Effective communication is essential in both academic and professional settings. In written communication, proofreading and editing are crucial to ensure the intended message is clear and error-free. Even minor spelling, grammar, or punctuation can detract from the credibility and impact of your writing.
For students and professionals alike, submitting error-free essays is essential. However, proofreading can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for those who need more confidence in their writing skills. This is where online essay proofreaders come in. These services offer a convenient and reliable way to ensure that your writing is polished and professional, giving you the confidence to submit your work with pride. This article will examine the top online essay proofreading services available, including free and paid options.
In this article
Best Ways to Proofread Your Essay
You should proofread an essay thoroughly before turning it in. That's a rule of thumb for essay writing. There are several good ways to make sure your essay is polished and error-free:
- Use an online proofreader: Online tools, especially those powered by AI models, can quickly detect grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. They are easy to use, fast, and often free or low-cost. However, they might miss subtle tone or style issues that a human could notice.
- Get a proofreading service: Professional proofreading services provide expert editors who can refine your essay and improve its clarity and flow. The downside is that these services can be expensive - most services charge between $0.03 and $0.08 per word, or around $30–$80 for a 1,000-word essay, depending on the turnaround time and level of editing
- Ask a teacher for help: Teachers can offer valuable insights on both the structure and content of your essay, helping you become a stronger writer. However, they might not always have enough time to review every detail.
Overall, proofreading your essay online is the most convenient and efficient option. It allows you to correct mistakes instantly and learn from them, helping you grow into a more confident and independent writer.
Can I Use AI to Proofread My Essay?
Yes. You can proofread an essay with AI tools. Using AI to proofread your own writing is ethically acceptable. An essay typically will not be flagged as plagiarism just because you ran it through an AI proofreader, since the AI isn't generating new content from scratch.
AI proofreaders can be great helpers to help you improve your writing and detect errors. AI tools scan your draft almost instantly, catching basic errors you might miss. It is fast and cost-effective. Showing you corrections and suggestions lets you see recurring mistakes and learn from them.
Top 6 AI Essay Proofreaders
With so many online essay proofreading services available, knowing where to start can take time and effort. To help you find the best option for your needs, we've compiled a list of the top 5 online essay proofreaders. Each of these services offers unique features, from free proofreading tools to expert editing services, so you can choose the one that best fits your budget and goals.
1. PDFelement

Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor Wondershare PDFelement Wondershare PDFelement is a powerful PDF editor and converter that can be a helpful tool for essay writers.
Powered by popular AI models, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Deepseek, PDFelement's "Proofread" feature is a valuable tool that can help students check the grammar and improve the wording of their essays. It can analyze the content from PDF, Word, and PPT documents and suggest revisions for you to replace the original text with the revised version.
Furthermore, PDFelement's "Rewrite" feature can optimize and enhance the content's clarity, style, and grammar, making it an excellent tool for students looking to improve the quality of their essays.
While not specifically designed for proofreading, it can be useful for editing and formatting essays that are in PDF and other formats.
With PDFelement, you can edit text, images, and links in PDF documents and annotate and comment on them. It also includes advanced features such as OCR(Optical Character Recognition) and form creation.
Additionally, PDFelement can convert PDFs to other formats such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, making it easy to edit and proofread your essay in a more familiar format.
To use the "Proofread" feature in PDFelement, follow these steps:
Step 1 Open PDFelement on your computer.

Step 2 Switch to the "Proofread" mode.
Step 3 Enter the content in the pop-up window.
Step 4 Wait for Lumi to suggest corrections for errors in grammar and spelling.
Step 5 Look for alternative word choices to improve the overall quality of the essay.
Step 6 The revised version of the content will be displayed underneath the original text.

