ProWritingAid Problems & Issues
Real user-reported problems, complaints, and limitations for ProWritingAid. Based on analysis of 15 signals.
Issues by Category
Inconsistent detection and false positives
ProWritingAid sometimes flags the same spelling in one instance but not another within the same document. It struggles to distinguish between proper names and normal words, suggesting changes to character names repeatedly. Users report false positives that flatten writing style, especially for creative work.
Cannot save grammar preferences
While you can add misspelled words to a dictionary, you cannot do the same for grammar suggestions. Ignored suggestions must be re-ignored each time they appear. This creates repetitive frustration especially for writers with consistent style choices that differ from ProWritingAid's defaults.
Mishandles dialogue tags and creative writing
Issues include incorrect dialogue tag identification, phrases being incorrectly flagged as clichés even when they're not, and context-inappropriate suggestions. The tool sometimes provides irrelevant suggestions for fiction writing, so users need to be cautious and not blindly follow every suggestion.
Steep learning curve with overwhelming reports
There is a steep learning curve because there are so many functions. Users report it takes considerable time to become proficient with all 25+ reports. Each body of work requires different settings which isn't always easy to fine-tune. The interface needs to be cleaner as it's too big and clumsy.
Word add-in crashes and freezes Word
The Microsoft Word extension is reported as buggy, causing MS Word to crash multiple times during ProWritingAid screening. Users have had to uninstall the add-on because it was hanging up Word. The desktop app is described as excruciatingly slow with long wait times when clicking on reports.
Struggles with large documents over 800 words
The Word add-on struggles with documents over 800 words, often breaking off after a minute, requiring users to run checks again which typically doesn't help. On Mac, ProWritingAid only processes up to 15,000 words at a time, forcing users to work in batches.
Plagiarism checker extremely slow
ProWritingAid's plagiarism checks are frustratingly slow compared to other writing software, with loading times going up to 3+ minutes depending on text length. A 500-word text took 1 minute 23 seconds, while 1,200 words took 3 minutes 45 seconds. The checker also requires separate credits or Premium Pro.
Scrivener integration loses changes
When running ProWritingAid with Scrivener projects, switching between chapters often loses the last few changes made in the previous chapter. Users must close Scrivener while working in ProWritingAid or risk losing edits. Some report the integration vanishing after Scrivener updates.
Chrome extension doesn't work on many websites
The Chrome extension doesn't work on certain websites including YouTube, Twitch, and many others. It's not compatible with Google Docs Pageless mode. Users report the extension showing up pink but not underlining mistakes, or suggestion windows working for only 1-2 errors then stopping entirely.
Gmail and email integration unreliable
There are instances where ProWritingAid does not pick up sentence errors and spelling mistakes in Gmail. Users report the extension not reacting or doing anything when clicking its various buttons in email contexts - no checking, no reports, nothing.
Free version limited to 500 words
With a free account, you can only edit 500 words at a time in the Web Editor. Free users also get only 10 rephrases per day, 3 AI Sparks per day, and 2 writing report runs per day. There's no access to integrations or plagiarism checking on the free tier.
Premium $30/month feels expensive
At $30/month for Premium, many users find ProWritingAid expensive for grammar checking. The annual plan is $120/year and lifetime is $399. Premium Pro costs even more at $36/month or $699 lifetime. The recurring subscription model adds up significantly over time.
Refunds only within 3 days of purchase
Refunds are not possible for monthly paid plans at all. For yearly or lifetime plans, you must contact them within 3 days of purchase to receive a refund. Once you've received one refund, you're not entitled to another. Simply canceling subscription doesn't trigger refund.
AI rephrasing triggers plagiarism detection
ProWritingAid's algorithms are being flagged by AI detection sites. Using the rephrasing component increases AI use scores to dangerously high levels and can flag academic work. Students and academics report their work being flagged as AI-generated after using ProWritingAid's suggestions.
No live chat or phone support
ProWritingAid's customer support can be challenging to navigate since there is no one-stop support page on the website. They currently don't have phone support or live online chat. Email support responds within 48 hours from Monday to Friday, which can be slow for urgent issues.
Regret Patterns
Common reasons users regret choosing ProWritingAid.
Lifetime purchase before testing thoroughly
Users who bought the $399 or $699 lifetime plans based on positive reviews later discovered the Word add-in crashes, Scrivener loses changes, or the tool doesn't fit their workflow. The 3-day refund window passed before they could properly evaluate.
Academic work flagged as AI-generated
Students who used ProWritingAid's AI rephrasing features had their papers flagged by university AI detection systems. Despite the work being original with only grammar corrections, the AI involvement triggered plagiarism flags, causing academic issues.
Lost work due to Scrivener sync issues
Writers lost hours of editing when ProWritingAid failed to save changes back to Scrivener projects. The requirement to close Scrivener wasn't clearly communicated, and chapter switching caused recent edits to disappear.
Realized 500-word free limit is unusable
Users who started with the free tier to evaluate quickly realized checking 500 words at a time with only 2 daily reports makes it impossible to assess how well it works on real documents. They felt forced to pay before properly testing.
Premium purchase before realizing no plagiarism checker
Writers bought Premium thinking it included plagiarism checking, only to discover it requires the more expensive Premium Pro plan or separate credit purchases. The feature comparison wasn't clear at checkout.
Word add-in unusable on large manuscripts
Novelists excited about manuscript analysis found the Word add-in crashes or times out on documents over 800 words. They couldn't use their preferred workflow and had to resort to web editor workarounds, losing productivity.
When ProWritingAid Breaks Down
Specific scenarios where ProWritingAid fails or underperforms.
Document exceeds 800 words in Word add-in
The Word add-on struggles with documents over 800 words, breaking off after a minute of analysis. Running checks again typically doesn't help. Users must work in smaller batches or switch to the web editor, disrupting their workflow.
Using AI rephrasing for academic submissions
ProWritingAid's AI rephrasing increases AI detection scores to dangerous levels. Academic work with AI-assisted edits gets flagged, creating serious consequences for students and researchers who used the tool in good faith.
Editing Scrivener projects without closing app
If Scrivener remains open while editing in ProWritingAid, changes may not save. Switching between chapters loses recent edits. Writers lose hours of work before realizing the requirement to close Scrivener first.
Chrome extension on Google Docs Pageless mode
The Chrome extension is incompatible with Google Docs Pageless mode. Users see the extension but no suggestions appear. They must switch to paged view mode, disrupting their preferred document setup.
Needing refund after 3-day window
Users discovering critical issues after the 3-day refund window have no recourse. Monthly plans have no refunds at all. Those with lifetime plans are stuck with $399-699 purchases that don't fit their needs.
Running out of plagiarism checks
Premium Pro includes only 60 plagiarism checks per year. Heavy users exhaust this quickly and must purchase additional credits. The slow 3+ minute check times compound the frustration when credits are limited.
Mac processing reaches 15,000 word limit
On Mac, ProWritingAid only processes up to 15,000 words at a time. Novelists with longer manuscripts must split documents, process in batches, and reassemble, adding significant friction to the editing workflow.
Creative writing style being flattened
Fiction writers find ProWritingAid suggests changes that flatten their unique writing style. Dialogue tags flagged incorrectly, phrases marked as clichés when intentional, context-inappropriate suggestions for creative choices.