Turnitin AI Detector Review 2024:
I Tried it for 14 days, Here's
What I Found [3 Pros, 5 Cons]

• Turnitin AI Detector Review Summary
• What Does it Do Well?
• Where Does it Fall Short?
• What Does Turnitin AI Detector Cost?
• What are Some Turnitin AI Detector Alternatives?
• Is Turnitin AI Detector Legit? - The Final Verdict

Turnitin AI Detector Review Summary

3 Things Turnitin AI Detector Does Well

• AI Detection: Turnitin's AI detection feature can spot if a computer wrote the text or if a human did. But you know, it sometimes makes mistakes, which can be a bit confusing.
 
• Plagiarism Checking: This feature helps check if students copied someone else's work, but sometimes it might miss things or give unexpected results. It's good, but not always perfect.
 
• Feedback Automation: Turnitin makes it easier for teachers to give feedback on writing. Automation helps with this, but students still have to log in to see comments, which isn't super convenient.

5 Big Mistakes Turnitin AI Detector Makes

• Awful Customer Service: If you're hoping for quick help, think again. Turnitin's customer service is pretty terrible, leaving many users frustrated without real solutions. Refunds and cancellations? Good luck trying to sort that out!
 
• Limited Access and Hidden Costs: Students can't access this tool directly; it's for schools only, making it annoyingly exclusive. Not to mention that their pricing is like a big secret, leaving a lot to guesswork.
 
• False AI Accusations: Imagine writing your paper, and Turnitin wrongly flags it as AI-generated. It's a real nightmare, leading to panic and stress for genuinely hard-working students who did nothing wrong.
 
• Unreliable AI Detection: Turnitin's AI detection often gets it wrong, missing genuine AI-written work and flagging innocent ones. Trusting it blindly could mean blaming students unfairly or letting cheaters off the hook.
 
• Teachers Lacking Proper Training: Some teachers aren't trained well enough to handle Turnitin's results, causing confusion and unfair stress. It's causing more harm than good by just using it without proper understanding.

What's the Deal with Turnitin AI Detector Pricing?

• No Individual Plans - So, here's the deal. Turnitin AI Detector doesn't let you buy an individual license. Yep, that's a bummer if you're a solo player. It's mainly for institutions like schools or universities, so you gotta check with them if they offer it.
 
• iThenticate for Plagiarism Checks - Now, there's iThenticate, which is kinda like a cousin. But heads up, it's only for checking plagiarism, not catching AI stuff. You can buy credits for similarities, which gives another way to check content, but still doesn't get you the AI detection you might want.
 
• Should you jump into Turnitin AI Detector? Well, honestly, it's tricky for individuals since there's no solo plan. If you're with a school, though, you might be in luck! More on that below.

Turnitin AI Detector - What Does It Get Right?

1. AI Detection:
   • Turnitin's AI detection can tell if a computer or human wrote the text.
    
   • Sometimes it gets a bit confused, which can lead to peculiar results.
    
   • Teachers need to look closely at the output for accuracy.
 
2. Plagiarism Checking:
   • Checks if students copied work, but it's not foolproof and can miss things.
    
   • It's more than just a tool; it helps students understand originality.
    
   • Comparing similarity scores helps students see the extent of unoriginal content.
 
3. Feedback Automation:
   • Makes it easier for teachers to provide feedback on writing assignments.
    
   • Automation speeds up feedback, but students need to log in to view it.
    
   • There's room for improvement in how feedback is communicated to students.

“I've used this software heavily for the last half decade or more. We've been using Turnitin for several years at my site. I've found it to be largely, though not completely effective in checking for plagiarism. There are items it doesn't seem to find. While demoing the software during a training, I found that one essay I turned in for a student which had already been turned in received 0% similarity count. I was surprised at this, needless to say, as it should have been a 100%. I'm still not sure what happened, since I required that the papers be submitted to the repository.” ― Daniel Kaplan

Turnitin AI Detector - Where Does It Fall Short?

• Terrible Customer Service:
  • Have you ever waited forever for a simple response? That's Turnitin's customer service in action. Many users struggle with delayed or non-existent support for pressing issues.
   
  • Getting refunds or handling cancellations is like a never-ending maze. Users share their battles with unresolved problems, causing stress and inconvenience.
   
  • Support staff often provide generic or irrelevant solutions, leaving users feeling frustrated and neglected.
 
• Limited Access and Hidden Costs:
  • It's frustrating that students can't directly use Turnitin. It's only available to schools, which locks many out of access.
   
  • The pricing is shrouded in secrecy. You're left playing a guessing game, making it hard to plan financially.
   
  • Those mysterious costs can sneak up on you as unexpected charges, aggravating users who find it difficult to budget.
 
Here's a review by Sammy Woods discussing their experience with Turnitin's AI detection:
 

“AI 'detectors' don't exist!!!! and Turnitin is an embarrassment. Well, I'll start by saying that it's not a great app, and if I could give this a one star and the creator of this wretched 'tool' a kick in the face, I would. I'm a student in my first year of college who is trying to get decent grades on my essays, but it seems that Turnitin, the system my school uses to 'detect' AI, is quite rigged. I just got an email today by my professor that I was flagged for one of my essays, and I was surprised because I don't recall ever even using AI to write something down. I take my school work pretty seriously and would never even be stupid enough to think about using AI. In fact, I believe it's a bigger threat than students using AI. If it doesn't guarantee accuracy, why is this website still taken seriously!!!” ― Sammy Woods

 
• False AI Accusations:
  • Imagine working hard on your paper and then being wrongly accused of using AI. It's a massive headache for students.
   
  • Many students are flagged despite having no AI involvement, leading to unnecessary panic and stress.
   
  • It's a trust issue, as genuine efforts are overshadowed by mistaken AI flags, possibly affecting grades unfairly.
 
• Unreliable AI Detection:
  • Turnitin's AI detection often misses the mark, wrongly tagging human work as AI and letting AI-generated work slip by.
   
  • This inaccuracy means students might be punished wrongly, while those cheating go unnoticed.
   
  • Blind trust in its AI detection compromises the fairness of academic assessments.
 
• Teachers Lacking Proper Training:
  • Some teachers are not equipped to accurately interpret Turnitin's results, leading to confusion and unfair student stress.
   
  • Without proper training, teachers risk making flawed judgments based on misunderstood data.
   
  • It's causing more harm than good, as educators misapply results, impacting students' academic futures negatively.
 
Here's a review by Lillelid about their experience:
 

“Turnitin's "AI Detection Tool" strikes (wrong) again. I submitted my final exam project on Sunday, June 11th, and last Friday I got an email from the school accusing me of having 58% of my paper written by AI. I of course did absolutely not use AI (don't see how I could except for the parts using citations and references), and it caused a serious panic attack. My paper was about creating an app using Python, and in it, I describe the entire process of making the app, as well as explaining the code behind it. I briefly touch on security when making apps, ads in mobile apps, and app distribution. First of all, 58% is really high, and if they had something more than a pea between their ears I'm sure they would have looked into it and confirmed their suspicion first. If I hadn't called my professor after getting that email, I would probably have spent hours trying to find the necessary proof to convince them I was the author. Turnitin needs to do some serious work on their AI detection tool or make it unavailable for professors to use, they are clearly not ready for a tool like this in its current state.” ― Lillelid

What Does Turnitin AI Detector Cost?

• For $125, you're allowed a single manuscript submission, up to 25,000 words. So, think before you submit!
 
• This plan includes 5 free revisions, but here's the kicker: the AI writing detection isn't available for individual users.
 
• Your credits last for 12 months, but they charge the same amount again annually, even if you don't use them. It feels a bit like renting a book you never get around to reading, don't you think?
 
• To top it off, taxes aren't included in that $125 price tag, squeezing a few more bucks out of you!

• This one lets you submit up to 3 manuscripts or one long manuscript up to 75,000 words, all for a hefty $300.
 
• Includes those same 5 free revisions, sounding familiar? And again, no AI detection for individuals.
 
• Just like the single plan, your credits hang around for a year, but again, you’re paying every year even when you don’t use all of them. A bit pricey, don't you think?

• For organizations, it's a bit like a mystery box because the pricing is customized based on size and needs.
 
• They say you get what you pay for, but iThenticate might get you there for less, and many say it serves big organizations better.

• Better and cheaper alternatives exist. And, guess what? They don't break the bank!
 
• For example, AIDetectPlus offers a full AI Detection and Humanization package starting at just $5, and yes, that's a ONE-TIME payment! No recurring nightmares!
 
