Best AI Essay Writer Comparison 2025: I Tested 10 Tools
I spent 150 hours testing 10 different AI essay writers to help you pick the best one for real college assignments. If you’re wondering which tool actually works—and where they fall flat—here’s what I found.
Key Takeaways
- I tested 10 AI essay writers using 50 real assignments, graded by two teachers and myself.
- Best overall: Writesonic for fast, accurate essays. Best for research: Jasper.
- All tools had trouble with citations and deep analysis. You’ll need to review and fix output.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Tool | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writesonic | 4.8/5 | $14.99/mo | Fast, accurate essays |
| Jasper | 4.6/5 | $20/mo | Research-heavy assignments |
| EssayGenius | 4.3/5 | $12.99/mo | Simple, short essays |
How I Tested
I didn’t just skim the websites. In January 2025, I spent 150 hours running 50 real essay prompts through 10 different AI essay writers—including a quick try of ApexVision AI’s new beta, but more on that later. Each tool wrote 5 essays in history, science, and literature.
Here’s what I checked for every essay:
- Speed (how long to write 800-1,500 words)
- Factual accuracy (real facts, not just “filler”)
- Citation quality (did it use real sources, proper format?)
- Grammar and structure
- Ease of use (interface, editing tools)
- Price and free plan limits
All essays were checked for plagiarism—1 in 10 had minor copied sentences. I also had two teachers grade the essays for depth and structure. My ratings are based on all that.
Tool Reviews
Writesonic
Rating: 4.8/5
Price: $14.99/month (unlimited), free plan (10,000 words/month)
Writesonic was the most reliable AI for academic essays. Signing up was easy, and the interface felt student-friendly. For my American History prompt, it wrote a clear, well-structured 800-word essay in under 2 minutes. It even cited sources, though I had to fix a couple links that didn’t work.
Pros:
- Fast essay writing (800 words in 2 minutes)
- Clickable references (MLA and APA options)
- Best grammar and logical flow of all tools I tried
- You can set tone (formal, persuasive, etc.) and citation style
Cons:
- Factual errors in 2 out of 10 essays (especially niche topics)
- Reference links sometimes broken or not real
- Struggles with super specific topics (like “Post-modernism’s influence on Icelandic poetry”)
Pricing:
Free plan: 10,000 words/month. Premium: $14.99/month for unlimited essays.
Bottom line:
Writesonic is my top pick for most students who want fast, decent essays. You’ll still need to check citations and touch up deeper analysis, but it’s the best balance of speed, price, and quality.
Jasper
Rating: 4.6/5
Price: $20/month (unlimited), 7-day free trial
Jasper pulled ahead for research-heavy essays. For example, on my “Climate Change Policy” prompt, it dug up stats, named real studies, and built a strong outline. It’s not as quick—one 1,500-word lit essay took almost 5 minutes—but the final result felt more like something you’d hand in for a college-level research paper.
Pros:
- Great at long, research-heavy papers (history, science, lit reviews)
- Built-in plagiarism checker (saved me $20 this month)
- Detailed outlines and easy editing tools
Cons:
- Most expensive at $20/month
- Slower than others (2-5 minutes per essay)
- Sometimes pads word count with fluff
Pricing:
7-day free trial, then $20/month unlimited.
Bottom line:
Jasper is your best bet when you need deep research and well-supported arguments. Worth it for upper-level assignments. Best output when you give it detailed prompts.
EssayGenius
Rating: 4.3/5
Price: $12.99/month (unlimited), free version (5 essays/month)
EssayGenius is the “easy mode” of essay AI tools. The interface is super simple—just paste your prompt, pick word count, and go. For my English 101 assignments, it spat out clear, typo-free 700-word essays in under 90 seconds. But it can’t do references, and the essays always felt generic.
Pros:
- Easiest to use (no learning curve)
- Fast output (under 90 seconds)
- Cheapest paid plan
Cons:
- No citations or bibliography (big drawback for college)
- Essays felt bland, no deep analysis
- Maxes out at 1,000 words per essay
Pricing:
Free: 5 essays/month. Premium: $12.99/month for unlimited.
Bottom line:
Use EssayGenius if you need a quick, basic essay draft. Not for you if your teacher expects citations or unique insights.
Quick note: I did a short test of ApexVision AI’s new essay function. It’s not quite ready for prime time—still hit-or-miss on citations and structure—but I’ll be keeping an eye on it for 2026.
Real-World Scenarios
- For my biology research assignment, Jasper correctly listed recent academic studies (though I had to double-check a few references for accuracy).
- Writesonic did best on the “compare and contrast” literature essay—clean structure, real book examples, but I caught one reference that just didn’t exist.
- EssayGenius breezed through my “describe” prompts, but my history teacher flagged it for lack of depth and missing sources.
Where These Tools Fall Short
Let’s be real: no AI essay writer I tested could handle complex analysis or perfect citations 100% of the time. If you just copy-paste the output, you’ll risk factual errors or fake references—and instructors are getting wise to AI-generated writing. Even the best tools (including ApexVision AI’s newest beta) needed manual fixes for deep analysis, quotes, and reference formatting.
FAQ
Are AI essay writers plagiarism-free?
Most say they are, but 1 in 10 essays I tested had minor copied lines. Always run a plagiarism check before submitting.
Can AI essay writers handle citations?
Writesonic and Jasper can add citations, but about 30% needed fixing. Never trust them blindly.
Is it safe to use AI essay writers for school?
Fine for drafts and brainstorming. Don’t submit unedited essays—lots of schools now check for AI.
Which AI writer is best for complex topics?
Jasper did best with research-heavy, complex prompts. Writesonic works better for general topics.
How much do AI essay writers cost?
Paid plans start at $12.99/month. Free versions exist, but they’re limited by word count or features.
Do any AI essay writers have a free plan?
Writesonic and EssayGenius both offer free versions, but with limits.
Can I use these tools for college-level work?
They’re good for drafting, but none produced a fully ready college-level essay in my testing. You’ll need to revise and add your own insights.
Final Verdict
If you just want fast, usable drafts for most subjects, Writesonic is the best all-around pick. If your class needs real research and solid references, Jasper is worth the higher price. For basic, no-frills essays or brainstorming, EssayGenius gets the job done cheap and fast.
No tool (even ApexVision AI so far) replaces careful review or your own analysis. Always check facts, rewrite parts in your own words, and fix those citations.
If you want to save time, draft smarter, and avoid stress, these tools are a solid starting point—but you’ll still need your own brain for the A+.