Quick Start

This guide covers every Copyleaks feature:
- Getting Started — Create account and basic setup
- How to Use AI Detector — Spot AI generated content from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude in seconds
- How to Use Text Moderation — Flag harmful or unwanted text before it reaches your audience
- How to Use API Integration — Add plagiarism detection and AI detection to your own product
- How to Use Browser Extension — Check content anywhere on the web without leaving the page
- How to Use Plagiarism Checker — Catch copied text and protect your work from copyright infringement
- How to Use Grammar Checker — Fix grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in seconds
- How to Use LMS Integration — Bring academic integrity checks into Canvas and other learning platforms
- How to Use Google Docs Add-on — Scan your writing without ever leaving Google Docs
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used Copyleaks for six months and tested every feature covered here. This tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.

Copyleaks is one of the most powerful AI detection tools available today.
But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.
This guide shows you how to use every major feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
Copyleaks Tutorial
This complete How to Use Copyleaks tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.

Copyleaks
Catch AI generated content and plagiarism before anyone else does. Copyleaks scans text in 30+ languages with a reported 99% accuracy rate. Try the free tools or upgrade when you need more scans.
Getting Started with Copyleaks
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
First, here’s my personal experience with Copyleaks:
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to the Copyleaks website.
Click “Sign Up.”
Enter your email and create a password.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email.
Step 2: Access the Dashboard
Copyleaks runs in your browser, so there’s nothing to download.
Log in with your new account.
Here’s what the platform looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the main dashboard with every tool listed.
Step 3: Complete Initial Setup
Pick the tool you need first — the AI Detector is the quickest way in.
Adjust the sensitivity level in the scan settings if needed.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.
How to Use Copyleaks AI Detector
AI Detector lets you spot AI generated content from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude in seconds.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the AI Detector
Log in and pick AI Detector from the dashboard.
It runs on machine learning models trained to recognize human writing patterns.
Deviations from those patterns and specific AI signals get flagged as potential AI.
Step 2: Paste or Upload Your Text
Drop in the text you want to check.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see a scan button with your text loaded.
Step 3: Run the Scan
Click scan and wait a few seconds.
The detector covers GPT-3 through GPT-5, Gemini, and Claude.
It stays up to date as newer models release, across 30+ languages.
✅ Result: You receive a report showing how much of your text reads as AI writing.
💡 Pro Tip: Copyleaks offers three sensitivity levels for AI content detection — change them in the scan settings.
How to Use Copyleaks Text Moderator
Text Moderation lets you flag harmful or unwanted text before it reaches your audience.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Pick Your Categories
Choose which content types you want to catch.
Step 2: Submit Your Content
Paste text or connect a feed through the dashboard.
Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Flagged sections appear with category labels.
Step 3: Review the Flags
Approve, reject, or edit anything the scan marks.
✅ Result: Your platform stays clean without reading every post manually.
💡 Pro Tip: Pair Text Moderation with the API to screen user comments automatically.
How to Use Copyleaks API Integration
API Integration lets you add plagiarism detection and AI detection to your own product.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Generate an Access Token
Create an account, then call the login endpoint for a token.
Each access token stays valid for 48 hours.
Step 2: Send a Scan Request
POST your text to the scan endpoint with any standard HTTP client.
Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The API returns a scan ID right away.
Step 3: Collect the Results
Pull the finished report through your webhook or export endpoint.
✅ Result: Your app can now test text for AI generation on demand.
💡 Pro Tip: Grab the official Postman collection and Quickstart guide for a faster setup.
How to Use Copyleaks Browser Extension
Browser Extension lets you check content anywhere on the web without leaving the page.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Install the Extension
Add it to Google Chrome from the web store.
Step 2: Highlight Any Text
Select the passage you want to verify on any page.
Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The Copyleaks scan option appears.
Step 3: Run a Quick Scan
Click it and view results in seconds.
✅ Result: You can vet articles and guest posts the moment you read them.
💡 Pro Tip: It’s the fastest way to screen freelance drafts before they hit your site.
How to Use Copyleaks Plagiarism Checker
Plagiarism Checker lets you catch copied text and protect your work from copyright infringement.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Upload Your Document
Add essays, research papers, or any other written documents.
Step 2: Start the Scan
Click scan to compare your text against online sources.
Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Matching content shows up highlighted with source links.
Step 3: Review the Similarity Report
