Best Writing Apps for Students in 2025
Looking for the best tools to improve your writing this year? In 2025, AI writing apps have become essential for students, offering features that simplify academic tasks, improve writing quality, and save time. Whether you're drafting essays, brainstorming ideas, or managing large projects, these tools can help.
Here’s a quick overview of the top five writing apps for students:
- Revise: Personalized editing with tone adjustments, custom style rules, and advanced AI models. Plans start at $0/month.
- ChatGPT: Great for brainstorming, drafting, and research assistance. Free version available; premium costs $20/month.
- Grammarly: Focuses on grammar, style, and clarity improvements. Free plan available; premium starts at $12/month.
- QuillBot: Ideal for paraphrasing, summarizing, and citation generation. Free version available; premium starts at $6.25/month.
- Notion AI: Combines writing tools with project management features for large assignments. Free plan available; Plus version costs $8/month.
Each app offers unique features suited to specific academic needs, from grammar checks to collaborative project tools. Below, we’ll break down their strengths, pricing, and limitations to help you decide which one fits your goals.
Quick Comparison
| App | Best For | Pricing (Monthly) | Key Features | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revise | Editing & tone control | Free/$8/$20 | Tracks changes, custom rules, tone adjustment | Free plan limited to 5,000 words/month |
| ChatGPT | Brainstorming & research | Free/$20 | Conversational interface, content generation | No direct document editing integration |
| Grammarly | Grammar & style checks | Free/$12 | Real-time corrections, plagiarism detection | Limited advanced features on free plan |
| QuillBot | Paraphrasing & citations | Free/$6.25 | Paraphrasing, summarizer, citation generator | Free plan limits to 125 words per task |
| Notion AI | Large projects & teamwork | Free/$8 | Writing + project organization tools | Complex for basic writing tasks |
Each tool has its strengths and limitations, so think about your specific needs - whether it’s grammar checks, brainstorming, or managing long-term projects. Let’s explore their features in detail.
15 Writing Apps to Help You Write Papers and Essays Faster - College Info Geek
1. Revise
Revise is an AI-driven writing assistant designed to polish your work without compromising your unique voice. Unlike traditional tools that merely fix errors, Revise provides intelligent suggestions tailored to your personal style and preferences.
Core Features
Revise brings several standout features to the table:
- Change Tracking: Tracks all edits, giving you the power to decide which changes to keep. This is especially helpful for students looking to learn from the feedback.
- Custom Style Rules: Create rules that align with your academic needs, whether you're working on a formal research paper or a creative project.
- Tone Adjustment: Fine-tune your writing tone for different formats, from academic essays to personal reflections.
- Voice-to-Text: Quickly capture ideas or brainstorm directly in your document, making it easier to overcome writer’s block.
These features, combined with flexible pricing, make Revise a versatile tool for writers.
Pricing (USD)
Revise offers three pricing plans, catering to a range of budgets and writing needs:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Word Limit | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 5,000 words/month | Basic rules, basic AI models, up to 500 words per request |
| Pro | $8 | $96 | 200,000 words/month | Unlimited custom rules, premium AI models, speech-to-text conversion |
| Ultra | $20 | $240 | 2,000,000 words/month | Best AI models, beta features, priority support |
Both monthly and annual billing options are available, offering flexibility for users.
Word Limits
Each plan comes with a specific word limit to suit different writing needs:
- Free Plan: 5,000 words/month
- Pro Plan: 200,000 words/month
- Ultra Plan: 2,000,000 words/month
These tiers are designed to support a wide range of writing volumes, from occasional users to those with extensive demands.
Academic Utility
Revise isn’t just about editing - it’s a tool for enhancing academic productivity. Its personalized learning features and collaboration tools make it invaluable for students. By adapting to your editing preferences and writing habits, it helps you build consistency and confidence in your work. The document-sharing feature simplifies collaboration with classmates or professors, making the review process more efficient.
Depending on your subscription, you also gain access to different AI models. Pro users can utilize advanced models like GPT 5.1 and Gemini 2.5 Flash, while Ultra subscribers unlock top-tier options such as Claude Sonnet 4.5 for more refined assistance.
Another standout feature is the ability to adjust editing intensity. This allows you to control how much the AI revises your work, ensuring that your academic integrity remains intact while still benefiting from tailored feedback.
2. ChatGPT
ChatGPT, created by OpenAI, is a user-friendly AI tool designed to help students with brainstorming, drafting, and research.
