What is QuillBot?
QuillBot is an AI-powered writing platform that has evolved significantly since its inception in 2017. Originally launched as a specialized paraphrasing tool, it has grown into a comprehensive "all-in-one" writing suite used by millions of students, professional writers, and non-native English speakers worldwide. Based in Chicago, the platform leverages advanced natural language processing (NLP) to help users rewrite, refine, and polish their text without losing the original intent.
At its core, QuillBot is designed to enhance productivity and clarity. Unlike generative AI tools like ChatGPT that create content from scratch, QuillBot focuses on the refinement of existing text. It acts as a digital editor that can change the tone of a sentence, condense a long report into a few bullet points, or ensure that an academic paper is free of grammatical errors and properly cited. Its seamless integration into popular workflows—via browser extensions and Microsoft Word add-ins—makes it a staple in the modern writer's toolkit.
In recent years, QuillBot has expanded its capabilities beyond simple rephrasing. The platform now includes a robust grammar checker, a plagiarism scanner, a citation generator, and even an AI detector. Whether you are a student trying to avoid repetitive language in an essay or a business professional looking to strike a more formal tone in an email, QuillBot provides a versatile set of tools to improve the quality of your written communication.
Key Features
AI Paraphraser
The flagship feature of QuillBot is its paraphrasing tool. It offers several distinct modes to tailor the output to your specific needs. The Standard mode provides a balanced rewrite, while Fluency ensures the text sounds natural. Premium users gain access to specialized modes like Formal, Academic, Simple, and Creative. A unique "Synonym Slider" allows users to control how much of the original vocabulary is changed, and the "Freeze Words" feature lets you lock specific terms (like brand names or technical jargon) so they remain untouched during the rewriting process.
QuillBot Flow (Co-Writer)
This is a centralized writing environment that integrates all of QuillBot’s tools into one interface. It allows you to research, take notes, and draft your content simultaneously. You can pull in sources from the web, generate citations on the fly, and use the paraphraser without ever leaving the document. It’s essentially a "smart" word processor designed to eliminate the need for switching between multiple tabs.
Grammar Checker
Competeing directly with tools like Grammarly, QuillBot’s grammar checker identifies spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. It provides one-click fixes and is available for free, even without a premium subscription. It also supports multiple English dialects, including American, British, Canadian, and Australian English.
Summarizer
This tool uses AI to scan long articles, papers, or documents and condense them into a concise paragraph or a list of key bullet points. It is particularly useful for researchers and students who need to digest large amounts of information quickly. In 2025, the tool also includes a "Custom" mode where you can give specific instructions on what the summary should focus on.
Plagiarism Checker
Available to Premium subscribers, the plagiarism checker scans your text against billions of web pages and academic journals to ensure originality. It provides a detailed report highlighting any matches and suggesting where citations might be missing. It currently allows for 25,000 words (roughly 20 pages) of scanning per month.
Citation Generator
A lifesaver for academics, this tool helps users create accurate citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles. You can simply enter a URL or a book title, and QuillBot will format the reference correctly, helping you maintain academic integrity with minimal effort.
AI Detector and Translator
QuillBot includes a translator that supports over 45 languages, making it ideal for ESL learners. Additionally, its AI detector helps users see if a piece of text (even their own) is likely to be flagged as AI-generated by other platforms—a crucial check in the current digital landscape.
Pricing
QuillBot operates on a "freemium" model, offering a surprisingly functional free tier alongside a more robust Premium version. Below are the current pricing details as of 2025:
- Free Plan: Includes a 125-word limit on the Paraphraser, 1,200 words on the Summarizer, and access to the Standard and Fluency modes. It also includes the Grammar Checker and Citation Generator.
- Premium Plan:
- Monthly: $19.95 per month.
- Semi-Annual: $13.33 per month ($79.95 billed every 6 months).
- Annual: $8.33 per month ($99.95 billed once a year).
The Premium plan unlocks unlimited words in the Paraphraser, 6,000 words in the Summarizer, all 9 writing modes, the Plagiarism Checker, and faster processing speeds. QuillBot also offers a 3-day money-back guarantee if you find the premium features don't meet your needs.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- User-Friendly Interface: The design is clean and intuitive, making it easy for anyone to start using the tools immediately without a steep learning curve.
- Affordable Annual Plan: At roughly $8.33 per month, the annual plan is one of the most cost-effective AI writing assistants on the market compared to competitors like Grammarly or Jasper.
- Versatile Integrations: The Chrome extension, Google Docs add-on, and Microsoft Word integration allow QuillBot to work wherever you do.
- Excellent for ESL: The combination of the Translator, Fluency mode, and Grammar Checker makes it an invaluable resource for non-native English speakers.
- Granular Control: The synonym slider and "Freeze Words" feature give users more control over the output than most other paraphrasing tools.
Cons
- Limited Free Tier: The 125-word limit for paraphrasing is quite restrictive for anyone working on full-length articles or essays.
- Plagiarism Checker Caps: Even on the Premium plan, the plagiarism checker is limited to 25,000 words per month, which may not be enough for heavy researchers or doctoral students.
- Occasional Robotic Phrasing: While the AI is advanced, it can occasionally produce "thesaurus-heavy" sentences that sound unnatural or lose the original nuance of a complex idea.
- Not a Content Creator: Unlike some modern AI tools, QuillBot cannot generate a 1,000-word article from a single prompt; it is strictly an editing and refining tool.
Who Should Use QuillBot?
QuillBot is a versatile tool, but it is particularly well-suited for specific groups of users:
- Students and Academics: With its citation generator, academic paraphrasing mode, and summarizer, it is a powerhouse for writing research papers and essays ethically.
- Non-Native English Speakers (ESL): It helps bridge the gap in language fluency by suggesting more natural-sounding alternatives and correcting subtle grammatical errors that standard spellcheckers might miss.
- Content Creators and Bloggers: It is excellent for "refreshing" old content, creating social media snippets from long-form articles, or varying the tone of marketing copy.
- Business Professionals: The Formal mode and Grammar Checker ensure that emails, reports, and presentations remain professional and clear.
Verdict
QuillBot is arguably the best paraphrasing tool on the market today. While many AI tools have added "rewrite" features, QuillBot’s dedicated focus on the nuances of rephrasing—evidenced by its synonym slider and specialized modes—gives it a distinct edge. It is not a replacement for a human writer or a deep generative AI, but as a "writing assistant," it excels at helping you say what you mean more clearly.
For casual users, the free version is a great way to polish short emails or social posts. However, for anyone who writes regularly, the Annual Premium plan offers incredible value. It streamlines the tedious parts of writing—like summarizing and citing—allowing you to focus on your ideas. If you need a reliable, affordable, and easy-to-use tool to elevate your writing, QuillBot is a top-tier recommendation.