Best AI writer: A guide to top tools in 2026

A new AI writer seems to appear every week, each promising to change how we create content. With a sea of options, it can be difficult to determine which tool is worth your time and resources. The goal is not just about writing faster; it's about creating high-quality, engaging content that connects with audiences and ranks well on search engines.

This guide offers a detailed comparison of popular and promising AI writing platforms to help you find the right tool for your specific needs.

What is an AI writer?

At its core, an AI writer is software that uses artificial intelligence, specifically large language models (LLMs), to help generate or improve text. Think of it as an intelligent assistant that can help with various tasks, from brainstorming ideas to writing a full blog post. These models work by learning from a massive amount of text from the internet, which helps them understand language, context, and different writing styles.

These tools typically fall into three main categories:

1. AI text generators: These create content from scratch based on a user's prompt. You can request a blog post, an email, or social media captions, and they will generate a draft.

2. AI writing assistants: These tools function as advanced editors, focusing on improving existing text. They offer suggestions to make writing clearer, grammatically correct, or better suited to a specific tone.

3. AI SEO tools: This category focuses on creating content designed to rank well on search engines. They assist with tasks like keyword research, competitor analysis, and optimizing text to match search intent.

Many modern tools combine these functions, but they usually have one area where they are most effective, as shown in the graphic below. Identifying that primary strength is key to selecting the right tool for your work.

Criteria for selecting an AI writer

To provide a consistent evaluation, every tool was judged against the same practical checklist, focusing on real value and workflow efficiency.

Here are the evaluation criteria:

• Quality of output: Does the content sound natural, or is it robotic and full of clichés? Is the information accurate and well-researched?

• Ease of use: How simple is the interface? Can you begin immediately, or is it necessary to watch tutorials first?

• SEO & AEO features: Does it help create content optimized for search engines and AI-powered answers? Does it have tools for keyword research or competitor analysis?

• Unique features: What makes this tool distinct? This could be anything from automatically adding images and videos to unique integrations that fit into your workflow.

• Value for money: Is the price reasonable for the features provided? Are the plans flexible, and is there a free trial available?

A quick comparison of AI writer tools

Here’s a brief comparison of how the top AI writers performed. Use this table for a high-level overview before we discuss the details.

7 notable AI writer tools

Here is a detailed look at seven platforms that are noteworthy in the AI writing space.

1. eesel AI blog writer

Best for: Generating complete, SEO-optimized, and publish-ready blog posts with a single click.

The eesel AI blog writer takes a different approach. Instead of generating only text, it produces a complete, media-rich article designed to rank on search engines. It was developed to scale organic traffic with high-quality blog content. It automates parts of the blogging process like research, structuring the post, finding visuals, and embedding social proof like Reddit quotes. The output is designed to be human-like and optimized for keywords (SEO) and AI answer engines (AEO). A potential limitation is its focus on long-form blog content, so it may not be the primary choice for short-form content like social media captions.

Pricing:

• It's completely free to try.

• Paid plans are credit-based: $99 for 50 blog posts.

My take: This tool can be effective for users focused on content marketing because it handles the process from a keyword to a final, publishable article. It has been used at eesel to grow daily impressions significantly over a short period.

2. Jasper

Best for: Teams looking for a versatile writer to scale all types of on-brand marketing content.

Jasper is an established platform in the AI writing space. It is proficient at creating consistent content in various formats. The Brand IQ feature is a standout, allowing you to input a specific brand voice and style guides to maintain alignment. It also has automation tools with its Content Pipelines and Agents. This comprehensive feature set may require a learning curve, and the price can be a consideration, especially for larger teams. It is SOC 2 compliant, which is a benefit for enterprise customers.

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.

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Pricing:

• Pro: Starts at $59/month per seat (billed annually).

• Business: Custom pricing for teams needing API access and more control.

• Offers a 7-day free trial.

My take: Jasper is a versatile tool for marketing teams that produce various content types. It requires some initial setup to achieve optimal results.

3. Sudowrite

Best for: Fiction writers, novelists, and anyone focused on creative storytelling.

While many tools are geared toward marketers, Sudowrite is built for creative writers. It is full of unique features that are useful for storytelling. For example, the 'Write' tool suggests the next 300 words in your own voice, and 'Describe' helps flesh out a scene with sensory details. The Story Bible and Canvas features are also useful for keeping track of complex plots and characters. Its specialization is both its greatest strength and its main limitation, as it's not designed for tasks like writing a business blog. It's also worth noting that Sudowrite claims no rights to anything you create with it.

Pricing:

• Hobby & Student: Starts at $10/month for 225,000 credits.

• Higher tiers are available for users who need more credits.

My take: For fiction authors, Sudowrite can be a useful creative partner. It is designed with writers in mind and includes features to help overcome writer's block and enhance stories.

4. Grammarly

Best for: Improving and proofreading your own writing, with generative AI features for assistance.

