You write in English, but it is not your first language. Or maybe you work across multiple languages and need a tool that actually understands what you are trying to say, not just what you typed.
Either way, you have probably landed on QuillBot or LanguageTool at some point. Both show up constantly in recommendations for international writers and non-native English speakers. Both are affordable. Both have solid free plans.
But they are built for very different jobs.
QuillBot is a rewriting tool at heart. It takes your sentences and rebuilds them. LanguageTool is a grammar checker at heart. It takes your sentences and fixes them. One generates. The other corrects. That difference matters a lot depending on what you are actually trying to do.
This breakdown covers both tools head-to-head, so you can stop bouncing between browser tabs and just pick the one that fits.
Key Takeaways
- QuillBot is primarily a paraphrasing and rewriting tool with multiple modes, supporting over 25 languages for translation. Its core strength is restructuring existing sentences into cleaner, different versions.
- LanguageTool is primarily a multilingual grammar and style checker that supports 30+ languages natively. Its core strength is catching grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style errors in the language you are actually writing in.
- QuillBot is better for rewriting, rephrasing, and restructuring sentences across a range of tones and styles.
- LanguageTool is better for checking grammar and spelling in non-English languages, and for writers who need accuracy in multiple languages, not just English.
- Both tools offer generous free plans and affordable paid tiers. For non-native English speakers, using both together is a practical option.
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What to Know About QuillBot
QuillBot launched in 2017 as an AI paraphrasing tool and has grown into a full writing suite used by over 35 million writers worldwide. It is especially popular among students, content writers, non-native English speakers, and professionals who need to quickly rewrite existing text into something cleaner, more formal, or simply different.
The paraphraser is the tool’s main feature. It takes your input and generates an alternative version of the same content. You can control how much the text changes, choose a paraphrasing mode, and freeze specific words you do not want altered. Seven paraphrasing modes are available on the Premium plan:
- Standard: A balanced, all-purpose rewrite.
- Fluency: Fixes grammatical issues while keeping the meaning close to the original.
- Formal: Adjusts language for a professional or academic register.
- Academic: Adds a scholarly tone suited for research writing.
- Simple: Simplifies language for broader audiences.
- Creative: Generates a more expressive or varied version.
- Expand / Shorten: Adjusts the length of the text up or down.
Beyond paraphrasing, QuillBot’s tool suite also includes a grammar checker, plagiarism checker (Premium), summarizer, citation generator, AI humanizer, translator, and an AI writing assistant. The translator supports over 25 languages, which makes it useful for writers who need to move content across languages before refining it in English.
What QuillBot’s Plans Include
QuillBot operates on a freemium model with four tiers:
- Free: Paraphrasing capped at 125 words per session, two paraphrasing modes (Standard and Fluency), summarizer limited to 2,500 words. No plagiarism checker.
- Premium: $8.33/month billed annually ($99.95/year) or $19.95/month billed monthly. Unlimited paraphrasing words, all seven paraphrasing modes, plagiarism checker (25,000 words/month), freeze words, and full access to all tools.
- Student: $6.25/month billed annually ($74.95/year). Same features as Premium, at a 25% discount for verified students.
- Teams: $7.50/user/month billed annually for 2 to 10 seats. Includes shared style guides and admin controls.
Where QuillBot Wins
QuillBot wins when you need to rewrite. If you have a draft that is grammatically passable but sounds stiff, overly formal, or too informal for the context, QuillBot’s paraphrasing modes give you a fast path to a better version. You are not fixing errors. You are finding a better way to say the same thing.
It is also the stronger tool for writers who produce a lot of content at pace. The ability to paraphrase and restructure large amounts of text quickly is valuable for content teams and students working under deadlines. The AI humanizer and tone adjustment features further help non-native writers close the gap between how they write and how they want to sound.
What to Know About LanguageTool
LanguageTool has been around since 2003 and is one of the oldest grammar checking tools in the space. It has an open-source core, which has made it a trusted option among developers and privacy-conscious users. The tool supports over 30 languages natively, including English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Italian, and more.
