Turnitin is an online plagiarism-checker and detection service. The software comes under Turnitin, LLC, banner, which itself is a subsidiary of Advance Publications. Advance Publications holds many other subsidiaries, which include local newspapers, business journals, and periodicals, etc. Most importantly, the company is well-known for its subsidiaries, the Discovery Channel, Reddit, and Condé Nast.
Turnitin initially started its services in 1998. Primarily, it serves universities and high schools by providing them access through the ‘Software as a Service’ (SaaS) business model. Through Turnitin’s website, educational institutions can allow their students to submit their works to their teachers. The software then checks their work against a database and online information.
Turnitin provides services throughout the world. Due to being an e-commerce company, the platform has users from around the globe. Its services are popular among educational institutes and students alike. Turnitin also offers online grading and corrective feedback and student peer-review services.
Due to its wide reach and easily replicable business model, Turnitin also attracts many competitors. These competitors also offer similar services as Turnitin. Some of these may also provide services without charging users. Although the business models may differ, being in the same industry makes these companies competitors.
For users, the competition serves as an alternative to Turnitin’s services. Users can choose the software that best meets their needs, giving them more choice. The top ten Turnitin competitors and alternatives are as below.
1. Grammarly
Grammarly is one of the largest names in the online plagiarism tools market. The company behind the tool is Grammarly, Inc, based in America. Grammarly is a Ukrainian-origin cross-platform cloud-based writing assistant. Its basic functionality includes checking for grammar, punctuation, engagement, delivery mistakes, and clarity. Furthermore, these services are free to users.
However, Grammarly also has a business edition that provides these services and much more. One of its features includes a plagiarism detector tool. However, it does not offer the same functionality as Turnitin in terms of educational institutions. Nonetheless, it is a decent tool for students that want to check their work for plagiarism before submitting it. It also provides an alternative for smaller institutions.
2. PlagScan
PlagScan is a plagiarism detection software that has similar features as Turnitin. The software is available in English, German, French, and Spanish. The company, PlagScan GmbH, provides the tool to academic institutions throughout the world. PlagScan compares students’ work with their database, web documents, and journals.
In terms of functionality, PlagScan works similarly to Turnitin. Therefore, it constitutes a competitor to the company’s software. However, the company only started its operations in 2009. Apart from academic institutions, the software also provides services to businesses. The tool has received many positive reviews in the media for its exceptional services.
3. ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is a multifunctional tool that provides services to professional authors. These may include new or professional writers, bloggers or copy-editors. On top of these individuals, ProWritingAid also offers similar features to businesses. Although it does not have the same customer base as Turnitin, the low usage prices make the tool a decent alternative.
Similar to Grammarly, ProWritingAid has a free and a paid version. The free alternative gives users access to several tools, which they can only use online. However, the premium version has more features. The plagiarism checker tool falls under the “Premium Plus” package offered by the platform. However, users can buy plagiarism checks without having to subscribe to them.
4. NoPlag
NoPlag is an online plagiarism checker tool directed toward academic writers. The platform’s plagiarism checker is free and easy to use. Apart from this tool, the platform also offers other resources. These include essay outline templates, essay typer editor, grammar and spell checker, and citation assistant. The platform boasts customers such as Harvard, Microsoft Education, the University of Michigan, among others.
In terms of functionality, NoPlag is not similar to Turnitin. However, its plagiarism checker tool provides a great alternative to Turnitin’s tools. The company also charges a price for these tools, which some users complain are too expensive. Despite that, users appreciate the user experience and the better support provided by NoPlag.
5. Quetext
Quetext is another online software that is well-known among users for its similar alternative tools. The platform offers a plagiarism check tool that analyzes text to identify plagiarism. Apart from that, it also checks other writing issues and builds citations where necessary. Similar to other names on this list, Quetext has a free and paid version. The free version can check 2,500 words for plagiarism.
Quetext has its own database, against which the company compares any submitted work. Apart from the primary features, it also has a “Deep Search” function that enhances plagiarism checking. However, it is only a part of the paid version. Quetext is also more affordable compared to Turnitin, which makes it a worthy alternative.
6. Copyscape
Copyscape is an online plagiarism detection service that checks for plagiarism against the web. The tool launched in 2004 under the Indigo Stream Technologies banner. However, this tool does not provide the same academic plagiarism checks as other names on this list. Despite that, Copyscape is a decent tool for checking plagiarism.
Copyscape also has a premium version, which helps users verify the originality of content purchases by online publishers. The free tool has limited features. However, it is still worthwhile for checking websites for original work. Copyscape is a good option for users looking to check online for plagiarism. However, it may not be a suitable alternative for academic users.
7. Copyleaks
Copyleaks is an online plagiarism checking tool that works similar to Turnitin. The platform offers services to both academic and business users. Its prices also vary depending on the volume of work and type of user. Copyleaks has many premium tools, which makes it one of the best alternatives to Turnitin. These include comprehensive plagiarism checks against billions of online sources, OCR, support for over 100 languages, and much more.
Copyleaks also has a free version that allows users to scan up to 5,000 words per month. However, the free version does not come with advanced features. On top of that, the premium version also provides support services, which the free version lacks. Copyleaks’ primary selling point is its AI-based search algorithm and affordable prices.
8. Plagiarism CheckerX
Another online plagiarism checker tool well-known among online users is Plagiarism CheckerX. It is online software that provides services to a wide range of users. These may include students, teachers, website owners, or bloggers. The platform has a free version, which offers limited features and searches limits. However, it also has two other versions that come with more advanced features.
Plagiarism CheckerX targets a larger audience compared to other specialized tools. That is one of the reasons why it competes and serves as an alternative to Turnitin. It also has a comprehensive database, which allows it to detect plagiarism better. The software also supports checks for over 20 languages, giving it a much bigger audience.
9. Scribbr
Scribbr is an online plagiarism checker tool that caters to the academic user base. The platform offers server tools, including a plagiarism checker, editing services, APA generator, etc. However, the company packages these tools separately and does not include them under a single subscription. Scribbr holds a large database against which it checks for plagiarism.
Apart from the academic audience, Scribbr also offers services to professionals. The platform also provides users more control over how it checks for plagiarism. Users can also get customized pricing based on how much work they intend to examine. The company’s pricing varies based on every job. Overall, it is a good alternative to Turnitin and other similar products.
10. Unicheck
Unicheck is a plagiarism checker tool that provides services to both personal and academic users. The company offers similar services as Turnitin and serves as a decent alternative. Its plagiarism-checker tool detects similarity, text modifications and prevents contract cheating. It also provides several other features that support its primary function.
Unicheck also offers customizable search settings, allowing better control over its checks. The overall integration and setup process is also smooth. The platform creates a seamless workflow for all its users. On top of these, it also provides statistics on student progress for academic users. Apart from its academic user base, it also serves businesses.
Conclusion
Turnitin is an online plagiarism checker tool. The platform uses a Software as a Service (SaaS) business model to provide its services. Due to its easily replicable business model, the company attracts many competitors. Furthermore, some of these tools offer free versions, which provide basic users with better alternatives. A list of top ten Turnitin competitors and alternatives are provided above.
