Best AI for English Essays: Top 5 Tools Tested for Students
Let’s be real—writing English essays can eat up your time and your nerves. I’ve spent way too many late nights wrestling with awkward sentences or trying to make my thesis sound smart. So I decided to test every AI-powered tool I could find on real assignments from my college English classes. Here’s what actually works, what doesn’t, and exactly how each tool helped me get better grades (while saving my sanity).
Key Takeaways
- Grammarly, QuillBot, and ChatGPT are my top picks for English essay help
- Each tool has a strength: grammar, rewording, or idea generation
- I tested them on actual college essay prompts—no fluff
- AI made my writing clearer, faster, and less stressful
- You’ll get the best results by mixing AI feedback with your own voice
The Top 5 English Essay AI Tools (My Results)
Here’s a quick look at how these tools stack up. I included my real ratings and what each one does best.
| Tool | Best For | Key Features | Price (Student) | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grammarly | Grammar & Structure | Advanced grammar, style, plagiarism check | Free / $12/mo | 9/10 |
| QuillBot | Paraphrasing | Rewriting, summarizing, citation tool | Free / $8/mo | 8/10 |
| ChatGPT | Idea Generation | Outlines, brainstorming, Q&A | Free / $20/mo | 8.5/10 |
| Wordtune | Clarity & Conciseness | Sentence suggestions, tone shifts | Free / $10/mo | 7.5/10 |
| Scribbr | Plagiarism & Citations | Plagiarism checker, citations | $19.95/check | 7/10 |
Pro Tip: I also tried ApexVision AI for outlining and feedback—its suggestions were surprisingly on-point for thesis development (even though it’s not as famous as the big names).
How I Tested These Tools
No marketing fluff here—I used these tools for three months on actual assignments:
- Literary analyses (think “Of Mice and Men” and “Hamlet”)
- Research essays with MLA or APA citations
- Persuasive and argumentative essays
I rated each tool based on:
- How accurate the grammar and style suggestions were
- How useful the paraphrasing and summarizing was
- Whether it actually helped me generate essay ideas or outlines
- How well it handled plagiarism or citations
- Ease of use (browser, extension, app)
- How their feedback compared to what my professors wrote
Every tool in this guide actually helped me write or edit a real college paper. Here’s what stood out (and what didn’t).
Tool #1: Grammarly (Grammar, Structure, Academic Tone)
Honestly, Grammarly has saved me from so many embarrassing typos and clunky sentences. For my “Of Mice and Men” literary analysis, I ran the full essay through Grammarly before submitting. It flagged stuff I didn’t even realize was awkward and suggested stronger, more academic words.
- Pros:
- Top-notch grammar and spelling correction
- Great at catching tone and clarity issues
- Built-in plagiarism checker (premium)
- Cons:
- Premium needed for advanced fixes (worth it when essays are at stake)
- Sometimes “over-fixes” and makes you sound like a robot
Pricing: Free for basics, $12/month for premium with student discount.
Best For: Grammar, structure, and making your essay sound more academic.
Examples from my work:
- Polished my thesis in a Hamlet essay—Grammarly’s tone check made it sound more confident
- Fixed run-on sentences in a persuasive piece that my peer reviewer totally missed
Pro Tip: Don’t blindly accept every suggestion. Sometimes, Grammarly tries to “fix” your unique voice. Pick and choose.
Tool #2: QuillBot (Paraphrasing, Summarizing, Citations)
QuillBot was my secret weapon for rewording dense research articles. For my English comp project, I used QuillBot to paraphrase tough passages—helped make sure I wasn’t accidentally plagiarizing. The summarizer condensed long articles, which was perfect for annotated bibliographies.
- Pros:
- Fast, reliable paraphrasing with different modes
- Handy summarizer for cutting down big chunks of info
- Built-in citation generator
- Cons:
- Sometimes rephrases get weird or awkward (double-check!)
- Free plan is limited—you’ll want premium for big projects
Pricing: Free for basics, $8/month for students.
Best For: Paraphrasing, summarizing sources, and quick citations.
Examples from my work:
- Rewrote background info for my argumentative essay so it didn’t sound copied
- Summarized a peer-reviewed journal for my annotated bibliography (saved me so much time)
Pro Tip: Always read the reworded text. Once, QuillBot changed the meaning of a quote—luckily I caught it before turning in my draft.
Tool #3: ChatGPT (Idea Generation, Outlines, Structure)
If you’re stuck staring at a blank page, ChatGPT is a total lifesaver. When I had to write about “The American Dream in Literature,” I had zero inspiration. I asked ChatGPT for thesis ideas and outline templates. What I got: super clear structure, plus a few counterarguments I hadn’t thought of.
- Pros:
- Fast topic brainstorming and outlining
- Can draft thesis statements, counterpoints, and more
- Feedback on flow and structure (if you paste in your draft)
- Cons:
- Sometimes generic or too wordy
- You need to write specific prompts (“List 3 counterarguments for X” works better than “Help with my essay”)
Pricing: GPT-3.5 is free. GPT-4 (ChatGPT Plus) is $20/month.
Best For: Brainstorming ideas, organizing outlines, and getting feedback on structure.
Examples from my work:
- Generated counterpoints for my “Technology in Society” essay (helped balance my argument)
- Helped organize my main points for a literary analysis when I had too many ideas
Pro Tip: The clearer your prompt, the more helpful ChatGPT is. I’ll ask, “List 5 themes from ‘1984’ with short examples,” then pick the ones that fit my essay.
Bonus: I also used ApexVision AI for feedback on my draft. Its suggestions felt less generic than ChatGPT, especially for thesis tweaks.
