Long before AI became mainstream, QuillBot was the go-to paraphrasing tool for many, especially students looking for a quick way to reword text and avoid plagiarism. However, as the saying goes, popularity doesn’t always mean perfection. In its early days, QuillBot’s paraphrasing often felt unnatural, with standard variations missing the mark. Its integration with AI has improved things, but now it primarily markets itself as a paid tool, limiting free users to specific modes and word counts.
This is where ToolSmart by WPS Office steps in, addressing these issues and gaining traction among students. While the two tools seem similar, key differences set them apart. This article will explore these distinctions in QuillBot vs. ToolSmart to help you choose the right one.
QuillBot
QuillBot is a popular paraphrasing tool that offers multiple modes, including Standard, Expand, Fluency, Formal, Creative, and Simple, to help users refine their writing. It lets you compare different outputs side by side while also checking for plagiarism. Plus, it comes with a built-in grammar checker, a citation generator, and handy extensions for Chrome and MS Word.
With the QuillBot Sidebar, you can instantly access the paraphrasing tool on the side of your screen, making it convenient for any writing task. You can also humanize AI-generated content or transform text into academic and formal versions. However, the most eye-catching features are only accessible through the premium model.
Features
Supports multiple languages
7 paraphrasing modes
Compare different mode outputs
Access paraphrasing history
Upload documents for editing
Grammar checker
AI content detector
Plagiarism checker
Summarizer tool
Citation generator
Built-in translator
Chrome extension for easy access
Pros
Multiple paraphrasing modes for different writing styles.
Built-in grammar checker and plagiarism detector.
Chrome and MS Word extensions for easy access.
Citation generator for academic writing.
Side-by-side comparison of paraphrased results.
Customizable synonym settings for better word choice.
Supports multiple languages for diverse users.
Cons
Limited free usage
Word count restrictions in the free version
Premium pricing is high compared to some alternatives
Requires sign-up for full functionality
Toolsmart
ToolSmart AI is an online paraphrasing tool available through its webpage, offered as part of WPS Office’s suite of productivity tools. WPS Office has already built a reputation for being an accessible and affordable alternative for students and writers, and ToolSmart continues this legacy by addressing the cost concerns associated with most paraphrasing tools.
Unlike many premium alternatives, ToolSmart is completely free, requires no sign-up, and offers unlimited usage. It provides multiple paraphrasing modes, ensuring users can refine their content based on their specific needs. These modes include Standard, Fluency, Humanize, Formal, Academic, Simple, Creative, Shorten, and Expand.
ToolSmart also features a slider tool that allows users to control the level of synonym replacement, offering flexibility in rewriting content. With its free and unrestricted access, ToolSmart AI is an excellent alternative for anyone looking for an effective paraphrasing tool without the limitations of paid services.
Features
Entirely free
Unlimited usage
No sign-up required
Supports multiple languages
7 paraphrasing modes: Fluency, Humanize, Formal, Academic, Simple, Creative, Expand
Adjustable synonym frequency slider
Pros
Easy to use
Free and unlimited use.
No sign-up is needed.
Fast paraphrasing process.
Ad-free experience.
Cons
Lacks advanced writing tools like a grammar checker or plagiarism detector
No Chrome extension or MS Word integration
Less polished AI compared to QuillBot in some cases
How to Use Toolsmart Paraphrasing Tool
QuillBot is a powerful paraphrasing tool, but if you’re looking for a free alternative, Toolsmart AI by WPS Office offers unlimited usage with multiple tones. Here's how you can get started with Toolsmart and paraphrase any text effortlessly:
Step 1: Toolsmart provides an online paraphrasing tool that is easy to access. Simply open your browser and go to the Toolsmart website.
Step 2: No registration is required, so you can start using the tool immediately. Just enter the text you want to paraphrase in the left chatbox.
Note: The tool allows up to 1,500 words, making it suitable for long texts.
Step 3: Before paraphrasing, choose a tone that best fits your needs. Toolsmart offers seven different tone options to customize how your text is rewritten.
Step 4: Adjust the level of paraphrasing with the “Synonym Slider”, found at the top right of the tool. Once you’re ready, click the "Paraphrase" button to generate a new version of your text.
Note: Moving the slider to the right will increase the number of words replaced.
Step 5: You can switch between different paraphrasing modes anytime. The tool is completely free, so you can paraphrase as many times as needed to get your desired result.
Step 6: When you’re satisfied with the output, click the “Copy” icon at the bottom right to copy the paraphrased text instantly.
Comparing Toolsmart’s and QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tools
To compare these tools fairly, I will analyze their performance based on accuracy, readability, word choice, pricing, customization, and usability. We will also test them with the same sample text and evaluate their paraphrasing capabilities.
For reference, our test sentence is:
"Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is considered radioactive. Three of the most common types of decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay."
Feature Comparison
When comparing any two paraphrasing tools, it’s important to remain consistent with your inputs. That’s why I kept the synonym slider at a medium level on both platforms and used the same test sentence for both. This way, we can get a fair look at how each tool performs under the same conditions.
