Writing preparation · checked 21 October 2026
IELTS Advantage alternatives for writing preparation
IELTS Advantage is known for its free articles, its essay correction service ($29.95 for one essay, $74.95 for three, $99.95 for five; IELTS Advantage essay correction) and its VIP Academy course: a one-time fee with five one-on-one writing feedback sessions from former IELTS examiners (its description), two personal lessons and a lesson library. If those prices or that format do not suit you, here are five alternatives for the Writing test.
Disclosure: we make English Test Coach, one of the options below. The other providers are separate; their names are used only to identify them. Bands from any checker are estimates, not official IELTS results.
Prices at a glance
As each site showed them on 21 October 2026, in its own currency. We do not quote IELTS Advantage's VIP price because its page labelled it "today only" and gave no standard price; see IELTS Advantage VIP Academy.
| Option | Feedback on your writing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| English Test Coach | Every essay: an estimated band for each criterion, with evidence and next steps (AI) | Free for 3 checks a month. Pro £12 a month, renewing until you cancel; or a one-off exam pass that never renews: £12 (1 month), £24 (3 months), £49 (12 months), with local prices in some countries. |
| Magoosh IELTS | Unlimited AI writing and speaking grading inside a four-skill course. Magoosh IELTS plans | $109 for 1 month; $129 for 6 months |
| IELTSbiz | Unlimited AI checks on paid plans. IELTSbiz pricing | $11.99 a month; $29.99 for 3 months; $75 lifetime |
| Engnovate | 2 free AI evaluations a month; unlimited on Premium. Engnovate plans | One-time Premium from $11.97 to $61.97, shown as a limited-time offer |
| IELTS Liz | None: lessons and model answers. ieltsliz.com | Free site; store items £14 to £92. IELTS Liz store |
The alternatives
1. English Test Coach: best for feedback on every essay at a low price
Write in a timed workspace, check the answer and get a band estimate for Task response, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy, with the parts of your answer behind each judgement and what to fix first. Three months of checks cost £24 once, with a pass that never renews. It covers Academic and General Training, both tasks. Our published test found 24 of 27 official responses within one band.
2. Magoosh IELTS: for a full four-skill video course
850 practice questions with video explanations, up to 10 full mock tests and unlimited AI grading of writing and speaking. It advertises a 7-day money-back guarantee and a target band score guarantee on Premium. Magoosh IELTS plans.
3. IELTSbiz: for a lifetime plan
An AI checker with a $75 one-time lifetime plan. Its pricing page says that after the 3-day trial essays and speaking go unmarked. IELTSbiz pricing.
4. Engnovate: for trying AI marking free across skills
Two writing and two speaking evaluations a month free. Premium is a one-time payment, and its page says payments are non-refundable. Engnovate plans.
5. IELTS Liz: for free lessons
Free lessons and model answers from a long-running site. It does not mark writing, so pair it with a checker. See English Test Coach vs IELTS Liz.
Our verdict
IELTS Advantage sells human correction by the essay and a video course with five writing feedback sessions. Most candidates need feedback on many essays, quickly, so they can fix one weakness at a time. English Test Coach does that from £12 a month, and keeps 3 checks a month free. If your target hangs on half a band, add a human review just before test day.
What do you get from each in detail? See English Test Coach vs IELTS Advantage.
Questions about IELTS Advantage alternatives
What does IELTS Advantage VIP include?
On 21 October 2026 its VIP Academy page listed 5 one-on-one writing feedback sessions, 2 one-to-one lessons, 3 months of access to the course materials and a 24-hour feedback turnaround. The price was a one-time fee in US dollars, shown as a "today only" offer.
Is there a cheaper alternative to IELTS Advantage for writing feedback?
Yes. English Test Coach gives an estimated band for each criterion on every essay you check: 3 checks a month are free, the first without sign-up, and paid plans start at £12. We make English Test Coach. The trade-off is that its feedback is AI, not a person.
Should I still get a human to mark my writing?
If your target depends on half a band, a human review close to test day is worth considering. For day-to-day practice, frequent feedback on many essays usually teaches more than a few detailed sessions.
Check your writing
Write a timed essay and run a free check. See the band for each criterion and what to revise first.