Grammarly vs QuillBot for Australians 2026: Which Writing AI Wins?

Pricing figures updated 6 September 2026: USD prices are converted at the current rate (1 USD ≈ 1.40 AUD, verified 5 September 2026) and shown ex-GST, replacing the retired 1.55 + GST basis. A GST-registered Australian business that supplies its ABN is not charged GST on an imported digital service; other buyers should allow ~10% on top (Methodology).

Winner: it depends on the job — and they're closer than they look. Pick Grammarly if you want to catch errors and fix tone everywhere you type, across every app. Pick QuillBot if you mainly rephrase and tighten other people's words, and you want native AUD billing. Both score 18/25. Read the data section before you commit either.

Last reviewed: 20 September 2026 by Adam.

ℹ Vendor note — 20 September 2026: Grammarly is now part of Superhuman. Grammarly's homepage says "Grammarly is now a part of Superhuman" and its footer reads "2026 © Superhuman Platform". The parent renamed itself from Grammarly to Superhuman on 29 October 2025. Nothing in this comparison changes — Grammarly's prices, plans and data hosting are unchanged at our 20 September check, and Pro is still US$12/month on annual billing and US$30 month to month. The name on your invoice is Superhuman Platform.

Sources: grammarly.com · grammarly.com/plans. Read 20 September 2026. Wayback: capture pending (archive.org unavailable 20 Sep 2026).

These two get lumped together as "AI writing tools," but they're built for different jobs. Grammarly is a correction-and-tone layer that follows you across every box you type into. QuillBot is a rephrasing-and-editing workbench you go to. Both now bundle a broader AI suite, both land on the same 18/25 score, and both have a real Australian catch. The right pick depends on whether you draft or edit — and how much you care where your text goes.

At a glance

What both tools actually do

Grammarly is a writing assistant that lives almost everywhere you type — email, your CRM, Google Docs, the browser — catching spelling slips, clumsy sentences and the wrong tone in real time, and now drafting and rewriting with generative AI on top. Its strength is ubiquity: it's the same helpful layer in every box.

QuillBot started as a paraphraser and grew into a suite: a rewriter, grammar checker, summariser, translator, plagiarism and AI detector, citation generator, plus image and PDF tools. The paraphraser and grammar checker are the parts worth paying for; the rest is convenient rather than class-leading. You go to QuillBot to work over text you already have.

Pricing in Australia

This is QuillBot's clearest win.

QuillBot prices in native AUD. Premium is A$12.49/month billed annually, localised to Australia — no USD conversion, no exchange-rate guesswork — and the free tier covers a lot of everyday rephrasing and proofing. The one thing it doesn't state is how GST is handled.

Grammarly bills in USD, and the casual rate stings. Pro is US$12/month billed annually (about A$17/month ex-GST), US$20/month quarterly, or US$30/month month-to-month (about A$42/month ex-GST). You only get the good rate if you commit to a year, and the month-to-month price is steep for Australians paying FX on top. The free tier is genuinely useful; Pro adds full-sentence rewrites, one-click tone, 2,000 AI prompts/month, and plagiarism/AI detection.

On price, QuillBot wins: lower headline number, billed in your own currency. Just know that the cheap Grammarly annual rate (~A$17 ex-GST) is competitive if you commit for the year.

Where Grammarly wins

• It works everywhere you type. Email, CRM, Docs, the browser — the same correction-and-tone layer in every app. Nothing else matches that ubiquity for a drafter.
• Tone detection and real-time correction lead the category. It catches the wrong tone in an email before you send it, not after.
• Stronger security credentials. SOC 2 Type 2 and a full ISO suite, and Grammarly says it doesn't sell or monetise your content — a meaningfully better data-handling story than QuillBot's default.
• Generative AI and writing agents are built in on Pro, with a 2,000-prompt monthly allowance that's generous for most.

Where QuillBot wins

• Native AUD billing. A$12.49/month, no FX, no exchange-rate surprise — the thing most US writing tools get wrong for Australians.
• Paraphrasing is its core competence. If your day is rephrasing, tightening and editing other people's words — students, marketers, support teams — QuillBot's paraphraser and modes are the better-built tool for that specific job.
• A broader utility suite. Summariser, translator, citation generator, plagiarism and AI detection, plus PDF tools — convenient extras bundled into one subscription.
• A slightly better Australian fit (3/5 vs 2/5), entirely on the strength of that native AUD billing.

