ProWritingAid
FreemiumThe deepest AI writing analysis tool — 25+ reports for grammar, style, fiction, academic, and business writing
What is ProWritingAid?
ProWritingAid is the power-user alternative to Grammarly — a comprehensive writing analyzer with 25+ detailed reports covering grammar, style, pacing, dialogue, sensory language, readability, sentence length variation, overused words, vague phrasing, and dozens of other writing metrics. It is particularly beloved by fiction authors, academic writers, and non-native English speakers who want deeper feedback than a simple grammar checker provides. The tool integrates with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Scrivener (a major selling point for novelists), Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and has native desktop apps for macOS and Windows. In 2024-2026, ProWritingAid added AI-powered rewriting, Sparks (generative AI for brainstorming and expanding text), and a Realtime Report that combines multiple analyses into a single live view. Unlike Grammarly's one-size-fits-all approach, ProWritingAid lets you configure writing goals (fiction, academic, business, creative non-fiction) that change which suggestions are emphasized. The free plan allows 500 words per check, which is enough for short emails or paragraphs. Premium ($30/month monthly, $120/year annual, $399 lifetime) unlocks unlimited word count, all 25+ reports, desktop apps, and AI features. Premium Pro adds plagiarism checks and sparks. For fiction authors and serious writers, ProWritingAid is often preferred over Grammarly because of Scrivener integration and report depth. The learning curve is steep — 25+ reports is more than most writers need — but power users get the most detailed feedback available.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Fiction authors, academic writers, and power users who want deep writing analysis
Casual users who just want quick grammar fixes without complexity
Free (500 words/check) · Premium $30/mo · $120/year · $399 lifetime
Yes — 500 words per check on free plan
Deepest writing analysis with 25+ reports and best-in-class Scrivener integration
Complex UI and reports can overwhelm casual users
Bottom line: ProWritingAid scores 4.5/5 — the deepest writing analysis tool available — ideal for fiction authors and power users, overkill for simple emails.
Pricing
Free: Up to 500 words per check, basic grammar and spell check, 19 core reports (abbreviated), browser extension support, basic AI suggestions (limited).
Premium — $30/month, $120/year, or $399 lifetime: Unlimited word count per check, all 25+ in-depth reports, desktop apps (macOS/Windows), Microsoft Word and Google Docs integration, Scrivener plugin, AI rewriting and Sparks, custom style guides, Realtime Report.
Premium Pro — $36/month, $144/year, or $479 lifetime: Everything in Premium plus plagiarism checker (50 checks per year included), advanced AI Sparks, extended word limits on AI features, priority support.
Teams — $9/user/month (billed annually, min 3 seats): Premium features for teams with shared style guides, usage analytics, and admin controls.
Key Features
- 25+ detailed writing reports (grammar, style, pacing, dialogue, etc.)
- Deep Scrivener integration for fiction authors
- Microsoft Word and Google Docs add-ins
- Native macOS and Windows desktop apps
- AI rewriting and Sparks (generative expansion)
- Plagiarism checker (Premium Pro)
- Writing goals for fiction, academic, business contexts
- Lifetime purchase option ($399 one-time)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deepest writing analysis available, especially for fiction
- Lifetime purchase option is a one-time $399 cost
- Scrivener integration is unmatched by Grammarly
- Free plan is genuinely useful for short text
Cons
- 25+ reports can be overwhelming for casual users
- Real-time checking is slower than Grammarly
- UI is less polished than Grammarly
FAQ
ProWritingAid vs Grammarly — which should I choose?
For most casual users, Grammarly is better: cleaner UI, faster real-time checking, polished browser integration, and better at catching obvious errors. For fiction authors, academics, and serious writers, ProWritingAid is better: 25+ detailed reports, Scrivener integration, deeper style analysis, and a lifetime purchase option. If you write blog posts and emails, pick Grammarly. If you write novels or papers, pick ProWritingAid.
Is the lifetime license worth $399?
For long-term serious writers, yes. $399 one-time compared to $120/year pays for itself in 3-4 years, and you get free updates forever. ProWritingAid has been stable and actively developed for 10+ years, so betting on its longevity is reasonable. For users who might switch tools in a year or two, the $120/year subscription is lower-risk.
What makes ProWritingAid good for fiction?
Several things: Scrivener integration (Scrivener is the dominant novelist tool), dedicated fiction reports (pacing, dialogue tags, sensory language, cliches, sticky sentences), and writing goals you can set to "fiction" or specific sub-genres. Grammarly was built for business writing and treats "said" as repetitive in dialogue, which drives fiction writers crazy. ProWritingAid understands fiction conventions and does not flag these false positives.
Does ProWritingAid integrate with Google Docs?
Yes, via the Chrome extension or a dedicated Docs add-in. The integration provides real-time suggestions and access to all Premium reports without leaving Google Docs. Microsoft Word integration (via a Word add-in) is also available and widely used by academic and business writers.
What is Sparks in ProWritingAid?
Sparks is the generative AI feature added in 2024 that lets you expand, rewrite, or brainstorm from any highlighted text. For fiction authors, it can generate alternative dialogue lines, describe a scene in more sensory detail, or rewrite a paragraph in a different tone. Sparks is available on Premium and Premium Pro with different usage limits.
Does ProWritingAid check for plagiarism?
Yes, on Premium Pro. The plagiarism checker compares your text against 1 billion+ web pages and published works, with 50 checks included per year on Premium Pro (additional checks available as add-on credits). This is important for academic writers and bloggers who want to avoid accidental plagiarism from their reading material.
📋 Good to know
Sign up at prowritingaid.com, install the Chrome extension or desktop app, and start running reports on your existing writing. First setup takes 15-20 minutes.
Documents processed in cloud with encryption. SOC 2 Type II compliant. AI features use OpenAI API with no training on your content. Offline mode available in desktop apps.
Free (500 words) for casual use. Premium ($120/year) for most writers. Lifetime ($399) if you plan to use ProWritingAid for years. Premium Pro for plagiarism checking.
Steep. Plan 2-3 hours to learn all 25+ reports. Core features (grammar, style) are accessible immediately, but advanced reports require dedicated learning.
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