, and it costs less, always a concern. I like that they have special pricing deals, too. The multi-lingual support is handy, and Quillbot does a smoother paraphrasing job.
Try both, maybe explore some of the lesser known, but you can't go wrong with either.
If your experience with grammar checkers differs, let us know in the comments!
Best thing I've read here and I will upgrade to paid based on this review. Thank you.
Oh goodness. I have a confession to make. I can rarely recognize AI writing. I think I mentioned to you I use one for editing grammar, specifically punctuation. Sometimes it will try and rewrite a sentence. I don't like the suggestions. They all sound too professional/mechanical, like something I'd never say, let alone write. Also, is there a tool I can use to tell whether something is written in AI? I feel silly for 'fessing this up but since it's becoming an issue of late I need to level up my game. Thanks!