Scribbr
Scribbr is an academic writing site with a free citation generator, a pay-per-document plagiarism checker that uses the Turnitin database, and human proofreading for theses and essays. It also offers free grammar, paraphrasing and AI-detection tools.
#18 in Writing & Translation ToolsPlagiarism CheckersGrammar CheckersAI DetectorsFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Students who need quick citations in APA or MLA- Thesis writers who want a one-off plagiarism check
Not for
Anyone expecting a free plagiarism score
Writers who need citations that are right without checking
Free plan$0
AI Proofreader$9.95/mo
Features
Citation generator
Creates APA, MLA, Chicago and Harvard citations from a URL, book title or DOI and keeps them in lists.
Plagiarism checker
Checks a paper against the Turnitin-powered database and shows each match with its source, paid per document.
Proofreading and editing
Corrects language and formatting in theses and essays through human proofreading and explains changes in tracked edits.
Free AI and grammar tools
Free AI detector, grammar checker and paraphrasing tool, the last two powered by QuillBot.
Chrome extension
Adds the citation generator to Chrome, so a web page can be cited while it is being read.
What users say
Pros
- The citation generator turns links into formatted citations and keeps every source in one list.
- Human proofreading comes back with clear, explained edits.
- Its checks hold up, with plagiarism matching from the same database schools use.
Cons
- The free plagiarism check shows a scary score, then asks for payment to see anything.
- Generated citations often need fixing by hand, and some links fail.
- Paid editing can miss formatting rules or feel thin for the price.
- Unexpected charges, from double billing to a full year after a trial.
- A seven-day ceiling even for 30–40 page documents makes the thoroughness of the edit doubtful.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 50k
Alternatives
Rank#18 in category#5 in category#12 in category#14 in category
Free planYesYesYesYes
ProHandy citation tool, explained proofreading, solid checksCatches small slips, safety net for English phrasingCatches edited AI text and shows a human, mixed, AI splitStanding daily workhorse for academic editing
Better forEditing academic drafts directly inside Word, Docs, or Overleaf
Weaker atProviding human proofreading with tracked explanations