How well does Reedsy Studio stack up against AutoCrit? They both have some great features for the beginner author, so it can be difficult to decide which one you’d want to buy into for the next year. Today, let’s take a look at these two great systems to decide which is better for you.
Keep in mind that I am ranking these according to what is most important for me as a self-published author. You might have a different opinion, which is completely valid.
Always remember that the best writing app is the one that serves your specific needs.
What is Reedsy Studio?
Reedsy Studio is a free writing app anyone can use to write their books. It’s part of the extensive tools and services offered by Reedsy as is growing into being a part of the backbone of the brand as a lot of new authors like using the platform.
You can also pay for the premium upgrade that provides more functionality in the planning board as well as additional writing statistics to help you craft a great and legible story.
Reedsy Studio is web-based, which is helpful for those who use browser extensions or plugins while writing online. Although some prefer a directly installed application, the platform is sturdy and reliable enough to keep you writing while having the ability to export or backup your files whenever you’d like.
What is AutoCrit?
AutoCrit is a web-based writing app that focuses mostly on editing your manuscript through the use of AI. It doesn’t have the most attractive writing UI, but has more than a couple of dozen reports to break down the structure and flow of your manuscript.
The artificial intelligence of AutoCrit does not write the text for you. It can offer suggestions and analyze the word choices throughout the book, but you are still the author and are responsible for making those changes yourself.
Writing and editing is only part of the system as you also have access to community and learning sections. One of the most talked about is the community forum, where you can network with other authors and professionals of all kinds.
Comparing Reedsy Studio and AutoCrit
To properly represent each brand, I’m basing this on their respective premium and paid features. Essentially, this is what you get when you unlock all of the functions from a paid account and pay the annual fees.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Writing Platform | ||
| Typography Options | ||
| Front/Back Matter Templates | Extensive | Basic |
| Planning Boards/Notes | ||
| Collaboration Abilities | ||
| Setting Writing Goals | ||
| Writing Statistics/Data | ||
| Editing Functions | Basic | Advanced |
| Formatting Options | Basic | Basic+ |
| Exporting Options | 3 File Types | 6 File Types |
Clean Writing Platform
Having a clean writing space is important for a lot of authors. I’m not just talking about “distraction-free” settings, though. I’m also considering the overall layout of the text as you type.
When writing your book in Reedsy Studio, you get a feel for how the manuscript will appear as a print-ready file. This means proper indents and spacing. It looks as though you’re actually working on the book itself.
Reedsy Studio also has the ability to minimize and maximize both left and right-side toolbars for quick access to certain tools. This means you can open the left to see chapters, pages, and planning boards or open the right to see writing goals and other tools you might need.
AutoCrit, on the other hand, doesn’t have as much of a distraction-free setting, nor does it format the text with proper margins as you write. The text continues to wrap around the entire length of the page, which could create confusion for some writers as indents are not present.
For many authors, the lack of margins might not be a deal breaker. The top bar is the only element that is taking up a large amount of space as the right sidebar is minimally in view.
I’m not a fan of this style of writing surface. I prefer the cleaner and properly indented layout of Reedsy as opposed to AutoCrit when it comes to writing.
Typography Options
Both AutoCrit and Reedsy have basic typography options available, such as bold and italics. As there isn’t much needed when writing an actual novel, you’re not going to need all of the bells and whistles of something like Microsoft Word.
At least, most of us won’t need them anyway.
The way the two handle these options is a bit different. AutoCrit has the top toolbar above the writing screen with all of the functions, whereas Reedsy Studio opens a small window when you highlight the text.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two in terms of typeface and typography is that AutoCrit has the font size drop-down in the top toolbar while Reedsy has the font size option in the manuscript’s settings screen.
Front/Back Matter Templates
Reedsy Studio has several front and back matter page templates that you can enable or disable at the flip of a switch. You’re also capable of easily adding more pages if there is something else you need, such as an appendix.
AutoCrit has a few template pages that are available should you decide to publish directly from the platform. The front and back matter in AutoCrit isn’t nearly as robust or easy to use as it is in Reedsy, but you’re capable of adding any pages you like.
You can build them directly into the manuscript editing screen or use the “+” button to add pages when publishing.
For the beginner author, Reedsy Studio is much easier to manage for pages than AutoCrit. As you’re also capable of dragging the pages where you need them to appear, Reedsy has a lot of control over most other writing apps.
That’s not to say that you can’t build your own within AutoCrit. It’s just a bit more work when you’re ready to publish the book.
Planning Boards/Notes
Both Reedsy Studio and AutoCrit have planning and note-taking elements built in. They are just a bit different in how they work.
In Reedsy Studio, the planning board can save all of your notes, ideas, character attributes, and images needed for the manuscript. You can also pin one of the documents so that it shows when you’re writing the book.
When you access the Notes section of AutoCrit, it opens a second screen next to the manuscript. This makes it more convenient if you’re keeping track of specific details about the story. Plus, AutoCrit lets you color-code the notes, similar to what you’d use as a Post-it.
It’s exceptionally convenient to have the notes in plain site as you write, especially if you’re a plotter. Plus, you can keep mindful of any research you need to complete a scene or character details you want to share.
In this regard, it’s difficult to say which writing app is better.
Reedsy gives you all kinds of options and attributes for the planning board, but you can only show one “note” at a time. AutoCrit allows all of the notes to be shown on the same display but doesn’t have the features and image options.
In this instance, it really comes down to user preference.
Collaboration Abilities
Reedsy Studio allows you to collaborate with other writers and editors directly in much the same way as Google Docs. Comments and changes are made in real-time while in the writing app, which makes producing the book with others much easier to manage.
Collaborators will need to have their own Reedsy account, which is free. And to leave a comment, all one has to do is highlight the text and click the “Comment” option on the typography window.
Unfortunately, AutoCrit has no direct collaboration feature. You are the only one who can access your manuscript. You’d have to copy and paste the text into something like Google Docs and then transfer it back to AutoCrit once changes and edits are made.
Setting Writing Goals
Setting up goals for your writing can help with motivation. Both Reedsy Studio and AutoCrit provide this function. However, Reedsy’s goal setting is far more in-depth than it is for AutoCrit.
In Reedsy, you can set daily, weekly, monthly, or custom goals while also creating a deadline for when you want to finish your draft. You can also set the platform for writing on specific days, which Reedsy will use to show you exactly how many words you need to write today to finish.
Although AutoCrit has a built-in writing timer, it only has a few options for creating goals. You can enable the “Positive Reinforcement” option, which will show happy and sad emoticons next to the word counts for the day. But it severely lacks the flexibility of goal tracking when compared to Reedsy.
If you’re into tracking your progress as much as I am, then Reedsy Studio is easily the better app. Thanks to setting up the deadline and then pushing to meet my daily word count goals, I was able to finish writing the first draft of Kingmaker more than two weeks early.
Then again, I like to gamify the word counts, and Reedsy makes this ultimately easier than AutoCrit. I do have to say, though, that the “Writing Timer” is a nice touch in AutoCrit for those who want to dedicate specific lengths of time to writing or editing.
I prefer the writing sprints I use on YouTube, but not everyone cares for background ambient sounds.
Writing Statistics/Data
Writing statistics and data can help you with productivity or fine-tune the editing process. While both platforms offer a bit of this information, AutoCrit is by far the superior tool. That’s because it is geared specifically for editing a manuscript. As a result, it is full of actionable data.
In Reedsy, you can see some data such as the total number of words or characters either in the current chapter or the entire manuscript. It will also display the most used words and phrases, which can help tighten your prose.
When it comes to collecting data about your manuscript, few tools are as elaborate as AutoCrit. Using AI to analyze your text, the system will highlight everything from the pacing of your story to its readability.
You can also run an analytical Summary Report pitting your writing style against some of the most popular authors in history.
Personally, I like to see how I stack up against Stephen King. I don’t really compare myself to the master of horror, but it’s interesting to see how our two styles compare to one another.
At the time of this article, AutoCrit has 26 reports it can run against your manuscript. You can also use the AI to help with story building and inspiration about how to continue from a certain point in your writing.
However, AutoCrit will not use AI to write a single line of text. The writing is still 100% up to you. The AI can give you ideas about how to proceed, but you’ll still need to put the words together yourself.
