Preston have only won once in eight games now and have hit six blanks in a sequence which threatens to derail their promotion push.
Lewis Neal had an early chance after eight minutes when he had a shot cleared off the line by Mathias Doumbe.
Tony Capaldi had a series of dangerous long throw-ins from the left wing which caused problems in the Preston penalty box and Carlo Nash had to come out to punch the ball away many times.
Brett Ormerod had a right-foot shot which was saved by the keeper's leg after 24 minutes and Vincent Pericard had a five-yard header which went wide of the post from a corner by Capaldi after 37 minutes.
Chris Sedgwick forced a save out of the Plymouth goalkeeper when he hit a 25-yard shot from the right channel which was saved.
Matthew Hill was booked for a foul on David Norris and Capaldi was booked for shirt pulling on the halfway line.
Plymouth captain Paul Wotton hit a 25-yard free-kick which deflected off the wall for a corner after 52 minutes.
Claude Davis was booked for a foul on Doumbe after 60 minutes just outside the penalty box and Capaldi hit the free-kick just over the bar.
Marcus Stewart, on loan from Bristol City, was replaced by Patrick Agyemang just after the hour mark and Simon Whaley replaced Neal.
There was a nasty clash of heads in the 75th minute between Hill and Paul Connolly with a lot of blood and both had to be substituted.
Tyrone Mears had a 20-yard shot which went wide of the left-hand post and Nick Chadwick replaced Leon Clarke with Mickey Evans replacing Pericard.