Finding the best online plagiarism checkers to use for your content needs isn't always easy. Though plagiarism checkers are a common investment among individuals who work with content, not all software is the same. 

The best online plagiarism checkers share a few common traits including accuracy, versatility, transparency, user friendliness, and having large databases. You can use a trial version to determine whether your plagiarism checker meets these requirements, or check for social proof.

In today's article, we've compiled some of the best online plagiarism checkers that'll save you time and money. Let's get started. 

Why Are Plagiarism Checkers Necessary?

Plagiarism is a serious red flag in writing. In fact, Touro University describes it as “an act of literary theft (known as theft of intellectual property.)” But it wasn't as common until a few years ago.

After the pandemic took all means of education online, students gained a newfound way of getting their papers done: plagiarism. So much so that global statistics indicated a 10% jump in plagiarism during COVID.

But the issue wasn't just among students. When work became online for most people, save for the health industry, competition for cold outreach also led to plagiarism. After companies started shutting down, many people started pursuing freelance work on platforms like LinkedIn, Medium, Upwork, and more. 

Though, this created a huge talent gap. Unqualified people started taking industry-leading content and published them without credit. 

Institutions and businesses started taking caution against plagiarism. It became a fireable offense. 

However, manually detecting such violations was near-impossible. Therefore, educators and business owners worldwide began using plagiarism checkers to verify originality. Why? Because publishing stolen content could end a brand's image, or an individual's career, faster than you know.

But what's worse is that the widespread use of plagiarism checkers also birthed another issue: the creation of unreliable tools. 

When you rely on online plagiarism checkers, you take a partial risk. Because software creation is so common in our age, anybody with the means could give it a shot. So, not every tool you use is going to be accurate.

The digital age has taken online marketing so far that nowadays, only the best and most optimized content matters. So if you want to get the most out of a plagiarism checker, you need to find the best one. 

Characteristics of the Best Online Plagiarism Checkers

When you do market research on plagiarism checkers, you might come across several ads and sketchy-looking software. However, there is one clear-cut way of knowing if a plagiarism checker is worthy of your time and money. 

Analyze the characteristics of every plagiarism checker.

Generally, the best online plagiarism checkers share a set of characteristics that separate them from the sketchy alternatives. The most common ones include: 

• Reliability and accuracy 
• Real-time, batch checking
• Comprehensive database
• Ease of use 
• Cost-effectiveness 
• Good customer support 
• Integration with writing software 
• Transparent reports 

Some of these might matter more than others depending on your writing. Ultimately, the best online plagiarism checker for you will be the one that makes life easier. 

That said, there are still some options that statistically perform better in general. Let's. go over them in more detail. 

15 Best Online Plagiarism Checkers to Use

The options we're about to present to you are all qualified in terms of usability, trustworthiness, and accurate detection. But even though this is a list of the best online plagiarism checkers, no two are the same. 

So note down your expectations to see which software matches your needs best. That way, you'll find your ideal plagiarism checker faster. 

15.  Scribbr

Scribbr is safe to use if you can afford it. According to user reviews, this platform can catch plagiarism better than all other software. While Scribbr's ranked among the best online plagiarism checkers, it also has some room for improvement. 

Key Features

• Multilingual live response 
• Data privacy
• Free citation generator
• Self-plagiarism checker
• Detects plagiarism from source texts

Pros: 

• Finds plagiarism in edited texts
• Has a happiness guarantee

Cons: 

• Free version is limited
• Expensive 
• In-tool working unavailable 

14. Originality AI

As we scale down the list of best online plagiarism checkers, you might come across some newer platforms. And Originality AI is one of them. It's a newer name in the market, but the software's popularity increased as of recently. This tool can help you detect plagiarism and use of AI in writing, but sometimes, double-checking might help.

Key Features

• Works with in-software credits
• Can detect AI
• Simultaneous plagiarism and AI detector

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Has a Chrome extension 

Cons:

• Not 100% accurate

13. Plagiarism Check.org

Plagiarism Check.org is a free alternative to the paid plagiarism checkers on our list. But don't think that this platform lacks in quality because it cuts back from the price. 

Because this is the best line plagiarism checker that checks several types of content for free.

Key Features:

• Citation generator
• Plagiarism extension 

Pros:

• Free 
• Accurate
• Reliable

Cons:

• No bulk checking
• No mobile app

12. Quetext 

Quetext is one of the few tools that detects plagiarism based on context as well as writing. The initial framework of the software was much more simple. But Quetext evolved over the years to become one of the best online plagiarism checkers. 

Key Features

• Contextual analysis
• Bulk checking
• Deep Search

Pros

• A great free tool for all kinds of writers
• One of the best online plagiarism checkers to offer PDF reports

Cons

• Deep Search isn't free
• You've to pay for unlimited reports ($9.99)

11. Viper 

Viper is a free alternative to Turnitin, which is a software we'll explore later on. Though the main objective of the platform is that it displays content theft online. That way, the rightful owners can identify the issue. Viper's incentive to help content creators makes it one of the best plagiarism checkers out there. 

