Roundup

The best AI tools that work inside Google Docs

Most AI writing tools want you to leave your document. These are the ones that come to you.

Write It teamUpdated August 2, 20262 min read

The single biggest time sink in AI-assisted writing is the copy-paste loop between a chat tab and the document. These tools remove it.

Extensions vs add-ons

Worth understanding before you install anything. A Google Workspace add-on runs in a sidebar sandbox with access mediated by Google’s APIs. A Chrome extension runs in the browser alongside the page and can do more — including simulating typing directly into the document, which an add-on cannot.

That is why auto typers are extensions, not add-ons. It also means extensions ask for broader permissions, which is worth reading before you accept.

1. Write It

A Chrome extension with the widest in-document feature set here.

Auto Typer. Types text into the doc character by character with variable speed and self-corrected mistakes.
Apollo Agent Mode. Plans and drafts multi-step writing tasks in the document, with a review step first.
AI Humanizer and AI Detector. Rewrite machine-sounding passages and see what still reads that way.
Research Mode. Source search, per-project library, and a formatted Works Cited inserted into the doc.
Writing Assistant and tab completion. Grammar and clarity underlines, plus inline next-phrase suggestions.

Free tier available. Also runs in Microsoft Word on the web and, more lightly, Google Slides.

2. Gemini in Google Docs

Google’s Help me write is already in the sidebar with nothing to install, on eligible plans. It generates and refines text and does that well.

It inserts text instantly rather than typing it, and has no humanizer, no detector, and no source or citation management. Also worth checking your own account — many school-issued Google accounts do not include the AI features.

3. Grammarly

Works in Google Docs through its Chrome extension and remains the most capable proofreader available. It reacts to text you have written rather than helping produce it, and it does not touch citations or sources.

4. Free built-ins people forget about

Voice typing. Tools → Voice typing. Genuinely fast for a first draft, and free.
Version history. File → Version history. Useful for you, and the thing teachers check.
Document outline. Auto-generated from your headings — the cheapest structural check there is.
Smart Compose. Basic inline suggestions, on by default.

Stop switching tabs

Install Write It and draft, revise, research, and cite without leaving your Google Doc.

Add Write It to Chrome See plans

Frequently asked questions

Does Google Docs have built-in AI?

Yes, on eligible Google plans — Help me write generates and refines text in the sidebar. Availability is tied to specific plan tiers and many school-issued accounts do not include it, so check your own account.

What is the best AI extension for Google Docs?

For breadth, Write It — it covers typing, drafting, humanizing, detection, research, and citations in one extension. For proofreading specifically, Grammarly is stronger.

Does Write It work outside Google Docs?

Write It runs in Google Docs with the full toolkit, in Microsoft Word on the web, and in Google Slides with a lighter feature set.

How much does Write It cost?

Write It is free to start with 5,000 tokens at signup. Plus is $10 a month or $96 a year and includes 100,000 tokens a month. Premium is $15 a month or $144 a year and includes 200,000 tokens a month. Unused tokens roll over on both paid plans.