Turnitin may be an excellent plagiarism-detecting tool to assess whether a school assignment is copied, but it sometimes falls short when the task gets complicated.
While it may be a great low-cost option, having some Turnitin alternatives at your disposal can always be handy.
Keep reading to explore how each alternative fares to Turnitin, along with its uses and costs.
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What Is Turnitin?
Turnitin is a software tool that detects plagiarism in academic work, such as student assignments.
Developed by iParadigms LLC, it was first released in 2000 as a web-based tool for schools and universities and has since become a widely used resource in the academic community.
In over 20 years of operation, the software has assisted over 15,000 educational institutions worldwide.
Turnitin mainly applies to academics because they are only licensed to registered institutions.
In 2019, it announced a new feature called Authorship Investigate.
It uses machine learning to identify writing style patterns to detect contract cheating, where a student pays someone else to complete their work.
How Does The Turnitin Model Work?
The critical software feature is the ability to detect plagiarism in student writing.
It compares a student’s work to a vast database of previously submitted work and other online sources.
If you are wondering, it generates a “similarity report” that anyone can assess to check which sections of a student’s work match other sources and provides a percentage score indicating the level of similarity.
A sophisticated algorithm identifies exact matches and paraphrased content, sentence structures, and other indicators of potential plagiarism.
The latest Plagiarism Spectrum 2.0 introduced by Turnitin will detect twelve types of unoriginal work.
In addition to plagiarism detection, it offers other features to support the teaching and learning process.
Additionally, it includes tools for providing feedback on student writing, grading, rubric creation, and peer review functionality.
Features Of Turnitin
Turnitin is a robust software that boasts many different features, usages, and modern mechanisms to combat plagiarism.
Here are a few things to remember about Turnitin.
| Features | Specification |
|---|---|
| Unoriginal Work | Plagiarism Spectrum 2.0 detects 12 types of unoriginal work, including student collusion, self plagiarism, software-based text modification, contract cheating, paraphrasing, and computer code plagiarism. |
| Feedback And Grading | It offers tools for providing feedback on student writing, including inline commenting, voice comments, and rubrics. |
| Peer Review | The PeerMark feature allows instructors to set up peer review assignments where students can review and provide feedback on each other's work. |
| Integration with LMS | You can integrate this tool with learning management systems such as Blackboard, Canvas, and Moodle. |
| Multilingual Support | It supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. |
| Mobile App | It has a mobile app that allows students and instructors to access the software from their mobile devices, making it easier to submit assignments. |
Why Consider Turnitin Alternatives?
Here are a few reasons why you should consider Turnitin alternatives.
- Cost: Turnitin charges $3 per student annually, which can be expensive, especially for smaller institutions that may not have the budget for a full subscription.
- Accessibility: It may not be accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities or using assistive technology.
- Data Privacy: Some institutions and students may have concerns about using their data, including submitting their writing to a database and their transparency.
- Ease Of Use: Some instructors and students may find the interface or functionality confusing or challenging.
- Integration With Other Tools: It may not integrate well with other tools or platforms used by an institution or instructor, making it challenging to incorporate into existing workflows.
Some Turnitin alternatives may offer better integration, pricing, data transparency, and assistive accessibility, making them suitable options.
Top 8 Turnitin Alternatives In 2024
Many other platforms offer similar or better features compared to Turnitin. Here are some popular alternatives.
1. PlagiarismCheck.org
The first on the list is PlagiarismCheck.org, a reliable plagiarism detection tool designed to help users identify instances of plagiarism.
Like Turnitin, it is a web-based plagiarism detection tool that allows you to upload your copy, assess the plagiarism and allow downloading reports.
Generally, the software uses advanced algorithms to scan a document and compare it against a vast database of sources and previously submitted student work.
Here is what you need to know about the software.
- Text Comparison: The software can identify matching text or phrases, even if they have been reworded or paraphrased.
- Citation Analysis: It analyzes citations and references within a document to ensure that they are formatted correctly and that the sources are legitimate.
- Source Checking: It checks a document against a database of previously submitted student work and other online sources.
Interestingly, Plagiarismcheck.org applies to students, educators, institutions, and businesses and is very reasonable compared to Turnitin.
