Caktus AI Review:
based on real mystery shopping

A*Help Score: 83.5/100
🔥 published March 31, 2023 - updated September 24, 2024

Quick Overview

Caktus AI is certainly a formidable contender among other AI essay-writing services as it offers a blend of user-friendly design and sophisticated writing aids. With its commendable A*Help score of 83.5/100 and a high paper quality rating, Caktus.ai stands out for its ability to generate essays that not only adhere to formatting standards but also exhibit a strong logical structure. While the platform mandates registration and lacks some support features, its overall value is enhanced by helpful citation tools and unlimited word count, positioning it as a top choice for students and professionals alike.

The Good
  • Affordable unlimited subscription plan
  • Plenty of additional features
  • High essay quality
The Bad
  • Can’t be used without registration
  • Limited free plan
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An infographic with a short Caktus AI review describing the ways it was tested and how it received an A*Help Score: 83.5/100

In November 2022, OpenAI released its already legendary language model GPT-3.5 which has since undergone an update to a newer version called GPT-4. It made waves with its impressive generative AI technology. Its ability to produce coherent arguments and paragraphs made it a game-changer in various fields, including academic writing. The extensive scope of potential applications in this domain unlocked opportunities for implementing this groundbreaking technology in practice. 

As a result, numerous AI-powered essay-writing services have emerged, including allegedly the industry leader, Caktus, an AI-based writing tool that uses machine learning algorithms to generate content for various types of writing, including essays, articles, and blog posts. This article reviews Caktus and explores its potential to generate quality student essays. See How We Test AI Essay Writers for more details about our testing approach.

Caktus Review: Mystery Shopping Experience

Caktus promotes the idea of working smarter, not harder, by employing the power of artificial intelligence to enhance our thinking processes. However, it is first essential to determine our expectations from an AI-generation tool benefiting from the miracles of its technological advancements. The question arises, how do we evaluate the effectiveness of an AI-powered system? What criteria should we use to assess its efficiency in generating grammatically correct, coherent, and plagiarism-free essays? 

Keeping this objective in mind, our team initiates a mystery shopping project to evaluate AI text generators and gain insights into their functionality. We task each platform to generate a 550-word MLA-formatted personal narrative essay that conveys the feeling of gratitude. Then we evaluate each service for ease and speed of operation, affordability, and variety of services it provides. 

Additionally, we examine the quality of the generated text in its unedited form and submit it for a thorough evaluation by Professor Sybil Low, who grades it according to current American college standards.

Professor Low only shrugs her shoulders when we ask her about what she expects from an AI-writing platform:

It’s something new every time. In my experience, AI-generated essays have shown varying quality. While the technology has the potential to produce coherent arguments and impressive language, there are often inaccuracies, logical fallacies, and limited depth of analysis. Additionally, the output of AI-generated essays tends to be formulaic and lacks the originality and creativity that human writing can offer. Many experts, Marcel Scharth from the University of Sydney, for example, doubt that AI tech will replace professional writers soon. It is important to approach these tools cautiously and use them only as aids in the writing process, rather than complete replacements for human-generated content.

Based on her detailed evaluation and our criteria of value for money, overall experience, and essay quality, we assign an A*Help score to each company.

Our essay created with Caktus.ai
Our essay created with Caktus.ai (click to see a bigger image)

Paper Quality — 43.5/50 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The most intriguing part of our experience is assessing the quality of work. Even though AI-powered writing services are widely recognized, they are still mysterious contenders in the academic writing industry, and engaging with them is much like going on a blind date. Will the content be surprisingly good, with ideas brighter than your own, or will it fall flat, leaving you disappointed and regretful? Despite the ambiguity, the possibility of both contentment and frustration makes it an exciting experience.

The tool generates different parts of the essay simultaneously and arranges them into paragraphs according to the coherence and logical progression of the narrative. Manual editing can be done within the platform’s integrated word-processing tool. As for the formatting options, Caktus offers only the AP Format, so if any other style is required, a user will have to do it on their own. 

The prepared document was sent to Professor Low for her professional grading. The result of 90.2/100 was strikingly good. There was no criticism of the paper’s formatting, which deserves attention. However, the length of the paper was slightly inadequate, indicating that a bit more content could have been added to enhance the storytelling. The mechanics, particularly spelling and punctuation, received outstanding scores of 100%, but some areas could have benefited from wider word choice (89%). Regarding reasoning and logic, the essay received a decent score of 82%. 

Find a more in-depth description of the paper’s score below:

SCORE: 90.2 Document formatting is great! |Observations:| {Integrity}: 100%. {Length}: Just a tiny bit short (97%)—try to write a bit more. {Mechanics:} 97% (spelling 100%, grammar 97%, punctuation 100%, word choice 89%). {Citation formatting:} ungraded. {Reasoning, logic:} 82% (efficiency 51%, acuity 100%, clarity 100%, objectivity 79%).