G2 Ratings: 4.5 out of 5
Pricing: Free trial
Pros
Instantly spots mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and more
Provide correction suggestions in real-time
Proofread essays in different file formats, such as Word, PDF
AI-powered essay readers for you to summarize, rewrite, and translate essays in one place
PDF editing features included
Cons
Limited functionality compared to dedicated proofreaders
No word choice suggestion
2. Typely

Typely is a free online essay proofreading tool that offers a range of features and functionalities to help you perfect your writing. One of the standout features of Typely is its advanced algorithm that can detect a wide range of errors, from spelling and grammar to style and syntax. This makes it an excellent option for writers who want a comprehensive proofreading tool that can catch even the most subtle mistakes.
One of the key advantages of Typely is its user-friendly interface. The tool is easy to use and doesn't require any downloads or installations, making it a convenient option for those who need a quick and efficient way to proofread their writing. Copy and paste your text into the Typely editor; the tool will analyze your writing for errors.
In addition to its error-detection capabilities, Typely offers a range of features to help you improve the overall quality of your writing. For example, the tool can suggest synonyms and alternative phrasing to help you avoid repetitive language. It can also identify complex sentences and suggest simplifying them for greater clarity.
G2 Ratings: 4.4 out of 5
Pricing: Free
Pros
Advanced algorithms can detect a wide range of errors
A User-friendly interface makes it easy to use
Can suggest synonyms and alternative phrasing improve writing
Can identify complex sentences and suggest ways to simplify for greater clarity
100% free
Cons
Limited functionality compared to paid proofreading tools
Completing the analysis can take some time, especially for longer documents.
3. PaperRater

PaperRater is a free online essay proofreading tool that uses artificial intelligence and data science to analyze your writing and provide feedback on spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style. One of the standout features of PaperRater is its advanced algorithms, which can detect even the most subtle errors in your writing.
To use PaperRater, copy and paste your text into the editor, and the tool will analyze your writing. It will provide you with an overall score for your writing and detailed feedback on any errors or areas that need improvement. The tool can also provide suggestions for improving your writing, such as adding specific details or rephrasing awkward sentences.
In addition to its proofreading capabilities, PaperRater offers a range of other features to help you improve your writing skills. For example, the tool includes a plagiarism checker that can identify any passages in your writing that may be too similar to other sources. It can also provide insights into your writing, such as the average sentence length and the percentage of complex sentences.
G2 Ratings: 4.5 out of 5
Pricing: Free - $0.00/Premium - $14.95
Pros
A User-friendly interface makes it easy to use
Can detect even subtle errors in your writing
Provides helpful suggestions for improving your writing
Includes a plagiarism checker to ensure originality
Cons
A limited number of checks per month in the free version
Some users may prefer a more in-depth analysis provided by paid proofreading tools
4. Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the most well-known and widely used online essay proofreaders. The tool is known for its advanced grammar and spelling-checking capabilities and its ability to provide suggestions for improving writing style and clarity.
To use Grammarly, simply copy and paste your text into the editor, or install the browser extension to use it while typing in other programs. The tool will automatically analyze your writing and highlight any errors or areas for improvement. It can also suggest rephrasing awkward sentences or adding more specific details.
In addition to its basic proofreading capabilities, Grammarly offers advanced features for more in-depth analysis and improvement of your writing. For example, it can provide suggestions for using more varied vocabulary, adjusting the tone of your writing to fit your intended audience, and even checking for plagiarism.
Grammarly is available in both free and paid versions. The paid version offers more advanced features, such as a detailed analysis of your writing strengths and weaknesses and the ability to set writing goals and track your progress over time.
G2 Ratings: 4.6 out of 5
Pricing: Free - $0.00/Premium - $12.00 per month/Business - $15.00 per month
Pros
Advanced grammar and spelling-checking capabilities
Provides suggestions for improving writing style and clarity
Can check for plagiarism
Available as a browser extension for use in various programs
Offers personalized writing analysis and progress tracking in the paid version
Cons
It can be expensive for the full range of features in the paid version
Some users may find the constant suggestions and alerts to be distracting
The plagiarism checker is not always accurate
5. EasyBib