Test Sentence:
"Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is considered radioactive. Three of the most common types of decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay."
QuillBot’s Output:
"Radioactive decay refers to the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy through radiation. A substance with unstable nuclei is termed radioactive. The three most frequent kinds of decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay."
Toolsmart AI’s Output:
"Radioactive decay occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus releases energy through radiation. Any substance with unstable nuclei is classified as radioactive. The three most prevalent forms of decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay."
Accuracy
The most important factor when paraphrasing is whether the tool keeps the meaning intact while making the sentence clearer.
QuillBot’s Accuracy
QuillBot mostly preserves the meaning but leans towards a more technical and formal structure. Phrases like "refers to the process" instead of "occurs when" make it sound a bit wordy. Similarly, "termed radioactive" feels slightly unnatural compared to the original phrase "considered radioactive".
From my experience, this kind of phrasing might be better suited for academic writing or formal papers, but for casual or general use, it feels a bit rigid.
Toolsmart AI’s Accuracy
Toolsmart AI, on the other hand, takes a simpler and more conversational approach. Instead of "refers to the process," it says "occurs when," which flows better and is easier to understand. Likewise, "classified as radioactive" feels clearer than "termed radioactive".
Word Choice and Synonym Selection
Paraphrasing tools don’t just swap words, they need to choose the right synonyms without changing the meaning or making the text awkward. This is especially really important since in the process of paraphrasing you wouldn’t want your passage to be taken out of context.
QuillBot’s Word Choice
QuillBot plays it safe with synonyms but sometimes overcomplicates things. For example:
"Substance" instead of "material" may not be a big change, but it can shift the tone.
"Refers to the process" instead of "occurs when" makes the sentence longer than needed.
While this level of precision can be useful for technical or academic writing, it might not always be ideal for quick, simple paraphrasing.
Toolsmart AI’s Word Choice
Toolsmart AI picks synonyms that sound natural and fit well in everyday writing. Some examples:
"Any substance" instead of "a substance" is slightly clearer and more conversational.
"Classified as radioactive" instead of "termed radioactive" flows better without changing its meaning.
Usability
A good paraphrasing tool isn’t just about output but it also needs to be easy to use. A good intuitive interface helps you work fast, saving you a lot of time and energy while producing valuable content.
QuillBot’s Usability
QuillBot comes with a Chrome extension and an MS Word add-in, making it convenient if you want to paraphrase directly inside your documents. However, many of its best features like advanced paraphrasing modes are locked behind a premium paywall. The free version works, but you’ll run into usage limits quickly.
Toolsmart AI’s Usability
Toolsmart AI is completely free and doesn’t require any signup, which is a huge advantage. There are no ads cluttering the page, and you can use it as much as you want without limits. If you’re someone who needs quick and unlimited paraphrasing, Toolsmart AI definitely wins in terms of accessibility.
Speed and Performance
When you’re in a hurry, speed matters a lot and you need to make sure you turn to the right tool when the time comes.
QuillBot: Slightly slower due to extra features like plagiarism checks and grammar suggestions.
Toolsmart AI: More lightweight and gives instant results without extra load time.
For someone who just wants quick paraphrasing without waiting, Toolsmart AI is the better choice.
Pricing Comparison
When choosing a paraphrasing tool, pricing is a major factor, especially for students and writers on a budget.
QuillBot Pricing
QuillBot has both a free version and a premium plan:
Free Plan includes paraphrasing in 2 modes. Paraphrasing is only allowed a few sentences at a time.
Premium Plan (Starts at $4.17/month if billed annually, or $9.95/month for monthly billing) includes access to all paraphrasing modes, faster processing speed, longer input limit, and more.
Toolsmart AI Pricing
Toolsmart AI is completely free, with no word limits or restrictions. All paraphrasing modes, including Standard, Fluency, Humanize, Formal, and Academic, are unlocked. There is no need to sign up, and you won't encounter any ads while using it.
FAQs
1. What is the best paraphrasing tool for academic writing in 2025?
There are plenty of great paraphrasing tools available for academic writing in 2025. Some of the best options include QuillBot, Toolsmart, Paraphrasing Tool, and Spinbot.
2. Can I paraphrase longer documents with Toolsmart paraphrasing tool?
Yes, you can paraphrase longer documents with Toolsmart Paraphrasing Tool. The tool allows you to input 1,500 words at a time, but since its usage is unlimited, you can keep adding more text after processing the initial chunk. This makes it a flexible option for those working on lengthy academic papers, research articles, or professional documents.
Toolsmart vs. QuillBot: Which Paraphrasing Tool Is Better for You?
In the end, the choice between QuillBot vs. Toolsmart AI depends on what you’re looking for. If you need an all-in-one writing assistant with multiple extensions, a citation generator, and a plagiarism checker, QuillBot is a solid option, especially for professional or academic use. However, if accuracy, quality, and affordability are your main concerns, Toolsmart AI is the better choice. It delivers fluent, natural paraphrasing with no word limits, no ads, and no signup required, making it the perfect free alternative.
