The best AI essay writing tools for students
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
Ranked on published features, free-plan limits and beginner ease (checked 14 October 2026). We have not benchmarked these tools hands-on, and commissions don’t affect rankings.
AI can help you understand readings, plan an argument, find better wording and format references. Used carelessly, it can also put you in breach of academic integrity rules. These are the tools we’d suggest for students, and how to use them honestly.
Our top picks
Jenni AI
Who it’s for: Students writing essays, reports or literature reviews who want sentence suggestions on their own draft, PDF chat and citations in many styles, including APA, MLA, Chicago and Harvard.
Worth knowing: Easy to over-rely on. Write your own ideas first, check every citation and follow your course’s AI rules.
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QuillBot
Who it’s for: Students who write their own drafts but get stuck on phrasing, or want to summarise a reading they’ve already done.
Worth knowing: Rewriting can change meaning. Review it and follow your school or work rules.
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Grammarly
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants spelling, grammar and clarity suggestions as they type, without changing how they write.
Worth knowing: Some rewrites and advanced assistance are paid; keep your own voice.
Gemini Notebook
Who it’s for: Students who want to ask questions about their own lecture notes, readings and PDFs, with answers grounded in those sources.
Worth knowing: Source-grounded answers still need checking against the original document.
ChatGPT
Who it’s for: Students who want to talk through ideas, get an explanation of a concept or ask for feedback on a paragraph they wrote.
Worth knowing: Answers can sound confident and still be wrong. Check important facts.
Side-by-side comparison
| Jenni AI | QuillBot | Grammarly | Gemini Notebook | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Drafting and citations | Rewording and summaries | Proofreading as you type | Q&A on your own sources | Brainstorming and explanations |
| Free plan | 10 autocompletes a day; unlimited citations | Limited paraphraser, summariser, grammar check | Spelling, grammar, tone detection | Yes | Yes, with limits |
| Citations | Many styles (APA, MLA, Harvard and more) | Citation generator | No | Points to passages in your sources | Can invent sources: never trust unchecked |
| Integrity risk | Medium: easy to over-rely on | Medium: paraphrasing others’ work | Low | Low | High if used to write assessed text |
Pricing
| Plan | Jenni AI | QuillBot | Grammarly | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0 | Free plan | Free plan | Free plan |
| Entry paid | Plus: US$12/month | Premium: check current pricing | Pro: US$12/month (as listed) | Plus: US$20/month |
| Higher tier | Pro: US$29/month | Check current pricing | Check current pricing | Pro: check current pricing |
Prices checked on 14 October 2026 from official pricing pages (jenni.ai/pricing (checked today; USD, local currency shown in app, cheaper annual option), quillbot.com/premium (no price displayed to our check; QuillBot shows local-currency pricing), grammarly.com/plans and chatgpt.com/pricing (from our checks earlier today). Gemini Notebook is free with a Google account; higher limits come with Google AI plans). Prices are in US dollars (USD) as listed. Australian prices, GST and app-store pricing can differ, and plans change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you pay.
How to get started
Read your course or unit AI policy and note exactly what is allowed and what must be declared.
Write your own outline and key arguments before you open any AI tool.
Use AI for permitted tasks only: understanding readings, wording help, proofreading and formatting references.
Check every fact and citation against the original source, keep your drafts, and declare AI use where required.
How we chose
We focused on tools that help students do their own work better: understanding sources, organising ideas, improving wording and getting references right. We used each provider’s official product and pricing pages and our editorial judgement; we didn’t run a formal benchmark or test them on assessed work. We deliberately left out “essay generators” that promise to write a whole assignment from a prompt, because using them for assessed work is a breach of most institutions’ rules.
Academic integrity: the rules that matter most
Every school and university sets its own rules on AI, and they change often. Some allow AI for brainstorming, proofreading and referencing; some require you to declare any use; some ban it for particular assessments. Breaching these rules can lead to failing an assignment or worse, and “the tool did it” is not a defence. A few principles hold almost everywhere:
- Your ideas, your words. The argument, analysis and final wording of assessed work should be yours unless your course explicitly says otherwise.