Professor Low is always generous for her detailed expert feedback:

The essay does an excellent job of reflecting on the people who have helped the author along their journey and acknowledging the role that difficult times have played in shaping their perspective.

There are a few areas for improvement I’d like to point out. While AI writing software touches on the importance of gratitude, the essay would benefit from a more explicit thesis statement that clearly outlines the main argument. Additionally, a more robust introduction that captures the reader’s attention and provides more context for the personal narrative that follows would only make a reader more involved. I’d also enjoy having some specific examples to illustrate the author’s points. For instance, the importance of the “little things in life” is mentioned, but nothing is provided about what those might be. Adding more details and examples would help to make the essay more engaging and relatable for the reader.

In summary, the paper has its strengths and is generally well-written in terms of language and style, but it lacks consistency and proper character development.

Paper score: 90.2/100

⭐ Parameter✅ Personal Essay
Paper score90.2/100
Creation time 1 min
Number of words519 words

Value for Money — 18/25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

In 2023, few can be impressed with mere text generation. It has quickly become a routine task for many, and new advances emerge to simplify our lives even more. Citation makers, paraphrasing tools, and text summarizers are just a few examples of the perks we can now enjoy besides generating raw text. AI essay writing platforms that adopt the latest tech trends, supplement their leading offers with additional services, and offer flexible pricing will stand out among all others because this significantly increases their value-for-money ratio. Let’s take a look at whether Caktus can impress us with its value proposition.

Caktus’ business model is clear. It’s not a free ai essay writer but it offers a trial period before trying its paid options. First, to get access to the trial mode, a user must actually subscribe to one of the two available plans: Base ($14.99) or Pro ($19.99). Then, the trial itself is limited to 5000 characters of generated content. 

A screenshot of dashboard at caktus.ai
Dashboard at Caktus.ai (click to see a large picture)

Customers have an abundance of extra services to choose from when using Caktus. You can opt to have a brand new essay written from scratch or have your existing piece enhanced with the Content Improver tool. In addition, Caktus offers to help you expand your idea with the Sentence Expander or extract the main points from a written article. The AP Style Formatting tool automatically converts your input, and Grammar Fixer polishes your language. Moreover, Caktus provides a range of business options, such as a personal LinkedIn bio enhancer, email responder, and cover letter writer.

Its wide choice of writing tools and affordable monthly plan should impress users and make Caktus a go-to for those seeking assistance with their essay-writing needs.

7/8
Services
0/3
Access
5/7
Subscription & Limits
3/3
Free trial
4/4
Text creation options

Overall Experience — 22/25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For people who lead a busy lifestyle, the luxury of spare time is rarely available, so they turn to online services with various needs that offer a quick and more convenient customer journey. It’s easy to imagine that this group of individuals will also be among the first users of AI essay-writing tools, and they will expect nothing less than a fast and effortless experience, similar to what they have grown accustomed to with other technologies.

A screenshot of creating essay at Caktus.ai
Creating essay at Caktus.ai (click to see a large picture)

Caktus should not become a disappointment for people with high demands for usability performance. With third-party account being also available, registering is pretty straightforward. Once you’ve signed up, a light and airy interface catches your eye and further enhances your impression. Resembling a tablet menu, layout with icons and short descriptions of all features leaves no room for user confusion. This may be the reason why Caktus doesn’t offer any support options. However, we still believe customers would appreciate having some.  

Text generation itself couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is type in your statement, topic, or prompt, and lines of sentences start emerging in front of your eyes. Our 519-word essay was ready in a minute. Next, the system allows you to export the result in an editable document within the Caktus interface, where you can add or remove specific paragraphs if necessary.  

Caktus is committed to offering its users an effortless and user-friendly experience. With its appealing interface and powerful text generation capabilities, Caktus has already become a great AI essay-writing tool and possesses the potential to continue improvement. 

2/2
Registration
7/8
Website Experience
8/8
Text creation time
2/2
Wordcount
1/2
Support
2/3
Payments

Conclusion

Caktus AI is impressive. It’s perfect for students with its multiple essay writing tools and services related to writing and editing. The quality of work is quite high, even with minor manual editing, which proves this service is deservedly listed among the best AI-powered essay generators. One might even think, there is no Caktus AI alternative like the platform itself.

FAQ

Is Caktus AI trustworthy?

Yes, all services listed on our website, including Caktus went through a well-planned multilayered inspection. We collect assorted types of data through mystery shopping, analyze it, and represent it as an A*Help score. Based on our comprehensive evaluation of Caktus, we can conclude that it is a legitimate platform for generating written content. The platform has also received positive reviews from numerous satisfied customers.

Is Caktus AI better than Chat GPT?

The answer mainly depends on your needs and requirements. ChatGPT is more flexible in use, but often lacks in originality, and Caktus claims to be specifically designed for academic writing though not as vast in its services. So, both platforms are good in their own ways.

