ProWritingAid Vs Grammarly: Which is The Better Grammar Checker Tool?

Last Updated on 4 months by Christopher Jan Benitez

ProWritingAid and Grammarly are excellent grammar checkers. If you had to pick one, which would it be and why?

If you let me, I’ll help you decide.

In this ProWritingAid vs Grammarly match, let’s lay down the details of each grammar checker. Then we’ll decide whether there’s a better tool that can help you be a better writer.

What is ProWritingAid?

ProWritingAid is a grammar checker that aims to help writers of all levels better their writing skills. It gets rid of errors in spelling, grammar, and more. It also alerts you of unusual hints with your writing’s structure and style.

You can use it for free. The free version, however, limits you to check texts of no more than 500 words.

Insistent on taking ProWritingAid premium out for a spin? No problem.

The good news is, you can sign up for a 7-day trial and receive your premium license via email.

GO PROWRITINGAID PREMIUM

What is Grammarly?

Grammarly is also a grammar checker that helps take your writing up a notch. It also purges your piece from errors. And like ProWritingAid, it informs you if your structure and style match the writing tones you’re aiming for, too.

Plus, you can use it for free. No limit on the number of words you can. And the free version is free forever.

The free version, however, is limited to providing you with basic writing corrections. It only has your back in terms of necessary and glaring writing errors.

Want advanced writing feedback? Then upgrade to Grammarly premium.

UPGRADE TO GRAMMARLY PREMIUM

How are they different?

First, let’s iron out what makes ProWritingAid and Grammarly different from one another.

Because you’re about to pick one tool, it’d be in your best interest to know this piece of information.

Difference # 1: Writing goals

Confident in your abilities to direct your writing towards a specific writing goal?

ProWritingAid acknowledges that. 

To specify a writing style, expand Settings. You can select writing styles such as General, Academic, and Business.

Meanwhile, enter Grammarly. Compared to the former, it provides a detailed arrangement in helping you identify your writing goals.

The Audience, Formality, and Domain you want to set for your writing are on you. You also have full control of your writing’s Tone and Intent.

With Grammarly, you can set your writing goals even before you punch a single letter into the software editor. You can also adjust sails along the way.

Difference # 2: Design and user interface

Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly’s design and user interface are impressive. The commands are well-organized and easily accessible.

The slight distinction is in the colors that harmonize with the writing environment.

Here’s an image of ProWritingAid’s editor:

As you can observe, it’s clean. It features primary (dark green and white) and supplementary colors. Other than that, you can’t find a lot of shades.

Now, here’s an image of Grammarly’s editor:

It’s also clean. Next to ProWritingAid’s editor, it incorporates playfulness with colors.

As a result, it’s vibrant, joyful, and less formal.

Difference # 3: Plagiarism checker

ProWritingAid checks your writing and can hit you up for instances of plagiarized text. A small setback (for some writers), the editing tool’s plagiarism checker is an add-on.

Even when using the premium version, you need to purchase credits to screen your work for plagiarized content.

Grammarly, meanwhile, doesn’t put a cap on how you choose to use its plagiarism checker. If you’re a premium user, you can use it as often as you please.

To make it happen, locate the feature on the bottom portion of its side panel. There, click the Plagiarism to compare your work to text in 16 billion pages.

Difference # 4: Price

ProWritingAid’s premium subscription plans are more affordable. 

Here’s the part that can confuse you:

ProWritingAid offers a monthly subscription for $20 per month. Meanwhile, Grammarly also provides the same monthly plan for $11.66. So, you may conclude that Grammarly proposes a cheaper deal. 

However, Grammarly’s monthly plan can be yours if you agree to be billed yearly.

And in terms of yearly subscription fees, ProWritingAid’s plan is fixed at $79 per year. Grammarly’s yearly plan, on the other hand, is available for $139.92 per year.

Here are all of ProWritingAid’s premium subscription plans (for individual users):

• Monthly subscription
  • $20 per month
  • Access to 20 in-depth reports
• Yearly subscription
  • $79 per month
  • Access to 20 in-depth reports
• Lifetime 
  • $299 per year
  • Access to 20 in-depth reports

ProWritingAid also offers a Premium+ subscription plan. Here’s a rundown of the said plan:

• Premium+
  • $89 per year 
  • Everything in ProWritingAid premium
  • 50 plagiarism checks

Meanwhile, here are all of Grammarly’s subscription plans (for individual users):

• Free
  • Basic feedback
• Premium
  • $11.66 per month (billed annually)
  • Advanced feedback

Difference # 5: Keyboard shortcuts

ProWritingAid goes beyond the promise of one-click access to detailed writing reports. It introduces keyboard shortcuts.

