IsItAI vs Originality.ai: AI detector comparison
A side by side look at pricing, methodology, language support and best-fit use case. Every claim on this page is linked to a source at the bottom.
Last updated . Reviewed by IsItAI Editorial.
At a glance
IsItAI
UK, 2024UK-built AI detection that gives you a confidence score, not a verdict.
- Pricing
- From £4.99/month
- Free tier
- 5 scans/day free
- API
- Yes
- Languages
- 30
Originality.ai
Canada, 2023Built for content marketers and publishers, not classrooms.
- Pricing
- From $14.95/month (1k credits)
- Free tier
- No free tier
- API
- Yes
- Languages
- 15
Side by side
| Feature | IsItAI | Originality.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 5 scans/day free | No free tier |
| Starting price | From £4.99/month | From $14.95/month (1k credits) |
| Cost per 1k words | £0.05 (Pro plan equivalent) | $0.01 |
| API available | Yes | Yes |
| Languages supported | 30 | 15 |
| Founded | 2024 | 2023 |
| Country | UK | Canada |
| Primary audience | Educators, recruiters and content teams | Content agencies, publishers and freelance editors |
| Best for | Teachers, students and recruiters who want a clear confidence score and source-passage highlighting | Agencies, publishers and freelance editors checking outsourced content |
| Known weakness | Smaller brand than US incumbents | Aggressive classifier with reported false-positive issues on human writing |
How each tool works
IsItAI
Method: Multi-model ensemble. Combines several open detectors and weights agreement. Returns a confidence band rather than a binary verdict.
Data handling: GDPR compliant. UK and EU hosted. Submitted text is not stored after the scan completes.
Originality.ai
Method: Proprietary classifier trained on AI-generated marketing copy. Bundles plagiarism detection in the same dashboard.
Data handling: US and Canada hosted. Stores submissions per default settings.
How accurate are AI detectors? What the research says
Two findings from independent academic research apply to almost every detector on this list, including IsItAI and Originality.ai.
1. False positives on non-native English writers. Liang et al. (Stanford, 2023) found that GPT detectors flagged over half of TOEFL essays written by non-native English speakers as AI-generated, while flagging almost none of the essays from US students. If your use case involves non-native English writers, never treat a detector verdict as proof on its own.
2. Paraphrasing reliably defeats classifiers. Sadasivan et al. (Maryland, 2023) showed that running AI output through a paraphraser drops detection performance close to chance. Both IsItAI and Originality.ai are vulnerable to this.
Where IsItAI wins
- Built for educators and recruiters rather than SEO content teams, so the tone of voice matches a classroom or hiring use case.
- Free tier exists. Originality.ai has none.
- GDPR compliant UK hosting fits UK and EU institutions.
Where Originality.ai wins
- Plagiarism and fact-checking modules are bundled in the same dashboard.
- Lower marginal cost per 1,000 words at $0.01 once you commit to a paid plan.
- Stronger track record with content agencies and publishers.
Which one should you pick, IsItAI or Originality.ai?
Pick IsItAI for classrooms and hiring teams. Pick Originality.ai if you run a content agency and need plagiarism plus AI checks bundled. Both classifiers can be defeated by paraphrasing tools (Sadasivan et al. 2023).
Frequently asked questions
Is IsItAI free?
5 scans/day free
Is Originality.ai free?
No free tier
Can either tool be fooled by paraphrasing?
Yes. Sadasivan et al. (2023) demonstrated that paraphrasing reliably defeats most AI classifiers. Treat any detector verdict as a screening signal, not proof.
Are AI detectors fair to non-native English writers?
Independent research (Liang et al. 2023) found high false-positive rates for non-native English writing. Always combine a detector signal with other evidence, never use it as a sole basis for an academic or hiring decision.
Which one should I pick if I have to choose one, IsItAI or Originality.ai?
Pick IsItAI for classrooms and hiring teams. Pick Originality.ai if you run a content agency and need plagiarism plus AI checks bundled. Both classifiers can be defeated by paraphrasing tools (Sadasivan et al. 2023).
Try IsItAI free
5 free scans a day. No credit card. UK hosted and GDPR compliant.
Sources and further reading
- IsItAI homepage
- Pricing
- How it works
- Originality.ai homepage
- Originality.ai pricing
- Originality.ai self-published accuracy claims
- Liang et al. (Stanford, 2023): GPT detectors are biased against non-native English writers
- Sadasivan et al. (2023): Can AI-generated text be reliably detected?