Comparison
ESL Humanizer vs Writing9: which is better for non-native English writers?
By ESL Humanizer editorial team · Prices and limits checked September 2026
Short answer
Writing9 is built for one job: estimating your IELTS band and showing where you lost marks. ESL Humanizer shows how your own paragraph would read in natural English, word by word, so you can learn the phrasing — but it doesn't predict a band score.
Writing9 is an IELTS writing checker that estimates a band score and highlights mistakes in your Task 1 and Task 2 essays. ESL Humanizer rewrites English that non-native speakers wrote themselves so it reads naturally, without changing the meaning. ESL Humanizer is our product, so we’ve kept its row to verifiable facts; Writing9’s details come from its own website and can change — check before you pay.
At a glance
| ESL Humanizer | Writing9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | ESL writing editor | Essay scoring & feedback tool |
| Built for | Polishing English you wrote yourself | IELTS candidates practising for the writing test |
| On AI detectors | Shows an estimate, never a guarantee | Doesn't market anything about AI detectors |
| Shows each change | Yes — word by word, plus a meaning score | Doesn't rewrite — highlights mistakes and gives feedback |
| Free option | 1 rewrite a day (2 when signed in), up to 1,500 characters (~250 words) each | A demo before you subscribe |
| Paid from | $24.95/month or $89 for 4 months | $7.99/week, $14.99/month or $29.99/year |
What Writing9 does well
- Focused on IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2
- Instant band-score estimate with highlighted mistakes
- Unlimited submissions on paid plans, plus speaking practice and vocabulary tools
- Low yearly price
Where Writing9 falls short for non-native writers
- Scores and highlights, but doesn't show you a natural version of your paragraph
- No free tier for checking beyond the demo
- Only for IELTS practice
What ESL Humanizer does differently
- 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.
Which should you choose?
Choose Writing9 if…
- You want an estimated IELTS band score for each essay
- You practise many essays a week and want unlimited checks
Choose ESL Humanizer if…
- You want to see a natural version of your own paragraph and learn from the changes
- You also write applications, cover letters or email in English
A note on AI detectors
No tool can guarantee how an AI detector will score your text. In a peer-reviewed Stanford study, seven detectors labeled 61% of human-written TOEFL essays as AI-generated on average, and independent tests have found detectors disagree with one another. Natural English you wrote — plus drafts that show your process — is the most reliable protection. Read more about why detectors flag ESL writing.
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.