Best Proofreading and Editing Services Online in 2024-2025

Everyone makes mistakes. Whether you are a high school student or a professor at university, having the occasional error in your writing is inevitable. Maybe you have even looked for the best proofreading services to assist you in the editing process. The tough part is actually spotting the typo so eager to sabotage your article or dissertation.

You may be your own harshest critic, but the problem is, our brains are not exactly wired to self-proofread. We are biased toward our own work! Our brain does the important job of simplifying incoming information so that our mind is not overcrowded by detail. Once we try to scan our own writing for errors, we keep in mind the meaning we wanted to convey, which clouds our attention to detail. In our minds, the text is already perfect as is.

That is why you should think about getting another person to proofread your writing. It is probably better to choose someone who you do not know to avoid any biases. You have probably wondered, are there any, and if so, what is the best proofreading service?

To make your search for the perfect proofreading company a little easier, we gathered a summary of editing services with user ratings above 4.7. So, in case you decide to get help from the best editing services online, here is our list of the top cheapest and best-reviewed contestants.

But before you go searching for the one and only, it is important to understand what proofreading is, and what it is not.

So, what is proofreading?

There are three stages to reviewing any type of written work:

• Editing

The key to finding the best proofreading services online is understanding what it is you need. If you were to write a book or, perhaps, a thesis or dissertation, this would be the first step after completing your writing.

Editing is the process of raising the overall standard of writing to create the finest essay you can. It requires creativity and the ability to see the bigger picture. At this stage, the editor suggests and helps you navigate any big changes to the content or structure of the written work.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Is the tone right for the audience?
• Is the style formal enough?
• Should the structure be altered to better communicate meaning?

Of course, you can try to analyze your own work and make the needed changes, but as we have discussed above it is borderline impossible, simply due to the way our brains are wired. By hiring an editor you can get excellent advice on semantics, structure, and style, bringing your writing to a new level.

• Copyediting

You may want to think about copyediting as something between editing and proofreading. A copyeditor will do their best in making sure your document is as grammatically correct as possible. Here the focus lies in sentence structure, punctuation, repetition, and overall style consistency.

Clarity is an important factor, and of course, some typos and errors will be corrected too. In contrast to proofreading, copyediting allows for the addition, rewriting, or deletion of content.

• Proofreading

This is the final stage of the editing process. A proofreader will comb through your document for any grammatical errors, inconsistent punctuation, or simple typos. The changes are minor, and the goal here is to have a polished piece of writing as the final outcome. It is important to note, that a proofreader will not make any structural or semantic alterations, so it is better to not skip the editing stages.

Who Provides Top Proofreading Services?

Living in 2022 might have its shortcomings. But variety is not one of them. Once you decide to get your essay, article, or thesis checked, it is time to choose the right online service for you. We have compiled a table of the best copy editing services out there, followed by a brief overview of each.

The choice is vast, and it is important to keep in mind several factors that will affect your experience with any service, even if it is the best paper editing service available. We will go over the most important aspects further down in the article. Do not be fooled by low rates or quick turnaround times; chances are you’ll uncover hidden fees wherever you didn’t expect to find them.

Why Is It Important to Proofread Your Writing?

A Cheap Alternative for Fast Proofreading Service

If paying proof reading companies to correct your paper is a little out-of-budget for you at the moment, there are cheaper alternatives to consider. Online proofreading software will flag grammar mistakes, highlight repetitions and even clean up your formatting, all in a matter of a few clicks. Just copy your text, insert it into the box and wait for the highlighted errors to pop up.

Generally, such services are free of charge but do present advanced suggestions you can unlock only by purchasing a subscription to said service. While that can seem sneaky, the free versions provide quite a lot of insight and spot obvious errors in grammar and punctuation.

Online Proofreading Software

The thing is, none of them can compete with a human proof reader from the top best proofreading services. Proofreading software’s kryptonite is contextual errors, impossible to spot unless done by a human editor. We came up with a simple sentence to showcase this issue and test several proofreading services ourselves.

The culprit:

‘I have personally verificationed that the outdated transaction went through and insured that the client was immediately contacted in place.’

We altered the first two words in a way that would sound similar to the correct versions, but were different in writing and meaning. At the end, we inserted a grammatically correct phrase, which does not make much sense in the sentence.

1. Grammarly

Our first contestant is Grammarly. Deemed to be the best essay proofreading service by many, it is a proofreading software that is definitely worth a look. While it is not perfect and often fails to highlight some obvious errors, it is a great assisting tool in proofreading your work.

