I remember the first time I tried to condense a 20-page research paper into a one-page summary. Let’s just say it involved way too much coffee and a stubborn refusal to admit I was over my head.
After hours of trying to ‘summarize’ while still hitting the word count sweet spot, I knew there had to be a better way.
Enter AI text shorteners—the modern-day lifesavers for students drowning in deadlines, professionals streamlining reports, and content creators crafting punchy takeaways.
🔍 Did You Know? AI in business is projected to grow by 36.6% annually through 2030.
These tools aren’t just about slashing word counts; they’re designed to preserve the key points while saving you time. After testing some of the best AI-powered summarizing tools available today, here’s what I’ve learned.
If you’re more of a visual learner, check out this vlog about summarizing with AI!
⏰ 60-Second Summary
AI text shortener tools are your go-to solutions for condensing long content into clear, concise summaries without losing the essence.
- ClickUp: Best for AI documentation management
- QuillBot: Best for versatile AI-powered writing assistance
- TLDR This: Best for ad-free online content summarization
- Scribbr: Best for academic text shortening and citation support
- Notta: Best for meeting transcription and real-time summarization
- Paraphraser.io: Best for versatile text shortening and rewriting
- ChatGPT: Best for AI-powered conversational text summarization
- Editpad: Best for versatile text summarization and editing
- Summary Generator: Best for quick AI-powered text summaries
- Jasper AI: Best for multilingual text summarization and content repurposing
- What Should You Look for in a Text Shortener?
- The 10 Best Text Shorteners
- 1. ClickUp (Best for AI documentation management)
- 2. QuillBot (Best for versatile AI-powered writing assistance)
- 3. TLDR This (Best for ad-free online content summarization)
- ​​4. Scribbr (Best for academic text shortening and citation support)
- 5. Notta (Best for meeting transcription and real-time summarization)
- 6. Paraphraser.io (Best for versatile text shortening and rewriting)
- 7. ChatGPT (Best for AI-powered conversational text summarization)
- 8. Editpad (Best for versatile text summarization and editing)
- 9. Summary Generator (Best for quick AI-powered text summaries)
- 10. Jasper AI (Best for multilingual text summarization and content repurposing)
- Think Beyond Summaries: Elevate Your Workflow with ClickUp
What Should You Look for in a Text Shortener?
Summarizing content for online sharing is easier with text shorteners, but their effectiveness varies widely. The right tool can boost user experience and engagement and provide valuable analytics.
In this guide, I’ll highlight what to look for to choose the best text shortener for your needs.
- Customizable summary length: Allows you to set a specific word count or percentage reduction
- Support for multiple formats: Accepts input as plain text, PDFs, Word documents, or web URLs
- AI-powered accuracy: Uses advanced algorithms to retain key points and avoid losing essential details
- Input box for direct text entry: A simple way to paste or type text without uploading files
- Topic-specific summarization: Can adapt the style for research papers, articles, or marketing content and generate an accurate summary for each
- Language support: Works with multiple languages for non-English content
- Word and character count display: Tracks the length of both the original and summarized text
- Integration with other tools: Syncs with apps like Google Docs or note-taking software for seamless workflows
- Batch summarization: Handles multiple pieces of text at once, perfect for research or bulk tasks
- Export options: Easily save summaries as files or share them directly
🧠Fun Fact: Text shorteners use attention mechanisms to focus on the most important parts of a sentence. It’s like having a super-smart highlighter!
The 10 Best Text Shorteners
Finding the right text shortener can feel overwhelming with so many options. I’ve tested the top tools, and these are my recommendations for condensing long-form content while retaining the key points.
Let’s dive into these tools in detail:
1. ClickUp (Best for AI documentation management)
I’ve been using ClickUp Brain, and it’s easily one of the smartest AI tools I’ve tried for shortening text. It lets users condense task activity, comment threads, project updates, and list activity into concise summaries.
Whether you need a quick overview of task progress, a summary of a lengthy comment thread, or an update on project milestones, ClickUp AI does it all with just a few clicks.
I can generate tailored summaries for specific time frames or filter tasks based on configurations using features like Summarize, Progress Update, and List Summary.
What makes it even better is ClickUp Docs. I don’t have to juggle multiple apps because everything happens in one seamless interface. I can draft, summarize, and edit AI content in the workspace where my projects and tasks live.
đź”® Bonus Tip: With ClickUp Brain, you can generate high-level project updates across specific timeframes, like the last 7 or 30 days, and filter by task configurations for tailored insights. Explore all the ways ClickUp AI can optimize your workflow!
