Grammarly vs QuillBot (2026): Which One Should You Pay For?
Key takeaways
- Grammarly fixes writing you already have. QuillBot rewrites text into something different.
- Both free plans are usable. Pay only when you hit the caps regularly.
- Cheapest paid route: QuillBot Premium at $8.33/month (annual). Grammarly Pro is $12/month annually.
- Non-native English speakers usually get more from Grammarly. Students and heavy rewriters get more from QuillBot.
These two get compared constantly, but they solve different problems. Grammarly is a proofreader that also rewrites sentences. QuillBot is a paraphraser that also checks grammar. If you buy the wrong one, you'll spend a year paying for a feature you never use.
Prices (verified 24 October 2026)
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed annually | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammarly Free | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Grammarly Pro | $30/mo | $12/mo | $144 |
| QuillBot Free | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| QuillBot Premium | $19.95/mo | $8.33/mo | $99.95 |
Grammarly also offers a quarterly plan ($60 per three months). QuillBot offers $13.31/month billed quarterly. Regional pricing varies.
What each one actually does
Grammarly
- Grammar, spelling and clarity as you type, across the web, email and documents.
- Full-sentence rewrites and tone adjustment (Pro).
- Plagiarism checking (Pro).
- Generative prompts: 100/month on Free, 2,000/month on Pro.
- Browser extension and desktop app, so it follows you everywhere.
QuillBot
- Paraphraser with multiple modes (formal, simple, creative) and a synonym slider.
- Summariser for long documents.
- Citation generator — genuinely useful for students.
- AI detector and humaniser.
- Grammar checker (basic on free, stronger on Premium).
Head to head
| Job | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Correcting grammar in real time | Grammarly | Works everywhere you type; better suggestions |
| Rewriting a paragraph in a new tone | QuillBot | Purpose-built paraphraser with modes |
| Shortening a long report | QuillBot | Dedicated summariser |
| Academic citations | QuillBot | Built-in citation generator |
| Client emails and proposals | Grammarly | Catches tone problems before you send |
| Checking whether text reads as AI-written | QuillBot | AI detector included |
| Free plan usefulness | Grammarly | Free grammar checking is stronger than QuillBot's |
Which one you should pay for
Buy Grammarly Pro if…
- English is your second language and you write to clients daily.
- You send proposals, invoices and emails where a mistake costs credibility.
- You want one tool that works in Gmail, Docs and LinkedIn without copy-pasting.
Buy QuillBot Premium if…
- You rewrite source material constantly (students, researchers, content editors).
- You need summaries of long documents several times a week.
- You want citations and AI detection in the same place.
Pay for neither if…
- You write a few emails a day — the free tiers cover that.
- You already pay for ChatGPT or Claude; for many rewriting jobs, a good prompt does the same thing.
Can you use both for free?
Yes, and it's a sensible starting point: Grammarly Free as your always-on proofreader, QuillBot Free when you need a rewrite or summary. The limits are the point — when you find yourself hitting the paraphrase word cap or the AI prompt cap every week, that's your signal to pay.
The honest caveat: heavy paraphrasing to dodge AI detectors is a bad strategy. Detectors are unreliable in both directions, and editors increasingly recognise the flattened style. Use these tools to write better, not to disguise who wrote it.
Try the free plans first
Both free tiers are genuinely usable. Upgrade only after a month of hitting the caps.
FAQ
Is QuillBot better than Grammarly?
For paraphrasing, summaries and citations, yes. For grammar correction and everyday writing across apps, Grammarly is stronger.
Do I need both?
Most people don't. If you write in English as a second language, Grammarly Pro is the better single purchase. If your work is rewriting and summarising, QuillBot Premium is cheaper and more focused.
Is Grammarly's free plan enough?
For basic grammar and spelling, yes. It caps generative prompts at 100/month and withholds full-sentence rewrites, tone and plagiarism checks.
Which is cheaper?
QuillBot Premium: $8.33/month billed annually ($99.95/year) versus Grammarly Pro at $12/month ($144/year). Both are much cheaper annually than monthly.
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