Open each match and check your references and citations.
✅ Result: Copyleaks generates a detailed originality report with every matching source.
💡 Pro Tip: Save each report as dated proof of originality for clients or editors.
How to Use Copyleaks Grammar Checker
Grammar Checker lets you fix grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in seconds.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Paste Your Text
Drop your draft into the Grammar Checker.
Step 2: Scan for Errors
Run the check and wait for highlights.
Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Each error shows an underline with a suggested fix.
Step 3: Apply the Fixes
Accept suggestions one by one or correct them manually.
✅ Result: Clean, polished text that’s ready for submission.
💡 Pro Tip: Run this before your final plagiarism scan to avoid resubmissions.
How to Use Copyleaks LMS Integration
LMS Integration lets you bring academic integrity checks into Canvas and other learning platforms.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Connect Your LMS
Admins link Copyleaks to Canvas from the integration settings.
Instructors then set between 1 attempt and unlimited attempts per assignment.
Step 2: Submit the Assignment
Students open the Copyleaks assignment in Google Chrome on a laptop or desktop.
Phone and tablet submissions are not supported.
Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The originality report appears in the assignment details after submission.
Step 3: Review and Discuss
Faculty review flagged phrases and leave comments as feedback.
Students can then discuss results in order to ensure proper citation practices.
✅ Result: Every submission gets stored securely to prevent self-plagiarism on future work.
💡 Pro Tip: Treat reports as teaching tools — walk students through each flagged section.
How to Use Copyleaks Google Docs Add-on
Google Docs Add-on lets you scan your writing without ever leaving Google Docs.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Install the Add-on
Get it from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
Step 2: Open Your Document
Launch the add-on from the Extensions menu inside your doc.
Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: A Copyleaks panel opens beside your text.
Step 3: Scan and Review
Run the scan and watch flagged content appear in the sidebar.
✅ Result: You catch issues while drafting instead of after submission.
💡 Pro Tip: Scan early drafts too — fixing citations mid-draft beats rewriting later.
Copyleaks Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing Copyleaks for six months, here are my best tips.
Think of this section as a best practices guide for cleaner scans.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Paste text into a scan | Ctrl + V |
| Select all text in a field | Ctrl + A |
| Find a phrase inside a report | Ctrl + F |
| Print or save a report | Ctrl + P |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Sensitivity Levels: Three AI detection settings live inside scan settings — tune strictness per project.
- Free Individual Tools: The free AI Detector and Plagiarism Checker handle light checks without a paid plan.
- Postman Collection: Developers get a ready-made collection plus a Quickstart guide for faster API setup.
Copyleaks Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Submitting Canvas Work From the Wrong Device
❌ Wrong: Trying to submit a Copyleaks assignment from a phone or tablet browser.
✅ Right: Use Google Chrome on a laptop or desktop in order to submit successfully.
Mistake #2: Changing Sensitivity Without Downloading First
❌ Wrong: Switching the AI sensitivity level while old scans sit undownloaded.
✅ Right: Download any documents submitted before making the change — there’s no way to re-scan them afterward.
Mistake #3: Treating Every Flag as Proof
❌ Wrong: Accusing a writer the instant any text gets flagged.
✅ Right: Review context first. For instance, quoted passages can trigger matches even with proper citations.
Copyleaks Troubleshooting
Problem: Scan Fails or Gets Stuck
Cause: An unstable connection or unsupported file format.
Fix: Failed scans can be re-scanned — retry, or convert the file and resubmit.
Problem: Canvas Submission Won’t Load
Cause: An unsupported browser or a mobile device.
Fix: Switch to Google Chrome on a laptop or desktop, then reload the assignment.
Problem: API Authentication Error
Cause: Access tokens expire after 48 hours.
Fix: Call the login endpoint again, generate a fresh token, and retry your request.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Copyleaks support.
What is Copyleaks?
Copyleaks is an AI detection tool that helps you detect AI generated content.
Think of it like an X-ray machine for text — it shows what the eye misses.
Machine learning models scan for deviations from human writing patterns and specific AI signals.
Extensive testing across millions of texts backs its reported 99% accuracy rate.
It has grown from plagiarism detection into a full platform of AI and compliance tools.
That platform protects digital content from alteration, duplication, and unauthorized AI manipulation.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- AI Detector: Spot AI generated content from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude in seconds.
- Text Moderation: Flag harmful or unwanted text before it reaches your audience.
- API Integration: Add plagiarism detection and AI detection to your own product.
- Browser Extension: Check content anywhere on the web without leaving the page.
- Plagiarism Checker: Catch copied text and protect your work from copyright infringement.
- Grammar Checker: Fix grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in seconds.
- LMS Integration: Bring academic integrity checks into Canvas and other learning platforms.
- Google Docs Add-on: Scan your writing without ever leaving Google Docs.
For more information, read our full Copyleaks review.

