Our Similarity Check service is powered by the iThenticate tool from Turnitin.
In September of 2021, we announced that a new version of iThenticate was available - iThenticate 2.0.
Some members upgraded early and have both an iThenticate v1 account and an iThenticate 2.0 account
From January 2025, all new Similarity Check subscribers were provided with iThenticate 2.0.
Now it’s September 2026, and 88% of our Similarity Check subscribers who were on the old version (v1) have now migrated to iThenticate 2.0.
Why is this important, you might ask? And what does it mean for me?
Well, at the end of the calendar year 2026, iThenticate v1 will no longer be supported. This means that it’s important that if you’re still on a v1 account, you move over to 2.0 as soon as possible! And if you have both a v1 account and 2.0 account, you stop using that v1 account immediately and ensure that you’re ready to use your 2.0 account only.
iThenticate v1 or 2.0? How do I know?
Ok, you say, but how do I know which version I’m using?
If you’re accessing your iThenticate account directly through the browser, and you’re still on v1, you’ll go to this address: ithenticate.com.
iThenticate v1 looks like this:
If you’re accessing iThenticate through the browser, and you’re using iThenticate 2.0, you will use a bespoke URL that looks something like this: https://crossref-[your member ID].turnitin.com.
iThenticate 2.0 looks like this:
Migrating to iThenticate 2.0
We have reached out to the Similarity Check Editorial contacts for all our Similarity Check subscribers as of the writing of this post. We understand that sometimes contacts change, so if you’re still using v1, and you haven’t heard from us, please do reach out to our support team at support@crossref.org and let us know!
For those of you who have heard from us, and that email is languishing in your inbox, we highly encourage you to stop what you’re doing and complete that upgrade application immediately.
What happens when you complete the upgrade application?
Once that form is complete, Turnitin will send you an email with information on how to set up a Migration Setup Account. This is a temporary iThenticate 2.0 account where you can test the new features and interface. Any submissions checked during this testing period will not be saved. You will then schedule your migration date from within your temporary 2.0 account.
On the date you choose to migrate, all your active users, folders, and historical Similarity Reports from your v1 account will be moved to your new, permanent 2.0 account, and your v1 account will be closed. You’ll receive a new login to your new account, as will your active users.
For more detailed information on this process, please visit Turnitin’s documentation here.
If you’re looking for some support in other languages as you work through your migration, please check out these resources from Turnitin which can help out with the migration tooling in the following languages: Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Turkish.
What’s new with iThenticate 2.0?
I’ve migrated! Now what’s new? And how do I get around this new interface?
There are several new features, as well as more support, in the new iThenticate version, including:
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The ability to identify content on preprint servers more easily with a flag. You can also exclude preprints from your report, if you’d like to remove that match.
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A “red flag” feature that signals the detection of hidden text such as text/quotation marks in white font, or suspicious character replacement.
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A faster, more user-friendly and responsive Similarity Report interface.
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A private repository available for browser users, allowing you to compare against previous submissions to identify duplicate submissions within your organisation.
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A content portal, which helps you easily check that you’re meeting the 90% eligibility threshold of the service (providing those full-text URLs in the Similarity Check field of your Crossref metadata).
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Multi-factor Authentication for administrators to help with keeping your iThenticate account secure.
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A Statistics page where you can easily monitor your usage throughout the year.
If you’d like a tour of the new version, Turnitin has created a video guide, which you can access here.
We also know that many of our members use their iThenticate account through a manuscript tracking system (MTS), such as OJS, Editorial Manager, ScholarOne, etc. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to do so. Once you’re set up with your new iThenticate 2.0 account, you’ll just need to follow our instructions to set up a new API key, and you can easily connect with your integration again.
A note about AI Detection
If you’re looking through Turnitin’s documentation at all, you’ll notice that they mention an AI Detection Tool.
If you are a Crossref member, already subscribing to the Similarity Check service, and are using iThenticate 2.0, you can work with Turnitin directly to add their AI Detection Tool to your iThenticate 2.0 account. This add-on is completely optional and not a requirement of the Similarity Check service.
If you wish to add the AI Detection Tool to your account or have additional questions about the tool, you’ll need to reach out directly to Turnitin by completing the form here. This add-on will require an additional cost, which will be set up directly between you and Turnitin.
So as the end of the year nears (remember, it always comes faster than you realise!), it’s a good time to take a look at your iThenticate account. Ensure you’re using iThenticate 2.0 only! If you’re not, please do reach out to Crossref’s Support Team as soon as possible, and we’ll help you get upgraded.