This is not just translation support. LanguageTool actually checks your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style in those languages, using language-specific rules for each one. For a German-speaking writer writing in German, LanguageTool catches errors that English-trained tools would completely miss. That is its clearest advantage over most competitors in the space.
The tool works across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera), Google Docs, Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and most email clients. It requires no account for basic use in the browser. The free version supports up to 10,000 characters per check, which covers most individual documents comfortably.
What LanguageTool’s Plans Include
LanguageTool offers three main options:
- Free: Basic grammar, punctuation, and style checking in 30+ languages. Limited to 10,000 characters per text check. No sign-up required.
- Premium (Individual): $4.99/month billed annually ($59.90/year) or $19.90/month billed monthly. Expands checking to 100,000 characters per text field. Adds AI-powered paraphrasing, tone and style suggestions, Picky Mode for detailed punctuation detection, personal dictionary, style guide, detection of incorrect names and numbers, and add-ins for Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
- Teams: $9.49/month for 2+ users, billed annually. Includes all Premium features plus a shared style guide and up to 150,000 characters per text check.
A 14-day money-back guarantee applies to all paid plans. No credit card is required for the free version.
Where LanguageTool Wins
LanguageTool wins on multilingual grammar accuracy. If you write in any language other than English, LanguageTool is the only major writing tool that checks your grammar natively in that language, using language-specific rules rather than rough translation. For international teams, multilingual freelancers, and non-native speakers writing in their own language first before translating, this is a significant practical advantage.
It also wins on price. At $4.99/month billed annually, LanguageTool Premium is one of the most affordable paid grammar checkers available. It costs less than half of Grammarly Premium and sits well below most comparable tools.
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QuillBot vs. LanguageTool: Side-by-Side Breakdown
Primary Function
QuillBot is a rewriting and paraphrasing tool that also includes grammar checking. LanguageTool is a grammar and style checker that also includes AI-powered paraphrasing on its Premium plan. The order of priority matters. Grammar checking is a secondary feature in QuillBot. Paraphrasing is a secondary feature in LanguageTool.
Language Support
QuillBot supports English as its primary writing language. Its translator covers 25+ languages, but the paraphrasing and grammar tools are built for English output. LanguageTool natively supports 30+ languages for full grammar and style checking, including German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, and more.
Free Plan
Both tools offer functional free plans. QuillBot’s free paraphrasing is capped at 125 words per session and limited to two modes. LanguageTool’s free version allows up to 10,000 characters per check, covers 30+ languages, and requires no account. For no-cost daily use, LanguageTool’s free tier is more useful for most writers.
Pricing
QuillBot Premium costs $8.33/month billed annually. LanguageTool Premium costs $4.99/month billed annually. Both are well below Grammarly at approximately $12/month. LanguageTool is the more affordable of the two at the paid tier.
Grammar Checking Depth
LanguageTool is the stronger grammar checker. It goes beyond surface-level spellcheck to catch contextual grammar issues, style inconsistencies, tone problems, and language-specific errors. QuillBot’s grammar checker handles common errors but is not its primary strength.
Paraphrasing Capability
QuillBot is the stronger paraphrasing tool. Its seven paraphrasing modes give far more control over the output than LanguageTool’s Premium paraphrasing feature, which is a useful addition but not the platform’s core function.
Integrations
LanguageTool integrates with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, Gmail, and most email clients. QuillBot integrates with Google Docs and Microsoft Word via a Chrome extension. LanguageTool has broader platform coverage.
Plagiarism Checker
QuillBot includes a plagiarism checker on its Premium plan (25,000 words/month). LanguageTool does not offer a plagiarism checker.
Privacy
LanguageTool’s browser add-on does not store your text. Its open-source core has made it a preferred option for privacy-conscious writers. QuillBot’s privacy practices are standard for the category but do not carry the same open-source transparency.
