Comparison · checked 6 October 2026

A free Writing9 alternative for IELTS Task 2

Writing9 is a well-known IELTS Writing checker with paid plans. MyBandPrep does the Task 2 part free: an estimated band for all four criteria, the sentences to fix first, and a planner for when you don’t know how to start.

Is Writing9 free?

Partly. Its topic lists, sample essays and demo are free. Checking your own essays without limits needs a plan: $7.99 a week, $14.99 a month, $29.99 a year (shown as a limited-time discount from $37.49). MyBandPrep checks Task 2 essays free, with no account.

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Writing9 vs MyBandPrep

Price: MyBandPrepFree during early access; Writing9$7.99 a week · $14.99 a month · $29.99 a year (shown as a limited-time discount from $37.49)
Free to use: MyBandPrepFull checks, free, as often as you need; Writing9Topic lists, sample essays and a demo are free; unlimited essay checks come with a paid plan
Account needed: MyBandPrepNo. Sign in only to keep essays across devices; Writing9Yes, to subscribe
What it checks: MyBandPrepTask 2 essays (Academic and General Training), and Academic Task 1 answers to our own practice questions, and General Training letters for any task; Writing9Task 2 essays, Academic Task 1 charts and General Training Task 1 letters
Band estimate: MyBandPrepEstimated band for each criterion, with the reason for each; Writing9Predicted band for each criterion
Corrections: MyBandPrepEvery clear grammar, spelling and word error, accepted with one tap; top fixes marked in your essay; Writing9Highlighted mistakes and suggestions
Help before you write: MyBandPrepA step-by-step planner that turns your answers into a first draft; Writing9Ideas and vocabulary for topics
Practice questions: MyBandPrepA checked question bank by topic and type, each with Plan it and Write it; Writing9Large monthly topic lists and user sample essays
Refunds: MyBandPrepNothing to refund; Writing9Advertises a money-back guarantee and a refund if you do not reach your target score

	Writing9	MyBandPrep
Price	$7.99 a week · $14.99 a month · $29.99 a year (shown as a limited-time discount from $37.49)	Free during early access
Free to use	Topic lists, sample essays and a demo are free; unlimited essay checks come with a paid plan	Full checks, free, as often as you need
Account needed	Yes, to subscribe	No. Sign in only to keep essays across devices
What it checks	Task 2 essays, Academic Task 1 charts and General Training Task 1 letters	Task 2 essays (Academic and General Training), and Academic Task 1 answers to our own practice questions, and General Training letters for any task
Band estimate	Predicted band for each criterion	Estimated band for each criterion, with the reason for each
Corrections	Highlighted mistakes and suggestions	Every clear grammar, spelling and word error, accepted with one tap; top fixes marked in your essay
Help before you write	Ideas and vocabulary for topics	A step-by-step planner that turns your answers into a first draft
Practice questions	Large monthly topic lists and user sample essays	A checked question bank by topic and type, each with Plan it and Write it
Refunds	Advertises a money-back guarantee and a refund if you do not reach your target score	Nothing to refund

Writing9 details are from writing9.com on 6 October 2026. Prices and plans can change; check its site before you buy.

What Writing9 does well

Checks all three writing tasks: Task 2 essays, Academic charts and General Training letters.
A large, regularly updated list of reported exam topics and many sample essays.
Years of use: it has been running since 2018.

Where MyBandPrep is different

Free, with no account and no subscription to cancel.
The same essay gets the same band: each essay is marked three times and the middle result is used. How scoring works
Fixes are marked in your own essay, ranked by what holds your band back most.
A planner that walks you through an essay one small question at a time.
Built for phones first.

Which should you choose?

Choose MyBandPrep if you are working on Task 2, want to practise without paying, or get stuck before you start writing. Choose Writing9 if you need your own Academic Task 1 charts checked and are happy to pay for a plan.

Try it on your last essay

Paste an essay you have already checked elsewhere and compare the feedback. It takes about a minute.

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Questions

Is Writing9 free?

Partly. Writing9's topic lists, sample essays and a demo are free, but unlimited essay checks come with a paid plan: $7.99 a week, $14.99 a month, $29.99 a year (shown as a limited-time discount from $37.49) (prices on writing9.com on 6 October 2026). MyBandPrep checks Task 2 essays free, with no account.

Is MyBandPrep really free?

Yes, during early access. There is no trial clock and no card. If paid plans arrive later, the price and what stays free will be stated clearly before you pay.

Which one is more accurate?

Neither tool can give an official score; only an IELTS examiner can. MyBandPrep marks each essay three times and uses the middle result, so the same essay gets the same band, and it shows the reason behind each criterion so you can judge it yourself. Use any checker's band as an estimate and focus on the fixes.

Does MyBandPrep check Task 1 or letters?

Yes, with one limit. MyBandPrep checks any Task 2 essay, which counts for two thirds of your Writing band, and any General Training letter: paste the task and it checks every bullet point, your tone and the format. Academic Task 1 is checked on its own practice questions, where it knows every figure on the chart; it does not yet check an Academic chart you bring yourself, which Writing9 does.

Can I use both?

Yes. Paste the essay you last checked elsewhere into MyBandPrep and compare the feedback. A second opinion on which sentences to fix first is useful whichever tool you keep.

Writing9 is a trademark of its owner. MyBandPrep is independent and not affiliated with Writing9. This comparison uses information published on writing9.com; if anything here is out of date, email hello@mybandprep.com and we will correct it.