Shortly AI emerged as a favorite among writers seeking a simplified approach to content creation. Its user-friendly design and ability to swiftly generate content made it a popular choice. However, the AI landscape is constantly evolving. In 2024, the question arises: Can Shortly AI still hold its own against the influx of new AI writing tools? This comprehensive Shortly AI review aims to answer that very question, evaluating its current features, benefits, and drawbacks to determine if it remains a relevant contender.
My Evaluation of Shortly AI: A Balanced Perspective (3.6/5)
My experience with Shortly AI has been a mixed bag. It excels in certain areas while falling short in others. Here’s a breakdown:
Strengths:
- Combating Writer’s Block: Shortly AI is incredibly effective at sparking creativity and helping users overcome the dreaded writer’s block. It’s a fantastic tool for generating diverse content ideas rapidly.
- Unlimited Words: Unlike some AI writing tools that impose word limits, Shortly AI allows for unlimited word generation, making it ideal for long-form content creation.
Areas for Improvement:
- Pricing: With monthly subscriptions ranging from US$65 to $79, Shortly AI feels pricey compared to competitors offering a wider array of features, including templates, language support, and more.
- Lack of Essential Features: The absence of specified user seats, plagiarism checks, and grammar tools, which are standard in many other AI writing assistants, is a notable drawback.
- Editing Requirements: While powered by the capable GPT-3, the generated content often requires substantial editing to align with specific tones, styles, and factual accuracy.
- Limited Integrations: Shortly AI doesn’t offer direct integrations with popular platforms, requiring users to manually copy and paste content. This can be a significant inconvenience, especially for those working across multiple tools.
- Basic Customer Support: While customer support is available via email, the lack of comprehensive tutorials or a community forum can leave users feeling unsupported.
Overall:
Considering these factors, I give Shortly AI a rating of 3.6 out of 5. It’s a useful tool for overcoming writer’s block and generating initial drafts. However, its limitations in features, pricing, and integrations prevent it from achieving a higher score.
Shortly AI: Measured Against Industry Standards
To provide a clearer picture of where Shortly AI stands, let’s compare it across key features against the current standards in the AI writing tool market:
| Feature | Details | My Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Overcoming writer’s block, generating content quickly, crafting storylines | 5/5 |
| Pricing | US$ 65 – $79 per month | 4/5 |
| Word Count | Unlimited words | 5/5 |
| Number of Seats | Not specified | 2/5 |
| Templates | Not specified | 3/5 |
| Languages | Primarily English | 2/5 |
| Content Quality | Good, often requires editing | 4/5 |
| Language Model | OpenAI’s GPT-3 | 4/5 |
| Integration | No direct integrations | 2/5 |
| Data Security | 100% data security claimed | 5/5 |
| Free Trial | 7 days | 4/5 |
| Customer Support | Available via email | 3/5 |
| Refund Policy | Does not offer refunds | 3/5 |
What is Shortly AI?
At its core, Shortly AI is an AI-powered writing assistant built to help users generate different types of content quickly and efficiently. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3 technology, it assists with various writing tasks:
- Brainstorming Ideas
- Overcoming Writer’s Block
- Producing Content in Different Writing Styles
- Expanding on Existing Content
Pros and Cons of Shortly AI: A Balanced View
Let’s delve deeper into the specific advantages and disadvantages of using Shortly AI:
Pros:
- Excellent for Overcoming Writer’s Block: The tool’s ability to generate ideas and text quickly makes it a valuable asset for those who struggle with starting their writing.
- Clean and Distraction-Free Design: The minimalist interface helps users focus solely on their writing, minimizing distractions.
- No Word Count Limits: Create as much content as needed without arbitrary restrictions.
- Fast Content Generation: The AI works swiftly, delivering text within seconds, making the writing process more efficient.
- User-Friendly: The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it suitable for both novice and experienced writers.
Cons:
- Lacks Plagiarism and Grammar Checks: Users must rely on external tools for these essential functions.
- Potentially Expensive: The subscription costs may seem high considering the limited features compared to competitors.
- No Refund Policy: Users cannot receive a refund if they are unsatisfied with the service after subscribing.
- Limited Templates and Customization: The lack of templates and advanced customization options restricts users who prefer a more structured writing approach.
- Primarily Supports English: This is a major limitation for users requiring content in other languages.
Shortly AI Pricing and Plans
Shortly AI offers a straightforward pricing structure with monthly and annual billing options:
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | 7 days | Full access to all features |
| Monthly Plan | US$ 65 per month | Unlimited word generation, all features |
| Annual Plan | $65 per month (billed annually at $79) | All benefits of the monthly plan at a discounted rate |
Note: It’s important to remember that Shortly AI does not offer refunds. Carefully evaluate the free trial before committing to a paid plan.
Does Shortly AI Have a Free Trial?
Yes, Shortly AI does offer a 7-day free trial, providing full access to all features. This allows potential users to thoroughly test the tool’s capabilities and determine if it aligns with their needs before subscribing.
How to Cancel Your Shortly AI Subscription
Canceling your Shortly AI subscription is relatively straightforward:
- Log in to Your Account: Go to the Shortly AI website and sign in.
- Access Subscription Settings: Navigate to your account settings or billing section.