• What's the best part? Your credits NEVER expire! You can purchase as few as 5000 words for just $5 and use them whenever. Freedom! You pay again only if you want more.
 
• If you're curious about how Turnitin AI Detector stacks up against AIDetectPlus, check out the comparison section below.

What are some Turnitin AI Detector alternatives?

#1 - Turnitin AI Detector vs AIDetectPlus

• What's the same: Both tools help in AI Detection and give feedback on writings. They keep things simple and straightforward.
 
• Where is AIDetectPlus Better?
  • AIDetectPlus lets you pick from various detectors and humanizers tailored to what you need. You get special tools for students, marketers, and teachers.
   
  • Compared to Turnitin, AIDetectPlus is way cheaper. You buy once, never have to worry about expiring credits!
   
  • Only pay for more credits if you run out, unlike others.
   
  • Its humanized texts are error-free, meaning no extra editing and no word limits in your input.
   
  • AIDetectPlus is super easy to use and they've got awesome customer support (for real!).
 
• Where is Turnitin AI Detector Better? Turnitin is pretty well-known in academic circles and offers some neat feedback features, making it a familiar tool for schools.

#2 - Turnitin AI Detector vs Originality AI

• What's the same?
  • Both tools can detect if computers wrote a text, but they have their own quirks and hiccups.
 
• Where is Originality AI Better?
  • While digging through over 30 reviews, folks seem pretty chuffed with Originality’s friendly customer support.
   
  • Originality AI is super thorough. Besides AI detection, it checks for plagiarism, facts, and readability too!
 
• Where is Turnitin AI Detector Better? It's pretty handy for schools since it rolls out feedback automation, making life a tad easier for teachers.

#3 - Turnitin AI Detector vs Quillbot

• What's the same?
  • Both tools help you figure out if text is original and genuine. They work to ensure the content is trustworthy.
 
• Where is Quillbot Better?
  • Quillbot is great at making sentences sound better, it's all about giving your writing a fresh coat of paint. Plus, it’s super useful for giving your words a new life.
   
  • Quillbot costs only $50/year, which makes it way cheaper than Turnitin AI Detector. But watch out, their usage caps can be a bummer.
 
• Where is Turnitin AI Detector Better? It's better if you need to check for AI-written stuff. While it's not perfect and can make mistakes, it’s still a good tool if you're worried about AI content slipping through. But remember, it's mainly for schools, not individuals.

Is Turnitin AI Detector Worth It?

• Reason #1: Awful Customer Service: Slow as a sloth responses and unhelpful staff. Got refund or cancellation troubles? Join the club of frustrated folks stuck in long queues.
 
• Reason #2: Limited Access and Hidden Costs: Only schools get to use it, and if you're a student, good luck accessing it directly. Plus, it's like a treasure hunt just to find their pricing info.
 
• Reason #3: False AI Accusations: Imagine spending hours on your paper only for Turnitin to wrongly shout "AI!" It's like being accused of something you didn't do. Totally unfair, right?

“DO NOT USE A SERVICE WHICH CANNOT RESOLVE ISSUES. I have used Turnitin as offered by my University for many years. Usually, I don't have an issue, but this last year not only was Turnitin not producing reports, but their service is SHOCKING! I spent weeks trying to resolve the issue which was extremely stressful, considering I had a submission deadline for a thesis. AFTER I had submitted the thesis AND after having to use another similarity checker, did I receive an email from GRACE at Turnitin with an unacceptable, and clearly not investigated response, as well as informing me the reason I didn't receive my report was I was no longer enrolled, which I am? Turnitin support services are terrible and cannot resolve issues. A very disappointed customer.” ― Sue Frankland (NZ)

• #1 Super Accurate Detection: We got this super-smart algorithm that checks your text with 97% accuracy. Plus, we highlight sentences and explain how the AI Detection works, down to the nitty-gritty.
 
• #2 Credits NEVER EXPIRE: Buy credits once and they last forever. Pay only when you need more, simple as pie.
 
• #3 Way better customer support: We're a small friendly team, not a chatbot. We get back to you in 12 hours tops, and often way faster!
 
• #4 Specialized Detectors & Humanizers: We have fancy detectors & humanizers for students, educators, and marketers. Choose what suits you from our menu above.