Alternatives
The best Writing9 alternatives for non-native English writers
By ESL Humanizer editorial team · Prices and limits checked September 2026
Short answer
The best Writing9 alternative depends on why you're switching. If you wrote the text yourself and want it to sound natural without changing your meaning, ESL Humanizer is built for that. Grammarly is a good fit if you want real-time grammar help in email, Docs and every browser field; LanguageTool is a good fit if you write in German, Spanish, French or other languages as well as English.
Why people look for a Writing9 alternative
- A band estimate doesn't show what a better sentence looks like
- No free checks beyond the demo
- Learners want help outside exam practice too
Writing9 and its alternatives compared
Details come from each tool’s own website in September 2026 and can change. ESL Humanizer is our product, so its row sticks to verifiable facts.
| Tool | Built for | Free option | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESL Humanizer | Polishing English you wrote yourself | 1 rewrite a day (2 when signed in), up to 1,500 characters (~250 words) each | $24.95/month or $89 for 4 months |
| Grammarly | Correcting grammar and tone as you write; its humanizer rewrites AI-generated text | Grammar and spelling checks, 100 AI prompts a month, basic free humanizer | Pro from $12/month |
| LanguageTool | Grammar and style checking in 30+ languages | Up to 2,000 characters per check, 3 paraphrases a day | Premium — see its pricing page (shown at checkout) |
| ChatGPT | General conversation, writing and research help | Free tier with usage limits | Plus from $20/month |
| QuillBot | General paraphrasing, grammar and summarizing | Paraphraser up to 125 words per run | $19.95/month or $8.33/month billed yearly |
| Writing9 (for reference) | IELTS candidates practising for the writing test | A demo before you subscribe | $7.99/week, $14.99/month or $29.99/year |
The alternatives, one by one
1. ESL Humanizer — for English you wrote yourself
ESL Humanizer rewrites a non-native writer’s own paragraph so it reads naturally, then shows every change word by word with a meaning score and an AI-detection estimate. It doesn’t generate content and never promises to beat detectors.
- ESL Humanizer rewrites your paragraph and shows every change, so you see how a fluent writer would phrase it.
- A meaning score confirms the rewrite says what you meant.
- It works for applications, letters and email as well as exam practice.
2. Grammarly — correcting grammar and tone as you write; its humanizer rewrites AI-generated text
A grammar and writing assistant that also offers a free AI humanizer for rewriting AI-generated drafts.
- Choose it if you want real-time grammar help in email, Docs and every browser field
- Watch out for: its humanizer is designed for AI-generated text, not for a non-native writer's own draft
- Free option: Grammar and spelling checks, 100 AI prompts a month, basic free humanizer
3. LanguageTool — grammar and style checking in 30+ languages
A multilingual grammar, style and spelling checker with an AI paraphraser.
- Choose it if you write in German, Spanish, French or other languages as well as English
- Watch out for: error correction won't fix sentences that are grammatical but sound translated
- Free option: Up to 2,000 characters per check, 3 paraphrases a day
4. ChatGPT — general conversation, writing and research help
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant, which many students use to “fix my English”.
- Choose it if you want to discuss ideas, get explanations or learn a grammar rule
- Watch out for: rewrites freely and often adds content, clichés and a recognizable AI style
- Free option: Free tier with usage limits
5. QuillBot — general paraphrasing, grammar and summarizing
A paraphrasing suite with several rewrite modes, a grammar checker, a summarizer and a humanizer.
- Choose it if you need a summarizer, citation tool and paraphraser in one subscription
- Watch out for: the free paraphraser stops at 125 words per run
- Free option: Paraphraser up to 125 words per run
When sticking with Writing9 makes sense
- You want an estimated IELTS band score for each essay
- You practise many essays a week and want unlimited checks
Wrote it yourself? Make it sound natural.
Paste a paragraph. ESL Humanizer fixes non-native phrasing, keeps your meaning and highlights every change — free for up to ~250 words.
Quick answers
How much does Writing9 cost?
Writing9 lists $7.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with unlimited submissions on paid plans.
Can ESL Humanizer give me an IELTS band score?
No. ESL Humanizer rewrites your paragraph for natural English and shows every change, which is useful for learning phrasing, but it doesn't estimate band scores. Use an IELTS checker for that, and remember that writing it yourself in the exam is what counts.