As we all know it ProWritingAid and Grammarly are two big names that helps you polish your writing. However, is ProWritingAid really better than Grammarly, or the other way around? The short answer is that it depends. The longer answer is the devil lies in the details. Keep reading to know more about it.
Why ProWritingAid and Grammarly?
| Feature | Grammarly Premium | ProWritingAid |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar & Spell Checking | Advanced, real‑time corrections that pop up as you write | Comprehensive checks with detailed explanations, though not as immediate |
| Style & Readability Suggestions | Context-sensitive style suggestions; includes tone detection | Extensive style and readability reports with deeper analysis of pacing, sticky sentences, etc. |
| AI Writing Assistance | Robust (GrammarlyGO) for rephrasing and idea generation | Beta Critique Report; more limited AI suggestions with usage restrictions |
| Plagiarism Detection | Included in the premium plan, checks against billions of sources | Offered as a separate purchase, effective but interface may feel less intuitive |
| Integrations | Seamlessly integrates with Google Docs, MS Word, Slack, WhatsApp, browsers, and more | Works with Scrivener, Google Docs, MS Word, batch processing; lacks a mobile app |
| Ease of Use | Intuitive, minimal learning curve | Can be overwhelming for new users due to many detailed reports |
| Customization | Context-specific goals, tone settings even in the free plan | Extensive customization and reports, mostly available only on paid plans |
| Mobile Support | Offers mobile keyboard apps (Android & iOS) | No dedicated mobile app |
| Pricing | Approx. $12/month on annual plan; AI writing tools & plagiarism checker included | Monthly ($30), yearly ($120), lifetime options ($399); plagiarism checks sold separately |
| Best For | Writers needing quick, polished text across multiple platforms, robust AI rewriting | Writers who want granular style feedback, especially useful for fiction & long-form content |
They both aim to improve grammar, style, clarity, and so much more. But each tool does have certain strengths that stands out from the other.
- ProWritingAid is known for deeper, more analytical review of your writing style.
- Grammarly Premium is famous for its real-time corrections and broad integrations.
Below, I’ll dive in detail about their features and highlight the pros and cons of each.
Features & Functionality
Just like any grammar checker out there, both these tools will catch basic grammar, spelling mistakes, and style errors. But let’s see how they differ:
- Grammarly Premium offers advanced, real‐time grammar corrections, contextual style suggestions, and easy-to-set writing goals. You literally get suggestions popping up while you type, so it’s extremely handy if you’re always on the go. They also have an AI writing assistant (GrammarlyGO) that helps rephrase and generate new ideas on the spot.
- ProWritingAid, on the other hand, provides in-depth analysis reports that looks at overuse of adverbs, repetitive words, pacing, readability, and more than 20 detailed points. A lot of these reports are only available on the paid plan, so if you want that deeper knowledge about your content’s structure and style, you do need to pay for it.
Which tool is made for deeper analysis?
If your priority is an in-depth look at your text (like overuse of passive voice or sticky sentences), ProWritingAid is the best bet. It literally goes above and beyond in telling you every single area that you can possibly fix. However, if you just need quick grammar fixes and do not want to get overwhelmed by too many suggestions, Grammarly might serve you better.
1. Usability & Integrations
Some people might find ProWritingAid’s interface a bit cluttered, especially if you are new to writing or you shy away from too many customization options at once. On the flip side, Grammarly is known for its clean and intuitive interface. Everybody can start using it in minutes.
- Grammarly Premium integrates effortlessly with Google Docs, Microsoft Word, various browsers, Slack, WhatsApp, email clients—you name it.
- ProWritingAid also has integration with Scrivener, Google Docs, Word, among others. They even support batch processing. But they don’t have a dedicated mobile app, so if you want a grammar checker on your phone’s keyboard, Grammarly is a better choice.
2. Plagiarism Detection
Yes, both tools can check plagiarism, but neither is specifically built for bypassing plagiarism or AI detection (so don’t expect them to do some magical rewriting that’s invisible to detectors). Anyways, here’s how they compare:
- Grammarly Premium’s plagiarism checker compares your text against billions of web pages, academic papers, etc. It’s included in the premium plan, so you don’t need to pay extra.
- ProWritingAid also has a plagiarism feature, but it’s a separate purchase or add-on to your premium plan. Additionally, some people find the interface for this checker a bit confusing.
Customization
Both allow you to pick style preferences, target audience, writing goals, and so on. Grammarly offers context-specific suggestions, even in its free version. Meanwhile, ProWritingAid’s main customization options for all those big analysis reports or style guides are locked behind the paid plan.
Generative AI
If you want advanced AI rewriting or rephrasing on a consistent basis, Grammarly outruns ProWritingAid. Grammarly’s AI (GrammarlyGO) is readily available for generating text ideas, rethinking paragraphs, or even rewriting entire chunks of text to suit your tone. ProWritingAid’s AI beta feature, “Critique Report,” is more limited, plus there’s usage restrictions that might get frustrating.
Integration & Mobile Apps
This is an area where Grammarly holds an edge. They have mobile keyboard apps for both iOS and Android, which means you can rely on their grammar suggestions even on your phone. ProWritingAid doesn’t have a mobile app, so if you rely on phone-based writing or texting for professional communications, you might sidestep PWA for that reason alone.
Pricing & Plans
- Grammarly’s premium often goes for around $12/month if you go for an annual subscription, and it includes the whole package—AI writing tools, plagiarism checker, advanced style suggestions, etc.
- ProWritingAid has monthly ($30), yearly ($120), and also lifetime plans ($399) . So if you’re on a budget in the long run, that lifetime plan can potentially be better deals. But if you need plagiarism checks, that’s extra for you to pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is Grammarly easier to use than ProWritingAid?
Yes, Grammarly is very easy to use. It’s interface is minimal and so straightforward that a first-time user can quickly fix mistakes in real-time. ProWritingAid is excellent but can be overwhelming at first for many people.
Q2. Which one is more suitable for fiction writers?
ProWritingAid is definitely beneficial if you are into fiction writing or longer manuscripts. It has powerful style analysis that picks out repeated words, cliches, pacing issues, etc. Grammarly can also help, but it doesn’t have that level of detailed reporting.
Q3. Do I need a separate subscription for ProWritingAid’s plagiarism checker?
Yes, you do. Unlike Grammarly, which bundles plagiarism detection in its premium subscription, ProWritingAid sells plagiarism checks as a separate add-on. This might be a turn-off if you want everything in one place.
Q4. Which one is more budget friendly?
It depends. Grammarly’s monthly plan might seem expensive but is packed with features. ProWritingAid has annual and lifetime plans that can be more affordable over many years. But do note that some features (like the plagiarism checker) come at an additional cost with ProWritingAid.
Q5. Which one does better AI content generation?
Grammarly is definitely winning with its GrammarlyGO features. ProWritingAid’s AI suggestions are still in their early beta forms, meaning it might not be as advanced or flexible as Grammarly in rewriting entire paragraphs.
The Bottom Line
So, which one is better? If you want a near-zero learning curve, prefer real-time corrections, and appreciate an all-in-one package that includes strong AI content generation plus a comprehensive plagiarism checker, Grammarly might be your biggest savior. On the other hand, if you dream of diving deep into your content with more than 20 extensive writing reports, if you truly want to dissect your style, usage of adverbs, passive voice, and you don’t mind taking some time to learn a detailed interface, then ProWritingAid is your go-to option.
As we all know it, each writer’s needs can be totally different. Pick the tool based on whether you require straightforward, fast improvements (Grammarly) or a more rigorous deep dive into the nitty-gritty aspects of your writing (ProWritingAid).