That’s one of AutoCrit’s saving graces for me. I won’t use AI to write, but it is extremely helpful when it comes to finding a lot of poorly written elements, such as redundant phrases or over-repetition of certain words.
Editing Functions
Both Reedsy Studio and AutoCrit have editing functions, but they are night and day when compared to one another.
Reedsy has a decent spellchecker built-in that you can use while adding your own terms to the dictionary. You can easily ignore or change either one instance of the word or all of them with a single click. This is helpful when you want to change a location or character’s name throughout the entire book.
Another aspect that you might want to consider is hiring one of the editors in Reedsy’s marketplace. These individuals will have access to your manuscript, making notes and providing details about your story.
It’s also worth pointing out that since Reedsy is web-based, any plugin or extension you have on your browser may work while writing the manuscript.
For instance, I use the Grammarly Chrome extension, and it worked flawlessly in Reedsy while I was writing all of my books.
AutoCrit’s editing features are an entirely different animal altogether. It uses the data I mentioned earlier and then helps you plan out how to make those adjustments.
For example, let’s say you want to improve your “Showing vs Telling” prowess. AutoCrit will run the report and display the words that you may want to reconsider throughout the entire manuscript. In this case, it will offer suggestions about how many to remove or alter.
Most of the reports will let you click on the word and cycle through all of the instances of that word so you can make adjustments as needed. Just keep in mind that no automated system is going to be completely accurate.
For instance, AI doesn’t take emotional nuance or repetition for accentuation into account.
Nonetheless, when it comes to editing your manuscript, AutoCrit easily surpasses what you can do with Reedsy. That is unless you hire one of Reedsy’s human editors.
Formatting Options
Formatting can cover everything from the typeface you use to how the chapters appear in digital and print copies. It’s where you’ll make adjustments for drop caps, chapter numbers, or even adding imagery to pages.
When it comes to formatting, both Reedsy and AutoCrit are very basic. However, AutoCrit has just a couple more options when it comes time to publish the book.
Reedsy has very basic formatting options. These include hiding chapter numbers, adding drop caps, how end notes appear, and the trim size. You also have three templates to choose from for the typeface.
In AutoCrit, you can choose the new fonts to export, drop caps, header and footer layout, custom images for scene breaks, and the trim sizes. So, AutoCrit has a few more formatting options than Reedsy, but both pale in comparison to other tools.
Although Reedsy’s formatting options are lacking, I printed both of my recent books directly from Studio. Since I’m not worried about flair or pizzazz, I really didn’t need much to get my first books out on the shelves.
Exporting Options
When exporting, whether it’s for a backup or uploading to Amazon, Reedsy only supports three file types: PDF, ePub, and DOCX (backup file). Those are the most common, and beginner authors probably won’t need much more than that.
When you export the file as a DOCX for backups, Reedsy doesn’t include most of the page templates. Things that have obvious programmed elements are not included, such as the About Author and Also By pages. However, these pages are exported in the PDF and ePub file types.
AutoCrit allows for six files including ePub, PDF, DOCX, DOCX with Highlights, RTF, and TXT. You can also choose to export each chapter as a separate file, which could make editing much easier to handle if printed.
As both platforms provide the most common file types, this probably won’t mean much for most authors. I just wanted to include it in case someone wanted to know if RTF or TXT files were possible for whatever reason.
Standout Features of Reedsy Studio
Reedsy Studio is a platform specifically designed for authors to write and publish their books. The system is connected to the marketplace where you can hire professionals to help with all aspects of publishing.
The attribute functions of the planning board give you all kinds of ways to research and plot your book with ease. In fact, you can go so far as to add external links to resources to help keep things organized.
I linked to a video on YouTube as part of my research so I could reference it as I wrote Shadows of Atlantic City.
As a whole, Reedsy has more than just the writing app. You can enter weekly writing contests, find information about writing scholarships, take courses, and more. It’s a great site for everything related to writing a novel.
Reedsy makes it easy to set goals for a variety of purposes as well as a deadline for your book. This feature is easily one of my favorites as I gamify trying to write more than what is needed. But then again, I’m a bit of a dork for numbers.
Standout Features of AutoCrit
While the writing aspect of AutoCrit has much to be desired, it’s primarily an editing system. Using AI to analyze your manuscript, AutoCrit can highlight all of the ways in which you can improve your prose in the manuscript.
