The world of academia often grapples with the issue of plagiarism, causing both students and educators to look for reliable solutions. Turnitin, a renowned online tool used globally, provides services aimed at maintaining academic integrity by detecting unoriginal content.
So, is Turnitin free to use?

Key Takeaways
- Turnitin is a tool that checks if work is copied. It helps students write their own words and teachers grade easily.
- Turnitin lets you know if your paper matches others online or in its records. This helps students turn in their best work.
- You can try Turnitin free for 60 days, but it costs after the trial ends. Some schools pay for it so students and teachers do not have to.
- Tools like Scribbr offer some parts of Turnitin service for free, with limits. Other tools help check if work is copied as well.
Table of contents

Understanding Turnitin
Turnitin is a revolutionary tool designed to ensure academic integrity by checking submitted works for similarity, thus helping to prevent plagiarism. It functions by comparing student submissions against its extensive database of previously published or submitted content.
What it is
Turnitin is a top tool for checking work. It scans papers for matching text on the web, in books and other sources. Schools around the world use it to help students turn in their own work.
Turnitin also aids teachers by making grading easier and faster.
How it works
Turnitin works in easy steps. First, the teacher or student logs into the Turnitin site. It just needs a web browser and an internet link. Next, the teacher sets up a class and task within Turnitin. Students then submit their work into this area. The AI checker of Turnitin scans that work. It looks for matching text from other papers in its records and on the web.
Benefits for Students and Educators
Turnitin empowers original work by ensuring that any borrowed ideas are properly cited. It streamlines the grading and feedback process saving time for educators while enhancing students’ ability to improve their work based on specific comments.
The system deters plagiarism, fostering academic integrity across educational institutions and thus, playing a critical role in improving student outcomes.
Empowering original work
Turnitin plays a big role in making sure that work is original. It helps students to trust their writing skills. This tool shows parts of the text that look like other works found online.
So, it lets students fix these parts before turning in their work. Using Turnitin makes students feel good about what they write. Teachers also know that the work turned in by students is fresh and new ideas, not copied from somewhere else.
Streamlining grading and feedback
Turnitin makes grading faster and easier for teachers. It has a tool called Feedback Studio. Teachers use this to give useful comments on student’s work. It helps students know how they can do better.
This way, both teaching and learning get better over time. Turnitin is not just about checking for copied work. It also plays a big role in the grading process and giving feedback!
Deterring plagiarism
Turnitin is a tool that stops copy-pasting. It makes sure all work is fresh and new. This helps keep school tasks fair for all students. Turnitin uses special ways to find copied words in student work.
Plagiarism hurts academic integrity. Students must learn to use their own ideas in their work. Using Turnitin, teachers can catch stolen ideas fast and easy. This teaches students the right way to write papers and improves their writing skills.
The AI checker scans the text quickly for any matching content online or from other student works.
This tool not only catches bad practices but also aids in avoiding them ahead of time. By checking their work on Turnitin before sending it out, students get the chance to fix errors early on.
They can make sure they have used other people’s ideas properly – quoting or rephrasing correctly as needed.
So, Turnitin acts like a guide for pupils who want to play by the rules while learning about plagiarism detection process too.
Improving student outcomes
Turnitin helps students do better in school. It does this by showing them how to write well and not copy others’ work. This tool gives good feedback that is fast and easy to understand, making writing skills better with every use (Fact 6).
Writing gets easier the more it is done. So, using Turnitin often can lead to big wins for students!
Is Turnitin Free to Use??
60-day free trial
Turnitin offers a 60-day free trial. It’s a super chance for teachers and pupils to test the system. You just fill out a form to start it. During these days, you can grade work with ease.
You can also check if writing is original or copied. The free trial helps you see why many schools use Turnitin.
Institutional access
Schools and colleges get Turnitin. They pay for it so students don’t have to. This is called “Institutional Access“. It’s like a bulk pass for many users at once. You can use this if you are a student or teacher at the school.
Ask your school staff about this option. They might already have Turnitin set up! If they do, using Turnitin is free for you as a user.
Setting up a free account
Getting a free account on Turnitin is not hard. First, visit the Turnitin site online. Click on “create account” at the top of the page. Fill out all needed details in the form that pops up. Make sure to use your school email if you are a student or teacher. Next, click on “I agree” to accept their rules and steps. Then, click on “create account” again. Now you have your own free account! Make sure to check your email for more steps and tasks from Turnitin. You can now start using the site for checking work before giving it in.
Is Turnitin Really Free to Use?
Turnitin is not fully free. It does offer a 60-day free trial, but only for some parts of its service. After the trial ends, you have to pay to use it. Some schools cover this cost and give their students access to it.
For personal use, Scribbr has a limited free version in partnership with Turnitin. With this version, you get industry-leading plagiarism detection from Turnitin for no charge. But keep in mind that “free” often means less features than paid versions.
Try our Free Turnitin Score Estimator
How to Effectively Use Turnitin
To use Turnitin effectively, students should check for content similarity before submitting their work while educators can also leverage the platform as a grading and feedback tool.
Checking for similarity before submission
One smart step before handing in a paper is to check for likeness. Turnitin can help with this. Here’s how:
- Log into your student portal.
- Enter the page for submitting work.
- Upload your file.
- Wait for Turnitin to scan the text.
- Look at the report Turnitin gives you.
- Check if there are parts of your paper like other works online.
- Make changes if needed.
Using other plagiarism checking software
There are other plagiarism software out there. They can be used along with Turnitin.
- Scribbr: It has a free version. It uses Turnitin’s top-class cheating detection.
- SafeAssign: This is a tool within Blackboard Learn. It checks papers for similar text.
- Plagscan: You send in your paper, they check it for you.
- Grammarly: Apart from checking grammar, it also looks for copied text.
- Copyscape: This one lets you know if your web content is unique or not.
Real World Success Stories
In this section, we delve into real-world success stories from the University of Leeds and the University of Maryland Global Campus, illustrating how Turnitin has enhanced their academic experience.
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds uses Turnitin. This tool helps both students and teachers at this school. It makes it easy to spot copied work in student papers. It also lets teachers give feedback fast and well.
The best part? Students here show they do better because of this tool!
University of Maryland Global Campus
The University of Maryland Global Campus uses Turnitin. They use it to make sure work from students has no copy parts. It helps the school keep its high name for good teaching and honest work.
The tool also makes grading papers faster for teachers.
Students at the campus get a lot of help from Turnitin as well. It shows them if their work is not fully their own before they hand it in. This gives them a chance to fix any issues so they can do their best in all classes.
Conclusion and final thoughts ðŸ’
Turnitin is a tool that checks for copied work. It helps teachers grade and students learn better. The use of Turnitin calls for honesty in school work. Check if your school gives you access or try it free for 60 days or use our free Turnitin alternative!