Paperpal Review: Should You Use It in 2025?
Elena Mitchell
Reviewed By
January 24, 2025
Last Update
13 Minutes
Read Time
Looking for the perfect AI research tool can be overwhelming. With new AI assistants launching every month, finding one that truly fits your needs takes careful evaluation.
Paperpal has made quite a buzz in the academic community, and I've spent days testing it to see why.
I put Paperpal through rigorous testing to answer the questions that matter to researchers and students. This review goes through real-world academic use cases, testing everything from research assistance to AI writing capabilities.
By the end, you'll have a clear picture of whether this tool deserves a place in your toolkit or not. If you're ready, let's dive into it!
What Is Paperpal?
Ever wondered what it's like to have a professional editor watching over your shoulder as you write? That's exactly what Paperpal brings to the table – an AI writing assistant that speaks the language of academia.
Picture this: instant, field-specific language suggestions that understand your research context, real-time corrections that get the nuances of academic writing, and a submission readiness report that runs your manuscript through 30+ technical checks.
Plus: Integration options for both Microsoft Word and Overleaf, it fits right into your existing workflow.
Want to know if Paperpal is worth your time and money? In this review, I'll show you what this AI research assistant can (and can't) do. So without any further ado, let's dive in.
Paperpal Features
Paperpal is built to make your writing easier. You get all the essential AI features you need. On top of that, you'll also get some clever features that make Paperpal special.
1. Language Suggestions
I ran a complex neuroscience paper through Paperpal. Unlike basic grammar checkers, it kept all my technical terms intact while fixing awkward phrasing.
Think of it as your personal academic editor who knows the difference between "p-value" and "P-value" in different journals.
When I wrote "the cells demonstrated significant growth," it suggested "the cells showed significant growth" - clearer, yet still scientific.
2. Plagiarism Checks
The color-coded results show you exactly where your text matches other sources - green for minor matches, and red for significant overlaps.
Split-screen comparison means no more toggling between windows. You'll see your text on one side, and the plagiarism checker on the other.
I caught three accidental duplications in my latest paper this way.
3. Research and Cite
Imagine having access to 250M+ research papers with one search. I needed evidence about gut microbiome effects on anxiety - three clicks got me five peer-reviewed sources with citations.
4. AI Writing
In my latest research sprint, Paperpal turned a rough idea into a structured outline in 3 minutes flat.
Here's how it happened:
- My input: "Effects of intermittent fasting on cognitive function"
- Output: Complete outline with methodology suggestions
- Bonus: Three potential title variations
As a bonus, the abstract generator saved me 2 additional hours.
5. Improve Clarity & Tone
If you need to cut 500 words without losing meaning, this is the feature you want. I used this feature on a 1,000-word manuscript and hit the target word count while improving readability by 25%.
6. Pre-submission Checks
Think of this as your pre-flight checklist. You run your papers through it and it can catch missing figure references, inconsistent abbreviations, and journal-specific formatting issues every time. The report shows:
- Technical compliance score
- Language quality assessment
- Reference format check
Paperpal Pricing
Paperpal offers pricing options that scale with your needs. Whether you're a student, researcher, or academic institution, you'll find pricing plans that will fit you.
Free
$0/month
- 5 AI uses per day
Prime
$25/month
- Unlimited AI uses per day
Paperpal Reviews
What do users say about Paperpal? We've collected reviews from popular platforms like G2 or Trustpilot to give you the complete picture.
Based on 67 reviews
- 5 stars75%
- 4 stars9%
- 3 stars4%
- 2 stars3%
- 1 star9%
Quality AI analysis of English writing and proofreading for journal manuscripts before submission to journals. Together with Turnitin software for plagiarism, it made sense to have them together as a bundle for use by academics.
MGMichael Gatheru
Kenya
The arrival of Paperpal on the academic scene has been a godsend for us who are so over the boring phases of writing. I find that all its functions save many tedious hours of work and have greatly increased my level of high-quality research.
BWBobbi Woodhill
Australia
Should You Use Paperpal?
After days of testing and analyzing Paperpal, I've gathered everything you need to make the right decision. Here's my honest take on who will benefit most from using this tool.
Pick Paperpal if you:
- Are academic researcher
- Are graduate student
- Are research assistant
- Want to streamline your research process
- Struggle with academic English
Not convinced Paperpal is right for you? I've tested and reviewed popular Paperpal alternatives that might better match your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about Paperpal? I've collected the most common ones to help you make the right decision decision. Here's everything you need to know.
Can I use Paperpal for free?
Yes! Paperpal offers a free version that provides valuable real-time writing support.
Does Paperpal offer student discounts?
Yes, you can get a student discount if you are registered with your institution's email address and refer your institution.
What are the payment methods available?
Paperpal supports payments via debit, credit, or prepaid card through Stripe’s Payment Platform.
Who owns Paperpal?
Paperpal is owned by Cactus Communications.
How to add Paperpal to word?
Paperpal can be added easily through the Office Add-ins store.