Table of Contents
AI writing tools have come a long way since the first mainstream one hit the internet in 2022. Today, writers aren't hurting for choices when looking for tools to assist them in their processes.
But with so many options out there, it begs the question, which of the current AI tools on the market can be considered the best? Simply put, it's the one that works for your needs.
Let's take a closer look at what you can expect.
What To Look for In Your AI Writing Tools
Since all of our needs are different, the features you look for in an AI writing tool will differ as well. Do you need a robust tool that will help you write the next New York Times bestseller, or one that will help you crank out marketing content?
Your needs will be significantly different …
Then, there's the question of cost. Some like to pay a subscription fee and get their credits that way, while others prefer a bit more control and bring in their own API keys. Most AI tools are one or the other, though, some do offer both methods.
I recommend making a list of the features you definitely need and weeding out the programs that way.
Here are the top AI writing tools of 2025 with a brief rundown of the features and what you can do with them.
1. Sudowrite
Features:
- Comprehensive story bible
- Outlining features
- Brainstorm
- Match Your Style
- Visualize
- Chapter Generator
- Revision tools
- Create your own Plugins and use those created by others
- Access to the major LLMs
- Its very own proprietary LLM
Sudowrite is probably the most impressive tool on the market these days, and I'm not saying that out of bias. It's fact. It is very feature rich in terms of giving writers the tools they need to finally complete those stories they've been holding on to.
It's no longer necessary to jump between tools (unless you want to, of course) to carry out your story tasks. You can brainstorm, outline, draft, edit, and put it through the paces. Don't like the way a sentence or paragraph sounds? Use the rewrite tool. Want a little more out of the passage? Use the expand tool to do just that.
Another plus with Sudowrite is you get access to the community through its Discord server. There, you can talk with other members, get help, and access to updates on new features.
Cost: Free trial of 10,000 credits (no time limit to use them), then three paid tiers available with 225,000, 1 million, and 2 million credits, respectively. The paid plans cost $19, $29, and $59 per month, respectively, but paying for a year upfront can net you up to 50% off.
2. ChatGPT
Features:
- Create your own custom GPTs
- Choose between multiple LLMs
- Pay-as-you-go model or monthly subscriptions
- Create multiple story elements
- Start and store projects
- Upload your projects (stories, spreadsheets, outlines, etc)
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot, but it's so much more. Its flexible platform makes it easy to "chat" with the LLM of your choice (OpenAI's models), to create a story structure, and all of the elements within. You can brainstorm a complete outline, characters, themes, titles, and even ask it to help with worldbuilding. You can even create custom GPTs to do what you want them to do, including giving them their own personality.
With Playground, you have a bit more creative control. You can lower or raise the temperature (the model's creativity) to get prose that matches your style.
Cost: You can use the free chat, but if you want more capabilities, you can sign up for Plus or Pro, which cost $20 and $200 per month, respectively. OpenAI also has API pricing available.
3. Anthropic's Claude
Features:
- Several models to choose from
- Significant context window of 150,000 words
- Projects
- Integration into Google Drive
- Customization options (styles)
Anthropic has several Claude models, including Sonnet, Opus, and Haiku, all named after different artistic works, which is fitting, considering they're well known for their prose. The output is very human-like, though it can be flowery at times.
With its massive lookback window, the Claude models can easily help evaluate a manuscript or even pick up your current novel from where you've left off, including those minor details from early on in the story. Be warned, though, that it is heavily censored.
Cost: Claude has a free tier and two paid tiers: Pro, which costs as little as $17 per month (annual subscription required), and Max, which starts at $100 per person per month. You can also get your own Claude API, which gives you access to the latest models and variable pricing.
4. Writesonic
Features:
- Long-form Assistant
- Brand consistency
- Write marketing copy
- Article writer
- Data not used to train AI
- Lots of free tools, including for rewording, generating titles, humanizing, and paraphrasing
Writesonic is more for non-fiction writing, but it can be very useful for people who want to create marketing materials around their books, or even to launch a writing career outside of fiction.
It allows you to maintain a consistent brand, and its social media tools can help you create content for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, all of which can help launch and promote your author business.
Cost: The tool comes with a free trial that gives access to the majority of the features available. Then there are several subscription plans: Basic ($20), Lite ($49), Standard ($99), Professional ($249), and Advanced ($499). You can save 20% by paying for the year in full.
