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 | ProWritingAid | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $12 | $10 |
| Best For | Quick proofreading | Deep style analysis |
| Plagiarism Checker | ✓ (add-on) | ✓ (included) |
| Integrations | Browser, Word, Docs | Browser, Word, Docs, Scrivener |
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
| Choose Grammarly if... | Choose ProWritingAid if... |
|---|---|
| You want speed and simplicity | You want depth and analysis |
| You write mostly short-form content | You write long-form or books |
| Tone detection matters to you | Style improvement matters to you |
| You don't want to learn new software | You're willing to invest time in craft |
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.