How to Choose the Best Online Plagiarism Checker

Choosing the best online plagiarism checker isn’t as easy as just performing a quick Google search. If you really want one that checks all the boxes, this kind of surface-level analysis just isn’t enough — you need to dig deeper.

To help you separate the best from the rest, this guide will break down how to choose the best online plagiarism checker.

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

1. Prioritize a highly accurate tool
2. Make sure it can handle complex plagiarism types
3. Ensure support is there when you need it
4. Look for pricing and features that meet your needs
5. Consider user reviews

What Is a Plagiarism Checker?

Before we get into what to look for, let’s clarify what we’re talking about here. What exactly is a plagiarism checker, anyway?

A plagiarism checker is a tool that scans a piece of writing, compares it to existing texts, and flags any similarities or duplicate content. In other words, it does just what its name suggests: checks for plagiarism.

When you consider some of the serious consequences of plagiarism, you don’t want to rely on guesswork — you want a tool backed by real data and testing.

How do plagiarism checkers work?

So, then how do plagiarism checkers work? Although they generally follow a similar process to the one outlined above (scan, compare, and flag), how exactly these tools work often depends on their make and model. 

Plagiarism checkers can work differently in terms of:

• Where they scan. You can find tools that scan the web, academic databases, or even ones that look for duplicate content (learn about the different types of plagiarism detection).
• What they detect. Some only look for exact text matches, while others also address paraphrasing and other types of plagiarism.
• Whether they include AI detection. Some tools (like Originality.ai) also offer AI checkers that check for AI-generated text.

With so many potential differences between tools, it’s important to check each plagiarism detector you’re considering to learn about its detection methods.

Let’s take a closer look at Originality.ai.

Plagiarism detection at Originality.ai

Originality.ai’s web-based plagiarism checker breaks down a text into chunks and compares it against Google’s search engine results. 

So, if someone plagiarizes something you can find in Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs), you can use Originality.ai’s patented tools to identify it.

Once the Originality.ai plagiarism checker finishes its analysis, it produces a detailed report of its findings, including:

• A plagiarism score showing a match score
• Highlights on the matched phrases for easy identification in the document
• The URLs of the websites with the matching text, so you can verify the sources

How to Choose the Best Online Plagiarism Checker

If you really want the best of the best, here’s a guide on how to choose the best online plagiarism checker.

1. Prioritize a tool with high accuracy

Plagiarism detection accuracy is a top consideration when looking for an online plagiarism checker.

However, not every plagiarism checker provides studies or analyses on the efficacy of its tool. So, look for a tool that advertises high accuracy and has the data to back it up.

Take Originality.ai, for example. Originality.ai not only offers a plagiarism checker with up to 90% accuracy, but we also evaluate it against other tools. Check out studies like our Grammarly plagiarism checker review and Copyscape plagiarism checker review to see how they stack up. 

Then, Originality.ai also offers the most accurate AI Checker, with a Turbo model (99%+ accuracy) and a Lite model (98% accuracy). We also offer insights into AI detection accuracy with our AI Detector Accuracy Study and a Meta-Analysis of third-party AI detection studies. 

2. Make sure it can handle complex types of plagiarism

Finding a highly accurate plagiarism detector with supporting evidence is great, but make sure you really look at the details before considering it further. It may accurately identify global plagiarism, but what about paraphrasing or patchwork plagiarism?

Fortunately, it is possible to find tools that can accurately identify multiple types of plagiarism, like Originality.ai.

Originality.ai’s plagiarism checker not only detects direct copy-and-paste plagiarism but also identifies global, patchwork, and paraphrase plagiarism.

3. Ensure support is there when you need it

Your next consideration should be: what happens if you need to reach out to support?

A plagiarism checker with a good customer support team behind it is critical for efficient workflow. To find one that’ll be there for you when you need it, look for signs like:

• Responsive email support
• Help articles
• In-app chat

Originality.ai offers an exceptional customer support team. You can reach out and contact us or browse our Helpdesk articles and guides for more information.

4. Look for pricing and features that meet your needs

Next up on our list of considerations is pricing and features. 

Some platforms can be costly for individual users or small teams. So, when you’re looking for the best plagiarism checker it’s essential to consider pricing as well as features.

Let’s take a closer look:

Pricing

Your first step here is to evaluate pricing models. Plagiarism checkers often offer one or more of the following:

• Pay-as-you-go pricing
• Monthly subscriptions for individuals and small teams
• Enterprise plans for agencies and publishers

If you can find a tool that offers all three, even better. When a company provides flexible pricing options like Originality.ai, it makes it easier to scale your plagiarism detection needs accordingly. For more information, check out Originality.ai’s pricing.

Features

Once you find a tool that fits your budget, the next step is to assess whether it fits your needs. Here are a few features to consider:

• Detailed, shareable plagiarism reports to prove the authenticity of writing
• A user-friendly interface that’s easy to use and access across devices
• Access to integrations to check a writer’s work

Originality.ai’s plans give you access to a complete patented toolkit. In addition to the plagiarism checker, Originality.ai’s suite of tools includes:

• An AI detector to identify text generated by artificial intelligence
• A readability checker for clear, easy-to-understand content
• A fact-checking tool for factual accuracy
• A spelling and grammar checker for error-free writing
• A content optimizer to help content rank on search engines

If that isn’t enough, Originality.ai also offers a free Chrome extension, a WordPress plugin, and a site scanner that checks entire websites for AI.

 Learn more in our articles: new and improved web scanner and updated Chrome extension.

5. Consider user reviews

If you only evaluate plagiarism detectors by what you find on their websites, you’re not getting the complete picture. 

User reviews and feedback are critical to the research process, as they tell you what the tool’s accuracy, support, features, and more actually look like in practice.

One of the best places to look for user reviews of plagiarism checkers is Trustpilot. See what people have to say about our products and services in Originality.ai’s customer testimonials.

Why Finding the Best Plagiarism Detector Matters

With so many things to consider, finding the best plagiarism checker may seem overwhelming. However, it’s important for those in both professional and academic positions, including:

• Marketers. Duplicate content can negatively impact search engine rankings and brand reputation.
• Educators. Students need to submit original work to maintain academic integrity.
• Content creators/bloggers. Plagiarism detection can help safeguard intellectual property and ensure unique content.

You can even find checkers tailored to your position. For example, Originality.ai offers a Lite AI detection model for teachers alongside its plagiarism tool. Learn more about Originality.ai’s AI detector for education.

Try the Best Online Plagiarism Checker for Yourself

Although we hope this article has pointed you in the right direction, the best way to find the best online plagiarism checker is to try it yourself.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, you’ve come to the right place. Check out Originality.ai’s plagiarism checker today, and see why it’s regarded as the best online plagiarism checker.

Then, learn more about plagiarism in our top resources:

• How to Support Students to Avoid Plagiarism in Assignments
• Best Plagiarism Checker for Research Papers
• What Is the Best Plagiarism Detector for Teachers?