Read this article if...
you're curious if the Copyscape plagiarism checker is actually worth your money. I’ve been using it every day just to see how it really works, and I’m ready to spill what I found.
This Copyscape plagiarism checker review covers everything—no stone left unturned, I promise.
I’ll break down the 3 things Copyscape plagiarism checker does really well and the 5 big mistakes it keeps making.
Wondering about the cost? Yeah, I’ll share the pricing details, too, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
There are lots of tools out there, so I’m also sharing some Copyscape plagiarism checker alternatives you might want to consider.
Oh, and let’s not forget—everyone asks: Is Copyscape plagiarism checker legit? I’ve got the answer, based on my real-world testing.
Skip this review, and you might miss a few tricks (or traps) that most people never talk about.
Ready to dig in? You’ll be glad you did!
Here’s a quick rundown of everything I’ll cover in this blog:
- Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Review Summary
- 3 Things Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Does Well
- 5 Big Mistakes Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Makes
- What Does Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Cost?
- What are Some Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Alternatives?
- Is Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Legit? - The Final Verdict
Copyscape plagiarism checker Review Summary
If you're in a rush, here's a quick 2-minute summary of this blog:
3 Things Copyscape Does Well
- Simple to Use Interface: You just copy and paste your text, and Copyscape gives you results without any complicated steps, so even if you’ve never used it before, you’ll probably figure it out fast.
- API and Platform Integration: If you use other tools or sites, like WordPress or some platforms, Copyscape can connect with them through its API, which means you don’t have to switch screens all the time.
- Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: You don’t need some big monthly plan, you can just buy credits when you need them, but you might notice that checking longer stuff can use up credits faster.
- More on Copyscape’s standout features below.
5 Big Mistakes Copyscape Makes
- Awful Customer Service: If you ever run into a problem, forget about quick help. Their team is super slow and getting your money back or trying to cancel is a real headache, leaving you just annoyed and stuck.
- Wasted Credits & Expensive Subscription: Copyscape ties you to monthly plans, and any credits you don’t use just vanish. So, you pay a bunch more even if you didn’t use everything, and that never feels fair, right?
- Picks Up Fake Plagiarism: Sometimes Copyscape flags stuff as “plagiarized,” but when you check, there’s nothing there. It’s confusing and makes you doubt if the checks are even working properly.
- Weak Against AI Content: Copyscape really struggles to catch AI-written stuff, especially anything made by tools like GPT-3. So, if you’re hoping it’ll protect you from all copied content, it totally drops the ball here.
- Boring and Outdated Design: The whole website just feels old and boring, and using it isn’t fun at all. It’s like something from years ago that barely changed, which makes checking your content kind of a drag.
What Does Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Cost?
- Copyscape Premium – You pay 3 cents for every search of up to 200 words, then add 1 cent for each extra 100 words. You just copy and paste your text or upload files, and it checks for copied stuff. The downside is if you check a lot or upload long documents, costs can add up kinda fast.
- Copyscape Enterprise – This one is custom pricing, so you need to reach out to them to know the exact cost. It’s built for big teams or companies who want everything managed on Copyscape servers and need features like advanced API and support for European languages. But if you’re not a business, it’s honestly probably more than you need.
- Copysentry Standard – For $4.95 per month, you’ll get weekly plagiarism checks for up to 10 pages. If you want to add more pages, it’s 25 cents each every month. It’s easy if you’ve got like a small blog, but if you have a big site, it can cost way more.
- Copysentry Professional – This plan is $19.95 a month to check 10 pages daily for plagiarism. Each extra page is $1 per month. I think this one makes sense only if you’re super serious about protecting your content every day, but honestly, that price goes up fast if you need to watch lots of pages.
- So should you buy Copyscape plagiarism checker? I’d say no for most people, since the credits and extra costs can disappear quickly and it’s kinda pricey for heavy use.
Copyscape Review - What Does it Get Right?
Let’s talk about the 3 things people usually like most about Copyscape:
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Simple to use interface:
- You can just copy your text, paste it, and hit the button to check for plagiarism—no tricky steps at all.
- Folks who aren’t techy say they figure it out in a few minutes, which is nice if you’re new to all this.
- The results show up fast, so you don’t wait around forever to see if your text is original or not.
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API and platform integration:
- If you use tools like Wordpress, you can plug Copyscape right in and make checks without switching back and forth.
- If you have a website or app, the API means you can set up automatic checks, so you don’t have to keep doing it by hand.