ClickUp best features
- Automatically condense documents, comments, and tasks into easy-to-digest summaries
- Get instant answers to questions about your workspace, with summaries tailored to your needs
- Create, edit, and summarize documents directly within your workspace
- Track changes seamlessly with built-in document version control for better collaboration and transparency
ClickUp limitations
- Some users report a steeper learning curve for new team members unfamiliar with ClickUp’s ecosystem
ClickUp pricing
- Free forever
- Unlimited: $7/month per user
- Business: $12/month per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- ClickUp Brain: Add to any paid plan for $7/month per user
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)
One user shared their experience with ClickUp, highlighting how it streamlines project management and documentation:
2. QuillBot (Best for versatile AI-powered writing assistance)
QuillBot is an AI summarizer tool that combines paraphrasing, grammar checking, and summarizing text. Its paragraph summarizer supports creating custom summaries and condensing content, making it ideal for academic and professional use.
It works seamlessly across platforms with browser extensions, mobile apps, and integrations like Google Docs. The paraphraser offers nine unique modes, enabling flexible rewriting tailored to your needs.
QuillBot best features
- Generate summaries up to 6,000 words in length
- Create custom summaries for specific content needs
- Paraphrase unlimited text with multiple rewriting modes
- Detect AI-generated content for originality checks
QuillBot limitations
- The grammar checker could provide more advanced suggestions
- The screen interface feels congested for extended use
QuillBot pricing
- Free
- Premium: $9.95/month
QuillBot ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (30+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (140+ reviews)
A user highlights how QuillBot makes their writing process faster and stress-free:
3. TLDR This (Best for ad-free online content summarization)
TLDR This simplifies information overload by summarizing articles, webpages, and documents with AI precision. You can use it to extract metadata, eliminate distractions, and present concise insights.
It even supports PDFs and Word files up to 25 MB. The browser extension makes summarizing a webpage effortless. Highlighting key arguments and skipping fluff ensures clarity without unnecessary details.
TLDR This best features
- Summarize articles and documents automatically
- Extract metadata like author, date, and reading time
- Eliminate ads and distractions for a clean reading experience
- Use browser extensions for instant webpage summaries
TLDR This limitations
- Rarely oversimplifies complex information
TLDR This pricing
- Free
- Pro: $9.99/month
TLDR This ratings and reviews
- Not enough reviews
​​4. Scribbr (Best for academic text shortening and citation support)
Scribbr’s tools are tailored for students and academics, including a free text summarizer that simplifies lengthy academic texts. Its summarizing tool is effective for condensing essays, research papers, or dissertations into manageable content.
Coupled with its plagiarism checker and AI content generator, it’s a great resource for academic writing.
Scribbr best features
- Summarize academic texts quickly with the free text summarizer
- Generate accurate citations in multiple styles like APA and MLA
- Detect plagiarism and AI content in your writing
- Use free tools like grammar checkers and paraphrasing tools
- Access time-saving templates for academic documents
Scribbr limitations
- Focused primarily on academic use, limiting broader applications
Scribbr pricing
- Free
Scribbr ratings and reviews
- Not enough reviews
➡️ Read More: Best AI Writing Prompts for Marketers & Writers
5. Notta (Best for meeting transcription and real-time summarization)
Notta is an AI-powered tool for transcribing, summarizing, and sharing meeting recaps. Its ability to create accurate transcripts and concise summaries from live meetings or recordings saves time and boosts productivity.
Supporting 58 languages, Notta ensures bilingual meetings are effortlessly transcribed and translated. With seamless integrations into platforms like Notion, Slack, and Salesforce, workflow management is simplified.
Notta best features
- Transcribe meetings and recordings in over 58 languages
- Generate actionable summaries with decisions and insights highlighted
- Share notes and summaries instantly with team members
- Export notes in multiple formats like TXT, Word, PDF, and SRT
Notta limitations
- Occasionally struggles with transcription accuracy in noisy environments
Notta pricing
- Free
- Pro: $14.99/month
- Business: $27.99/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Notta ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (130+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
A co-founder of a start-up shared how Notta has streamlined their team meetings:
➡️ Read More: Ditch the Pen & Paper: How to Use AI for Meeting Notes
6. Paraphraser.io (Best for versatile text shortening and rewriting)
Paraphraser.io provides AI-powered tools for paraphrasing, rewriting, and summarizing text efficiently. Multiple modes like Fluency, Creative, and Shorten allow users to generate unique, concise content while preserving the original meaning.
Supporting over 20 languages, it caters to a global audience. Its summarizing feature is especially useful for students, teachers, and professionals looking to simplify lengthy content for better readability and productivity.
Paraphraser.io best features
- Summarize and paraphrase text using advanced AI modes
- Maintain the original meaning while simplifying the structure
- Generate plagiarism-free text with customizable rephrasing modes
Paraphraser.io limitations
- Currently supports only standard languages; broader language options would enhance usability
Paraphraser.io pricing
- Silver: $23/month
- Gold: $40/month
- Diamond: $499/month
Paraphraser.io ratings and reviews
- Not enough reviews
➡️ Read More: 10 Free Project Summary Templates in ClickUp & Excel
7. ChatGPT (Best for AI-powered conversational text summarization)
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a versatile AI summary generator tool capable of generating summaries, answering queries, and creating custom content across various domains.