The data flag — read this before you buy QuillBot

The single most important difference for a business handling client or confidential text: QuillBot trains on your text inputs by default unless you opt out in the browser extension. Grammarly doesn't monetise your content and carries the stronger certification stack (SOC 2 Type 2, full ISO suite). Neither offers Australian data residency — Grammarly hosts in AWS US East, QuillBot states no AU region — and neither offers local support. For an individual editing everyday writing, neither is a dealbreaker. For a regulated Australian organisation (legal, health, government) or anyone routing confidential client text, read each tool's data terms first, and turn QuillBot's training off before you paste anything sensitive.

Which to pick — decision framework

• You draft across many apps and want errors and tone caught everywhere → Grammarly.
• You mainly rephrase, tighten and edit existing text → QuillBot.
• You want native AUD billing and the lowest headline price → QuillBot.
• You handle confidential or client text and want the stronger data-handling story → Grammarly (and avoid pasting sensitive text into either without checking the terms).
• You write for a living and will commit to an annual plan → Grammarly at ~A$17/month ex-GST is the one to buy.

The verdict

Winner: by job, not by knockout — both earn their 18/25. For the typical Australian who writes a lot across email, documents and a CRM, Grammarly is the one to reach for first: the ubiquity, the real-time tone correction and the stronger data-handling story make it the safer everyday buy, and the annual rate (~A$17/month ex-GST) is fair. Just go in knowing the bill is in US dollars and there's no Australian hosting.

QuillBot is the better tool for a specific, large group: people who edit more than they draft, and who value native AUD billing. The paraphraser is genuinely good, the AU$12.49 price is honest, and the free tier is usable. The weak point isn't the price — it's the data terms: QuillBot trains on your inputs by default, so turn that off before you trust it with anything confidential.

Pick on the job you actually do. Drafters who write everywhere: Grammarly. Editors who rephrase for a living and want AUD billing: QuillBot. Either way, start on the free tier — both are usable without paying, and a week of real work will tell you which fits.

Frequently asked questions

Are Grammarly and QuillBot available in Australia?

Yes, both work for Australians. Neither offers Australian data residency or local support — Grammarly hosts on AWS US East and QuillBot states no AU region — so they're available but not locally hosted.

Do they charge in AUD?

QuillBot does — Premium is A$12.49/month billed annually in native AUD, no FX surprise. Grammarly bills in USD: Pro is about A$17/month ex-GST on an annual plan, or about A$42/month month-to-month after FX.

Is there a free tier?

Yes for both. Grammarly's free tier covers grammar, tone and 100 AI prompts. QuillBot's free tier covers a lot of everyday paraphrasing and proofing. Start on the free tier — a week of real work tells you which fits.

Is my text safe with these tools?

Read the terms first. QuillBot trains on your text inputs by default unless you opt out in the browser extension. Grammarly says it doesn't sell or monetise your content and carries stronger certifications (SOC 2 Type 2, full ISO suite). Turn QuillBot's training off before pasting anything confidential.

Which writing AI should I pick?

By job. Pick Grammarly if you draft across many apps and want errors and tone caught everywhere, with the stronger data-handling story. Pick QuillBot if you mainly rephrase and edit existing text and want native AUD billing. Both score 18/25.

Sources

This comparison draws on The AI Directory Australia's underlying reviews of Grammarly (18/25) and QuillBot (18/25), each scored against our five-criteria framework and verified against the vendors' own pricing, security and data-handling pages on 3 June 2026. Pricing and data terms change — check the live pages, and review the data settings, before you buy.

Read next

• Full review: Grammarly (18/25) and QuillBot (18/25)
• Category guide: Best AI writing tools for Australians

The AI Directory Australia is an independent editorial publication. Read our Methodology and Affiliate Disclosure.

Synthesised from The AI Directory's verified Grammarly and QuillBot reviews (facts checked against each vendor's own pages, 3 June 2026). Wayback capture inherited from the underlying reviews; confirm live pricing before purchase.