Here is how Plagiarismcheck.org compares to Turnitin;
| PlagiarismCheck.org | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| Plagiarismcheck.org offers a range of pricing options, including pay-per-use, starting from $1. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| It has a wide database of sources and academic assignments. | It has a much larger database of sources, including academic journals, books, and websites. |
| Plagiarismcheck.org focuses more on text comparison and source checking. | Turnitin includes citation and reference checking as part of its analysis. |
| It is designed to be simple and intuitive, with a straightforward submission process and easy reports. | The interface may be more complex and require more training to use effectively. |
| It is more focused on plagiarism detection and prevention. | It offers additional features such as peer review and grading. |
2. Plagiarism Search
Another AI detector Plagiarismsearch.com is a web-based plagiarism detection tool that allows you to upload your file and immediately check for instances of plagiarism.
It currently offers four different features;
- Plagiarism Check -Check instances of plagiarism
- Paper Analysis -Check for grammatical, stylistic, and other errors
- Spell Check -Check the spelling
- Readability Check -Check the readability score of your document
Furthermore, it applies several vital steps.
- First, it analyzes the document’s text to identify potential plagiarism instances.
- Secondly, it checks the document’s citations and references to ensure that they are formatted correctly and that the sources are legitimate.
- Thirdly, it checks against previous students’ assignments and generates a percentile similarity score.
Here is how PlagiarismSearch.com fares to Turnitin.
| PlagiarismSearch.com | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| Pricing for PlagiarismSearch.com starts at $7.95 per submission. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| Plagiarismsearch.com can be used by individuals, educational institutions, and businesses. | Turnitin is primarily used by educational institutions. |
| It uses advanced algorithms to compare submitted work to a large database of sources. | It uses a proprietary algorithm that compares submitted work to a vast database of sources. |
| It offers additional features beyond plagiarism detection, such as spell check, readibility, etc. | It primarily focuses on plagiarism detection for academic purposes. |
3. Viper
Viper (ScanMyEssay.com) is an online plagiarism detection tool that uses advanced algorithms and a large corpus of data to scan submitted work.
However, you must sign-up with Viper before checking your submitted documents’ results.
- Accurate Detection: Unlike Turnitin, it can detect plagiarism for individuals, institutions, and businesses, with many benefits.
- Fast Turnaround Time: It provides a plagiarism report within minutes of submitting the document, which is especially useful for users with tight deadlines.
- Multiple File Formats: It supports multiple formats, including Microsoft Word, PDF, and HTML.
- Customizable Settings: It allows users to customize the settings, such as the degree of similarity detection, to fit their needs.
Watch the video to get more information about Viper;
Here is how Viper fares to Turnitin.
| Viper | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| Viper charges $3.95 for 1 credit (1000 words) for individual package. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| It supports a wider range of file formats, including PDF and HTML. | It only supports Microsoft Word files. |
| It provides a plagiarism report within minutes of submitting the document. | It may take longer to produce the result, especially for longer documents. |
| It offers easy-to-use interface and plagiarism score. | It needs some learning to use the platform and interpret results. |
4. Unicheck
Unicheck is a cloud-based plagiarism detection tool similar to Turnitin because it is designed for educational or institutional use.
It locates texts’ similarities, citations, and references to detect plagiarism and contract cheating.
The software is appropriate for K-12 and higher educational institutions and is available as LMS, standalone solution, or via API.
Here are some unique benefits of using Unicheck.
- You can integrate it with learning management systems such as Blackboard and Canvas.
- It highlights the text matches, quotes, and references, so you can quickly spot plagiarism.
- Get an accurate similarity score and use a mini-map to navigate faster.
- Compare plagiarized work against sources they are copied from.
- Get notified about suspicious submitted documents.
Therefore, it may provide an edge over Turnitin in many different aspects.
Here is the comparison between Unicheck and Turnitin.
| Unicheck | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| The pricing plans range from $5 for 20 pages to $50 for 500 pages. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| It supports multiple file format. | It only supports word documents. |
| It integrates with a wide range of learning management systems or as API. | It provides a standalone software. |
| It is applicable for personal, K-12 or higher, and business use. | It is only applicable for educational institutions. |
5. PlagScan
Another Turnitin alternative is PlagScan, a plagiarism detection stool that compares submitted documents to a vast database of sources.
You only need to upload the document (drag-and-drop or cloud storage) in any readable format.
You can check plagiarism and download it in different formats to keep a local copy.
It covers various requirements, from a brief indication of potential plagiarism to highlighting a list of matched sources.
PlagScan also offers multiple language support, making it an excellent tool for educators, students, researchers, and writers for business purposes.
