Writing9
Writing9 is a bootstrapped AI-powered SaaS platform that provides instant IELTS essay evaluation and band score feedback against British Council standards, serving individual test-takers globally via a self-serve subscription model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Writing9 does
Writing9 is a bootstrapped, founder-owned SaaS platform that provides AI-powered IELTS writing evaluation and feedback to individual test-takers. Founded in 2018 by Serhii Baraniuk and registered in Sheridan, Wyoming, the platform serves students preparing for the IELTS exam who need to improve writing scores for university admission, immigration, or scholarship purposes. The core product is an automated essay scanning and evaluation system that analyzes user submissions against British Council standards across four criteria — Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range, and Task Achievement — delivering band score estimates and actionable feedback in seconds. The underlying technology leverages natural language processing to identify grammar mistakes, suggest vocabulary improvements, generate topic ideas, and track user progress over time.
Writing9 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Writing9
- Legal name
- Writing9
- Website
- https://writing9.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Writing9 is a bootstrapped AI-powered SaaS platform that provides instant IELTS essay evaluation and band score feedback against British Council standards, serving individual test-takers globally via a self-serve subscription model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Writing9 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Test Preparation Software
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (61171)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Test & Admissions Writing (SSAT/ISEE/SAT/ACT Essays, Personal Statements) (EDAMAJAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Summative & End-of-Course/Exit Exam Content (K–12) (EDAGADAI), Assessment & Item Writing / Test Content Development (EDAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where Writing9 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Writing9 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Premium Subscription - Weekly: Weekly subscription providing unlimited essay checks and access to all premium features including grammar checker, vocabulary tools, speaking simulator, and e-book resources.
- Premium Subscription - Monthly: Monthly subscription with full access to unlimited essay checking, personalized suggestions, and bonus materials including English Speaking Course, IELTS Vocabulary Practice, and Speaking Simulator.
- Premium Subscription - Annual: Annual subscription with 20% discount, providing the same unlimited access as other tiers with cost savings for committed users.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Weekly | Weekly subscription for unlimited IELTS essay checking and premium features |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription for unlimited IELTS essay checking and premium features |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription with 20% discount - unlimited access to all features |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Writing9 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Writing9 offers an automated IELTS essay checking and evaluation service that scans submitted writing against British Council standards and returns an estimated band score with detailed feedback on grammar, vocabulary, coherence, and task achievement. Premium subscribers receive unlimited essay checks and access to bonus tools such as a speaking simulator, an English speaking course, vocabulary practice, and a band 7+ writing e-book. Distribution is exclusively online via the company's website on a subscription basis.
Product overview
Writing9 is a single unified platform offering IELTS writing evaluation services. The core product is an automated essay checking and evaluation service that provides band score estimates, grammar analysis, and improvement suggestions. Premium subscribers receive unlimited essay checks and bonus tools including Speaking9 (IELTS Speaking Simulator), an Intermediate-Advanced English Speaking Course, an IELTS Writing E-Book (Band 7+ Guide), and IELTS Writing Vocabulary Practice. The platform also offers topic ideas generation and progress tracking features. An Annual Writing9 Scholarship program provides additional value for student users.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Writing9 IELTS Writing Evaluation Service Core automated essay checking and evaluation service that analyzes IELTS essays, letters, and charts against British Council standards, providing instant band scores and detailed feedback on grammar, vocabulary, coherence, cohesion, and task achievement. Targeted at individual IELTS candidates needing unlimited practice and rapid feedback.
- Speaking9 - IELTS Speaking Simulator Standalone premium tool that simulates IELTS speaking test conditions so users can practice the speaking section of the exam.
- Intermediate-Advanced English Speaking Course Standalone downloadable course for learners aiming to speak fluent English at an intermediate-to-advanced level, distributed as a bonus to Writing9 premium subscribers.
