Paraphraser is an Android app that you can use to paraphrase text. This is a free to use application that does not require any registration or fees.
Be careful not to confuse the app with the online tool as they share the same name but offer different things.
This application is available on the Google Play store for free. Let’s see what it has to offer.
Paraphraser.io Application Review
The application has a small download size (less than 16 MBs). This means it is a very compact application. The download and installation are simple enough and mostly taken care of by the system.
Once it’s installed, you can open the application.
First Impressions (Appearance)
The application user interface is very minimalistic. You can get right into the thick of things at once. There are no menus to speak of instead you are led straight away to the application interface..
There is a large text box that takes over most of the screen. There is an area above this box that contains three buttons that you use to switch modes. Just below this text box is some ad space and below that is a button that says “Paraphrase Now”.
The dominant color is off-white, while the buttons are cyan. That about wraps it up for appearance.
This app also has the website https://www.paraphraser.io/ . All tools are available on it, anyone can access an online website. This tool website also has pricing plans and student blogs.
Paraphrasing Modes
So, with this app, we can paraphrase in three modes which are: Standard mode, Fluency Mode, and Creative Mode. We can cycle through these modes using the buttons at the top of the application UI.
The application utilizes artificial intelligence to “read” the text and then figure out which words/phrases to replace, add or remove from the text. Each mode utilizes a different algorithm to paraphrase content, so there are differences between their results.
Now we will look at each mode as well as its pros and cons
1. Fluency Mode
The first mode that is available is called “Fluency Mode”. This mode allows us to paraphrase some text, with the focus being the readability of the end result.
As such this mode tries to simplify your text so that it becomes easier to read. It has a 5,000-character limit which we consider an ‘alright’ number…considering this is a free application.
The method to use the mode is very simple. You simply need to tap the button that says “Fluency Mode” and then begin writing /pasting in the input field. Then once you are done writing, just press the “Paraphrase Now” button.
The result of the paraphrase is good as far as readability goes. However, we noticed that it sometimes changes some words that distort the meaning a little bit. Considering this is not what a paraphraser is supposed to do, this was a bit of a letdown.
Pros:
- Grammatically correct results.
- Fast performance.
- Readability is noticeably increased.
Cons:
- Limited input capacity
- Sometimes slightly changes the original meaning.
2. Standard Mode
The Standard mode unlike the Fluency model does not focus on readability. The algorithm it uses only focuses on changing the words and phrases in a paragraph. The changes can make the text more readable or they can make it more difficult to peruse.
Just like the Fluency mode, the Standard mode also has a 5,000-character limit. The method of usage is the same; simply type or paste the text in the input field and press the “Paraphrase Now” button.
The results are quite mixed. Some sentences are rewritten really well, and some are written poorly. You may need to edit the results quite a bit to make them more legible.
Pros:
- Uses a lot of different vocabulary.
- Significantly changes the text.
Cons:
- Sometimes makes grammatical mistakes.
3. Creative Mode
The Creative mode is available for free in the Android application. However, in the online tool, it is a premium-only model. This model has a similar algorithm as the Fluency mode, but the difference is that the focus is on changing the sentence structure.
The change in the sentence structure often results in a shift in the tone as well. The method to use it is the same as before, type/paste some text in the input box and click the button.
The results are quite varied, but this time there are more positives than negatives. The tone shift is good as it does not harm your text. The sentence structure changes make the result look noticeably different. However, there are some grammatical mistakes
Pros:
- Changes sentence structure.
- Changes the tone of some sentences.
- The result is easy to read.
Cons:
- Makes some tense mistakes.
- Slightly alters the meaning.
Other Features
The application has some good QoL (quality of life) features. For starters, the application is completely free. We do not need to pay for anything. We can upload a file that has less than 5,000 characters. We can also save the results as a Word or PDF document. You can also clear all text with one button press when you want to start a new session.
However, on the downside; there are persistent ads. They are not intrusive but every once in a while, you get a full-screen ad that interrupts anything that you were doing in the app.
Our Verdict
Paraphraser.io application is a free and lightweight app that anyone can use to rewrite text without changing its meaning.
This paraphrasing tool offers three modes with differing functionality, each presenting distinct advantages and benefits. In our specific use case, we found the results to be reliably usable after some minor editing on our part, making it quite valuable for students and amateur writers.
However, we believe the current output is not sophisticated enough for a professional's consistent use. The introduction of a premium version that offered enhanced functionality would be a significant improvement. In our opinion, if the application mirrors its online tool version by offering premium modes, this paraphraser tool could greatly enhance its relevance and utility.
For now, we have rated it a 5/10, and only recommend it to people who do not need very high-quality paraphrasing.
