QuillBot vs Grammarly for Students 2026: Which Writing Tool Is Actually Worth Your Money?
If you're a student trying to decide between QuillBot vs Grammarly for students in 2026, you're not alone. These are the two most popular AI writing assistants on campus right now, and picking the wrong one can mean wasting money you don't have — or missing out on features that could genuinely improve your grades. I've spent weeks testing both tools side by side, specifically through the lens of what students actually need: essay writing, paraphrasing research, fixing grammar in late-night papers, and staying on the right side of plagiarism checkers.
Here's the short version: Grammarly is the stronger all-around writing assistant, but QuillBot offers something Grammarly doesn't — a powerful paraphrasing engine that's incredibly useful for academic work. The right choice depends on whether you need help writing better or rewriting smarter.
Let's break it all down.
Quick Comparison: QuillBot vs Grammarly for Students
| Feature | QuillBot | Grammarly |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Paraphrasing & rewriting | Grammar, clarity & tone |
| Free Plan | Yes (limited paraphrasing, basic grammar) | Yes (basic grammar & spelling) |
| Student-Relevant Premium Price | ~$8.33/mo (annual plan) | ~$12/mo (annual plan) |
| Paraphrasing Tool | ✅ Industry-leading (9 modes) | ❌ No dedicated paraphraser |
| Grammar Checker | ✅ Good | ✅ Excellent |
| Plagiarism Checker | ✅ (Premium) | ✅ (Premium) |
| AI Writing/Co-Writer | ✅ QuillBot Flow | ✅ GrammarlyGO |
| Citation Generator | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No |
| Summarizer | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No |
| Browser Extension | ✅ Chrome, Edge, Firefox | ✅ Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox |
| Microsoft Word Plugin | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Docs Integration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | ❌ No dedicated app | ✅ iOS & Android (keyboard) |
| Tone Detection | ❌ Limited | ✅ Advanced |
| Overall Rating (for Students) | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
QuillBot Overview
QuillBot started as a paraphrasing tool and has grown into a surprisingly complete writing suite. For students, its core appeal hasn't changed: it's the best tool on the market for rewording sentences, restructuring paragraphs, and rephrasing source material in your own voice.
Key Features for Students
- Paraphraser (9 modes): Standard, Fluency, Formal, Academic, Simple, Creative, Expand, Shorten, and Custom. The "Academic" and "Formal" modes are genuinely useful for elevating casual writing to college-level prose.
- Grammar Checker: QuillBot's grammar engine has improved significantly in 2025-2026. It catches most errors, though it still misses some nuanced issues Grammarly picks up.
- Summarizer: Paste in a long article or chapter and get a condensed version. Extremely handy for literature reviews.
- Citation Generator: Supports APA, MLA, Chicago, and more. It works well for standard sources, though it can struggle with unusual formats.
- QuillBot Flow: Their AI co-writing tool that helps you draft content from scratch, with built-in research suggestions.
- Plagiarism Checker: Available on premium plans. Scans against billions of web pages and academic databases.
QuillBot Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 125-word paraphrasing limit, basic grammar, limited summarizer |
| Premium (Monthly) | ~$19.95/mo | Unlimited paraphrasing, all modes, plagiarism checker, full summarizer |
| Premium (Semi-Annual) | ~$13.33/mo | Same as above |
| Premium (Annual) | ~$8.33/mo | Same — best value |
QuillBot also occasionally offers student discounts through .edu email verification, though availability varies by region.
Grammarly Overview
Grammarly is the gold standard in AI-powered grammar and writing assistance. It goes far beyond spell-check, offering real-time suggestions for clarity, engagement, tone, and even delivery style. For students who want their writing to sound polished and professional, Grammarly is hard to beat.
Key Features for Students
- Advanced Grammar & Spelling: Catches complex errors including subject-verb agreement, misplaced modifiers, and comma splices that simpler tools miss.
