Turnitin Alternatives & Competitors

Turnitin is a popular plagiarism detection software designed to help educational institutions identify instances of plagiarism in content submissions. The primary function of Turnitin is to compare the text of a submitted document with a vast database of sources, including academic papers, articles, websites, etc.

In addition to plagiarism detection, Turnitin offers various features to support the academic integrity of educational institutions. These primarily include tools for providing feedback on grammar and writing style.

Turnitin’s main goal is to promote the originality of content and encourage proper citation practices among students. By highlighting instances of plagiarism, the software aims to help educators and institutions address the issues of academic dishonesty.

Some of the key features of this software include plagiarism detection, originality reports, feedback studio, GradeMark, peer review, and grammar and writing style checker. However, people are still looking for Turnitin alternatives due to certain challenges they have encountered while using it.

For instance, only schoolwide accounts are available for Turnitin with 5,000-character limit. It is also quite expensive for individual users with limited file support, and more.

Why Are People Looking for Turnitin Alternatives?

There are several reasons why people are looking for sites similar to Turnitin:

• Limited Character Support - Turnitin has a character limit of 5,000 characters for comments, which can be a major disadvantage for those who have to make corrections in research papers. Though you can use the space available in the margins and other places, it can be a major problem for those students who have to work on corrections.
• Limited Voice Command - The voice comment feature offered by Turnitin is limited to only 3 minutes, which can be a concern for those who need an in-depth explanation of their work. Some students respond to the audio feedback better than the written comments.
• It's Expensive - Turnitin can be expensive for teachers and students if they don't have a subscription. The overall cost can vary on factors like student enrollment and features that are available in the plan.
• Restricted File Size - Another disadvantage of using Turnitin is that it offers limited file support, meaning the file size cannot exceed 100 MB. Moreover, files and documents that are password protected, encrypted, or in the read-only view cannot be uploaded on the software. If the file contains only text, the size should not exceed the desired file limit.

Must Have Features in Turnitin Alternatives

If you are looking for a plagiarism checker like Turnitin, then you must consider some important features, like:

• Grading Process: Like Turnitin, its alternatives should have a comprehensive grading feature. It will allow you to deliver and grade all assessments from anywhere. Moreover, it will help the teachers and instructors streamline workflow, increase consistency, and provide actionable feedback on students' performance.
• Generate Instant Feedback: Websites like Turnitin should allow instant feedback to improve the overall content quality. It will enable the teachers and the instructors to teach the value of authentic writing, safeguarding the institution's reputation.
• Plagiarism Detector: Plagiarism checker like Turnitin should offer a robust plagiarism detector tool that will help students createhigh-quality content. It will allow the students to check for text similarity and grammar accuracy before the final submission. A Citation assistant will further help them find missing citations and easily teach citation writing basics.
• Insights on Assessments: Software similar to Turnitin should offer an in-depth analysis of the assessments that will help improve the institute's overall academic structure. It will also enable the students to secure their assignments using an ExamID for auto-identity verification.
• AI Content Detection: Sites like Turnitin should offer AI content detection features that will help distinguish between AI and human-written content, thereby offering a seamless experience to the user. This feature will also encourage students to submit original work based on their creative thinking.
• Seamless Integration with Learning Management Software: Best alternative to Turnitin should seamlessly integrate with third-party platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Canvas, Moodle, and Sakai for the information flow.

What to Look for When Looking for Turnitin Competitors?

One must keep certain factors in mind while looking for best alternative to Turnitin:

• Advanced Features: Apps similar to Turnitin should offer advanced features, including citation analysis, similarity reports, automatic grading, instant feedback generation, and the ability to cross-check data against the data of the previously published work.
• Favourable Subscription Plans: Software similar to Turnitin must offer flexible subscription plans based on the institutions' needs and usability.
• User-Friendly Interface: Plagiarism checkers like Turnitin should have an intuitive interface that will allow educators, students, and researchers to submit and analyze their documents easily.
• Support for Multiple File Formats: Turnitin similar websites should be able to support a wide range of file formats, including the popular- Word, PDF, and Google Docs.
• Device Availability: Sites like Turnitin should be accessible on various operating systems and web browsers to provide easy access. Whether you're using a Windows computer, an Apple device, or an Android, Turnitin competitor must offer compatibility across all major operating systems.

Comparison of Best Turnitin Alternatives

Here is a comparison of apps similar to Turnitin in terms of plagiarism detection, grammar and spelling check, paraphrasing suggestions, multiple file format support, and more.

• Grammarly
• Quillbot
• Quetext
   

What Type of Users are Looking for an Alternative of Turnitin?

Drawbacks like the lack of ability to detect every form of plagiarism and its inability to provide paraphrasing assistance are a few reasons why people are looking for Turnitin alternatives. Some of them are:

• Students - Some students prefer websites similar to Turnitin as they are uncomfortable with the idea of their work being stored in a database and used for future plagiarism checks. Moreover, Turnitin is a paid service, so students explore free or more affordable alternatives to save money.
• Teachers - Individual educators may find Turnitin's pricing structure to be expensive, especially if they have limited budgets. Educators often want more control over the plagiarism detection process or seek alternatives that align better with their teaching methodologies.
• Educational Institutions - Academic institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities, explore apps like Turnitin because of the pricing constraint. Institutions with a large number of students or limited budgets seek more cost-effective solutions that can serve their plagiarism detection needs. Concerns about data privacy and ownership of student work compel institutions to search for alternatives that offer stronger assurances in these areas.
• Researchers and Publishers - Researchers often require more advanced similarity analysis tools than Turnitin offers, especially for technical or scientific documents. Moreover, researchers look for software similar to Turnitin that will integrate smoothly with their research writing and publishing workflows.

Techjockey’s Verdict

Turnitin is a widely recognized platform that provides valuable plagiarism detection services for educational institutions. Its user-friendly interface, comprehensive database, and efficient matching algorithms have made it popular among educators and students.

However, users often acknowledge that Turnitin has certain limitations. The software primarily focuses on identifying textual similarities and needs to be more effective in detecting other forms of plagiarism. Additionally, some users find its subscription cost a bit expensive, particularly smaller institutions or individuals.

Fortunately, there are plagiarism checker like Turnitin available in the market, such as Grammarly, Unicheck, PlagScan and more, that cater to diverse needs and preferences. So, if you are also seeking alternatives, you must consider your requirements, competence level and budget to make a wise decision.