I tested 20+ platforms to find the best AI writing tool of 2026

The market for AI writing tools has expanded significantly, making the selection process challenging. A suitable tool can enhance content quality and save time, while a less effective one might produce generic text that requires extensive editing, diminishing its value.

This guide provides a clear breakdown of the top platforms, based on hands-on testing of over 20 options. The goal is to help you select the right tool for your specific needs, whether for creating full blog posts or optimizing existing content for search engines. Many companies leverage these tools in their content strategies to support growth, and this guide will detail some of the most effective options available.

What is an AI writing tool?

An AI writing tool is software that uses artificial intelligence to help create, edit, or optimize human-like text. This technology is built on Large Language Models (LLMs), but using these tools does not require technical expertise.

While each tool varies, they generally fall into three main categories, as this graphic illustrates:

• AI text generators: These tools create new content from scratch based on a user prompt. Examples include blog posts, marketing emails, or social media captions.

• AI writing assistants: These tools focus on improving existing writing. They function as advanced proofreaders, assisting with grammar, sentence rephrasing for clarity or tone, and plagiarism checks.

• AI-powered SEO and GEO tools: This specialized category includes tools designed to create content that ranks well in traditional search engines like Google (SEO) and gets cited in AI answer engines like ChatGPT or Google AI Overviews, a practice known as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

How we selected the top AI writing tools

This list is based on hands-on experience with each platform to evaluate their real-world performance. The main criteria for evaluation were:

• Output Quality: How effective is the generated text? Does it sound natural, engaging, and accurate, or does it require significant editing?

• Ease of Use: Is the platform intuitive? Can users achieve their goals without extensive training in prompt engineering?

• Key Features & Use Cases: Does the tool offer features beyond text generation, such as SEO optimization, brand voice training, or useful integrations?

• Pricing: Does the tool offer good value? Is a free plan or a trial available for evaluation?

Comparison of the best AI writing tool options

Here's a quick look at the top contenders we'll be diving into.

The 6 best AI writing tool platforms in 2026

Here is a full breakdown of each tool, including its primary functions, ideal users, and pricing.

1. eesel AI blog writer

The eesel AI blog writer is designed for users whose main goal is to generate a complete, SEO-optimized blog post from a single keyword. It is a tool designed to help scale content production.

• Pricing:

  • It is free to try.
  • $99 for 50 blogs, with the option to purchase more credits as needed.

• Pros: eesel AI is designed to deliver a complete article, rather than just a block of text. It automatically creates and adds AI-generated images, infographics, and tables. To enhance credibility, it can embed relevant YouTube videos and find quotes from Reddit forums. The research is deep and context-aware, and it is optimized for modern search, including Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), to prepare content for Google’s AI Overviews.

• Cons: It specializes in long-form, SEO-driven blog posts and is not designed for short-form copy like social media updates or ad text. For those needs, another tool on this list may be a better fit.

• Best for: SEO managers, content marketers, and founders who need an efficient way to produce high-quality blog content at scale.

2. Jasper

Jasper is an established AI content platform that has evolved from a writing tool into a solution for managing the content lifecycle. It is used by many marketing teams to maintain brand voice consistency and automate content creation.

• Pricing:

  • The Pro plan starts at $59 per seat, per month.
  • Business plans are available with custom pricing for more advanced features.

• Pros: Jasper is well-suited for teams. Its "Content Pipelines" feature allows users to connect data and strategy to automatically create various marketing assets. It also includes a feature called Jasper IQ, which functions as a central repository for your brand, learning your style guide, product information, and voice to ensure consistency. It also offers enterprise-level security, including SOC 2 compliance.

  

  I like a mix of free Chat GpT and Jasper. Free Chat GPT is actually still better for brainstorming , Jasper doesn’t really always understand the same prompts, the same way. I could ask it to suggest an outline for an ebook blah blah blah and sometimes it takes a lot more correction than chat GPT. But it is helpful for tightening up copy, or rather getting ideas to make it tighter, and things like various classic marketing frameworks.

  Reddit

• Cons: The platform's extensive features, such as "pipelines" and "agents," may present a steeper learning curve for users who only need basic article generation. Time investment is required to maximize its value.

• Best for: Enterprise marketing teams that need to produce a high volume of diverse, on-brand content and want to automate their entire operation, from planning to publishing.

3. Writesonic

Writesonic focuses on blending traditional SEO with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). It is designed not only to improve rankings on Google but also to ensure a brand is cited and mentioned in AI search results from platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

• Pricing:

  • A free plan with limited features is available.
  • The Lite plan starts at $39 per month.
  • The Professional plan, which includes GEO features, starts at $199 per month (billed annually).

• Pros: Writesonic's primary strength is its dual focus. It provides tools for a solid SEO strategy, such as keyword research and content optimization, and adds GEO tracking to monitor brand presence in AI chats. It can generate factually accurate articles using real-time data and automates internal linking to help build site authority.

• Cons: The advanced features, particularly for GEO, are available in the higher-tier plans. The pricing structure can be complex for new users.