- Clarity & Conciseness Suggestions: Flags wordy sentences, passive voice overuse, and vague language — essentially coaching you to write more clearly.
- Tone Detector: Tells you how your writing sounds (confident, friendly, formal, etc.) before you hit submit. Incredibly useful for emails to professors.
- GrammarlyGO (AI Assistant): Generate drafts, brainstorm ideas, rewrite sections, and adjust tone with AI prompts.
- Plagiarism Checker: Compares your text against ProQuest's academic database and billions of web pages.
- Style Guides & Goals: Set your writing goals (audience, formality, domain) and Grammarly adjusts suggestions accordingly. The "Academic" setting is perfect for essays.
- Full Sentence Rewrites: While not a dedicated paraphraser, Grammarly now offers sentence-level rewrite suggestions that are quite effective.
Grammarly Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic grammar, spelling, punctuation |
| Premium (Monthly) | ~$30/mo | Full grammar, clarity, tone, rewrites, plagiarism checker |
| Premium (Annual) | ~$12/mo | Same — best value |
| Student Discount | ~$12/mo (quarterly billing available) | Grammarly frequently offers education-specific deals |
Grammarly has historically offered a Grammarly@edu program for institutions, so check if your university provides free Premium access before paying out of pocket.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison: QuillBot vs Grammarly for Students
User Interface & Ease of Use
Grammarly wins here. Its interface is clean, intuitive, and consistent across platforms. Whether you're using the browser extension, the desktop app, or the web editor, everything feels polished. Suggestions appear as underlined text with clear explanations for each fix, so you're actually learning as you edit.
QuillBot's interface is functional but less refined. The web dashboard can feel cluttered since it tries to house the paraphraser, grammar checker, summarizer, and citation generator all in one place. Each tool works well individually, but switching between them isn't as seamless. That said, QuillBot has made notable UI improvements in late 2025, and the overall experience is much better than it was a year ago.
Winner: Grammarly
Core Writing & Grammar Checking
For pure grammar correction, Grammarly remains the stronger tool. In my testing with intentionally error-filled student essays, Grammarly caught approximately 15-20% more issues than QuillBot's grammar checker, particularly in areas like:
- Complex punctuation (semicolons, em dashes)
- Subtle word choice errors (affect vs. effect in context)
- Sentence structure and readability improvements
- Academic tone consistency
QuillBot's grammar checker is perfectly adequate for everyday use — it catches the big stuff and most of the medium stuff. But if you're a non-native English speaker or you're working on a thesis-level paper, Grammarly's depth makes a noticeable difference.
Winner: Grammarly
Paraphrasing & Rewriting
This is where QuillBot dominates, and it's not even close. QuillBot's paraphraser is the core product, and it shows. The nine available modes give you fine-grained control over how your text is reworded. The "Academic" mode is particularly impressive — it restructures sentences while maintaining scholarly tone and meaning.
Grammarly offers full-sentence rewrites through its Premium suggestions and GrammarlyGO, but these are limited to one alternative at a time and aren't designed for bulk paraphrasing. You can't paste in a paragraph of source material and get back a cleanly reworded version the way you can with QuillBot.
For students who regularly need to synthesize research sources, put concepts into their own words, or rework rough drafts, QuillBot's paraphraser is genuinely transformative.
A note on academic integrity: Paraphrasing tools should be used to help you express ideas in your own voice, not to disguise copied content. Always cite your sources regardless of how much you rephrase.
Winner: QuillBot (by a mile)
Integrations & Platform Support
Both tools integrate with the platforms students use most:
| Platform | QuillBot | Grammarly |
|---|---|---|
| Google Docs | ✅ | ✅ |
| Microsoft Word (Desktop) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Microsoft Word (Online) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Chrome Extension | ✅ | ✅ |
| Safari Extension | ❌ | ✅ |
| Firefox Extension | ✅ | ✅ |
| Desktop App (Windows/Mac) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Mobile Keyboard | ❌ | ✅ |
| Gmail | Via extension | Via extension |
| Outlook | Via extension | Via extension |
| Canvas / LMS platforms | Via extension | Via extension |
Grammarly's broader platform coverage — especially the dedicated desktop app, Safari support, and mobile keyboard — gives it an edge for students who write across multiple devices.