- Never disguise someone else’s work. Paraphrasing a source with a tool and submitting it without citation is plagiarism, even if a checker doesn’t catch it.
- Verify every reference. AI tools, especially general chatbots, can invent sources, page numbers and quotes that look real. Open each source and check it says what you claim.
- Keep an evidence trail. Save outlines, notes and drafts with version history. If your work is questioned, this shows your process.
- Declare when required. If your course asks you to acknowledge AI use, say which tool you used and for what.
- Don’t rely on AI detectors. They are unreliable in both directions. The best protection is following the rules, not trying to beat a detector.
Australian students can also look at guidance from their institution and from TEQSA, the higher-education regulator, which has published material on generative AI and academic integrity.
Jenni AI vs QuillBot: which do you need?
Jenni AI (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) is a drafting workspace: it suggests how to continue a sentence you started, edits paragraphs, answers questions about PDFs you upload and formats citations. QuillBot (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) is a rewording toolkit: it paraphrases text in different modes, summarises, checks grammar and generates citations. If you’re staring at a blank page with your readings, Jenni fits. If you have a draft that needs better wording, QuillBot fits. Our Jenni AI vs QuillBot comparison goes into detail.
The free tools that are genuinely better for some jobs
You don’t need a paid tool to do well. Grammarly’s free plan catches most spelling and grammar issues as you type in Google Docs, Word and your browser. Gemini Notebook (previously NotebookLM) is excellent for revision because it answers from the sources you upload rather than the open web, and points you to the passage it used. For references, a free reference manager such as Zotero (opens in new tab) stores your sources and formats citations, and it is often what librarians recommend. Your university library and learning-skills advisers are free too, and they know your institution’s rules.
A safe, simple workflow
Here’s a workflow most courses that allow AI help would accept, but check yours. Read and annotate your sources yourself. Use Gemini Notebook or Jenni’s PDF chat to test your understanding (“What does this author argue about X?”), then check the answer in the text. Write your own outline and first draft. Use QuillBot or Grammarly on sentences you wrote that need polishing, and reread each change to make sure your meaning survived. Format references with Jenni, QuillBot or a reference manager, and check each one. Finally, read the whole essay aloud: if a sentence doesn’t sound like you, rewrite it.
Free or paid?
Most students can manage on free plans. Jenni’s free plan is tight (10 autocompletes a day), so it is mainly for testing the workflow; Plus may make sense during a heavy assignment period if your course allows it. Pay monthly and cancel before renewal if you only need help for one term. Prices are generally listed in US dollars, so check the final price in AUD, including GST, at checkout.
Our verdict
For drafting and referencing a long piece of your own writing, Jenni AI is our top pick. For wording and summaries, QuillBot is simpler. Pair either with Grammarly’s free proofreading and Gemini Notebook for your readings, and you have a strong, honest toolkit. Above all, write your own argument, check every source and follow your course’s rules. See also the best AI tools for students and Grammarly alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI tool for writing essays?
For drafting and referencing your own essay, Jenni AI is the most complete option. QuillBot is better for rewording and summaries, and Grammarly’s free plan is best for proofreading. Check your course’s AI rules first.
Is it cheating to use AI to write an essay?
Having AI write assessed work you submit as your own is a breach of academic integrity at most institutions. Using AI for permitted tasks, such as understanding readings, proofreading or formatting references, may be allowed. Rules vary, so read your policy and ask if unsure.
Can AI tools make up references?
Yes. AI chatbots in particular can invent sources, quotes and page numbers. Open every source and confirm it says what you cite.
Is there a free AI essay writing tool?
Yes. Jenni AI, QuillBot, Grammarly, Gemini Notebook and ChatGPT all have free plans with limits. Free reference managers such as Zotero help with citations.
Can my teacher tell if I used AI?
AI detectors are unreliable, but teachers often notice writing that doesn’t match your usual work. Follow your course rules, keep your drafts and declare AI use where required.
How much does Jenni AI cost?
When we checked, Jenni Plus was US$12 a month and Pro US$29 a month, with a cheaper annual option. Prices are in USD and GST may apply.
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Prices in US dollars; Australian GST and currency conversion may apply. Confirm the final price at checkout.
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