Best For
QuillBot is best for writers who need to rewrite, rephrase, or restructure content quickly, especially in English. It is particularly useful for students, content creators, and non-native speakers who have ideas in rough form and need to polish them efficiently. LanguageTool is best for international writers, multilingual teams, and non-native speakers who need accurate grammar checking in their own language, not just in English.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
If you write primarily in English and your main challenge is that your writing sounds awkward, repetitive, or off-tone, QuillBot is the better fit. The paraphrasing modes give you flexibility that a grammar checker simply cannot match. You are not just fixing mistakes. You are rebuilding sentences into something that reads better.
If you write in multiple languages, or if English is your second or third language and you need a tool that understands grammar in your native language too, LanguageTool is the more useful tool. No other grammar checker on the market offers the same depth of multilingual support at this price point.
For the most complete setup, use both. Write or draft in your native language, run it through LanguageTool to fix grammar, then paste your English version into QuillBot to refine the phrasing and tone. That two-step process covers both accuracy and fluency, which is exactly what international and non-native writers need.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between QuillBot and LanguageTool?
QuillBot is primarily an AI paraphrasing and rewriting tool. It takes your existing sentences and generates alternative versions in different tones and styles. LanguageTool is primarily a multilingual grammar and style checker that supports 30+ languages natively. QuillBot is stronger for rewriting. LanguageTool is stronger for grammar accuracy, especially in non-English languages.
2. Which is better for non-native English speakers: QuillBot or LanguageTool?
Both tools serve non-native English speakers well, but for different reasons. QuillBot helps non-native speakers rewrite awkward or stiff English into more natural-sounding versions. LanguageTool helps non-native speakers catch grammar errors in their native language first, before they write or translate into English. Using both together covers the full workflow.
3. Does LanguageTool work in languages other than English?
Yes. LanguageTool supports 30+ languages for full grammar and style checking, including German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Italian, and more. This is one of its clearest advantages over most writing tools, which are built primarily for English.
4. Does QuillBot support multiple languages?
QuillBot’s paraphrasing and grammar tools are designed for English. Its translator supports 25+ languages for converting content into English, but the core rewriting and grammar features are English-focused. LanguageTool is the stronger choice for writers who need grammar support in a non-English language.
5. How much does QuillBot cost compared to LanguageTool?
QuillBot Premium costs $8.33/month billed annually ($99.95/year) or $19.95/month billed monthly. LanguageTool Premium costs $4.99/month billed annually ($59.90/year) or $19.90/month billed monthly. Both are significantly more affordable than Grammarly Premium. LanguageTool is the cheaper option at the paid tier.
6. Does QuillBot have a plagiarism checker?
Yes. QuillBot includes a plagiarism checker on its Premium plan, allowing up to 25,000 words of checking per month. LanguageTool does not include a plagiarism checker.
7. Is LanguageTool free to use?
Yes. LanguageTool has a free plan that covers basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation checking in 30+ languages. It allows up to 10,000 characters per text check and requires no account to use in the browser. The Premium plan adds advanced checks, AI paraphrasing, and longer text limits.
8. Can I use QuillBot and LanguageTool together?
Yes, and for international or non-native English writers, using both is a practical approach. A common workflow is to write in your native language, check grammar with LanguageTool, draft the English version, and then use QuillBot to refine phrasing, tone, and fluency. Each tool covers a step the other does not.
The Right Tool Depends on What Your Writing Actually Needs
QuillBot and LanguageTool are not really in competition. They sit at different points in the writing process.
LanguageTool catches what is wrong. QuillBot fixes how it sounds. For a writer who needs both, the answer is not choosing one over the other. It is knowing when to reach for each one.
If you write in a language other than English, LanguageTool is the non-negotiable starting point. If you write in English and need your sentences to sound more natural, fluent, or varied, QuillBot takes it from there.
Both tools are affordable. Both have generous free plans. There is no good reason not to test both before committing to either.
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