Copyleaks Pricing
Here’s what Copyleaks costs in 2026:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $13.99/month | Students, freelancers, and individual writers |
| Pro | $74.99/month | Teams, faculty, and heavy-volume users |
Free trial: Yes — Copyleaks offers free AI-powered tools for individuals, including an AI Detector and Plagiarism Checker.
Money-back guarantee: Not advertised — test the free tools before upgrading.
Keep in mind, the free tier covers light use before you commit.

💰 Best Value: Personal — at $13.99/month it covers AI detection and plagiarism scans for most people.
Copyleaks vs Alternatives
How does Copyleaks compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copyleaks | AI + plagiarism in one | $13.99/mo | ⭐ 4.1 |
| Turnitin | Academic institutions | Custom | ⭐ 4.5 |
| OriginalityAI | Publishers and SEO teams | $14.95/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| GPTZero | Free quick checks | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Grammarly | All-in-one writing | $12/mo | ⭐ 4.6 |
| Scribbr | Student paper checks | Per check | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Quetext | Budget plagiarism scans | $8.80/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| Copyscape | Web content matching | Pay per search | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Winston AI | Scanned document OCR | $12/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Copyleaks — AI detection and plagiarism scanning in one platform
- Best budget: Quetext — solid matching for under $9 per month
- Best for beginners: GPTZero — free tier and a dead-simple interface
- Best for institutions: Turnitin — deep LMS ties and gradebook workflows
🎯 Copyleaks Alternatives
Looking for Copyleaks alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🏢 Turnitin: The academic standard. Deep LMS hooks and institutional reporting, but individuals can’t buy it directly.
- 📊 OriginalityAI: Built for publishers and agencies. Adds readability scoring and full-site scans on top of AI checks.
- 👶 GPTZero: Free tier makes it the easiest starting point for quick one-off checks.
- 🌟 Grammarly: Writing assistant first, plagiarism checker second. Best if you want editing and checking in one subscription.
- 🎯 Scribbr: Pay-per-document checks aimed squarely at students, with citation help included.
- 💰 Quetext: The cheapest monthly option here. DeepSearch matching with color-coded results.
- 🔧 Copyscape: The veteran for web publishers. Pay-per-search pricing suits occasional batch checks.
- 🧠 Winston AI: Strong OCR support scans handwritten and photographed documents other tools miss.
For the full list, see our Copyleaks alternatives guide.
⚔️ Copyleaks Compared
Here’s how Copyleaks stacks up against each competitor:
- Copyleaks vs Turnitin: Turnitin wins inside universities with contracts. Copyleaks wins for individuals and businesses who need direct access.
- Copyleaks vs OriginalityAI: OriginalityAI suits web publishers. Copyleaks brings broader language coverage and stronger LMS options for education.
- Copyleaks vs GPTZero: GPTZero is simpler for casual checks. Copyleaks adds plagiarism scanning and enterprise features.
- Copyleaks vs Grammarly: Grammarly polishes writing. Copyleaks digs deeper on AI detection. Many teams run both.
- Copyleaks vs Scribbr: Scribbr fits one-off student papers. Copyleaks works better for ongoing scans and faculty workflows.
- Copyleaks vs Quetext: Quetext costs less. Copyleaks delivers stronger AI detection and API access for developers.
- Copyleaks vs Copyscape: Copyscape only matches web content. Copyleaks adds AI detection, grammar checks, and LMS support.
- Copyleaks vs Winston AI: Winston handles scanned files well. Copyleaks covers more languages and integrates with more platforms.
Start Using Copyleaks Now
You learned how to use every major Copyleaks feature:
- ✅ AI Detector
- ✅ Text Moderation
- ✅ API Integration
- ✅ Browser Extension
- ✅ Plagiarism Checker
- ✅ Grammar Checker
- ✅ LMS Integration
- ✅ Google Docs Add-on
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with the AI Detector.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Copyleaks actually detect AI?
Yes. It covers GPT-3 through GPT-5, Gemini, Claude, and newer models across 30+ languages. Copyleaks reports 99% accuracy based on extensive testing of millions of texts.
Is Copyleaks free or paid?
Both. Free AI-powered tools for individuals include an AI Detector and Plagiarism Checker. Paid plans start with Personal at $13.99/month.
How does Copyleaks work?
Machine learning models trained on human writing patterns scan your text. Deviations from those patterns, plus specific AI signals, get the text flagged as potential AI.
Is Copyleaks as good as Turnitin?
They target different users. Turnitin sells only to institutions, while Copyleaks serves individuals, businesses, and schools. On AI detection accuracy, Copyleaks holds its own.
How do students submit a Copyleaks assignment?
Open the assignment in Canvas using Google Chrome on a laptop or desktop, upload your file, and submit. Your originality report appears in the assignment details afterward.













