IsItAI vs Turnitin: 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
Turnitin
US, 1998 (AI detection added 2023)Institutional plagiarism and AI detection bundled into LMS workflows.
- Pricing
- Institution-licensed, around $3 per student/year
- Free tier
- No free tier (institutional only)
- API
- No
- Languages
- 30
Side by side
| Feature | IsItAI | Turnitin |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 5 scans/day free | No free tier (institutional only) |
| Starting price | From £4.99/month | Institution-licensed, around $3 per student/year |
| Cost per 1k words | £0.05 (Pro plan equivalent) | Not directly comparable |
| API available | Yes | No |
| Languages supported | 30 | 30 |
| Founded | 2024 | 1998 (AI detection added 2023) |
| Country | UK | US |
| Primary audience | Educators, recruiters and content teams | Schools and universities at institutional scale |
| Best for | Teachers, students and recruiters who want a clear confidence score and source-passage highlighting | Universities and schools that already license Turnitin for plagiarism |
| Known weakness | Smaller brand than US incumbents | Not available to individual students or teachers, no public methodology |
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.
Turnitin
Method: Classifier layered onto the existing plagiarism similarity engine. Methodology not published in peer-reviewed venues.
Data handling: Stored in institutional Turnitin repository per the school's licence agreement.
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 Turnitin.
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 Turnitin are vulnerable to this.
Where IsItAI wins
- Available to individual teachers, students and recruiters with no institutional licence required.
- Transparent confidence band on the result page. Turnitin's AI score is famously a black box.
- GDPR compliant UK hosting. Turnitin stores submissions in its US institutional repository per the licence agreement.
Where Turnitin wins
- Already integrated with most major LMS platforms (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Google Classroom).
- Plagiarism similarity engine bundled in the same workflow, which IsItAI does not offer.
- Trusted procurement choice at universities that already pay for Turnitin Originality.
Which one should you pick, IsItAI or Turnitin?
Pick IsItAI if you are an individual educator, student or recruiter who cannot access Turnitin or wants a transparent confidence score. Pick Turnitin if your institution already licenses it and you need plagiarism plus AI in one LMS-integrated workflow. Note Washington Post coverage flagged accuracy questions on Turnitin's AI score in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
Is IsItAI free?
5 scans/day free
Is Turnitin free?
No free tier (institutional only)
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 Turnitin?
Pick IsItAI if you are an individual educator, student or recruiter who cannot access Turnitin or wants a transparent confidence score. Pick Turnitin if your institution already licenses it and you need plagiarism plus AI in one LMS-integrated workflow. Note Washington Post coverage flagged accuracy questions on Turnitin's AI score in 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
- Turnitin AI writing detection page
- Washington Post coverage of Turnitin AI detector accuracy
- 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?