The interface is simple and eye pleasing; a white page with necessary tools such as font, color, and word count makes a smooth experience. The marketing technique is subtle: once you have implemented Grammarly’s suggestions, the software will highlight advanced errors, but not provide a correction. To get that, you would have to buy a subscription.

It did relatively well with our intentionally incorrect sentences. It failed to notice the problem with the last two phrases but did offer a correct fix to the first part on the second try. So we got this:

‘I have personally verified that the outdated transaction went through and insured that the client was immediately contacted in place.’

2. LanguageTool

A close second – Language tool. Often, when Grammarly will not spot some errors on punctuation or grammar, this software will, and vice versa. Often proofreading software will disagree on some edits.

Slightly more bold in design than Grammarly, LanguageTool presents the same toolkit as our previous contestant. Different errors are highlighted in different colors, which makes it easy to scan the text. LanguageTool will allow you to check 10,000 characters (approx. 1600 words) at a time, which is a huge advantage for any writer.

However, it did not do well with our test – LanguageTool simply highlighted ‘verificationed’ as a ‘possible spelling mistake’ and failed to provide a fix. Just as Grammarly, LanguageTool offers advanced proofreading once you purchase a subscription.

3. Ginger

Time to test our third grammar checker – Ginger. While similar to LanguageTool design-wise, its text length in fact is limited to 450 words. Unlike Grammarly, Ginger does not offer any editing tools; it is a simple copy and paste online proofreading service. This is how it did with our test:

‘I have personally verifications that the outdated transaction went through and insured that the client was immediately contacted in place.’

Once again, a false correction to our first mistake and no attention paid to the other two.

Semantics is not a machine’s strongest suit, at least not yet. It seems that anything beyond black-and-white grammatical errors is too difficult for the grammar-checking software to spot. Perhaps, it is a good thing for now – nothing can replace a skilled editor from the best academic editing services, who will bring a human touch to your writing.

Freelancers

If you don’t happen to know anyone in the editing world, and putting your trust into an online service isn’t an option – there is something for you. Nowadays, hiring a professional for a one-time task is not a myth – it is a reality.

Driven by demand, there are plenty of freelance platforms showcasing skilled experts from various fields. All you have to do is find one of those websites and choose your editor. While there are many emerging online freelance services, at first it may be better to start with established ones like Fiverr or Upwork. The process is simple and straightforward, and the possibilities of discovering a hidden gem at a reasonable price are intriguingly high.

But just like any other online service, it is not without its pitfalls. Prior to choosing to hire a stranger to edit your work, there are a few aspects to be wary of.

• Hiring the wrong freelancer
  The variety of available experts is vast, which can also pose some difficulties when trying to find the right match for you and your project. What makes it more challenging, is the fact that there is almost no way to verify that the person you found is a proofreading specialist or editor. While freelancers go through ID verification and can choose to go through some skill tests, it is nothing compared to a full background check of a proofreading company.

• Too many options
  As we have mentioned above, the variety of choices can become a real problem when hiring a proofreader on a freelancing platform. The abundance is explained by a simple factor: anyone can register on these platforms.
  While the best academic proofreading services put contestants through rigorous selection, freelancing platforms simply require an ID to register. This leads to a myriad of so-called professionals to choose from. The difficulty is finding a skilled editor among many self-proclaimed proof readers.

• Communication problems
  Even if a certain seller has good reviews and what seems to be extensive experience, that does not necessarily make them a good communicator. There are plenty of cases posted on the freelancing platform forums describing the difficulties buyers face when trying to discuss a project. It is hard enough to get across exactly what it is you need in real life, let alone in a virtual chat. At times, sellers simply ignore your requests and wishes, other times cancel the job before you even get to find a compromise.

• Payment issues
  Although technology has brought innovation we could imagine even a few years ago, it has its drawbacks. While paying with your credit card or Paypal balance sounds simple, it is not always the case. There are numerous reports of cards getting declined, Paypal not connecting to the service, or payments not going through. Before you decide to hire a freelancer, consider getting your paper checked with online copyediting services.

• Being clear in requirements and feedback
  Providing clear requirements and feed is not just an interpersonal communication issue. Such platforms as Fiverr or Upwork have had numerous bugs and glitches in the past, leading to buyers not being able to upload files in the requirements section or not being able to send feedback to the editor. At times, customer support checks any remarks as “solved” without actually forwarding them to the seller.

• Lack of commitment
  This might be the biggest flaw of all. As the story goes, freelancers are not always the most responsible workers. The abundance of choice and lack of liability allows editors from freelancing platforms to do their job poorly or altogether abandon a task halfway through.