• Best for: SEO-focused marketing teams and agencies that are planning for the shift to AI search and want a single platform to manage visibility on both Google and in AI chatbots.

4. Surfer

Surfer is a specialized tool focused on the analytical aspects of on-page SEO. Instead of only generating text from a prompt, it analyzes top-ranking pages for a target keyword and provides a data-driven blueprint for creating competitive content.

• Pricing:

  • The Essential plan starts at $79 per month.
  • There is no free plan, but some free tools like an AI Humanizer are offered.

• Pros: Surfer excels at its core function. Its Content Score provides clear, real-time feedback on article optimization during the writing process. The platform is also useful for building topical authority with its Topical Map feature, which helps identify and fill content gaps. It integrates with Google Docs, WordPress, and ChatGPT, fitting into most workflows.

• Cons: Surfer is one of the pricier options, especially since its main function is optimization rather than generation. The AI article writing feature is a paid add-on, and per-article costs can accumulate.

• Best for: SEO specialists, content managers, and agencies who prioritize a data-driven, analytical approach to content and aim to improve search rankings.

5. Copy.ai

Copy.ai is positioned as a Go-To-Market (GTM) AI Platform. It is designed to align sales and marketing teams by automating key workflow components, such as prospecting, lead management, and creating personalized outreach.

• Pricing:

  • A free plan is available, offering 2,000 words per month.
  • The Chat plan starts at $24 per month for 5 users.

• Pros: Copy.ai's strength lies in its focus on the entire GTM process. It can conduct in-depth account research for sales teams, automatically enrich and engage new leads, and assist in creating hyper-personalized marketing content at scale. Its pricing is competitive for teams, providing multiple seats even on the basic paid plan.

  

  Pros: ease-of-use and friendly interface, compared to other competitors; quality of content is also superior (yet, here is a trick: in a paid plan, it seems to be much better than in a free one). That’s the reason I don’t mention affordability (for small businesses or solo writers, a free plan is more than enough). Cons: Delivery speed definitely needs improvements, as does the fact that there are not many integrations available. Another con is the absence of an AI image generator, which makes you switch between tabs and is not worth paying $49 per month.

  Reddit

• Cons: The platform is specifically built for sales and marketing workflows. Users who only need a simple blog post writer may find its features overly complex. The AI-generated text, particularly for sales outreach, may require careful fact-checking.

• Best for: Sales and marketing teams looking to use AI across their entire go-to-market process, from lead generation to deal closure.

6. Grammarly

Grammarly is a widely recognized AI writing assistant. Its primary function is not to create content from scratch but to improve existing text by making it clearer, more accurate, and more effective.

• Pricing:

  • The free plan is comprehensive, covering basics like spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
  • The Pro plan, which unlocks advanced features, starts at $12 per month (billed annually).

• Pros: Grammarly is highly effective for its core function of text correction. It identifies errors that standard word processors might miss and is accessible across various platforms through browser extensions and apps. The platform has also integrated generative AI features and specialized "AI agents," such as the Reader Reactions agent, which can predict how an audience might perceive a piece of writing.

• Cons: While its generative AI is useful for rephrasing sentences or brainstorming, it is not as robust as dedicated long-form content generators like Jasper or eesel AI. Additionally, its most advanced features are currently only available in English, which may be a limitation for multilingual teams.

• Best for: A broad range of users, from students to professionals, who need an essential tool for ensuring their writing is clear, correct, and professional.

How to get the most out of your AI writing tool

Regardless of the tool you choose, it should be viewed as an assistant, not a replacement for strategic thinking and expertise. Here are a few tips for better results:

• Provide good instructions: The quality of the output depends on the quality of your input. Instead of just providing a keyword, include details about the target audience, desired tone of voice, key points to cover, and any specific brand messaging.

• Fact-check everything: AI models can sometimes generate inaccurate information or use outdated sources. Always verify statistics, facts, or specific claims before publishing, especially for technical or data-heavy topics.

• Add your own perspective: The main weakness of much AI-generated content is its lack of a personal touch. After generating a draft, add your own stories, original insights, and expert opinions to make the content unique.

• Use it for structure, not just words: If you are experiencing writer's block, ask an AI tool to create an outline. This provides a solid structure that you can then flesh out with your own knowledge, which can be more effective than editing a generic draft.

To see some of these AI writing tools in action and get a different perspective on their features, this video provides a helpful overview of the current landscape. The creator tests over 20 different platforms, offering insights that can complement the information in this guide.

This video tests over 20 different AI writing tool platforms, offering insights that can complement the information in this guide.

Which AI writing tool is right for you?

There is no single best AI writing tool for everyone; the ideal choice depends on your specific goals.

For users focused on producing complete, SEO-optimized blog posts, the eesel AI blog writer is a specialized option. For automating a broader marketing content operation, Jasper offers a comprehensive platform. For a deep focus on ranking on both Google and AI search engines, Writesonic and Surfer are specialists. If you're on a sales or marketing team, Copy.ai is designed for GTM success. And for simply improving your own writing, Grammarly is a foundational tool.

The best approach is to utilize the free trials and plans offered by these platforms to determine which one best fits your workflow.