- Some users mention you can tweak the API to fit with how you work, but basic stuff works out of the box.
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Pay-as-you-go pricing:
- You buy credits only when you need them, so you don’t have to pay for some big plan every month if you’re not using it much.
- Lots of people like that you can get started with just a few bucks, though checking bigger files can use up credits quickly.
- If you’re only checking small bits of text now and then, it can be pretty affordable, but bigger jobs start to add up.
Here's a user talking about how Copyscape helped them:
“Wonderful tool to capture the Plagiarism”
Copyscape Review - What Does it Get Seriously Wrong?
Alright, let’s break down the biggest headaches with Copyscape that get people really frustrated:
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Awful Customer Service:
- If you ever run into trouble, don’t expect help any time soon. Their support is slow to respond and most of the time you’re just left staring at your inbox waiting for an answer.
- Getting a refund or canceling your account feels like pulling teeth. They make you jump through hoops and honestly, it’s way more hassle than it should be.
- This isn’t just my experience—tons of people online say the same thing, so sadly, you’re not alone if you get stuck waiting for help.
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Wasted Credits & Expensive Subscription:
- If you pay for a plan and don’t use all your credits, they just disappear at the end of the month. There's no way to get those unused checks back, which really stings.
- The subscriptions aren't cheap and missing out on using all your credits feels like you’re just throwing money down the drain each month.
- Cancelling the service doesn’t get you a refund for leftover credits either, which means Copyscape pockets the cash and leaves you with nothing.
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Picks Up Fake Plagiarism:
- It sometimes flags your writing as plagiarized, but when you click the links, there’s nothing there. It’s really confusing and just wastes your time checking fake flags.
- Sometimes, the highlight pops up for less than a second—then it disappears and you’re left guessing what even got flagged.
- From my own use, this makes me question if Copyscape’s checks even work or if it's just random, which isn’t something you want from a tool you pay for.
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Weak Against AI Content:
- If you try to check anything made by GPT-3 or similar AI, Copyscape misses it almost every time. That’s a big deal because AI-made content is everywhere now.
- You expect a plagiarism checker to catch all kinds of copying, but Copyscape totally drops the ball with modern AI-written stuff.
- Personally, I tested a bunch of AI-written articles, and most slipped right through, which means Copyscape isn’t reliable for catching what matters most right now.
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Boring and Outdated Design:
- The whole site feels like it was built ages ago, and nothing’s really changed since. It’s just dull and looks super plain compared to other tools today.
- Using Copyscape feels tedious and boring, since the layout is so old-school. There’s nothing to make checking your content even a little enjoyable.
- I honestly dread using it whenever I need to, and I don’t know anyone who looks forward to spending time on a website that feels this ancient.
Here's a review by exton SK talking about their experience:
“terrible terrible, some pages listed with plagiarism after clicking on them will show nothing. Then, some pages after clicking will show the plagiarised part for 0,01 seconds, and then disappear. Sometimes, it even says plagiarism, and when clicking on it, there is no wording with plagiarism, no words tagged... this software should be free, such a BS.. I'm angry every time when I open this”
Here's a review by Ashish A. IT Manager Online Media about Copyscape:
“I have been using Copyscape for almost six years now. It used to be the best available tool on the internet to test against plagiarism. But the experience is not going par when the pinned content now come by going through GPT3 technology.” Pros Copyscape is the most popular and trusted software in the SEO industry for plagiarism checking. It's easy to handle software with advanced levels of web filtration against possible copies over the internet. The best part of this software is that you can directly integrate API calls. Cons Copyscape is rapidly losing its grip against GPT3. As the GPT3 was released and gained improvements, it created terabytes of data that need to be processed against plagiarism. I tried various GPT3 contents in Copyscape, and most of them successfully evaded the screening.
Also, if you're searching for a tool with no recurring fees and credits that never expire, you should check out AIDetectPlus. You can also test it out for free (up to 1000 words!) right here.
That's it for the in-depth overview. Interested in exploring other alternatives to Copyscape plagiarism checker? But first, let’s discuss the pricing details!
What Does Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Cost?
Look, if you're looking at Copyscape to find plagiarism, you're probably curious about the price, right? Well, let me walk you through every Copyscape plan in simple words, and save you from wasting money on expensive subscriptions like I did.
Copyscape Premium (Pay As You Go)
- The price: 3 cents per search (up to 200 words) and then 1 cent for each extra 100 words or even a tiny part of 100 words.
