Software · head to head
Hemingway Editor vs ProWritingAid
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Hemingway Editor no grammar or spelling corrections; tool focuses only on style, readability, and clarity, leaving grammatical errors unflagged; ProWritingAid free plan limited to 500 word count with only 2 report runs per day
- They diverge on capability: Hemingway Editor covers Readability analysis, ProWritingAid covers Grammar checking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hemingway Editor and ProWritingAid actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hemingway Editor | ProWritingAid |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, macOS, Windows | Web, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2013).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Hemingway Editor
- Readability analysis
- Sentence complexity
- Passive voice detection
- Adverb highlighting
Only in ProWritingAid
- Grammar checking
- Style analysis
- Readability reports
- Plagiarism checker
- Safari support
Both cover
- Chrome support
- Firefox support
- Edge support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hemingway Editor
- Checking readability and flagging dense sentencesnot ProWritingAid
- Grammar checking and proofreading a draftnot ProWritingAid
- Adjusting tone before publishingnot ProWritingAid
- Paraphrasing passages with the free web toolsnot ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid
- Grammar and style checking for writers and authorsnot Hemingway Editor
- Story planning and structure analysisnot Hemingway Editor
- Character and manuscript analysis for fiction writersnot Hemingway Editor
- Integration with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, and Notionnot Hemingway Editor
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hemingway Editor
- No grammar or spelling corrections; tool focuses only on style, readability, and clarity, leaving grammatical errors unflagged
- Cannot distinguish context for idioms and colloquialisms, sometimes suggesting inappropriate replacements that alter intended meaning
- Free version cannot suggest fixes for highlighted issues, only displays problems without solutions
- Not suitable for academic or formal writing where its simplicity bias penalizes legitimate complex sentence structures
ProWritingAid
- Free plan limited to 500 word count with only 2 report runs per day
- Advanced AI features (50 Sparks per day, Chapter Critiques) only in Premium Pro tier
- Desktop apps for Mac and Windows; iOS/Android support limited to specific integrations
- Yearly subscriptions significantly more cost-effective than monthly (67% savings)
Pricing, plan by plan
Hemingway Editor
Free- FreeFree
- Readability checking
- Sentence highlighting
- Adverb detection
- Hemingway Editor Plus Individual 5K$8.33/month
- 5,000 AI sentence rewrites monthly
- Advanced grammar fixes (unlimited)
- Unlimited document review
- Hemingway Editor Plus Individual 10K$12.5/month
- 10,000 AI sentence rewrites monthly
- Advanced grammar fixes (unlimited)
- Unlimited document review
- Hemingway Editor Plus Team 10K$12.5/month
- 10,000 AI sentence rewrites per user monthly
- Role-based admin controls
- Priority support
ProWritingAid
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the ProWritingAid review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Hemingway Editor if
- You need readability analysis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, macOS, Windows.
- You also want sentence complexity.
Choose ProWritingAid if
- You need grammar checking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- You also want style analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is Hemingway Editor or ProWritingAid better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hemingway Editor starts at Free and ProWritingAid at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hemingway Editor or ProWritingAid?
- Hemingway Editor starts at Free and ProWritingAid at Free.
- Does Hemingway Editor or ProWritingAid run on more platforms?
- Hemingway Editor runs on Web, macOS, Windows. ProWritingAid runs on Web, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- Can I use Hemingway Editor for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Hemingway Editor best used for?
- Hemingway Editor is most often used for checking readability and flagging dense sentences, grammar checking and proofreading a draft, adjusting tone before publishing, paraphrasing passages with the free web tools. Of those, checking readability and flagging dense sentences and grammar checking and proofreading a draft are not what ProWritingAid is typically brought in for.
- What can Hemingway Editor do that ProWritingAid cannot?
- Hemingway Editor covers Readability analysis, Sentence complexity, Passive voice detection, Adverb highlighting. ProWritingAid covers Grammar checking, Style analysis, Readability reports, Plagiarism checker. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Hemingway Editor: Is there a free version and what does it include?
Yes. The free web version at hemingwayapp.com includes readability scoring, highlighting of complex sentences, passive voice detection, and weak adverb flagging. No account needed. Hemingway Editor Plus ($8.33/month or $100/year) adds advanced grammar fixes, AI sentence rewrites (10,000 monthly on best value plan), and unlimited document feedback.
SourceHemingway Editor: Does Hemingway Editor work offline?
The free web version requires internet. The desktop version for Mac and Windows ($19.99 one-time payment) works fully offline after download, enabling distraction-free writing without network connectivity.
SourceHemingway Editor: What writing metrics does Hemingway measure?
Hemingway grades readability level, highlights adverbs and weak words, flags passive voice constructions, marks complex or hard-to-read sentences in color (red for very hard, yellow for difficult), and suggests simpler alternatives for complex phrases.
SourceHemingway Editor: Can I collaborate with others or share documents?
The web version allows pasting text directly, but Hemingway Editor itself does not have native collaboration or team features. Team plans on Hemingway Plus support $12.50/user/month pricing and role-based admin controls, but are primarily for shared workspace management rather than live document collaboration.
Source