10 Best AI Detection Tools for Teachers & Professors – 2025

As a writing coach and university teacher, I’ve been puzzling through the pickle that is AI-generated writing and AI detection for teachers. To be honest, I’ve dragged my feet in getting familiar with ChatGPT. I mention this personal perspective on purpose, to prove that someone (me!) is writing this article. As far as I’ve seen, ChatGPT has yet to develop deeply convincing fictional personages and pass them off as real. Nor does it develop a nuanced, complex position 100% of the time. You can find cracks in its argumentation when you look for proof of critical thinking. And yet, AI-generated writing will only continue to improve. Meanwhile, students who dislike or struggle with writing are turning to AI to generate everything from emails to academic papers. With this in mind, let’s look at a few of the best AI detection tools for teachers.

What Can You Do to Prevent the Use of AI?

The first step towards detecting AI-generated text involves putting thoughtful parameters in place in the classroom and around assignments. Including in-class writing assignments allow teachers to get an initial glimpse of their students’ writing levels. Teachers may want to note down specific strengths and weaknesses. Then, if a student turns in a typed assignment that doesn’t align with their handwritten work, their teacher will notice.

Another technique for detecting AI-generated writing involves selecting contemporary, lesser-known course materials. If the course involves Shakespeare, you can ask your students to compare the canonical text with a lesser-known one. You can also create extra hurdles that a chat box will have trouble jumping over. For example, include an aspect of personal reflection.

What Are Some of the Best AI-Detection Tools for Teachers?

At some point, however, human detection will malfunction. Many students, even at the college level, have trouble articulating their ideas, using textual evidence, and building transitions. These writing flaws can resemble those of AI-generated writing. Furthermore, students writing in a second language may use appropriate online translation tools (neural machine translations and online dictionaries). These tools can suggest vocabulary and syntax that in turn work to produce writing which appears to be AI-generated.

When in doubt, teachers should consider putting their students’ writing through an AI detection tool. Below, I’ve put together a list of the best AI detection tools for teachers and professors. This list attempts to speak in layman’s terms, and considers the tools’ purposes, prices, and appeal. (Remember, there is no tool that can definitively establish whether AI was used to generate a text.)

1) AI Detector by Copyleaks

In a recent study published on Cornell University’s open-access archive arXiv, four researchers named the Copyleaks AI Content Detector the “most accurate” in detecting text generated by Large Language Models (LLM). This AI detection tool boasts a 99.1% accuracy in detecting AI-generated source code from GPT-4, Bard, GitHub Copilot, and other bots. It can detect AI content in over 15 languages, and shows users which sections were likely AI-generated, through highlighting. It can even detect content that has been paraphrased from AI. While the basic model is free and user-friendly, it is also limited. A monthly fee of $13.99 includes access to the Copyleaks Plagiarism Detector as well.

2) Crossplag

Crossplag views itself as a holistic tool that can “democratize plagiarism checking” through affordable prices. Indeed, the service offers a “pay-as-you-go” model for individuals and a bespoke payment model for institutions.

3) GPTZero

Famously developed by a Princeton University computer science undergrad, GPTZero boasts that it is the “best and most reliable AI detector.” This claim comes from testing results from multiple independent sources, including TechCrunch. What makes GPTZero so reliable? Not only does the AI detection tool detect ChatGPT and other bots, it also looks for AI influence on the sentence, paragraph, and document level. It specializes in English texts, and is free for users who make an account. Lastly, it promises to interpret results for you through a description rather than a simple number.

Best AI Detection for Teachers and Professors (Continued)

4) Grammarly

Long associated with improving grammar and spelling, Grammarly now offers an AI-detection service. While the basic editing service is free, the AI-detector will run you about $12 per month (when billed annually). Unlike some sites, Grammarly is up-front about the fact that “there is no AI detector that can conclusively or definitively determine whether AI was used to produce a text.” (Yet another reason to stucture assignments in a way that dissuades plagiarism.)