Winner: Grammarly
Pricing & Value for Students
Let's be real: students are usually on tight budgets. Here's how the math works out:
- QuillBot Premium (annual):
$100/year ($8.33/mo) - Grammarly Premium (annual):
$144/year ($12/mo)
QuillBot is about 30% cheaper, and you get the paraphraser, summarizer, and citation generator included — tools that students would otherwise need separate subscriptions for. That's significant value.
However, many universities offer free Grammarly Premium through institutional licenses. Before you pay anything, check your university's writing center or IT resources page. If your school provides Grammarly for free, that changes the equation entirely.
If you're paying out of pocket, QuillBot offers more student-specific tools per dollar. If your school covers Grammarly, use that and consider adding QuillBot's free tier for paraphrasing.
Winner: QuillBot (for out-of-pocket value) / Grammarly (if your school provides it free)
Customer Support
Grammarly offers email support, a comprehensive help center, and generally responds within 24-48 hours. Their knowledge base is extensive and well-organized.
QuillBot provides email support and a help center as well, but response times can be slower (48-72 hours in my experience), and the knowledge base is less detailed. Community forums and Reddit threads are often more helpful for QuillBot troubleshooting than official channels.
Neither tool offers live chat or phone support on consumer plans.
Winner: Grammarly
Mobile Experience
Grammarly has a dedicated keyboard app for both iOS and Android that works across every app on your phone — Messages, email, Notes, even social media. It provides real-time grammar corrections as you type on mobile.
QuillBot doesn't have a dedicated mobile app. You can access the web tools through a mobile browser, but the experience is clunky, and the paraphraser is hard to use on a small screen.
For students who draft notes, emails, or discussion board posts on their phones, Grammarly's mobile presence is a clear advantage.
Winner: Grammarly
Pros and Cons
QuillBot
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best-in-class paraphrasing with 9 modes | Grammar checker not as thorough as Grammarly |
| Built-in summarizer saves research time | No mobile app |
| Citation generator included | UI can feel cluttered |
| More affordable premium plan | Slower customer support |
| Academic writing mode is excellent | No Safari extension |
| Free plan is usable (if limited) | Plagiarism checker database smaller than Grammarly's |
Grammarly
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superior grammar and clarity suggestions | No dedicated paraphrasing tool |
| Excellent tone detection | Premium is more expensive |
| Available on virtually every platform | No summarizer or citation generator |
| Many universities offer it free | GrammarlyGO has usage limits |
| Polished, easy-to-use interface | Free plan is quite basic |
| Mobile keyboard app works great | Can feel overwhelming with too many suggestions |
Who Should Choose QuillBot?
QuillBot is the better choice if you:
- Frequently synthesize research sources — If your assignments involve reading papers and putting concepts into your own words, QuillBot's paraphraser is indispensable.
- Write literature reviews or annotated bibliographies — The summarizer + paraphraser + citation generator combo is purpose-built for this workflow.
- Are on a tight budget — At ~$8.33/mo annually, QuillBot Premium packs in more student-specific tools for less money.
- Already have solid grammar skills — If your main struggle isn't grammar but rather finding the right words or restructuring sentences, QuillBot addresses that directly.
- Are a non-native English speaker who needs rewording help — The paraphraser can help you take awkward phrasing and transform it into natural-sounding English.
- Need an all-in-one academic toolkit — Paraphraser + grammar + summarizer + citations in one subscription.
Who Should Choose Grammarly?
Grammarly is the better choice if you:
- Struggle with grammar fundamentals — Grammarly doesn't just fix errors; it explains them, helping you improve over time.