Can Caktus AI be detected?

Yes and no. Any AI involvement can be detected by such tools, although they were proven to be inaccurate most times. So before submitting your paper to a professor, you need to proofread it and edit according to your specific requirements.

Is Caktus AI no longer free?

Caktus AI can be used for free during a free trial period. Otherwise, users have to purchase monthly ($9.99) or yearly ($59.99) plans.

What AI does Caktus use?

Caktus AI has a dedicated AI writer that is stated to be powered with EGUANA. Not much information is shared on this matter.

Сaktus Specs

> Website experience 
Aesthetic Interface
Easy-to-use platform
Simple Essay creation flow
Trying before registration
Full time to generate essay1 minute
Wordcount limitsunlimited
> Support 
Guides
Support chat/phone
> Services 
AI chat
Research assistant
In-text citations
Reference finder
MLA and APA Citations
Grammar check
Plagcheck
> Free trial 
Free trial/plan
Limits5000 characters
> Subscription & Limits 
Monthly plan
Base Plan – $14.99/month
Pro Plan – $19.99/month
Annual plan
Base Plan – $79.99/year
Pro Plan – $99.99/year
> Text Creation Options 
Generate
Rewrite
Rephrase
Summarize
> Text Formatting 
FormatPlain text
Outline
Structure
Paragraph structure
References
Formatting
APA

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Comments (22)

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Johnathan Bonilla September 14, 2023

I was looking for deals on AI essay writers and stumbled upon Caktus. The monthly plan seems affordable, but I wish they had a better free trial.

Carlos Welch September 9, 2023

This guide is a lifesaver, nice to see what the service is about. I was so lost with all the AI tools out there. thanks, Ahelp!

Antonio Mercado September 3, 2023

The short video tutorial on their site was super helpful! Made the whole process easier.

Lena Scott August 31, 2023

I’m a non-native English speaker, and I find tools like this super helpful. But why only AP Format? I needed MLA for my college essay.

Nevaeh Larsen July 27, 2023

I’m all for AI, but Professor Low’s feedback is spot on. These tools can’t replace the creativity and depth of human writing. Still, Caktus seems like a good aid every now and then

Zach Greer July 18, 2023

I’m just here for the memes. But seriously, Caktus sounds cool. Might use it for my next assignment given Im not the most gifted writer out there. Not even in my class lol. 🌵

Finnley Wheeler July 8, 2023

I’ve been using ChatGPT for a while now, and I was curious about Caktus. The article is a great guide, but I’m still on the fence. Anyone tried both?

Juan George June 30, 2023

I tried to find a tool that could help with my essays, and Caktus seems to be the one. The Sentence Expander is fantastic

Amir Randolph June 11, 2023

As a freelance writer, I was skeptical about these generators. But after reading this, I might give Caktus a shot for some quick drafts just to get an impression of what they’re capable of

Kamil Acosta June 7, 2023

I used Caktus to generate an essay on the history of gaming. It was surprisingly detailed and accurate.

Johnathan Walls June 8, 2023

yeah, me too. I was looking for gaming essay samples, and Caktus generated one that was spot on! Now I have a template to work with.

Lukas Decker May 30, 2023

I watched a video tutorial on how to use Caktus, and it made the whole process a breeze. Highly recommend for newbies I watched a video tutorial on how to use Caktus, and it made the whole process a breeze. Highly recommend for newbies

Krish Clark May 21, 2023

I used Caktus for a personal narrative, and it was decent. But I agree with Professor Low; it lacked some depth. Still, for a quick draft, it’s not bad. It’s great that there is plenty of similar generators that can do way more than plain chatgpt.

Abdulai Sillah May 20, 2023

great

Dillan Mercado May 17, 2023

The way Caktus can generate content on the fly is mind-blowing. AI is the future

Thalia Fox May 14, 2023

I’m on Windows, and Caktus worked smoothly for me. No glitches or anything. 👍

Myah Mcclain May 1, 2023

I’m impressed with the range of tools Caktus offers. From email responder to cover letter writer? That’s some versatility

David Guerrero April 24, 2023

I’m curious about the other AI text generators they tested. Caktus sounds great, but I’d love to see a comparison.

Simeon Matthews April 27, 2023

Look at academichelp.net. They already have a few comparisons of various generators. Quite neat by the way.

Sian Harper April 15, 2023

I tried using Caktus for a gaming essay I had to write for my English class. The results were pretty dope! It’s like having a ChatGPT buddy helping you out with assignments.

Simon Oneal April 3, 2023

Did anyone else notice the slight shade Professor Low threw at AI tech? 😂 ‘It’s something new every time.’ Classic!

Arthur Byrne April 3, 2023

LOL! I caught that too. But hey, she’s not wrong. AI essays can be a hit or miss.

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