Grammarly is well-regarded as a grammar checker, and it has evolved into a capable AI writing assistant. Its main strength remains polishing existing text. It now also has generative AI features to help draft replies, rephrase sentences, or develop ideas. One of its notable features is its suite of AI agents, like the Citation Finder which helps find sources to support claims. A consideration is that its text generation is not as robust as a dedicated AI writer; it functions more as an assistant than a creator. Grammarly also emphasizes its commitment to user trust and security, stating they do not sell user data.

Pricing:

• Free: Basic corrections and 100 AI prompts per month.

• Pro: Starts at $12/month per member (billed annually) for advanced suggestions and 2,000 prompts.

My take: Grammarly is a useful tool for many writers. It's helpful for ensuring a final draft is clean and professional. The AI generation is a useful addition, but its primary value lies in its editing and proofreading capabilities.

5. Surfer

Best for: SEO professionals and content marketers who want to optimize content based on data.

Surfer is an SEO tool that incorporates AI features. A key feature is its data-driven approach. It scans the top-ranking pages for a keyword and provides a checklist of terms and structural elements to include, tracked with its real-time Content Score. It also has a Topical Map feature to help build authority on a subject and an AI Tracker to see how a brand appears in AI chats. A consideration is that its AI writer is an additional feature, and the platform's cost can be higher than other options.

Pricing:

• Essential: Starts at $79/month (billed annually).

• AI content generation and other tools are often limited or have additional costs.

My take: Surfer is a valuable tool for those focused on SEO. It provides data to inform optimization decisions. It can be paired with an AI writer by using Surfer to build the data-driven brief and then using a generator to write the content.

6. Claude

Best for: Brainstorming, coding, and tackling complex problems with a conversational AI.

Claude is known for its reasoning capabilities and conversational style. Developed by Anthropic, its family of models (including Opus 4.5, Sonnet 4.5, and Haiku 4.5) can handle a range of tasks from simple chat to complex, multi-step problems. A significant advantage is its large context window and its ability to handle coding and technical questions. The platform also meets high compliance standards like SOC 2 and HIPAA. The interface is more of a chatbot than a content editor, so users may need to do more prompting and formatting to get a well-structured article.

As of today, Claude 4 blows everything else out of the water when it comes to writing.

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Pricing:

• Free version: Available with some usage limits.

• Pro: Starts at $17/month (billed annually at $200).

My take: Claude is a useful brainstorming partner and technical assistant. It's effective for generating creative ideas or working through complex problems, but be prepared to copy, paste, and format its output.

7. Copy.ai

Best for: Sales and marketing teams looking to automate go-to-market (GTM) tasks.

Copy.ai has evolved from a simple copywriting tool to a comprehensive GTM AI Platform. It is now focused on automating sales and marketing tasks using Workflows and AI Agents. A key advantage is its ability to handle tasks like prospecting and personalized outreach at scale. It can scrape websites, verify emails, and integrate with your CRM. Conversely, it has moved away from being a general content creation tool, so it may not be the best fit for someone who just wants to write a blog post.

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)...Cons: Delivery speed definitely needs improvements, as does the fact that there are not many integrations available.

Reddit

Pricing:

• Free plan: Available with a 2,000-word limit per month and limited workflow credits.

• Chat Plan: Starts at $24/month (billed annually) for 5 user seats.

My take: Copy.ai is a platform for GTM teams who want to use AI for more than just writing. If the goal is to automate sales and marketing workflows, it’s a suitable option, but it is no longer primarily a simple content creation tool.

How to choose an AI writer for your workflow

The best AI writer depends on your specific goals. There's no single perfect tool for everyone. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

• If your goal is scaling blog content for SEO... you may need a tool that does more than just write. A solution like the eesel AI blog writer handles the process from research to a complete, media-rich article. This can save time and is built for driving traffic.

• If you need a versatile, all-purpose writer for a marketing team... a platform like Jasper is a good pick. Its Brand IQ and team features are useful for creating consistent, on-brand content across different channels.

• If you're a fiction author or creative writer... a specialized tool like Sudowrite is a game-changer. Its features are designed for storytelling in a way that general-purpose writers can't replicate.

• If you just want to improve your own writing... consider starting with Grammarly. It’s effective at polishing what you’ve already written and ensuring your work is clear and professional.

Remember, these tools are assistants, not replacements for a human. The best approach is to find one that complements your skills and automates tedious tasks, freeing you to focus on strategy and adding your unique human touch.

Hearing from experts who have tested multiple platforms can provide valuable insights. The video below offers a comprehensive review of several AI writing tools, comparing their performance on real-world tasks.

This video review tests different platforms to find the best AI writer for tasks like blog post creation.

Final thoughts on choosing an AI writer

The AI writing landscape has evolved rapidly. Tools have progressed from simple text generators to more sophisticated platforms that can assist with creative and strategic tasks. While every tool has its strong points, the best choice depends on the specific use case. For example, for practical, results-focused content marketing, a tool focused on creating a complete, publish-ready article can offer significant efficiency gains.

No matter which tool you choose, the key is to use it thoughtfully. Let it help you overcome writer's block, automate research, and produce more content, but always be the final editor who ensures it truly connects with your audience.

To see what a complete, AI-generated blog post looks like, you can try the eesel AI blog writer and explore its capabilities.