EasyBib is primarily known as a citation and bibliography tool for academic papers. However, it also includes a built-in proofreading feature that can help catch grammar and spelling errors and suggest improving writing style.
To use EasyBib's proofreading feature, simply upload your document or copy and paste your text into the editor. The tool will automatically analyze your writing and highlight any errors or areas for improvement. It can also suggest rephrasing awkward sentences or adding more specific details.
In addition to its proofreading capabilities, EasyBib also offers advanced features such as automatic citation generation, a plagiarism checker, and the ability to save and organize your research sources.
EasyBib is available in both free and paid versions, with the paid version offering more advanced features such as unlimited plagiarism checks and citation styles. The tool also offers a mobile app for on-the-go proofreading and citation generation.
G2 Ratings: 4.5 out of 5
Pricing: Free - $0.00/Plus - $9.95 per month/Plus & Chegg Study Pack - $19.95 per month
Pros
Simple and user-friendly interface
Offers both citation generation and proofreading capabilities
Can check for plagiarism
Offers a mobile app for on-the-go use
Allows for easy organization and management of research sources
Cons
The proofreading feature is less advanced than other tools on this list.
A limited number of plagiarism checks in the free version
Some users have reported issues with the accuracy of citation generation
6. Grammica

Grammica is an online essay proofreading tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to analyze and improve the quality of your writing. It offers a range of features to help you catch errors and improve your writing style, including grammar and spelling checks, vocabulary enhancement suggestions, and even tone detection to ensure your writing conveys the appropriate emotion.
To use Grammica, copy and paste your text into the editor or upload your document. The tool will automatically analyze your writing and provide feedback on improvement areas. It can even suggest alternative sentence structures and word choices to help make your writing more clear and concise.
In addition to its proofreading capabilities, Grammica offers features such as a plagiarism checker, an automated citation generator, and the ability to save and organize your writing projects.
G2 Ratings: No ratings yet
Pricing: Free - $0.00
Pros
Advanced AI technology can catch errors that other tools may miss
Wide range of features beyond just proofreading
User-friendly interface
Cons
Limited ratings and reviews compared to more established tools.
Some users may prefer a more established brand with a longer track record.
FAQs about AI Essay Proofreading
Can ChatGPT proofread essays?
You absolutely can use ChatGPT to detect grammatical errors, get rephrasing suggestions, or improve the clarity and consistency of your essay.
Since it is not a professional essay proofreader, you would need to go through extra steps to get best result from ChatGPT.
- Firstly, copy and paste your essay into the chat and clearly ask ChatGPT to check it for grammar, spelling, and clarity.
- Check grammatical and spelling errors: Enter prompts such as "Please proofread my essay for grammar mistakes and awkward phrasing and highlight the errors."
- Improve your writing: Use prompts such as "Rewrite this content to improve clarity."
- Change tone: "Help me make this paragraph sound more academic but still natural."
- After reviewing ChatGPT's suggestions, make sure to read through your essay again and keep the edits that best fit your own writing style. This way, you stay in control while still benefiting from AI's quick and detailed feedback.
Learn More on How to Proofread with ChatGPT: Best Pratices
Essay proofreading checklist: what should be included?
1. Grammar and Punctuation
- Check for subject-verb agreement.
- Make sure all sentences end with correct punctuation marks.
- Fix comma splices and run-on sentences.
- Use apostrophes correctly.
2. Spelling and Word Choice
- Run a spell-check or use an AI tool to catch typos.
- Watch for commonly confused words.
- Replace vague words with more precise vocabulary.
3. Sentence Clarity and Flow
- Read each sentence out loud—does it sound natural?
- Vary sentence length to improve rhythm and readability.
- Remove unnecessary words or repetition.
- Check transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
4. Structure and Organization
- Make sure each paragraph has one clear main idea.
- Confirm your thesis statement is clear and supported by evidence.
- Ensure topic sentences connect to your main argument.
- Review the introduction and conclusion for completeness and balance.
5. Formatting and Citations
- Follow the correct style guide (APA, MLA, or Chicago).
- Check in-text citations and reference list for consistency.
- Verify font, spacing, and margins meet assignment requirements.
6. Final Review
- Take a short break before the final read—fresh eyes catch more mistakes.
- Use an AI proofreader for a second check.
- Ask a teacher, tutor, or peer to give feedback if possible.
Conclusion
Having the right tools can make a significant difference in producing high-quality academic writing. Online essay proofreaders like Typely, PaperRater, Grammarly, EasyBib, and Grammica are great options. Moreover, PDFelement provides a powerful PDF editing and converting solution that includes a proofreading feature with an AI robot named Lumi, which can help students improve their grammar and wording. The Let's Chat feature is also a valuable resource for academic questions. With these tools, students can write confidently, knowing their work is error-free and high-quality.