To reveal the shortcuts, press the alt key when using the editor.

Grammarly is as easy to use. However, these keyboard shortcuts are non-existent.

Difference # 6: Self-publishing support

ProWritingAid allows you to move forward with your finished writing immediately. 

Notice the sidebar icon under the human editor icon?

Click that to be redirected to BookBaby’s website. BookBaby is a platform that can help you with book printing on your own.

This unique feature from ProWritingAid is handy for the right group. It’s for writers who want to build (or carry on) with a professional writing career.

Grammarly doesn’t have this specific feature, alright. However, there’s a simple workaround.

You can open the general menu and hit Download. Once you have your downloaded copy, you can head to a self-publishing platform and see what you can do.

How are they similar?

Now, let’s discuss what makes ProWritingAid and Grammarly similar to each other.

Similarity # 1: Tightens writing

They’re grammar checkers. And as such tools, you can expect that the premium versions of ProWritingAid and Grammarly will provide advanced feedback for your writing.

ProWritingAid pulls this off by showing you detailed reports. And it does the work in real time.

To get an in-depth assessment of these reports, make sure to expand the Reports tab. From there, you can click the name of the report that you need.

Grammarly is as helpful, too. For one, it informs you of your writing’s Correctness.

It can also alert you of your writing’s Clarity, Engagement, and Delivery.

And the suggestions will keep coming. Because the tool provides real-time suggestions, you can learn more about your writing’s errors as you go.

Similarity # 2: Key insights

Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly alert you of key insights about your writing.

When using ProWritingAid, you can access key insights if you expand the Reports tab and click Summary. The information you can collect is extensive.

Despite being a summarized version, going through every insight in this report can take a while. So, if you want to Print, E-mail, or Open (the report) in (a) new window, go ahead.

Doing so will reveal Document Scores, Vocabulary, Readability Measures, and more.

Using Grammarly? Click the Overall score on the side panel.

By then, a small window will pop up. Here, you can see your writing’s Performance score, Word Count, Readability, and Vocabulary.

You can also download a .pdf version of this report.

Similarity # 3: Collaboration

ProWritingAid supports teams. And to use the tool for business, you need to book a demo.

Make sure to thoroughly discuss your team’s needs as one of ProWritingAid’s representatives walk you through the process.

Grammarly’s Business plan reflects its support for collaborative writing, too. Its business plan, at $12.50 per month, can streamline your team’s writing.

And with a streamlined writing process, your business will make stunning impressions. 

Similarity # 4: Extensions and add-ins

Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly also allow you to integrate with external apps. This feature is handy if you like to use other writing apps, too.

ProWritingAid includes integrations for the apps and text editors that writers use the most.

Here’s the list:

Grammarly comes with more options. It features integrations with popular messaging platforms and tools for documents and projects.

Here’s the list:

Want to use the web-based versions of the editors? Then you’d be glad to know that both tools offer browser extensions, too.

Similarity # 5: Professional editing

Both tools also allow you to reach out to a real-life editor.

If you’re using ProWritingAid, you can find this feature on the software’s sidebar. Look for the human icon.

The moment you load it up, you’ll be redirected to a page that offers further assistance. On that page, you can choose the kind of help you need.

If you’re using Grammarly, you can find the same feature on the sidebar, too. It’s called Get Expert Writing Help and it’s at the bottom.

Once you click the feature, a window will pop up. Here, you can specify the kind of help you need from a human editor.

Similarity # 6: Support

ProWritingAid offers assistance if you have concerns about its service. A way to reach out is to open the editing tool’s Menu and scroll down to click Support.

Then, you’ll be redirected to a page where you can entertain your concerns in two ways.

The first option is to sink your teeth into its FAQs section. The second option is to reach out via email.

That’s how it is with Grammarly, too. Visit its FAQs section to see the loads of useful resources that are yours for the taking.

However, the FAQs section can only do so much. If the articles can’t help you with your concern, you can send an email to move forward.

What’s better about ProWritingAid?

Sure, ProWritingAid and Grammarly are similar in the most important aspects of checking your writing. However, there are tiny matters that can help you decide which tool is worth taking home. 

First, let’s shed light on what gives ProWritingAid an edge.

In-depth reports

ProWritingAid grants you the privilege to gauge your writing exceptionally well.

Here’s a list of ProWritingAid’s reports:

Personalized progress reports

This new feature came out in 2020. And it’s an implication that ProWritingAids keeps an eye out for you.

Straight to your inbox, you’ll receive Personalized Progress Reports. Such an email acknowledges your writing performance.

