Bring back the essay assignment with whole-process pedagogy

MATCHA

Name: MATCHA Writer
Availability: LimitedAvailability

ModernAuthoringToolforCertifiedHumanAuthorship

MATCHA is a desktop writing environment that enables students to prove their authorship of essays by blocking automation and tracking their entire process, including reading and editing. It facilitates whole-process assessments that provide richer feedback while being by nature AI-resistant. Its locked-down mode can also secure in-person writing activities, such as exams and follow-up quizzes. Use MATCHA for fairer, better essay assignments that don't require AI usage policing.

For educators For institutions Download

For educators

Three supervision models. One app.

At home

At home, the Complete Work History feature gives students a way to show their research, note-taking, drafting, and revision. Educators can award credit for that process, while in-person Follow-up Quizzes give students a chance to explain and reflect on their work. Together, these tools support academic integrity without relying on AI detection, plagiarism checking, or heavy-handed surveillance.

Explore at-home assignments

In class

MATCHA prevents AI misuse on the student’s computer with Locked-Down Mode protection and Copy-Paste Control, while the instructor ensures no other device is used. Unlike locked-down browsers designed for taking exams on LMSes, MATCHA is a full word processor, which is both better for writing and better for preventing AI misuse. (Starting in September 2026, MATCHA can also act as a locked-down browser for quizzes.)

Explore in-class activities

Students using MATCHA in a supervised writing lab

Supervised writing labs

A MATCHA-enabled innovation, supervised writing labs let students work on their own time. MATCHA's unique Check-In feature ensures students work on their assignments only while checked into a lab. By repurposing existing space and teaching resources, this new approach enables fair essay assessments in the age of AI while improving students' experience through increased supervision and community.

Explore supervised writing labs

Optional AI assistant

AI that helps students learn.

MATCHA's optional, instructor-configured AI assistant can offer help with grammar, style, and, if desired, composition. Best of all, it has a pedagogical mode, in which it guides students to make their own corrections, facilitating learning.

An authoring environment that does it all

MATCHA Writer promotes integrity and productivity for all, from undergraduate students to professors and independent authors.

Authoring features compared across MATCHA, LockDown Browser, Google Docs, Word Desktop, and Overleaf.
	Feature	MATCHA	LockDown Browser	Google Docs	MS Word 365	Overleaf
Integrity	Copy-paste blocking	✓ Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Locked-Down Mode	✓ Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Locked-down browser for LMS-based quizzes	✓ Yes†	Yes	No	No	No
	Auto-type blocking	✓ Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Installs without administrator privileges	✓ Yes	No	N/A	Yes	N/A
	Certified authorship	✓ Yes	No	No	No	No
	Edit tracking with replay	✓ Yes	No	Yes *	No	No
	Complete work history	✓ Yes	No	No	No	No
	Managed authorship quizzes	✓ Yes	No	No	No	No
Productivity	Managed cross-references	✓ Yes	No	No	Yes	No
	Direct citing	✓ Yes	No	No	No	No
	Auto Citing and built-in reference management	✓ Yes	No	No	No	No
	Snapshots	✓ Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
	.docx input/output	✓ Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
	LaTeX input/output, PDF	✓ Yes	No	No	No	Yes
	Built-in AI	✓ Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Pedagogical AI	✓ Yes	No	No	No	No
	Live collaboration	✓ Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

* With third-party extension
† Starting in September 2026

Try now

Get 200 free activity seats

Sign up with a verified academic email before October 23, 2026. Seats expire December 31, 2026.

Try now as instructor