• Missed deadlines
  Meeting deadlines is difficult with a lack of commitment. No one wants to pay money for a proofreader to do their job, but not do it in time. Putting your trust in this type of service and hoping to get your work ready before the deadline may not be the best option with freelancing platforms.
  As you can see, freelancing platforms, albeit easy to use, are in fact full of unexpected and unpleasant surprises. If you want a job well done, on time, and for affordable pricing, finding paper proofreading services may be your best bet.

When Should You Get Professional Proofreading Services?

• Hire a professional
  If you feel like editing your work yourself will not bring the results you need, it is probably time to hire a professional. An editor with extensive experience and good expertise will be able to push your academic writing to the next level.
• Save time
  Proofreading your own material is extremely time-consuming. First, it is better to leave your writing alone for a couple of days, so that your brain can get unused to it. Later, you will probably have to repeat the editing process a few times, making sure you did not miss any errors. But what if your deadline is tomorrow? That is when the best essay proofreading services come to the rescue.
• Improve quality
  Editors and proofreaders can easily spot typical mistakes, errors, and semantic inconsistencies. By getting your work professionally edited, you can be sure to have a high-quality piece of writing as the outcome.
• Level-up your writing
  If you are looking to grow as a writer, hiring a professional copyeditor is a godsend. An editor will not only fix your grammar and punctuation but suggest some fundamental changes that will boost your English writing skills even further.

What do Proofreading and Editing Services Cover?

Once you find out how much proofreading and editing services cover, you will definitely be surprised. It is not limited to just fixing your typos or adding forgotten comas. Editing is like giving a major makeover to your writing, from inside and out. Here are some aspects that will improve once you get your paper checked by a professional editor:

Following a professional editor review of your article, the following elements will see an improvement:

• Sentence structure
• Punctuation
• Formatting services
• Citations
• Target audience
• Capitalization
• Clarity
• Tone
• Paragraph breaks
• Semantics

What to Look for When Choosing Editing Services

• Price
  As we have mentioned before, many companies choose to add hidden fees for additional services. Opt for the businesses that present a clear instant quote calculator. This will allow you to get a precise estimation of the cost and see a detailed breakdown of what it is exactly you are paying for.

• Two-editor model
  Some companies employ the two-editor model: once your work is checked by the editor you hired, another professional double-checks the corrections to make sure nothing was left behind. This makes sure that once you get your paper edited, there will be no unpleasant surprises once you hand it in to your publisher or professor.

• Turnaround times
  If you need quick proofreading, it is better to pay attention to the turnaround times, however extra fees may (and probably will) apply. Time frames differ from one company to the next, ranging from one hour to twenty days.

• Reviews
  Try and look for a true review that does not have a copy-and-paste feel to it. At times, it may be difficult to find genuine feedback on the internet, but with due diligence, it will help you make the right choice that will suit you best.

• Money Back Guarantee
  This, perhaps, is the most important aspect of all. Not many services offer a Money Back guarantee, others make the process intentionally complicated. Before you get your credit card to pay for proofreading services, check the condition under which you will be able to get your money back if anything goes wrong.

Choose the best proofreading and editing online services for your needs

As an author, you have probably wondered, what are the best proofreading services in usa?

If you need your work done fast, opt for the ones with quick turnaround times, and if perfection is a priority, companies that offer a two-editor model would be a better fit.

Feel free to check out each website and choose the one service that suits you best, based on the criteria that we have discussed above.

The key to finding online best proofreading services is diligent research. Once you find a service that you like, you can always return to using it. Sometimes, companies (for example, Studybay) allow you to invite an editor you have liked to your future projects, ensuring consistent and high-quality results.

Hiring an editor to check your work is probably the best thing you can do for yourself and your writing. You will be amazed at how much time and stress such services save you in the long run.

FAQ

Is it legal to use professional editors?

Of course, it is! Hiring a professional editor is not only legal but recommended in the academic field. Any type of writing, be it a book or an essay, will benefit from editing and proofreading services.

Which is the fastest essay editing service so that I can urgently check my essay?

If you need your work checked on time, Studybay is your choice. There are plenty of responsible editors and proofreaders to choose from and you can be sure they will deliver the result before the deadline.

What kind of turnaround time can you expect from proofreading and editing services?

The turnaround time normally depends on the company you choose to pay. Normally, it should not exceed 24 hours. However, many services do charge extra for quicker turnaround times.

How much do proofreading and editing services cost?

This will of course depend on the paper proofreading service, turnaround time, and document type. Proofreading a dissertation in 8 hours will cost more than editing an essay in a week. Generally speaking, prices range from $20 to $60.