- There's a bunch of features, sure! You can upload PDF and Word files, check originality, and even use their API if you want automation. But here's the deal: Every single search eats up your credits, and yes, you have to keep reloading money JUST to keep checking.
- I found this absolutely annoying: You lose your unused credits if you don't use them in time, and honestly, it adds up crazy fast if you have loads of articles or big docs like me.
- There's no free plan, no way to just test it out for real work. If you’re writing a lot, you'll feel the pinch—and I kept ending up spending way more than I wanted every month.
Copysentry Standard ($4.95/Month)
- This one costs $4.95 per month for up to 10 pages. Want more? It's another $0.25 for each extra page—every single month, not just once.
- They promise to check your pages every week and organize the results, but honestly, weekly checks just aren't enough if you care about your content getting stolen right away.
- I felt ripped off paying for the same 10 or 20 pages over and over again. Even when there was nothing new to check, Copyscape happily kept charging every single month.
- If you miss out using some of your protected pages this month—too bad! Next month, you pay again. It's like paying for a gym membership and never working out.
Copysentry Professional ($19.95/Month)
- Here, the price jumps to $19.95 per month for up to 10 pages. More pages? That's a whopping $1 per extra page every month. For real, that's $12 a year—for just one page!
- You get “daily protection”, but from my experience the difference between this and the Standard plan just isn’t worth the x4 bigger bill.
- Your unused “protected pages” don’t rollover. I honestly hate that feeling of paying nearly $20 every month for mostly the same pages.
- The tech is solid, but honestly daily checks should be a basic feature, not something that costs as much as a full Netflix subscription just for a tiny website.
Copyscape Enterprise (Custom Pricing)
- This plan is made for big companies and is custom priced (meaning: get your wallet ready, because it's NOT cheap).
- Sure, you get extra features like support for all European languages, JSON/XML API, and it’s hosted for you, but if you’re not running a giant content empire, it’s way more than you’ll ever need or want to spend.
- From what I've seen and heard, expect to pay way more than any of the other Copyscape plans, and you'll still get billed again—and again—every month whether you use all the “enterprise” perks or not.
Here's the fun part (well, not so fun for your wallet):
- No matter which Copyscape plan you choose, they charge you every single month—for the same credits or protected pages, even if you don’t use them.
- It’s not just a one-time payment, you’re stuck paying again and again—basically “renting” Copyscape forever! And if you don't burn through your credits, tough luck—they don't roll over.
- I've lost so many unused credits through these plans, and looking back, it just feels like a huge waste of money after a few months.
A Smarter Alternative: Why AIDetectPlus Is Way Better
- First off, AIDetectPlus has an insane one-time deal: Buy 5,000 words for just $9 and your credits NEVER EXPIRE. Seriously, use them whenever you want, no monthly bills.
- You don't just get plagiarism checking—you also get AI detection, content “humanization”, PDF tools, paraphrasing, and more. Everything you need in a single toolkit, and you only pay again when you want more credits—no forced subscriptions, ever. See the full feature list here.
- I switched from Copyscape to AIDetectPlus and instantly saved a ton, especially since my unused credits just sit there and wait for me, with no FOMO or wasted money.
- If you want to see exactly how AIDetectPlus crushes Copyscape, check out my full breakdown down below. Trust me, your wallet will thank you.
What are some Copyscape plagiarism checker alternatives?
So, you’ve seen what Copyscape can do (and what it can’t). But hey, there are other options out there! Here are my top 3 picks if you want something better or just different:
#1 - Copyscape vs AIDetectPlus
- Both Copyscape and AIDetectPlus check for plagiarism, but honestly, they’re made for totally different folks.
- Copyscape is kinda old-school and mostly for people who just want to check if their stuff is copied from somewhere else. It’s simple, but that’s about it.
- AIDetectPlus is way more modern. It’s built for students, bloggers, freelancers, and anyone who wants to check for both AI-generated content and regular plagiarism. Plus, it can even fix your text if it finds problems.
- Where is AIDetectPlus Better?
- You get a free trial (no credit card needed), and you only pay for credits when you need them. Credits never expire, so you’re not wasting money every month.
- It’s got tools for everyone—students, marketers, teachers, you name it.
- It actually catches AI-written stuff (Copyscape totally misses this), and if your text gets flagged, you can fix it right there—no extra tools needed.
- The humanizer makes your writing sound natural, with no grammar mistakes and no word limits. Super handy if you’ve got a lot to check.
- And if you ever get stuck, support is fast and friendly. I’ve actually gotten replies in minutes, not days.