- Cancel Subscription: Look for the “Manage Subscription” or “Cancel Subscription” option.
- Confirm Cancellation: Follow the prompts to confirm your decision. You should receive a confirmation email.
Important: Cancel before your next billing cycle to avoid unwanted charges.
Shortly AI Refund Policy
As of now, Shortly AI does not offer a refund policy. All sales are considered final. Be sure to leverage the free trial to evaluate the tool fully before subscribing.
Key Features of Shortly AI
Content Generation:
Shortly AI’s primary function is to generate text content. Here’s how it helps:
- Write Articles and Blog Posts: Generate ideas, write introductions, expand on outlines, and even create full drafts of articles and blog posts.
- Craft Stories: Develop engaging narratives, create dialogue, and build fictional worlds with the assistance of AI.
- Generate Marketing Copy: Write website content, social media posts, ad copy, and more.
Writing Modes:
Shortly AI offers different writing modes to cater to specific content needs:
- Article Mode: Optimized for creating long-form, structured content like articles and blog posts.
- Story Mode: Designed for crafting narratives, dialogue, and creative writing projects.
- Freestyle Mode: Provides a more open-ended approach, allowing for greater flexibility in content generation.
Commands and Features:
- Write for Me: The core command used to instruct the AI to generate text based on your input.
- Continue Writing: Prompts the AI to seamlessly continue writing from where the existing text ends.
- Shorten/Expand: Adjust the length of the generated text while retaining key information.
- Change Tone: Modify the overall tone of the text to match the desired style (e.g., formal, informal, persuasive).
- Rewrite: Have the AI rephrase sentences or paragraphs while preserving the meaning.
What is Shortly AI Best Used For?
Shortly AI is well-suited for tasks where generating creative content quickly is paramount:
- Overcoming Writer’s Block: Break through creative ruts and generate a flow of ideas.
- First Drafts and Outlines: Quickly produce initial drafts of content or build structured outlines to guide the writing process.
- Experimenting with Writing Styles: Explore different tones and voices in writing.
- Content Repurposing: Transform existing content into different formats (e.g., turn a blog post into a social media caption).
How Does Shortly AI Work?
The magic of Shortly AI lies in its use of OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model. Here’s a simplified explanation:
- Input: You provide the AI with a prompt—this could be a few sentences, a paragraph, or even just a keyword.
- Processing: GPT-3 processes your input, analyzing the context and language.
- Generation: Based on its training data and your input, GPT-3 generates text that is contextually relevant and grammatically sound.
- Output: Shortly AI presents the generated text, allowing you to edit, expand, or regenerate as needed.
How to Use Shortly AI (Step-by-Step)
- Sign Up/Log In: Create an account on the Shortly AI website or log in if you already have one.
- Choose a Writing Mode: Select the mode that aligns with your content goals (Article, Story, Freestyle).
- Enter Your Prompt: Provide a clear and concise prompt to guide the AI.
- Click “Write for Me”: Shortly AI will generate text based on your input.
- Edit and Refine: Review the output, make edits, adjust the tone, or use other commands to refine the content.
- Save or Export: Once you’re satisfied, save your work within Shortly AI or export it to your preferred format.
Is Shortly AI Right for Everyone?
While Shortly AI is a helpful tool for many, it might not be the ideal solution for all users:
- Users Needing Advanced Features: Those requiring features like plagiarism checkers, grammar correction, SEO analysis, or templates might find Shortly AI lacking.
- Teams and Collaboration: Shortly AI is primarily designed for individual use.
- Multilingual Content Creation: The tool’s focus on English limits its usability for those needing content in other languages.
Shortly AI Alternatives
Here are some popular alternatives to Shortly AI:
- Jasper AI: A comprehensive AI writing assistant known for its advanced features, including Boss Mode for greater control over content generation.
- Rytr: Offers an excellent balance of affordability and features, with a strong focus on generating high-quality, SEO-optimized content.
- Simplified: An all-in-one content creation platform that combines AI writing with design tools, making it suitable for teams and individuals.
- Writesonic: Known for its speed and efficiency in producing various types of marketing copy, blog posts, and more.
FAQs About Shortly AI
Is Shortly AI free?
No, Shortly AI is not free. However, it offers a 7-day free trial for new users.
Is Shortly AI easy to use?
Yes, Shortly AI is designed with user-friendliness in mind. Its minimalist interface makes it easy to navigate, even for beginners.
Is the content generated by Shortly AI unique?
Shortly AI generates unique content tailored to your input, significantly reducing the risk of plagiarism.
What does Shortly AI do?
Shortly AI is an AI writing assistant that helps generate different types of text content quickly and efficiently, aiding in overcoming writer’s block and producing engaging content.
Can Shortly AI generate long-form content?
Yes, Shortly AI is capable of generating long-form content, making it suitable for creating detailed articles, blog posts, stories, and more.
Conclusion
Shortly AI remains a viable option for writers who value simplicity and speed in content generation. Its clean interface, unlimited words, and ability to spark creativity are valuable assets. However, the lack of advanced features, limited language support, and a relatively high price point compared to competitors might make it less appealing to some.
Ultimately, the best AI writing tool depends on individual needs and preferences. Leverage the 7-day free trial to determine if Shortly AI aligns with your writing workflow.