- Write across many platforms and devices — The desktop app, mobile keyboard, and extensive browser support mean Grammarly follows you everywhere.
- Care about tone and professionalism — Tone detection helps you strike the right note in emails to professors, cover letters, and professional writing.
- Get it free through your university — This is the obvious move. Check before paying for anything.
- Want the most polished final product — For pure writing quality improvement, Grammarly's suggestions are deeper and more nuanced.
- Write a lot on your phone — The mobile keyboard is genuinely useful for students on the go.
- Are applying for jobs or internships — Grammarly's resume and cover letter feedback is excellent.
The Verdict: QuillBot vs Grammarly for Students in 2026
Here's my honest recommendation:
If you can only pick one and you're paying out of pocket, QuillBot Premium offers better overall value for most students. The paraphraser alone justifies the cost, and the included summarizer and citation generator replace tools you'd otherwise need separately. The grammar checker, while not as deep as Grammarly's, is good enough for most academic work.
If your university provides Grammarly Premium for free — use it. Then supplement it with QuillBot's free plan for paraphrasing needs. This combination gives you the best of both worlds at zero cost.
If writing quality is your primary concern — you're a graduate student working on a thesis, or English isn't your first language and you need comprehensive grammar coaching — Grammarly Premium is worth the extra cost.
The ideal setup for most students in 2026? Grammarly (free or institutional) + QuillBot Free. You get elite grammar checking and basic paraphrasing without spending a dime. Upgrade QuillBot to Premium when research-heavy semesters hit, and upgrade Grammarly if your school doesn't cover it and you need the advanced features.
Both tools are solid. Neither is a waste of money. But understanding what you actually need help with — grammar and polish vs. paraphrasing and research synthesis — is the key to making the right call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is QuillBot or Grammarly better for college essays?
For writing and polishing college essays, Grammarly is better. It offers deeper grammar analysis, clarity suggestions, and tone adjustments that help your essays sound more professional. However, if your essay process involves heavy research synthesis and rewriting source material, QuillBot's paraphraser is more useful during the drafting phase. Many students use both — QuillBot for drafting and Grammarly for editing.
Can professors detect if I used QuillBot or Grammarly?
Grammarly is a grammar checker — using it is similar to using spell-check, and most professors consider it acceptable. QuillBot's paraphraser is more nuanced. While it's perfectly fine to use for putting ideas in your own words, using it to disguise plagiarized content is academic dishonesty. Most AI detection tools (like Turnitin's) focus on AI-generated content rather than paraphrased content, but policies vary by institution. Always check your school's academic integrity guidelines.
Does QuillBot have a free version that's actually useful?
Yes, but with significant limitations. The free plan limits paraphrasing to 125 words at a time (you'll be hitting "paraphrase" over and over for longer texts), only gives you 2 of the 9 modes, and the summarizer is restricted to 1,200 words. It's fine for occasional use but frustrating for regular academic work.
Does Grammarly offer a student discount in 2026?
Grammarly doesn't have a permanent, universally available student discount, but they frequently run promotional pricing targeted at students (typically 20-40% off annual plans). More importantly, many universities offer free Grammarly Premium through institutional licenses — check your school's writing center or student resources page. You can also look into the Grammarly@edu program.
Can I use QuillBot and Grammarly together?
Absolutely, and this is actually the approach I recommend. Use QuillBot's paraphraser during research and drafting, then run your finished text through Grammarly for grammar, clarity, and tone polishing. Their browser extensions can coexist, though you may want to disable one while using the other to avoid conflicts in Google Docs or online text editors.
Is QuillBot considered cheating?
Using QuillBot as a writing aid — to help rephrase your own ideas or to better understand how to reword concepts from sources (which you then cite) — is generally not considered cheating. Using it to paraphrase someone else's work without citation, or to evade plagiarism detection, absolutely is. The tool itself is neutral; how you use it determines whether it's ethical. When in doubt, ask your professor.