Core Features
ChatGPT is great at generating content quickly, making it a helpful ally for overcoming writer's block and getting started on assignments. Its conversational interface allows users to ask follow-up questions and explore topics in more depth, making it an excellent tool for brainstorming and drafting. It can also break down complex concepts, summarize articles, and provide different viewpoints on academic topics. These features make it a versatile resource for students.
Pricing (USD)
ChatGPT is available in two options: a free version and a Plus subscription priced at $20 per month. The free version offers unlimited content generation along with limited access to GPT-4o and custom GPTs. For those who need more advanced features, the Plus subscription includes perks like priority access during busy times, faster response times, and full access to the latest AI models.
Academic Utility
ChatGPT’s features make it a valuable tool for academic tasks. The free version is especially useful for students on a tight budget, offering tools for outlining essays, structuring arguments, and organizing ideas. It can also clarify proper citation formats, though students should always double-check citations for accuracy. Additionally, international students can use ChatGPT to refine their English writing and improve academic phrasing. By simplifying idea generation and enhancing essay structure, ChatGPT supports better academic writing.
It’s essential for students to follow their institution’s AI usage guidelines. ChatGPT works best as a brainstorming and research assistant, helping students ensure their final submissions are original and properly credited.
3. Grammarly
Grammarly is a well-known AI-powered writing assistant that helps students improve their academic writing through grammar checks, style suggestions, clarity adjustments, and plagiarism detection. These tools provide additional support alongside other AI writing solutions, giving students a more comprehensive range of resources.
Core Features
Grammarly stands out for its accurate corrections and its ability to refine style, tone, and clarity. The free version includes up to 100 GrammarlyGO prompts per month, which can assist with content refinement and polishing.
For those who opt for the premium version, additional tools become available. These include features for maintaining grammatical consistency, analyzing engagement, and enhancing fluency. Premium users also gain access to 1,000 prompts per month, along with more in-depth feedback on sentence structure, word choice, and overall readability.
Pricing (USD)
Grammarly offers a free version for basic grammar and writing needs. For more advanced features, premium plans start at $12 per month with discounts available for students. Without student pricing, the standard rate is $29.95 per month.
Academic Utility
Grammarly is particularly useful for academic writing, offering detailed feedback that helps students understand and apply proper writing conventions. Its tools are especially helpful for those struggling with grammar or for non-native English speakers, as they provide clear suggestions to improve writing skills. While the free version is somewhat limited and may lack context sensitivity in certain cases, it still serves as a helpful starting point. However, it’s worth noting that Grammarly supports only English, which may restrict its usefulness for students working in other languages.
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4. QuillBot
QuillBot is an AI-driven paraphrasing tool designed to help students express their ideas clearly and effectively, particularly in academic settings. Beyond paraphrasing, it offers a variety of tools to assist with writing, making it a versatile resource for students tackling essays, research papers, and other assignments.
Core Features
At the heart of QuillBot is its paraphrasing tool, which provides seven modes: Standard, Fluency, Formal, Simple, Creative, Expand, and Shorten. These modes allow users to adjust tone, style, and length while highlighting synonym changes, making it easier for students to refine their writing and explore different ways to articulate their ideas.
QuillBot also includes several additional tools:
- Grammar Checker: Identifies and corrects grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
- Summarizer: Condenses lengthy texts or research articles, helping users quickly grasp key points.
- Citation Generator: Creates references in various formats, simplifying the citation process.
- Co-Writer: Integrates writing assistance directly into your word processor for seamless collaboration.
- Translator: Supports 23 languages, making it a practical tool for non-native English speakers or multilingual projects.
Pricing (USD)
QuillBot offers both free and premium plans to accommodate different needs.
- Free Plan: Includes access to the Standard and Fluency paraphrasing modes, grammar checker, summarizer, citation generator, and Co-Writer.
- Premium Plan: Starts at $6.25 per month (billed annually at $99.95) and unlocks all seven paraphrasing modes, unlimited word paraphrasing, and a plagiarism checker. Discounts are available for students.
Word Limits
The free version limits paraphrasing to 125 words at a time, which can be challenging for longer assignments. Premium users, on the other hand, enjoy unlimited word processing, making it more suitable for extensive writing tasks.