- Where is Copyscape plagiarism checker Better? If you just want a super basic, pay-as-you-go plagiarism check and don’t care about AI or fixing your text, Copyscape is simple. But honestly, AIDetectPlus does way more for about the same price—and it’s way less hassle.
#2 - Copyscape Plagiarism Checker vs Turnitin
- Both Copyscape and Turnitin are used to check for plagiarism, but honestly, they’re made for different folks.
- Copyscape plagiarism checker is super simple. You just copy and paste your stuff, and it’ll look for copies online. It’s good if you run a blog or website and want to check your own writing or stuff other people give you.
- Turnitin is what most schools and colleges use. Teachers get all the bells and whistles, with fancy reports and AI tools that check for cheating on essays and papers.
- Where is Turnitin Better?
- Turnitin is perfect for teachers and schools because it gives you super detailed reports, catches a lot of sneaky stuff, and fits right into school platforms and grading tools.
- If you’re handing in assignments or running a class, Turnitin makes life easy and helps keep things fair.
- Where is Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Better? Copyscape is just quicker and easier if you only need to check your website, articles, or blog posts for copied stuff—it’s good when you don’t care about school reports and just want a fast answer.
#3 - Copyscape Plagiarism Checker vs Duplichecker
- Both Copyscape and Duplichecker offer plagiarism checking, but they’re honestly meant for different types of people.
- Duplichecker is super straightforward and totally free for quick checks—awesome if you just want to copy and paste some text and see what’s up, without any fuss or sign-up.
- Copyscape, on the other hand, is more of a pro tool with a pay-as-you-go style and can plug right into your other apps with its API, which is great if you’re running a website or posting a lot of stuff.
- Where is Duplichecker Better?
- Duplichecker is super quick and free. You just go to the site and paste your text. No need to sign up or pay, and it gives you results instantly if you just want a rough check.
- It’s simple and doesn’t use any of those annoying credit systems, which is perfect if you’re just checking random stuff every now and then.
- Where is Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Better? Copyscape is a little more professional. It has an API to connect with other apps and you only pay when you check something. So, if you have a website or need to check a bunch of stuff at once, Copyscape is easier for that. Read more about what Copyscape does best.
Is Copyscape Plagiarism Checker Legit?
Short answer - Honestly, NOT REALLY!
Let me break it down for you:
- Reason #1: Terrible Customer Support: If you ever hit a snag, good luck getting help anytime soon. Copyscape takes forever to reply, and sorting out refunds or cancellations is honestly just painful. I’ve been there, and I left pretty frustrated.
- Reason #2: Lost Credits & Overpriced Plans: With Copyscape, unused credits just disappear if you don’t use them all, and their monthly plans aren’t cheap either. So you could pay a bunch and still end up with nothing to show for it. Super annoying, right?
- Reason #3: Doesn’t Catch AI or Even Real Plagiarism: It sometimes flags original stuff as copied (when it’s not!), and honestly, it’s hopeless at finding AI-generated content. So you’re paying, but you’re definitely not getting peace of mind.
Here's a review by Danielle O. Technical SEO Manager Marketing and Advertising talking about using the software for over 2 years:
“For SEO purposes, it's key that the content our clients write is unique. This tool comes in handy to ensure this.”
So what else can you use instead?
Honestly, AIDetectPlus just fixes all the things Copyscape plag checker gets wrong. Here’s how:
First off, you actually get a legit free trial for up to 1000 words. But the cool stuff doesn't stop there:
- #1 Actually Smart, Accurate Scans: AIDetectPlus checks billions of sources, highlights matches with context, goes way faster, and helps you clean up problems right away. It just works, without all that guesswork.
- #2 Credits NEVER Expire: With AIDetectPlus, your credits stick around as long as you need. Buy once; use when you want. You don’t lose out if you skip a month.
- #3 Customer Support That’s Actually Helpful: Real people, quick replies (usually under 12 hours!), and no messing around with bots. Whenever I needed help, they took care of me.
- #4 All-in-One Everything: Not only do you get plagiarism checks, you also get AI detection, humanization, paraphrasing, chatting with PDFs, and even free LLM chat, all in the same dashboard. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or blogger, there are special tools just for you. Check them out in the menu above.
That’s pretty much it! Hope this helped you get the full picture on Copyscape plagiarism checker and gave you solid options to try instead. If you’re curious about AIDetectPlus, you can check out the website or jump right into your free 1000-word trial. No card, no phone number needed — just your email, and you’re good to go!