ProWritingAid
FreemiumAI-powered writing assistant with grammar checking, style suggestions, readability analysis, and in-depth writing reports — popular alternative to Grammarly for long-form content.
What does this tool do?
ProWritingAid is a specialized writing assistant designed primarily for long-form creative writing, offering a suite of analytical tools that go beyond basic grammar checking. It provides manuscript-level feedback through features like Chapter Critique, Manuscript Analysis, and Virtual Beta Reader—tools explicitly designed for novelists and book authors. The platform analyzes writing across multiple dimensions including pacing, sensory details, dialogue, and engagement patterns. It integrates directly into popular writing environments (Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, browsers) rather than forcing users to a proprietary editor. Unlike general-purpose grammar tools, ProWritingAid targets the specific pain points of fiction writers: identifying weak prose, suggesting 'show don't tell' improvements, and providing chapter-by-chapter feedback. The company emphasizes data privacy, claiming not to use uploaded text for algorithm training.
AI analysis from Feb 23, 2026
Key Features
- Manuscript Analysis: full-manuscript feedback on structure, pacing, and narrative elements in minutes
- Chapter Critique: detailed feedback on individual chapters with specific improvement suggestions
- Virtual Beta Reader: simulated reader feedback highlighting engagement issues and story weaknesses
- Sensory Report: identifies areas lacking sensory details and suggests where to add them
- In-document integration: real-time suggestions across Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, and browser-based writing apps
- Show Don't Tell suggestions: flags telling prose and suggests showing alternatives
- Grammar and style checking: catches errors and suggests stylistic improvements beyond basic grammar
- Novel Beginnings Contest: $50,000 prize competition with milestone tracking and community feedback
Use Cases
- 1Novel authors seeking detailed manuscript feedback before querying agents or self-publishing
- 2Fiction writers wanting to identify and eliminate weak writing patterns across entire manuscripts
- 3Self-publishing authors who need affordable editorial-style feedback as an alternative to hiring professional editors
- 4Writing students and workshop participants needing structured critiques on story elements like pacing and sensory engagement
- 5Screenwriters and short story authors using the tool's browser extensions to get real-time writing suggestions in any text environment
- 6Authors participating in writing competitions (like ProWritingAid's Novel Beginnings contest) who need to polish submissions
- 7Non-native English speakers writing fiction who need comprehensive grammar and style guidance beyond simple spell-check
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Specialized for long-form creative writing with features like Manuscript Analysis and Virtual Beta Reader that general grammar tools lack
- Extensive cross-platform integration (Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, Chrome, Firefox, Edge) means writers can use it in their existing workflow rather than switching editors
- Provides actionable, specific feedback on craft elements (pacing, sensory details, dialogue) rather than just grammar corrections, teaching writers how to improve
- Strong privacy commitment explicitly stating text isn't used for algorithm training, which is important for unpublished manuscripts
Limitations
- No pricing information visible on the homepage, requiring users to sign up or navigate elsewhere to understand cost, which creates friction
- Positioned as a 'popular alternative to Grammarly' but the website doesn't clarify what it does better or differently, making comparison difficult
- The marketing heavily features bestselling authors but doesn't substantiate how much of their success was attributable to ProWritingAid versus their own skill
- The AI-powered feedback quality and accuracy for specialized craft suggestions (show vs. tell, pacing) isn't independently validated on the public-facing site
- Limited information about AI accuracy rates or potential false positives in style suggestions that could mislead newer writers
Pricing Details
Pricing details not publicly available on the website. The homepage does not display subscription tiers, monthly/annual costs, or free tier limitations.
Who is this for?
Fiction authors and novelists writing long-form content who want detailed manuscript-level feedback. Specifically: self-publishing authors seeking affordable editorial feedback, debut authors preparing submissions for agents, creative writing students, and established authors seeking efficiency in their editing process. Best suited for users writing books (fiction primary, some non-fiction) rather than short emails or social posts.