Academic Utility
QuillBot is particularly helpful for students navigating the complexities of academic writing. Its paraphrasing tool enables users to incorporate source material while avoiding plagiarism, and its ability to suggest alternative wording helps improve writing skills. For students who struggle with formal tone or clarity, QuillBot’s features can transform their drafts into polished, professional-sounding work. Non-native English speakers may also find it invaluable for improving their language proficiency.
However, the 125-word limit on the free plan can slow down progress on larger projects, requiring users to work in smaller segments. This limitation might make the premium plan a better choice for those handling extensive writing assignments.
Up next, we’ll weigh the overall pros and cons of these platforms to help you choose the best fit for your academic needs.
5. Notion AI
Notion AI is designed to integrate seamlessly into the Notion platform, offering robust support for long-form academic projects. Unlike tools that focus on quick fixes or short-form content, Notion AI is tailored for students tackling lengthy papers, essays, and research reports. It combines writing assistance with powerful organizational features, making it a go-to tool for academic success.
Core Features
Notion AI operates as a built-in writing assistant within the broader Notion ecosystem. This setup makes it ideal for students managing extensive academic projects that demand both focus and structure.
One of its standout features is its ability to streamline comprehensive writing workflows. For instance, students can use tools like Notion’s Cornell Notes templates to organize their research and lay the groundwork for effective writing. The platform itself helps keep class materials, assignments, and research easily accessible, ensuring everything you need is at your fingertips throughout the writing process.
Beyond writing, Notion AI doubles as a workflow management tool. It’s perfect for creating wikis, project guides, and other resources that help structure complex academic tasks. Whether you’re juggling multiple research sources, working on group projects, or managing collaborative assignments, Notion AI provides the tools to stay organized and productive. Its group collaboration features allow students to work seamlessly with classmates, whether they’re co-writing papers, preparing presentations, or reviewing each other’s work remotely.
Pricing (USD)
Notion AI offers flexible pricing that suits student budgets. The free version of Notion is available to most students linked to educational institutions, providing access to essential features for academic organization and basic writing tasks.
For those looking to unlock the full potential of Notion AI, the Plus version is available for $8.00 per month. This plan includes advanced features that cater to students needing more comprehensive support for their academic projects.
Academic Utility
Notion AI goes beyond basic writing assistance by focusing on project management and effective organization. Its features are built to support students in managing their studies, tracking goals, and arranging class materials. This holistic approach acknowledges that academic writing isn’t just about grammar or phrasing - it’s about managing complex projects with multiple moving parts.
The platform is particularly useful for students working on dissertations, theses, or research papers. These types of projects often involve juggling numerous sources, drafts, and deadlines, and Notion AI helps keep everything in order. It offers context-aware suggestions that take into account the broader scope of your work, rather than just focusing on isolated sentences.
For group projects, Notion AI’s collaborative tools make teamwork effortless. Whether you’re co-authoring research papers, preparing group presentations, or conducting peer reviews, the platform’s features ensure smooth coordination. This is especially important as teamwork becomes a bigger focus in modern academic settings.
Additionally, Notion AI’s ability to create wikis and project guides makes it a valuable resource for managing complex research projects. These capabilities are ideal for advanced coursework or graduate-level studies, where detailed documentation and multi-phase planning are often required.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Each writing app comes with its own set of strengths and challenges, making it important to weigh these factors when selecting a tool for academic writing. Below is a detailed comparison of the advantages and drawbacks of popular options to help you find the best fit for your specific needs.
Revise is a standout choice for those who value a personalized editing experience. It adapts to your preferences, ensuring your voice remains intact while providing tailored suggestions - perfect for lengthy projects. However, its free plan caps usage at 5,000 words per month, which might be limiting during busy periods like finals or when working on research-heavy assignments.
ChatGPT shines as a versatile tool for brainstorming, conducting research, and tackling writer’s block. Its conversational style encourages creativity and provides instant feedback. On the downside, it lacks direct integration with document editing platforms, which can make handling complex assignments a bit cumbersome.
Grammarly is a go-to for catching grammar mistakes and refining sentence structure in real-time. Its browser extension works effortlessly across various platforms, from email to web-based editors. However, its focus on surface-level corrections means it may fall short when addressing more in-depth academic writing needs.
QuillBot is highly effective for paraphrasing and summarizing, making it a great tool for processing research materials and avoiding accidental plagiarism. That said, the free version has limited paraphrasing modes, so using it sparingly is advisable.