This is especially helpful for new authors who don’t have formal training or educational background in writing a book.
The reports in AutoCrit are exceptionally helpful, but shouldn’t be used in lieu of a human editor. No AI or automated system is going to be perfect, and some of the things AutoCrit wants you to change are false positives.
For instance, a lot of authors will use repeated words to accentuate a scene. AutoCrit will still flag those repeat words as being problematic.
AutoCrit is also more than the sum of its writing and editing platform. It also has a Community, Academic, and professional section you can explore for a variety of purposes.
From learning new writing tactics to interacting with other authors in the forum, AutoCrit is heavy on the aspect of community and networking.
Which is Ultimately Better, Reedsy or AutoCrit?
It’s difficult to pick an absolute winner, here. Reedsy has a much cleaner layout, page templates, and a great interface in general. However, AutoCrit’s editing abilities and reports are superior for those who want to improve their writing prowess.
In the end, it probably comes down to two primary factors for most people: price and editing.
If you want a cost-effective writing platform that is connected to a wide variety of tools and support, Reedsy is the better choice. If you want superior editing and can’t afford a human editor down the road, AutoCrit is probably more attractive.
In my situation, collaboration is a key feature. Reedsy added this element in 2024 and it works virtually the same as Google Docs. That easily sways the needle for me between the two. But if you’re a lone wolf, it probably won’t matter much.
I believe Reedsy has the better interface, especially when it comes to sifting through chapters and pages. And since I hate the fact that AutoCrit doesn’t use indents or margins, I’d rather not use it to write the book.
It’s probably best to think of AutoCrit as more of an editing platform. Even if you have a human editor lined up, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let the AI highlight some things that you might want to change. It might give your editor a bit of an easier time going through your manuscript.
Using Reedsy Studio AND AutoCrit to Publish a Book
What about using Reedsy Studio to write the book and AutoCrit for editing?
It’s quite possible to write a decent book using the free version of Reedsy Studio and then using AutoCrit to edit the manuscript. However, the free version of AutoCrit is extremely limited. As an editing tool, AutoCrit is virtually unusable unless you upgrade.
On the upside, you can export the manuscript from Reedsy using a DOCX backup file and import it into AutoCrit with ease. As long as your chapters are clearly labeled in Reedsy, AutoCrit will find them and set up the book appropriately.
Then, after you’ve used AutoCrit to edit the book, export it as another DOCX file. Upload that file to Reedsy as a new book. Reedsy Studio will assign the chapter headings, scene breaks, and more accordingly.
This is what I did when publishing Shadows of Atlantic City. In this case, I used the free version of Studio to write the book while paying the $180 for the year for AutoCrit to edit.
Essentially, I used the free version of the Grammarly Chrome extension to help write the first draft in Reedsy, and then AutoCrit for all of the fine-tuning details. Not everyone has an extensive bank account to throw at writing apps, especially since there is no guarantee you’ll make that money back in book sales.
Now, paying for the premium versions of both platforms would cost about $304.99. But, it’s still a lot cheaper than hiring a professional editor if you’re on an extremely tight budget.
Again, human editors are superior to AI and automated systems. If you have the money, I suggest going that route instead of relying on inaccurate programming. This is especially true if you’re purposely trying to pull heavy emotions out of a reader.
What Writing App Do You Prefer?
When it comes to actual writing, Reedsy Studio is among my favorites. It’s not overloaded with functions or confusing to use while still providing a professional quality. Plus, being able to hire some of the best editors in the world directly from the platform to work on your manuscript is a bonus, as long as you have the cash.
Nonetheless, Reedsy as a whole is among the better companies for authors of all skill levels. Everything on the site is geared to help you learn, grow, and succeed.
I’m not a fan of the writing aspect of AutoCrit, but it’s quite fun to see how you stack against others in your industry. Not to mention educational, as long as you’re learning why the AI flagged certain words as problematic.
But like everything in this world, it all comes down to personal preference. The best writing app is the one that works best for your specific needs. If that means Microsoft Word is your go-to app, then so be it.
However, never be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone to experience something new with an open mind. You might just find a better program down the road.
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