Turnitin vs Lightkey
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Turnitin starts at See pricing page and Lightkey starts at $49.95/yr. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Similarity Report
- AI writing indicator
- LMS integrations
- Feedback Studio
- Draft process insights
- Multi-word text prediction
- Real-time spelling suggestions
- 80+ languages offline
- Chrome and Edge extensions
- Team terminology predictions
| Feature | Turnitin | Lightkey |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Plagiarism and AI writing detection used by schools and universities | On-device predictive text for Windows that learns your writing style |
| Category | Writing | Writing |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free trial |
| Starting price | See pricing page | $49.95/yr |
| Free plan | No | No, 30-day trial |
| Made by | Turnitin | Lightkey |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Turnitin starts at See pricing page and Lightkey starts at $49.95/yr. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
2 plans
Pro
$49.95/yr
- Per license
- Predicts up to 18 words
- 80+ languages offline
- Lifetime license $229.95
Business
$69.95/yr
- Per license
- Team terminology predictions
- Team analytics
- Site-wide deployment
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Turnitin
- Very large comparison database
- Built into most LMSs
- Trusted by institutions
- Not available to individuals
- AI scores can be contested
- Pricing only through institutions
Lightkey
- Runs on device and offline
- Works across most Windows apps
- Lifetime license option
- Windows only, no Mac version
- No free plan after the 30-day trial
- Predictions need time to learn your style
Which one should you choose?
Choose Turnitin if you want:
- Very large comparison database
- Built into most LMSs
- Trusted by institutions
Watch out: not available to individuals.
Choose Lightkey if you want:
- Runs on device and offline
- Works across most Windows apps
- Lifetime license option
Watch out: windows only, no mac version.
Turnitin vs Lightkey FAQ
What is the difference between Turnitin and Lightkey?
Turnitin: Plagiarism and AI writing detection used by schools and universities. Lightkey: On-device predictive text for Windows that learns your writing style. Both are writing tools.
Is Turnitin or Lightkey cheaper?
Turnitin starts at See pricing page and Lightkey starts at $49.95/yr. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Turnitin and Lightkey have free plans?
Turnitin: No. Lightkey: No, 30-day trial.
Who makes Turnitin?
Turnitin is made by Turnitin, based in United States.
Who makes Lightkey?
Lightkey is made by Lightkey.
Which should I choose, Turnitin or Lightkey?
Choose Turnitin if you value very large comparison database and built into most lmss. Choose Lightkey if you value runs on device and offline and works across most windows apps.