Grammarly vs ProWritingAid: Which is Better for Freelance Writers?

Both Grammarly and ProWritingAid will catch your typos. But which one actually makes you a better writer?

I've used both extensively. Here's the honest comparison.

Quick Comparison

Grammarly: Fast and Simple

What it does well: Grammarly is the fastest, most user-friendly grammar checker on the market. It catches obvious mistakes instantly and integrates everywhere.

Strengths:

• Instant grammar and spelling corrections
• Works in browser, Word, Google Docs, email
• Tone detection (knows if you sound too formal or casual)
• Vocabulary suggestions
• Very easy to use — no learning curve
• Catchy, understandable explanations

Weaknesses:

• Basic style feedback (doesn't go deep)
• Can be over-aggressive with suggestions
• Plagiarism checker is an extra $10/month
• Not great for long-form writing analysis

Best for: Email, social posts, quick edits, blog posts, anyone who wants "set it and forget it."

ProWritingAid: Deep and Detailed

What it does well: ProWritingAid analyzes your writing at a much deeper level. It doesn't just correct grammar — it analyzes your style, structure, and habits.

Strengths:

• Over 20 different writing analysis reports
• Sentence length variation analysis
• Sticky sentence detection (hard-to-read phrasing)
• Overused word identification
• Passive voice finder
• Readability scoring (Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog)
• Plagiarism checker included
• Integrates with Scrivener (huge for book writers)

Weaknesses:

• Can be overwhelming — too many reports
• Slower analysis time
• Interface is less polished
• Learning curve to understand all the metrics

Best for: Serious writers, book authors, technical writers, anyone who wants to improve their craft long-term.

Head-to-Head: Real-World Comparison

Scenario 1: Quick email to a client

• Grammarly: Perfect. Instant fixes, tone check, done in 10 seconds.
• ProWritingAid: Overkill. Running 20 reports for a 100-word email is unnecessary.

Scenario 2: 2,000-word blog post

• Grammarly: Good for catching typos, but won't help with flow or structure.
• ProWritingAid: Excellent. Shows sentence variety, pacing, sticky spots, readability.

Scenario 3: Writing a book

• Grammarly: Useful for line-by-line editing, but misses big-picture issues.
• ProWritingAid: Essential. Integrates with Scrivener, provides detailed analysis per chapter.

The Free Tiers

Both offer free versions:

• Grammarly Free: Basic grammar/spelling only. No tone, no vocabulary, limited suggestions.
• ProWritingAid Free: 500-word limit per analysis. Good for testing, unusable for real work.

Verdict: Free tiers are fine for casual use, but if you're serious about freelance writing, upgrade to Premium.

Pricing Breakdown

Grammarly Premium:

• Monthly: $12
• Quarterly: $20 (3 months)
• Annual: $144 ($12/month)
• Plagiarism Checker: +$10/month

ProWritingAid Premium:

• Monthly: $10
• Annual: $79 ($6.58/month)
• Lifetime: $399 (one-time)
• Plagiarism Checker: Included

ProWritingAid is significantly cheaper long-term, especially with the lifetime option.

My Honest Take

If you can only choose one:

Most freelance writers should start with Grammarly Premium. It's faster, more user-friendly, and covers 90% of what you need. The tone detection alone is worth the subscription for client-facing work.

But: If you're serious about improving as a writer, writing books, or doing technical writing, ProWritingAid is the better long-term investment. The deep analysis actually teaches you to write better.

The ideal setup (what I use):

• Grammarly Premium for emails, quick edits, tone checking
• ProWritingAid for long-form pieces, book projects, deep analysis

Final Verdict

Both are excellent tools. The right choice depends on your writing goals, not just price.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust.