Best Free AI Writing Tools
The most useful AI writing tools you can use free, what the free plans include, and how to combine them.
How we compare tools: product facts (features, plans, platforms) come from each company's official website and documentation at the time of review. Sections marked Our view are editorial judgement. Plans and features change often, so check the official pricing pages before you buy.
You can do a lot of writing with AI without paying anything. Here are the tools with useful free plans and what each does best.
The shortlist
| Tool | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Yes, with limits | All-round drafting, rewriting and brainstorming |
| Claude | Yes, with limits | Long documents and natural-sounding drafts |
| Google Gemini | Yes | Writing alongside Google Docs and Gmail |
| Microsoft Copilot | Yes (Copilot app) | Quick drafts and web-sourced answers |
| Grammarly | Yes, core checks | Grammar and spelling as you type, in many apps |
| QuillBot | Yes, with word limits | Paraphrasing, summarising and citations |
How to combine them
- Draft or outline with a general assistant (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot).
- Write in your own voice, using the outline.
- Get feedback: ask an assistant to critique without rewriting.
- Proofread with Grammarly or a similar checker.
Our view
- For most people, one general assistant plus Grammarly's free plan covers almost everything.
- Students should check their institution's AI rules; feedback tools are more often allowed than generators.
- Non-native English writers benefit from asking for explanations of corrections, not just fixes.
Limits of free plans
Free plans cap usage, may use less capable models at busy times, and lack some features such as advanced rewrites. Hit the limits regularly? That's the time to consider paying for the one tool you use most.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the best completely free AI writing tool?
General assistants like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all have capable free plans. Pair one with a free grammar checker.
Are free AI writing tools safe for confidential work?
Check each tool's data settings and your employer's rules. Avoid pasting confidential information into free consumer tools.
AI Resource Hub Editorial Team
Our editors research AI tools using official documentation and reliable reporting, and update guides when products change. Read our editorial policy to see how we work. Editorial policy.
Tools in this guide
ChatGPT
OpenAI
General-purpose AI assistant for writing, analysis, images and conversation.
- Chat with text and voice
- File and image uploads for analysis
- Web search with linked sources
Claude
Anthropic
AI assistant known for long documents, careful writing and coding help.
- Analysis of long PDFs and documents
- Projects for organising files and instructions
- Artifacts for documents, code and interactive pages
Google Gemini
Google's AI assistant, connected to Search, Gmail, Docs and Android.
- Chat with text, voice and images
- Integration with Gmail, Docs, Drive and other Google apps
- Deep Research reports
Grammarly
Grammarly
Writing assistant for grammar, clarity and tone across your apps.
- Real-time grammar and spelling checks
- Clarity and tone suggestions
- Generative AI rewriting and drafting
QuillBot
QuillBot (Learneo)
Paraphrasing, grammar checking and summarising for students and writers.
- Paraphraser with multiple modes
- Grammar checker
- Summariser
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft
Microsoft's AI assistant across Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365.
- Chat with web-sourced answers
- Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (eligible plans)
- Meeting summaries in Teams (business plans)
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