- IELTS Writing E-Book - Band 7+ Guide Standalone premium e-book providing guidance on how to achieve IELTS writing band scores of 7 or higher, distributed to Writing9 premium subscribers.
- IELTS Writing Vocabulary Practice Standalone premium vocabulary practice tool focused on essential words for the IELTS exam, distributed to Writing9 premium subscribers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 47,684 students successfully passed IELTS using the platform
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Writing9
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Writing9 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Writing9 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Writing9 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- E2Language: Online IELTS preparation platform offering live classes, courses, and AI-supported practice across all four IELTS skills. Direct competitor to Writing9 in the IELTS test prep category, especially for self-directed learners preparing for the writing module.
- Magoosh: Established online test prep company with IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT and other programs built on a subscription/PLG model. Closely comparable to Writing9 in self-serve test prep digital delivery and content-led acquisition strategy.
- IELTS Simon: Long-running IELTS prep site by a former examiner that publishes model essays and lessons for free, with paid courses. A direct content-driven competitor that overlaps with Writing9's IELTS writing correction niche.
- IELTS Liz: Popular IELTS prep blog and YouTube presence offering free lessons, model essays, and tips for all IELTS sections. Comparable to Writing9 as a content-driven IELTS resource competing for the same organic search intent.
- BestMyTest: IELTS preparation platform with online courses, practice tests, and AI-assisted feedback. Directly comparable to Writing9 in targeting IELTS candidates with self-paced digital study tools and writing correction.
Broad incumbents
- British Council (LearnEnglish): Official IELTS co-owner publishing free preparation resources, sample tasks, and writing feedback conventions. A high-authority incumbent whose free content directly competes with Writing9's SEO and content marketing channels.
- Duolingo English Test: Operated by Duolingo, this is an alternative English proficiency test increasingly accepted by universities. Represents a substitute (and to a degree, competitive) force to IELTS itself, indirectly affecting Writing9's addressable candidate pool.
- EF Education First: Global education company offering English-language courses and test preparation including IELTS. Broader incumbent in international education and language testing, with scale and marketing reach well beyond Writing9's bootstrapped footprint.
Emerging players
- Grammarly: AI-powered writing assistant with grammar correction, tone, and clarity suggestions. Adjacent competitor that already handles a portion of the grammar-feedback use case for ESL/EFL learners and could move down-market into IELTS-specific scoring.
- QuillBot: AI writing toolkit offering paraphrasing, grammar checking, and summarization. Comparable as an AI writing utility used by English learners; potential substitute for Writing9's premium grammar and vocabulary feedback.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Writing9 social profiles
Digital presenceWriting9 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Writing9 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Writing9 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Writing9 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Writing9
What does Writing9 do?
Writing9 offers an automated IELTS essay checking and evaluation service that scans submitted writing against British Council standards and returns an estimated band score with detailed feedback on grammar, vocabulary, coherence, and task achievement. Premium subscribers receive unlimited essay checks and access to bonus tools such as a speaking simulator, an English speaking course, vocabulary practice, and a band 7+ writing e-book. Distribution is exclusively online via the company's website on a subscription basis.
Is Writing9 a public or private company?
Writing9 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Writing9 founded?
Writing9 was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Writing9 based?
Writing9 is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Writing9 make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Premium Subscription - Weekly is the primary driver. The others are premium Subscription - Monthly and premium Subscription - Annual.
Who are Writing9's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are E2Language, Magoosh, IELTS Simon, IELTS Liz and BestMyTest. Broad incumbents are British Council (LearnEnglish), Duolingo English Test and EF Education First. Emerging players are Grammarly and QuillBot.
Does Writing9 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Writing9.
What industry is Writing9 in?
Writing9's product category is Test Preparation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAJAM, Test & Admissions Writing (SSAT/ISEE/SAT/ACT Essays, Personal Statements), with a secondary code of EDAGADAI, Summative & End-of-Course/Exit Exam Content (K–12). Its NAICS code is 611691.