5) Scribbr

Like Grammarly, Scribbr was once known primarily for grammar and editing help. And like Grammarly, Scribbr has moved to embrace AI and AI detection. Scribbr makes similar claims as the other detectors on this list — “advanced algorithms” abound. Unlike their competitors, Scribbr offers unlimited free AI checks, but admits it has only “average accuracy.” Should you want something more accurate, Scribbr offers a premium AI and plagiarism check.

6) OpenAI’s AI Text Classifier

The maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI, put out their own AI Text Classifier back in January 2023. It was free, and offered five different responses to a potentially AI-generated text (very unlikely, unlikely, unclear, possibly, and likely). However, in July, OpenAI withdrew the tool due to “its low rate of accuracy.” Why is it still on my list? It will likely reappear on the scene. Its makers are “working to incorporate feedback and are currently researching more effective provenance techniques for text.” Furthermore, it’s important to point out that many, if not all of these AI detection tools should come with a warning clause. None are fully reliable, nor should any be used as the sole decision-making tool. Detection, analysis, intervention, and discipline must begin and end in the classroom, with equipped educators.

Best AI Detection for Teachers and Professors (Continued)

7) Passed.ai Detection & Plagiarism

Boasting a 99% AI-detection rate, Passed.ai is geared towards educators. It was adapted from Originality.ai’s detector, which was built for content marketers. Passed.ai‘s model has been trained on GPT-J, GPT-NEO, and GPT-3. It doesn’t require installing software, and once the text is pasted into the scanning box, a percentage is obtained. This score indicates the likelihood that the text was generated by AI. A Google Chrome extension provides additional checks to further verify the score. Signing up gives users a 5-day free trial, followed by a monthly subscription for $9.99. This basic subscription only allows you to scan 20,000 per month. Institutions that need more can contact Passed.ai for estimates.

8) Turnitin AI Detection

Long known as the go-to resource for plagiarism detection, Turnitin recently came out with an AI writing detector for institutions. The tool is not easily accessible, requiring consultation with a sales representative. Prices remain undisclosed, and individual licenses are not available to purchase. The product works in tandem with other Turnitin programs, such as Turnitin Originality.

9) Winston AI Detection

Billing itself as the “industry-leading AI detector,” winston.ai offers plans for both individuals and institutions. It was designed for writers (including students), educators, and web publishers, and boasts a 99.98% accuracy rate. For $12 a month, users can try to ascertain if texts were written by ChatGPT-4. The tool offers a percentage of the likelihood that the text was human-produced, and also checks for plagiarism.

Best AI Detection for Teachers and Professors (Continued)

10) Writer.com AI Detection

Writer.com offers resources like AI-generated writing templates and guides to an AI future. However, it also provides an AI content detector. The free detector will check anything up to 5000 words.

AI Detection for Teachers — Final Thoughts

As I suggested previously, all of these AI detection tools should be taken with a full spoonful of salt. Every AI detector comes with limitations. The irony of relying on AI to detect AI should not be overlooked. Given the advanced knowledge these tools require to understand their operations, users can’t expect to fully comprehend their results.

After discovering the likelihood that your student has used AI, I recommend inviting the student for a chat. Encourage honesty. You might tell them that the work “appears” to have been produced by AI. Or, you can simply say it doesn’t reflect their previous work. They may confess to having used AI then and there. If not, you might ask them to describe their writing process and demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. Did they produce various drafts they can show you? Did they receive peer edits?

Finally, emphasize the fact that school is an environment that aims to foster academic and personal growth. I’m talking about the way a brain collects, processes, and articulates information. Despite its merits, AI does not foster individuality. Personally, I’d rather have my students turn in papers that show evidence of human error than a perfect (and perfectly bland) paper that synthesizes mediocre ideas. In this age of AI, educational institutions must place new emphasis on the pedagogy of the writing process.

If you’ve got more questions about AI, check out the links below.

• Best Colleges for AI
• Best Python Bootcamps for High School Students
• Best Coding Jobs
• Best Colleges for Computer Science
• Can College Applicants/Students Use AI?
• How to Major in AI
• Best Technology Colleges