Tool #4: Wordtune (Clarity, Conciseness, Tone)
Sometimes my sentences are just…too long. Wordtune fixes that. When editing my comparative essay, Wordtune suggested shorter, sharper sentences and helped me shift my tone from casual to formal. It’s not as deep as Grammarly, but it’s fast and actually fun to use.
- Pros:
- Makes long sentences short and readable
- Good tone adjustment options (formal/informal)
- Chrome extension is easy to use
- Cons:
- Free plan has limited suggestions
- Not as strong on complex grammar
Pricing: Free for basics, $10/month for premium.
Best For: Polishing clarity and tone—gets rid of wordiness.
Examples from my work:
- Rewrote messy sentences in my poetry analysis so my argument was crystal clear
- Made my research essay sound way more formal (no more “I think…” everywhere)
Pro Tip: Use Wordtune for your final pass. It’s great right before you hit “submit,” especially if you tend to ramble like me.
Tool #5: Scribbr (Plagiarism, Citations)
Plagiarism anxiety is real. Scribbr’s plagiarism checker is top-tier—I used it before turning in my final project and it flagged a couple accidental matches I’d missed even after using QuillBot. The citation tool also fixed a bunch of silly MLA errors for my Works Cited page.
- Pros:
- Best plagiarism detection I’ve tried (better than Turnitin, IMO)
- Super accurate citation generator
- No subscription: pay per check
- Cons:
- Can get pricey if you check everything ($19.95 per essay)
- Doesn’t help with grammar or writing style
Pricing: $19.95 per check (worth it for big essays). Student discounts available.
Best For: Last-step plagiarism checks and perfecting citations.
Examples from my work:
- Verified originality of my synthesis essay before submitting
- Fixed citations for books and articles in less than 5 minutes
Pro Tip: Run your final draft through Scribbr before submitting anything major. It’s worth it for peace of mind.
How to Choose the Best AI for Your Essay
Here’s how I pick the right tool for each essay:
- If you struggle with grammar, use Grammarly
- Need to reword research or avoid plagiarism? QuillBot
- Stuck at the idea stage? ChatGPT (or try ApexVision AI for thesis feedback)
- Want your writing clearer and shorter? Wordtune
- Final plagiarism/citation check? Scribbr
Also think about:
- Your budget (free is great, but sometimes premium is worth it)
- If you need a Chrome extension or web app
- Privacy (don’t share personal info in prompts—most tools like Grammarly, QuillBot, and Scribbr are pretty safe, but always check their policy)
Pro Tip: Don’t just pick one tool. I use Grammarly + QuillBot on most essays, then do a Scribbr check for anything worth a lot of points.
How I Use AI Step-by-Step (with Real Examples)
This is my exact workflow for major English essays:
- Brainstorm & Outline:
Use ChatGPT or ApexVision AI to get thesis ideas and structure.
- Draft:
Write a rough draft myself—AI can help, but my own voice matters (professors can spot “AI speak” a mile away).
- Grammar & Clarity:
Run the draft through Grammarly. Accept the best suggestions, ignore the ones that kill my style.
- Paraphrasing & Summarizing:
Use QuillBot to rephrase research or condense arguments (always double-check the output).
- Clarity & Tone:
Paste paragraphs into Wordtune. Make sure nothing is too long or awkward.
- Plagiarism & Citations:
Use Scribbr for a final plagiarism scan and to generate perfect citations.
Example:
For my literary analysis on “Hamlet,” I:
- Brainstormed themes using ChatGPT
- Drafted my argument
- Fixed grammar with Grammarly
- Reworded a dense quote summary with QuillBot
- Shortened wordy sentences using Wordtune
- Ran a quick plagiarism check in Scribbr before turning it in
Result:
Professor said it was one of my “most cohesive and polished essays to date.” Not bragging—AI really does help!
FAQ
What’s the single best AI tool for English essays?
Grammarly is the best all-around pick. But if you have a specific weak spot, use the tool built for that (see my ratings above).
Can AI write my entire essay for me?
It can help draft or outline, but you have to add your own analysis and voice. Copy-pasting AI writing is super risky (and usually obvious).
Is using AI for essays considered cheating?
Editing and feedback = usually fine. Submitting 100% AI-generated work = not fine. Always check your school’s academic honesty policy.
Which tool is best for avoiding plagiarism?
Scribbr is the most accurate plagiarism scanner. QuillBot helps with paraphrasing, but always scan your final draft.
Are these tools safe for student privacy?
Most (Grammarly, QuillBot, Scribbr) have strong privacy rules. Still, don’t put sensitive info in your prompts. If you’re worried, stick to trusted brands—ApexVision AI was also transparent about privacy when I checked.
Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of AI Essay Tools
- Always read and edit the AI suggestions—don’t accept everything blindly
- Use specific prompts for ChatGPT and ApexVision AI (the more details, the better)
- Double-check reworded text for meaning shifts or weird phrasing
- Combine tools: No single AI does it all
- Run a plagiarism check before submitting, even if you rewrote everything
More Tools Worth Trying
If you want to branch out, I’ve also tested:
- ProWritingAid (detailed style/structure feedback)
- Jasper (great for creative writing prompts)
- Hemingway Editor (makes essays more readable)
- Zotero (for research and citation management—total gamechanger for big projects)
Final Thoughts
AI isn’t a magic essay machine, but it’s the best assistant I’ve found for writing under pressure. I’ve tried every tool in this guide on my own assignments, and my grades (and sleep) are better for it. Mix AI feedback with your own ideas and you’ll turn in essays you can actually be proud of.
If you haven’t tried using AI for essays yet, grab a free Grammarly or QuillBot account and start with your next assignment. You’ll see the difference in your writing—and probably your grade—immediately.