PERRLA vs Formatly: Why You Should Switch

PERRLA has long been a popular choice for APA and MLA formatting. But at $79.95 per year, it comes with a significant price tag and several limitations that leave users searching for better alternatives. ## What PERRLA Does Well PERRLA is a Microsoft Word add-in that handles APA and MLA formatting. It's been around for years and has a loyal user base. For simple papers, it gets the job done. ## Where PERRLA Falls Short ### Limited Style Support PERRLA only supports APA and MLA. If you need Chicago, Turabian, or Harvard formatting, you'll need another tool entirely. ### Windows-Only (Mostly) PERRLA's primary product is a Windows-only Word add-in. Mac users have limited options, and there's no web-based version. ### Outdated Interface PERRLA's interface hasn't evolved significantly. Users frequently report frustration with the dated user experience. ### Requires Local Installation You must install PERRLA on every computer you use. No cloud-based access, no cross-device synchronization. ## How Formatly Compares | Feature | PERRLA | Formatly | |---------|--------|----------| | Styles | APA, MLA only | APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Turabian | | Platform | Windows Word add-in | Web-based (any device) | | Price | $79.95/year | Starting at FREE, Pro from $X.XX/month | | Tracked Changes | No | Yes | | Cross-Style Conversion | No | Yes | | AI Feedback Engine | No | Yes | | Privacy-First | No | Yes (zero document logging) | ## The Verdict If you only write APA papers on a Windows computer, PERRLA works. But if you need flexibility, additional styles, modern features, or a better price, Formatly is the clear choice. Thousands of students have already made the switch. ## Making the Switch Switching to Formatly is seamless. Our web-based platform works on any device with a browser. Upload your document, select your style, and Formatly handles the rest with tracked changes so you can see every correction.