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PaperRater

Online essay checker with grammar, plagiarism detection, and automated grading

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  • Overview
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Pros
  • Cons
  • Reviews

PaperRater Overview

  • Updated February 7, 2026

PaperRater is a web-based writing assistant designed mainly for students and educators. It analyzes essays for grammar, spelling, word choice, and sentence structure while also providing plagiarism detection and an automated writing score.

The tool is accessible directly in the browser, requires no installation, and offers both a free tier and a paid premium subscription for longer documents and deeper analysis.

Key Features

  • Grammar and Spelling Check: Identifies grammatical mistakes, spelling errors, and punctuation issues in student writing.
  • Plagiarism Detection: Scans text against online sources to flag potential originality concerns.
  • Automated Essay Scoring: Provides an estimated grade level and overall writing quality score.
  • Vocabulary Analysis: Reviews word variety and suggests improvements to strengthen writing.
  • Browser-Based Access: Works entirely online without downloads or software installation.

Price

Plan Price Featured
Free $0 Grammar and spelling checks, Basic plagiarism detection, Up to ~3,000 words per submission
Premium (Monthly) $14.95/mo (Billed Monthly) Up to ~6,000 words per submission, Detailed writing reports, Ad-free experience
Premium (Annual) $95.40/yr (~$7.95/mo, Billed Annually) Lower monthly cost, Full grammar and plagiarism tools, Priority processing

Price details: https://www.paperrater.com/pricing

Pros

Competitor

Pros
Grammarly PaperRater is more accessible for casual student use, offering a usable free tier without account creation. It focuses on education-oriented feedback like grade level and vocabulary variety, which some students find easier to interpret than Grammarly’s professional tone and upsell-heavy interface.
ProWritingAid Compared to ProWritingAid’s dense reports, PaperRater is simpler and faster to use. Students can paste text and receive results immediately without configuring multiple report types, making it more approachable for quick essay checks.
QuillBot PaperRater emphasizes evaluation rather than rewriting, which can be preferable in academic settings. Its grading and plagiarism focus supports learning outcomes, while QuillBot leans more toward paraphrasing and content transformation.
Hemingway Editor Unlike Hemingway’s readability-only approach, PaperRater provides grammar, plagiarism, and scoring in one place. This broader feedback makes it more suitable for full essay reviews rather than stylistic polishing alone.
Scribbr PaperRater is significantly cheaper and faster for everyday checks. While Scribbr offers human editing, PaperRater’s automated system suits students who need instant feedback without paying premium editorial rates.

Cons

Competitor

Cons
Grammarly PaperRater’s grammar detection is less advanced and can miss nuanced errors that Grammarly typically catches. It also lacks real-time writing assistance and browser extensions, making it less useful for continuous writing workflows.
ProWritingAid Compared to ProWritingAid, PaperRater offers fewer in-depth style and structural reports. Advanced writers may find the feedback too surface-level and less actionable for long-term writing improvement.
QuillBot PaperRater does not provide paraphrasing or rewriting tools, which limits flexibility. Users looking to actively rework sentences may find QuillBot more practical for editing drafts.
Hemingway Editor PaperRater’s interface feels dated compared to Hemingway’s clean design. It also lacks the clear, sentence-level readability highlights that make Hemingway appealing for style-focused editing.
Scribbr PaperRater cannot match Scribbr’s accuracy for plagiarism or academic standards. Its automated checks are less reliable for university-level or publication-ready work.

Verified Customer Reviews

  • Capterra Review (Rating: 4/5): Users appreciate how easy the site is to navigate and get quick feedback, but mention that grammar suggestions can be basic compared to newer tools.
  • G2 Review (Rating: 4/5): Reviewers like the combination of editing and plagiarism checks, though some note that reports lack depth for advanced or professional writing.
  • Reddit/r/InternetIsBeautiful Review (Rating: 4/5): Reddit users enjoy the simplicity and no-login free access, but point out that the interface and algorithms feel outdated.
  • Kindlepreneur Review (Rating: 3.5/5): The review notes PaperRater is useful for students and beginners, while criticizing limited accuracy and weaker plagiarism detection.
  • Common Sense Education Review (Rating: 3/5): Teachers say students find it easy and helpful, but warn that it should not replace more robust grammar or plagiarism tools.