Key Feautres:

• Helps fight plagiarism in the long run
• Uses textbooks to detect plagiarism 

Pros:

• Cost-effective 

Cons:

• Only supports educational content

10. iTenthicate

When it comes to comprehensive results, iTenthicate ranks number one among the best online plagiarism checkers. Firstly because it's a favorite among scholars, publishers, and researchers. Secondly, it comes with an unparalleled database. 

Key Features:

• Checks both grammar and spelling 
• Uses autocorrect
• Saves time

Pros:

• Quick 
• Accurate 
• Large database

Cons:

• No mobile app 
• Only supported by windows

9. Copyleaks

Every day, major corporations and educational establishments rely on Copyleaks for AI-driven text analysis. This software is one of the best online plagiarism checkers because it identifies AI, confirms ownership, and enhances writing.

Copyleaks offers an all-rounder service, ensuring your writing is original and flawless.

Key Features:

• API access
• Mobile app
• Multilingual plagiarism check 

Pros:

• Large internal database
• Self-plagiarism check 
• Business adaptability 

Cons:

• Checking more than 2500 words requires payment

8. Unicheck 

Out of all the best online plagiarism checkers, Unicheck is the most suitable for college. As you can tell by the name, this software caters to university students. And they take pride in offering some great specs!

Key Features:

•  Useful for both closed and Open Source LMS platforms
•  Intuitive design

Pros:

• Free version available 
• Highly secure
• Clear reports 
• Links to sources
• User friendly 

Cons:

• Lacks some features
• No mobile app

7. Whitesmoke

Whitesmoke is especially beneficial if you're on the other side of the academic wall. This plagiarism checker is mainly aiming at teachers for its user base. So if you're grading papers, and have a strict zero-plagiarism policy, Whitesmoke is one of the best online plagiarism checkers.  

Key Features:

• Contextual plagiarism checks
• Integrates to Word, Outlook, and your browser

Pros: 

• Great for teachers 
• Comparison from textbooks 

Cons:  

•  No free version 
• Documents lose original formatting
• Lack of updates

6. Pro Writing Aid

ProWritingAid is for writers, business, and bloggers. Moreover, it suits all kinds of writing and offers a yearly fee instead of monthly. The software is one of the best plagiarism checkers that come with an annual subscription.

Key Features:

• Improves writing 
• Provides writing reports

Pros: 

• Offers versatile writing.
• Good for budget-conscious users.

Cons:

• No plagiarism reports included.
• Plagiarism checks cost extra.

5. Quillbot Plagiarism Checker

Quillbot is more than your average paraphrasing tool. Because not only does it help you avoid plagiarism in your writing, it also helps you detect it. With a new and improved array of services, Quillbot is now a full-fledged tool for writers and students alike. 

Key Features:

• Co-writing 
• Plagiarism checks
• Paraphrasing 

Pros: 

• All-in-one tool
• Great for academics and essayists
• Makes writing look more professional 

Cons:

• Pay-per-check 

4. Wordpress Plagiarism Checker (Plugin)

Nowadays, blogging can be a full-time job. But the odds of an audience taking your post seriously will decrease if you plagiarize from other blogs.  If you want to avoid losing credibility, give Wordpress' plagiarism checker a try. 

Key Features:

• Checking existing posts
• Running checks per sentence
• Excluding URLs

Pros:  

• Secure
• Optimized specifically for Wordpress  

Cons: 

• Lacks updates

3. Turnitin

Turnitin ranks in the top three of best online plagiarism checkers, both as an academic tool and an office-grade helper. While it's more common across students, this tool work for any writing that requires citations.

Key Features:  

• Anonymity 
• Instructor questions for students
• Assignment distribution 
• Peer reviews

Pros:

• Quick reports
• Cross-checking
• Supports multiple formats 
• Advanced support 
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Doesn't check tables for plagiarism 
• Can't always detect citations 
• Slow refresh 

2. Copyscape

Copyscape is the first name that comes to mind for the best online plagiarism checkers. Moreover, the software's constantly updated and highly accurate. Not to mention Copyscape has been the industry leader for a long time. Here's why:

Key Features:

• Efficient and quick checks 
• Spots spelling mistakes and grammar issues

Pros:

• Collects plagiarism reports
• Reliable 
• Great for websites and blogs

Cons:

• Doesn't support all document formats
• Customer support needs improvement

1. Grammarly Plagiarism Checker

Time for our top pick of the best online plagiarism checkers!

For Premium and Business subscribers, Grammarly checks more than wording. The basic subscription is free and efficient for spotting grammar mistakes. Though when you pay $12 a month, you can also benefit from its wide ProQuest database.

Moreover, Grammarly has lots to offer. Thanks to a newly introduced feature, the software now allows AI assistance in writing. So if your line of work has you attached to a keyboard, Grammarly might be worth checking out.

Key Features:

• Offers AI assistance
• Adapts multiple tones
• Offers several formats 
• Can check grammar and spelling

Pros:

• Active suggestions 
• Real-time checks
• API integration

Cons:

• Strict about spelling checks

Conclusion

When you plagiarize, it can put your career at risk. What's worse is it can ruin your reputation. That's why it's critical to double-check your writing before submitting it. 

Plagiarism checkers can meet different needs. Therefore, you can avoid content theft with some of the best online plagiarism checkers. As a result, you will sound stronger and more confident. 

‍