Readability Formulas vs Text Inspector

Readability Formulas offers tools to score English text and estimate the grade level and age of readers likely to understand it. Its Readability Scoring System includes formulas such as Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Dale-Chall, Spache, FORCAST, Fry and Raygor. Text can be pasted or supplied as .txt, .docx, .rtf, .html or .pdf files. Text Statistics reports measures including syllable count, average sentence length, abbreviations, proper nouns and passive voice. The beta Robert Gunning Editor helps locate difficult words and wordiness, with editing tools for phrases, nominalizations, fuzzy words and weak verbs. Batch Processing, also in beta, scores multiple texts with one or more formulas. A Chrome and Microsoft Edge extension can score highlighted web text, open the editor and show word statistics. The privacy policy says processing runs through local browser scripts and submitted text is not stored on a server or accessible to the site. The Synonym Finder connects to Datamuse and may transmit one word at a time.

Text Inspector analyses English text for difficulty, readability, lexical diversity, and CEFR levels. Its overall difficulty score draws on more than 200 metrics, while the CEFR Level Checker gives individual words a level along with their commonness and difficulty. Listed tools include Statistics and Readability, Lexical Diversity, Scorecard, Tagger, EVP, BNC, COCA, Academic Word List and Phrases, Knowledge-Based Vocabulary Lists, and Metadiscourse Markers. An API lets people and organisations add analysis and scoring to their own products. The maker describes it as useful to language professionals, academics, and students preparing teaching materials or tests and evaluating student work. English is fully supported; other languages may receive limited statistics or lexical-diversity information. The Free plan covers 250 words and automatically deletes analysis data after six hours. The Organisation plan allows up to 13,000 words, the largest stated limit. A 30-day trial is listed for API access, which starts from £360 per year.