It is especially effective for simplifying long-form content into concise summaries or extracting key points. Its natural conversational ability makes it suitable for various text-shortening tasks, from academic content to business document collaboration.
ChatGPT best features
- Generate detailed or concise summaries based on user input
- Tailor responses to specific tones, formats, or requirements
- Extract key points from lengthy documents or discussions
- Works seamlessly across devices via OpenAI’s web app and API
ChatGPT limitations
- Struggles with accuracy in highly technical or niche topics
ChatGPT pricing
- Free
- Plus: $20/month
- Pro: $200/month
ChatGPT ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5.0 (650+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5.0 (70+ reviews)
One user shared how ChatGPT stands out as a powerful and versatile tool:
🧠Fun Fact: ChatGPT reached 1 million users in just 5 days—faster than any social media app in history.
8. Editpad (Best for versatile text summarization and editing)
Editpad is a text summarizer tool that combines note summarizing, rewriting, and editing text. Its text summarizer efficiently condenses long-form content like articles, research papers, and reports into digestible summaries without losing key points.
This AI summary tool offers paraphrasing, plagiarism detection, and grammar checking, making it an all-in-one solution for students, writers, and professionals. It also extracts text from images and generates essays or stories, all at affordable prices.
Editpad best features
- Summarize lengthy documents into concise, accurate reports
- Rewrite and paraphrase content with AI-powered tools
- Extract text from PDFs and images for analysis or summarization
- Generate essays, stories, and rewritten text quickly and easily
- Includes additional tools like plagiarism detection and grammar checking
Editpad limitations
- Paraphrasing may occasionally alter the meaning of key sentences, requiring manual review
Editpad pricing
- Basic Student: $5.99 (7 days)
- Basic Monthly: $12.99/month
- Pro Student: $9 (7 days)
- Pro Monthly: $19/month
Editpad ratings and reviews
- Not enough reviews
➡️ Read More: 10 Best Research Article Summarizer Tools for Quick Insights
9. Summary Generator (Best for quick AI-powered text summaries)
This AI-driven tool makes lengthy content into concise, essential summaries. Perfect for students, researchers, and professionals, it extracts key points while skipping unnecessary details. This tool is ideal for handling research papers, reports, or lengthy articles where time is limited.
Its advanced AI algorithms ensure precision, retaining critical information without altering the context. With a user-friendly interface, it delivers accurate, easy-to-read summaries within seconds, streamlining content consumption for busy schedules.
Summary Generator best features
- Generate concise summaries of lengthy documents instantly
- Extract critical details while avoiding irrelevant content
- Retain the original meaning with AI-powered precision
- Simple interface allowing users to paste text and summarize in one click
Summary Generator limitations
- Limited to summarizing pasted text and lacks integrations with external platforms
Summary Generator pricing
- Free
Summary Generator ratings and reviews
- Not enough reviews
10. Jasper AI (Best for multilingual text summarization and content repurposing)
Jasper’s AI-driven text summarizer offers advanced features to condense lengthy documents, articles, or reports into clear and concise summaries. Supporting over 25 languages, Jasper ensures that users can generate summaries tailored to their audience while retaining the original meaning.
With added features like Brand Voice and the ability to repurpose content for various platforms, it’s a versatile tool for professionals, marketers, and content creators. Its advanced templates and customization options make it particularly powerful for scaling content creation efficiently.
Jasper AI best features
- Summarize text up to 5,000 characters in over 25 languages
- Tailor summaries with formality adjustments and target audience settings
- Repurpose summaries into social media posts or email content with ease
- Use advanced AI templates to streamline workflows and customize outputs
Jasper AI limitations
- Steep learning curve in mastering prompt design for optimal results
Jasper AI pricing
- Creator: $49/month per seat
- Pro: $69/month per seat
- Business: Custom pricing
Jasper AI ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (1,200+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (1,800+ reviews)
A long-time user praised Jasper for its speed, efficiency, and ability to meet expectations:
Think Beyond Summaries: Elevate Your Workflow with ClickUp
When choosing an AI text shortener, I don’t just focus on its core functionality—I want to ensure it seamlessly fits into my workflow.
I look for features like real-time collaboration, multi-platform support, and the ability to customize outputs for different needs. A tool’s ability to adapt across projects, teams, and communication platforms can make or break its value.
This is where ClickUp truly excels. It’s not just an online text summarizer; it’s an all-in-one productivity solution that connects your tasks, documents, and teams.
Whether I’m working on project updates, drafting news articles, or simplifying reports, ClickUp keeps everything running smoothly and efficiently.
Ready to elevate your workflow? Sign up for ClickUp today.