GPTZero is a leading AI text detector specifically designed to identify content generated by AI models like ChatGPT, GPT-5, Gemini, Claude, and others. It analyzes text for patterns such as predictability, perplexity, burstiness, and sentence-level signals to deliver an overall AI probability score, along with detailed breakdowns (including sentence highlighting for likely AI sections). Originally built with educators in mind, GPTZero excels at distinguishing pure AI writing, mixed human-AI content, and polished or paraphrased AI text—making it a go-to choice for teachers checking student work, publishers verifying originality, and professionals ensuring authentic content.
Is GPTZero Free or Paid?
GPTZero uses a freemium model. The free plan offers meaningful access with a monthly word limit for basic scans and limited advanced features, suitable for occasional checks. Paid Premium plans significantly increase word allowances, unlock full advanced scanning, plagiarism checking, writing feedback, bulk uploads, team tools, and higher accuracy on complex or edited text—essential for educators, institutions, or anyone handling frequent or high-stakes verification.
GPTZero Pricing Details
GPTZero bases plans on monthly word credits (1 credit ≈ 1 word scanned), with generous free access and tiered paid options. Here’s a clear overview of the main individual/user plans:
| Plan Name | Price (Monthly / Yearly) | Main Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10,000 words/month, basic AI scan, 3 free advanced scans/month, overall score, limited sentence-level insights | Students, casual users, occasional checks or testing accuracy |
| Premium | $12.99 monthly / $23.99 monthly (billed annually as ~$155.88/year) | 300,000 words/month, unlimited advanced scans, sentence highlighting, plagiarism checker, writing feedback, Chrome extension, source identification | Teachers, bloggers, small businesses needing reliable daily scans and detailed reports |
| Professional | $24.99 monthly / $45.99 monthly (billed annually) | 500,000 words/month, all Premium features + bulk file scanning (up to 250 files), team collaboration, enterprise-grade security, higher overage options | Heavy users, educators with large classes, agencies or teams requiring high-volume processing |
Also Read-Word Counter Free, Alternative, Pricing, Pros and Cons
Best Alternatives to GPTZero
Several strong AI detectors compete effectively in 2026, especially for different priorities like free access, academic focus, or low false positives:
| Alternative Tool Name | Free or Paid | Key Feature | How it Compares to GPTZero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston AI | Paid (with trial/free limited scans) | 99%+ claimed accuracy, multilingual, visual heatmaps, OCR support | Often ranks highest for consistency and low false positives; great for publishers—more multilingual than GPTZero but higher entry cost |
| Originality.ai | Paid (limited free credits) | Aggressive detection, integrated plagiarism + fact-check, site scanning | Excellent for marketing/SEO; stricter on AI patterns and good for bulk checks—sometimes over-flags edited human text compared to GPTZero’s balanced approach |
| Copyleaks | Freemium/Enterprise | Multilingual, LMS integration, detailed reports | Robust for education with strong platform integrations; more enterprise-oriented—offers free credits but less focused on low false positives than GPTZero |
| QuillBot AI Detector | Free | No signup needed, quick scans up to ~1,200 words, distinguishes refined AI | Extremely accessible and generous free tier; ideal for students—simpler and zero-cost but lacks GPTZero’s depth on long-form or hybrid content |
| Turnitin AI | Paid (institutional only) | Deep academic integration, low false positives in controlled settings | Gold standard for universities with LMS support; highly trusted in education but unavailable to individuals—more institutional than GPTZero’s direct access |
Pros and Cons of GPTZero
Pros
- High accuracy (~99% on benchmarks) with low false-positive rates, especially reliable for student writing and hybrid AI-human text.
- Sentence-level highlighting and nuanced “mixed” classification provide clear, actionable insights for educators.
- Generous free tier (10,000 words/month) allows meaningful use without immediate upgrade pressure.
- Chrome extension, plagiarism checker, and writing feedback add practical value beyond basic detection.
- Frequent updates and strong performance against evolving AI models keep it competitive in 2026.
Cons
- Free tier limits (10,000 words/month + few advanced scans) restrict heavy or daily professional use.
- Paid plans required for unlimited advanced features, bulk scanning, or team collaboration.
- Results can vary on very short text, heavily edited content, or non-English writing—cross-checking recommended.
- No fully unlimited free plan for high-volume needs; upgrades needed for large documents or frequent scans.
- Interface occasionally pushes Premium upsells, which can interrupt workflow for free users.