5. Squibler
Features:
- Generate books, stories, scripts, and book titles
- Plot generator
- Templates for various writing projects
- Works for all types of genres
- Unlimited usage and generations with Pro tier
- Organizational features
Squibler promises the user they can generate a story in minutes, but it's not really quite that simple, especially if you want a story that actually makes sense and is readable. The good news is you can break it down and write a chapter at a time. Free users are limited to 6,000 AI words per month, where Pro users get an unlimited amount. You can generate an entire novel in minutes with a few simple prompts, but would you want to? Probably not.
There's an elements section, where you can add your notes for your worldbuilding, including your characters. It also has a visualize feature where you can highlight text and generate an image.
Cost: Squibler offers two subscription tiers, Limited and Pro, priced at $0 and $29 per month, respectively. Sign up for a year at a time, and the monthly cost drops to $16 per month.
6. Gemini
Features:
- Storage space for your works (2TB)
- Tied to Google, making it easy to integrate into your Workspace
- Strong at brainstorming and deep research
- Access to NotebookLM
- Create videos from images with Veo 2
- Create films with Flow (Veo 3)
Released in early 2024, Gemini excels at deep research, which is extremely beneficial for brainstorming and digging into complex subject matters to make your books accurate. This makes up for it lacking the organizational tools and the ability to use voice integration.
The prose isn't terrible, either. The newer models are far better at natural-sounding writing than previous generations, and there's no reason to think it won't continue to improve as training does.
Cost: Using Gemini Advanced will set you back $20 per month through Google's AI Pro subscription. Students qualify for a no-cost subscription.
7. Novelcrafter
Features:
- Codex
- Connect your own APIs
- Novel import and export
- Extract codex entries from snippets
- Mobile compatibility
- Create novel covers
- Templates
- Organize by pen names
- Rich text editor with customizable interface
- Planning tools (grid, matrix, scene labels, outline)
Novelcrafter is similar to Sudowrite in that it is a versatile writing tool for authors, but where Sudowrite is easier to navigate, Novelcrafter has a bit of a learning curve. However, it is a dynamic tool for writing stories, especially with its codex, where writers can store information and have the AI pull it at relevant times.
You do need to use API keys from your preferred LLMs to generate, though this is pretty simple to set up. It does require a monthly subscription in addition to paying for the API usage.
Cost: Novelcrafter offers a free 21-day trial, after which you can sign up for Scribe, Hobbyist, Artisan, or Specialist subscriptions, which cost $4, $8, $14, and $20 per month, respectively. Sign up for a year, and you'll receive a two-month discount on your subscription.
8. Copy AI
Features:
- No need for multiple AI copilots
- Marketing
- Content creation
- Lead processing
- Forecasting
- Grammar checker
- Non-fiction usage
Copy.ai is a non-fiction writing tool designed to help with copywriting and marketing. It's not built for writing fiction, but it can help you create excellent content with its design. Its features include tools to help you improve your overall writing before submitting it, like a grammar checker and a verb booster.
Authors could get some use out of this with marketing materials used to improve their visibility.
Cost: Users can choose between a free account, which gives them a single seat and access to older LLMs, or Starter or Advanced paid tiers, which cost $49 and $249 monthly, respectively.
9. Raptor Write
Features:
- Free to use (API keys needed)
- Chat Window
- Quick controls
- Can adjust LLM settings
- Prompt window
- Toggle documents on so AI can read
- Folders to organize
Raptor Write is a free platform to use, but it does require you to bring your own OpenRouter API key. The good news is it's easy to add to the platform. You can also set your preferred levels. You can lower or increase the creativity levels and adjust the output amounts to control spending. You can even switch LLMs in the middle of a project.
The one downfall is that your work isn't guaranteed to be there since it's browser-based. You cannot work across different browsers or devices. Additionally, if you clear your cache, you will lose your work. It's designed this way to keep the tool available for free. So, those who use Raptor Write have to be careful to back up all their stories.
Cost: Free to use the software, but you need to bring your own API key and keep it topped up.
10. Jasper
Features:
- Templates
- Designed for marketing writing
- Customizable
- Runs on simple prompts
- Chrome extension
Released in 2021, Jasper.ai, previously named Jarvis AI, is a content writing tool. It offers several different ways to get started, including a long-form assistant you could potentially use to write fiction (if you wanted), but it's more designed for non-fiction writing. Think product descriptions, blog posts, and other marketing materials.
Once you choose a template to get started, you'll give it prompts as to what you're looking for in terms of tone, topics, and even give it feedback.
Cost: Jasper has a free 7-day trial for its Creator and Pro levels, which cost $49 and $69 per month, respectively. There is a Business tier, too, but you have to call the sales department for pricing. Those who want to sign up for a year can save 20%.