Notion AI excels in project management and organization, making it a great choice for students juggling multiple assignments or group projects. Its collaborative features streamline teamwork and academic planning. However, its extensive functionality can feel overwhelming for those who only need basic writing assistance.
| App | Best For | Key Advantage | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revise | Personalized editing | Maintains your unique voice with tailored edits | Free plan limits to 5,000 words per month |
| ChatGPT | Brainstorming & research | Encourages creativity with instant feedback | Lacks direct document editing integration |
| Grammarly | Grammar & mechanics | Real-time error detection across platforms | Focuses only on surface-level corrections |
| QuillBot | Paraphrasing & summarizing | Helps rework material efficiently | Free version has limited paraphrasing modes |
| Notion AI | Project management | Excellent for organization and collaboration | Can feel too complex for simple tasks |
When deciding which tool to use, think about your specific challenges and priorities. For instance, Grammarly might be ideal for students needing real-time grammar support, while ChatGPT could be the perfect companion for brainstorming and research. By carefully evaluating each tool’s strengths and limitations, you can choose the one that aligns best with your academic goals in 2025.
Final Thoughts
The best writing app for you depends on your needs and budget. Each tool we've discussed plays a specific role in improving student writing, so it's worth considering what aligns with your goals.
For students on a tight budget, free versions are a smart starting point. Grammarly's free plan delivers dependable grammar checks across platforms, while ChatGPT's free version offers broad writing assistance at no cost. QuillBot's free tier is perfect for quick paraphrasing tasks.
As Dr. Thomas Hargrove, Director of Educational Technology at Cornell University, explains: "The right AI writing assistant can transform academic workflows - but the optimal tool varies dramatically depending on your role, discipline, and specific needs".
For more in-depth writing support, Revise stands out with personalized suggestions that maintain your unique tone. This makes it especially helpful for students tackling detailed research papers or those looking to refine their writing skills over time.
For frequent users, research highlights the value of these tools. A 2025 study by Custom-Writing.org found that students using AI tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly saw a 34% boost in writing efficiency and quality. If you're juggling multiple assignments weekly, premium plans can be a worthwhile investment - ChatGPT's premium version costs $20/month, and Grammarly's advanced plan is $12/month.
The data underscores the growing reliance on these tools. Reports show that 90% of users noticed better writing after just a month with Grammarly. Similarly, students using QuillBot reported a 30% improvement in clarity when leveraging its paraphrasing features.
One effective strategy is combining tools: Grammarly for grammar checks, ChatGPT for brainstorming ideas, and QuillBot for improving clarity. This approach lets you tackle different aspects of the writing process without overspending.
AI tools are becoming more than just shortcuts - they're evolving into learning aids that provide valuable feedback and guidance. They don’t just fix mistakes; they help you grow as a writer. Whether you're drafting your first college essay or working on a senior thesis, the right mix of tools can elevate your writing and deepen your understanding of effective communication.
FAQs
How can I choose the best writing app for my academic needs in 2025?
When picking the ideal writing app for your academic work in 2025, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, opt for tools that are simple to navigate, come with adjustable features, and deliver tailored feedback to help refine your writing skills.
Your choice should also align with your specific goals. Whether you're focusing on grammar, structuring essays, or sparking creative ideas, select an app that matches those needs. Lastly, take your budget into account and make sure the app provides solid value for the features that matter most to you.
What are some tips for effectively using multiple writing apps together?
To make the most of multiple writing apps, aim for a workflow that feels smooth and efficient. Each app has its strengths - maybe one excels at grammar checks while another is perfect for managing citations. By using them for their specific purposes, you can handle different writing tasks more effectively.
That said, don’t rely solely on these tools. Always take the time to manually review and refine your work. This ensures not only accuracy but also that your unique writing style shines through. Blending the capabilities of these apps with your own careful editing can elevate both the quality of your writing and your overall productivity.
What should students consider when deciding between free and premium writing app plans?
When choosing between free and premium plans for writing apps, it’s important to assess your specific needs and how the available features meet them. Free plans usually come with basic tools, which might be enough for occasional or simple tasks. On the other hand, premium plans often unlock extra perks like advanced grammar checks, plagiarism detection, and tailored writing suggestions.
Think about whether the premium plan delivers good value for the cost. Features like higher word limits, exclusive integrations, or time-saving tools can make a big difference, especially if you handle frequent or complex writing projects. But if your writing needs are straightforward, sticking with a free plan could be the better choice.