It offers a variety of pricing plans, including a free trial and several paid options.
Here is how it fares to the competitor Turnitin.
| PlagScan | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| It starts at $5/month for up to 20 pages and goes up to $500/ month for up to 250,000 pages. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| It is easy to use and provides fast and accurate results. | Although accurate, the interface can be hard to use. |
| It supports a broader range of file formats including PDF, HTML, and plain text. | It only supports word files. |
| It offers users the ability to customize the degree of similarity detection. | The settings may be more fixed. |
6. Noplag
Noplag.com is designed to help writers, educators, and students check their work for potential plagiarism.
Intended for educational use, it compares submitted students’ work to an extensive database of online sources to identify plagiarism.
You only need to submit the text or a document to the web interface.
The system automatically assesses the paper and provides the similarity report in percentage.
Additionally, it offers a range of features to help users improve their writing, such as a grammar checker and a citation generator.
Here is how Noplag.com fares to Turnitin.
| NoPlag | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| The premium pla starts at $8.99 per month for individual users. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| It offers additional features such as a grammar checker and citation generator. | It only does plagiarism check. |
| It has a more intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. | The interface may take some time to get used to. |
| It provides a free access to the software with a limited features. | The access only start after you obtain a subscription. |
7. Plagramme
The APlagramme is an online plagiarism detection tool established in 2011 and used in more than 120 countries.
It employs a deep plagiarism check involving additional database searches to provide a more accurate plagiarism score.
You can upload text or documents into the Plagramme platform.
The tool scans the text and compares it to a database of sources to identify plagiarism.
The results are displayed with a similarity score and highlighted matches similar to Turnitin.
However, it compares academic works, blog posts, website content, and other materials about businesses.
Plagramme offers a +plagiarism prevention tool, text formatting, and proofreading features to help users proactively create full-proof writing.
For most, Plagramme can become a better tool than Turnitin.
| Plagramme | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| Paid plans starts at $6.99 per month for up to 25 pages. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| It provides fast results, with a turnaround time of just a few minutes for up to 5000 words. | It may take a while to produce results, especially for longer documents. |
| It offers additional features; plagiarism prevention tool, citation and reference checking, and a bulk uploading option. | It only offers plagiarism detection service. |
8. Grammarly
Lastly, we have Grammarly, a multi-purpose tool that does more than a plagiarism check.
In fact, it is available as a web application, browser extension, and desktop app, so you can access it whenever you need it.
For ease, you can add the word extension to use it simultaneously while drafting a text.
Here are some features and uses of Grammarly.
- Grammarly scans your text for grammatical errors and provides suggestions for corrections.
- It uses the plagiarism detection tool that compares your text to over 16 billion web pages and academic papers to check for plagiarism.
- It uses suggestions for alternative vocabulary to help you improve the clarity and impact of your writing.
- It checks and improves academic papers, essays, and other written assignments.
- You can use it to improve business emails, reports, and other professional documents.
Here is how Grammarly fares to Turnitin.
| Grammarly | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| Grammarly offers both free and paid versions, $15/month. | Turnitin offers a full subscription, starting at $3 per student. |
| It offers a wider range of writing assistance, such as grammar, punctuation, style, tone, and vocabulary. | It is primarily focused on plagiarism detection. |
| It provides real-time feedback as you write. | It may take some time to analyze and generate report. |
| It is available as a web application, desktop app, and browser extension. | It is a primarily web-based tool. |
| Grammarly is easy to use. | Turnitin can be hard to use, especially for first timers. |
The Bottom Line
Turnitin is a handy tool to detect plagiarism, but it is only limited to institutional uses.
Therefore, you might consider using Turnitin alternatives offering better pricing, 24/7 customer support, multi-integrations, and user-friendliness.
Choosing a multi-purpose tool like Grammarly will be more effective if you want to improve your writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Tips For Checking Plagiarism?
Use a tool that can detect various types of plagiarism, including textual, structural, and idea plagiarism.
Additionally, ensure to check citations and references for accuracy and completeness.
Which Turnitin Alternatives Are More Appropriate For Business Users?
Choose Grammarly, Plagramme, and Noplag tools, which offer grammar, spelling, plagiarism checking, and many other features.
Are There Free Alternatives To Turnitin?
Some free alternatives to Turnitin include PlagScan, Quetext, and PaperRater.
However, these free tools may have limited functionality and accuracy compared to paid options.