With it, you’ll get specific reports about how you’re doing and what you need to do to get better. The reports includes lists of grammar and style improvements, as well as other useful data.

Word Explorer

ProWritingAid features a Word Explorer tool. It’s a solution for writer’s block — or in times when you want to know more about a particular word.

You can access the feature from the Menu. You can also highlight a written word and double-click on it.

In the image above, for example. After I keyed in the word “anxious”, the Word Explorer provided me with details about that word.

By default, the Word Explorer provided me with the word’s definition. And as you can see, it also provided me with different options.

Here’s a list:

What’s better about Grammarly?

Now, let’s discuss why Grammarly is a step ahead.

Formatting options

Conscious about formatting your work?

At the bottom of the editing software, you’ll find formatting options. This is useful for writers who don’t want to bring in another editor when composing content for specific purposes.

For instance, you’re a writer who wants to create SEO-friendly content and you want to assign headings to your text. With Grammarly, that’s not going to be a problem.

Hide Assistant feature

Should the time come that you no longer need Grammarly as much as you used to, the writing assistant can take the backseat. Click Hide Assistant on the side panel to make this happen.

Here’s an image of how you can proceed to using Grammarly without the writing assistant:

Click CORRECT WITH ASSISTANT if you don’t think you can handle this. Doing this will unhide the writing assistant. And just like that, you can get help for your writing again.

Straightforward explanation

Grammarly doesn’t offer hard-to-grasp writing suggestions. When you open a writing alert, you can instantly understand what’s wrong and what you can do about it.

Take the writing alert in the image above, for example. When I expanded the writing alert for “vs”, I immediately got the message. I knew what was wrong with it and how I could resolve the problem.

Who should get ProWritingAid (and why)?

ProWritingAid is useful for writers of all levels. And more experienced writers will find it more effective. They may include novelists, academic writers, or those who are writing long texts.

It offers writing suggestions only when you ask for them — and not instantly bring your attention to possible corrections.

For professional writers whose focus is on improving their writing, this grammar checker tool is ideal.

GO PROWRITINGAID PREMIUM

Who should get Grammarly (and why)?

Meanwhile, Grammarly is more ideal for novice writers. Two reasons.

For one, using it gives a sense of encouragement for writers who want to improve. After all, the software editor adds liveliness and fun to the writing atmosphere. 

For another, it offers progress — and is willing to support you as you move forward with your writing.

To help you get my point, think of how it allows you to adjust your writing goals. If you specified a writing goal in the earlier stage, you’re free to change that goal and let the editor guide you towards a different path.

UPGRADE TO GRAMMARLY PREMIUM

ProWritingAid vs Grammarly Summary

	ProWritingaid	Grammarly
Features	Comes with 20 in-depth reports. Thus, it can provide detailed reports about your writing.	Provides straightforward writing corrections. To learn more about a suggested correction, expand the section.
Writing suggestions	Offers real-time writing suggestions. You can upload a document, use CTRL+V, or write as you go.	Corrects your writing in real-time. You can upload a document, use CTRL + V, or write as you go.
Plagiarism checker	Only available if you purchase credits. Regardless of premium membership, you won’t be able to check your work for plagiarized text with zero credits.	Its plagiarism checker is at your disposal. Granted you’re subscribed to its premium plan, you’re free to use the plagiarism checker.
Integrations	It works on both Windows and Mac. It comes with browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. You can also use it with MS Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, Medium, and Gmail.	It supports browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. It also supports integrations with popular tools for emails and messages, documents and projects, and social media. Specifically, it works with Google Docs, Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Slack, Facebook, and Twitter.
Extra writing assistance	Comes with a Human Editor feature. Clicking this sidebar feature redirects you to a website that offers professional editing services.	Offers expert help from a professional editor. Clicking this feature in the editing tool will trigger a pop-up window. In this pop-up, you can choose the editing fees you want to pay for.
Writing atmosphere	Best for experienced writers/writers of lengthy texts because of its formal environment.	Best for novice writers because of its inviting and energetic vibe.
Support	Offers support. If the articles in its FAQ section won’t be able to resolve your issue, shoot an email.	FAQs section is loaded with detailed and helpful articles. If its FAQs can’t provide answers, you can contact via email.
Trial	Offers a 7-day free trial. To benefit, go to ProWritingAid’s official website and sign up using your email address. For that short time, you’ll receive a premium license. With your license, you can explore the editing tool as much as you can.	Doesn’t offer a trial. To use Grammarly premium, sign up to its premium plan.  It does, however, offer a free version that you can use for correcting basic writing errors.
	GO PROWRITINGAID PREMIUM	UPGRADE TO GRAMMARLY PREMIUM