CrossPlag Review: Well, That Was Bad

Since LLMs took center stage, more and more plagiarism checkers evolved to also include AI detectors, and that includes CrossPlag. 

But does it live up to the hype generated by the accuracy of its plagiarism detection feature? Can it effectively distinguish between human and machine-written content in an era where AI writing is becoming increasingly sophisticated and accuracy matters most to students who are paying the price for false positive detection?

In this no-holds-barred review, we'll put CrossPlag's AI detection capabilities through their paces. We'll test its accuracy, its ability to handle "undetectable" AI text, and see if it's a contender or a pretender in the fight against machine-written content.

Spoiler alert: You might want to brace yourself for some disappointing results. Let's dive in and see just how well (or poorly) CrossPlag performs when the chips are down.

What is CrossPlag?

Even before LLMs, CrossPlag was already making waves as a plagiarism checker. But when AI started running rampant in education, they answered the call by adding an AI content detection feature.

Using smart algorithms and natural language processing, CrossPlag analyzes text patterns to separate human writing from machine-generated text. It even gives you a confidence percentage to better determine the likelihood that your input came from AI, helping weed out content that may just sound like AI but really isn’t.

In this article, I’ll only be focusing on their AI detection tool. So, without further ado…

How Accurate is CrossPlag?

Test #1

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

Test #2

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

Test #3

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

Test #4

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

Test #5

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

Test #6

CrossPlag: Successfully flags AI-generated text.
How Wrong Is It: 0%

Test #7

CrossPlag: Identifies text as both human and AI-generated.
How Wrong Is It: 50%

Test #8

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

Overall Tally

Can It Detect Undetectable AI?

To really test the limits of CrossPlag, we have to try it with Undetectable AI. This is an AI bypassing platform that can transform AI-generated text (or something similar) into one that reads more human-like. You can use it for your essays, cover letters, and anything in between. 

We’re big fans of this platform so be sure to check our full review of it here. We’ve also written about its specific features like Stealth Writer and Human Typer, so give those a read as well.

Undetectable AI vs. CrossPlag

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

CrossPlag: Mistakes AI-generated text as human.
How Wrong Is It: 100%

Tally

How Much Does It Cost?

CrossPlag is a freemium platform. For its plagiarism checker, prices start at €9.95 for 50,000 words. The overall price scales up the more you use their platform.

But for its AI content detector? It’s completely free. The only downside is that it has a limit of 3,000 words per run.

The Pros and Cons of CrossPlag

The Bottom Line

Well, that was indeed bad. I did say that this is a no-holds-barred review, so here’s the bottom line: CrossPlag's performance in AI content detection is nothing short of abysmal, with an average incorrectness score of 81.25% in our general tests and a perfect 100% failure rate against Undetectable AI. 

While its user-friendly interface and free AI detection feature might seem appealing at first glance, the tool's extreme inaccuracy renders it practically useless for its intended purpose. If you’re looking for the soundbite, here it is: CrossPlag’s AI detection is not worth your attention. 

If there's a silver lining to be found, it's that CrossPlag serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing AI detection technology. As for now, you’d be better served looking elsewhere for your AI content detection needs.

In the meantime, I highly suggest this article if you’re looking for more information about AI detection. Good luck!