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If you’re looking for affordable proofreading services, you can find them on freelance platforms. As a proofreader who has worked on one of these platforms, I’ll show you how to navigate them to find qualified proofreaders who charge reasonable rates.
The best way to find affordable but reliable proofreading services on freelance platforms is to carefully evaluate the profiles and portfolios of highly rated proofreaders.
Let’s examine three popular platforms: Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork. We’ll also discuss how to determine whether a proofreader can provide high-quality work.
What Is Proofreading, and How Much Does It Cost?
Before searching for a proofreader, it’s essential to understand what proofreading entails to avoid misunderstandings.
Proofreading involves correcting punctuation, spelling, grammar, capitalization, and formatting errors.
Proofreaders also check for omitted and repeated words and ensure that words are used correctly (e.g., imminent vs. eminent). They do not fix problems with syntax (sentence structure) or do any rewriting.
Proofreading is typically done after a document has been copyedited.
Knowing how much proofreading typically costs will be the only way to determine what constitutes an affordable price.
The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) in the US surveyed its members in 2023 to obtain data for their 2024 median rates chart.
EFA members who proofread nonfiction charge about $40–$50 per hour ($.02–$.03/word) with a pace of 7–11 pages per hour.
The industry standard for a manuscript page is 250 words.
The UK’s Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) suggests a minimum hourly rate of £29.85.
However, the EFA and the CIEP acknowledge that proofreading rates vary widely depending on numerous factors.
Proofreaders on freelance marketplaces typically charge lower rates than those suggested by editorial societies.
Find Affordable Proofreading Services on Fiverr
If you’re after the lowest rates possible, Fiverr is your go-to platform.
I started my proofreading career on Fiverr.
Registration is required on Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork. You’ll be required to pay a service fee on each platform.
Service Fees for Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork
| Platform | Fee (% of total payment) |
|---|---|
| Fiverr | 5.5% of purchase amount, $2.50 small order fee for purchases under $75 |
| Freelancer | 3% for hourly projects; 3% or $3 (whichever is greater) for fixed-price projects |
| Upwork | 5%, or 3% for eligible clients in the US who pay with a checking account |
I’ve chosen to discuss Fiverr separately from Freelancer and Upwork since it functions differently.
To locate proofreaders on Fiverr, you can type proofreading, book proofreader, proofreading and editing, or any other relevant keyword into the search box.
Fiverr’s layout is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
What You See on Each Thumbnail
After you hit the search button, the thumbnails of numerous proofreaders will appear.
The proofreaders are called sellers; their services are known as gigs.
Many sellers offer more than one gig on Fiverr. Each thumbnail you see is a gig provided by a seller.
Each gig thumbnail includes the following:
- an image (usually a picture of the proofreader)
- a one-sentence description of their offer
- their overall rating out of five stars (for that gig, specifically)
- the total number of ratings received (for that gig)
- the starting price
- the seller’s level (level 1, level 2, or top-rated)
Note: New sellers will not yet have a level. Levels are determined by how many orders a seller has successfully completed. Successful completion of an order means that it was delivered on time and given at least a 4.8-star rating by the client.
The number of successfully completed orders required to achieve each level is as follows:
Level 1: 10
Level 2: 50
Top-Rated: unknown; these sellers are vetted by Fiverr
Delving a Bit Deeper
After the results appear, you can narrow them down by numerous categories, including budget and delivery time. When you’ve found a gig that meets your needs, click on it to learn more about the gig and the seller.
You’ll see the seller’s overall rating for all gigs they offer on Fiverr. You’ll also learn where the seller is from and how long it usually takes them to respond to messages.
In general, sellers on Fiverr respond to messages quickly.
Some sellers have a portfolio where you can view a portion of their work on past projects.
Finally, you’ll see ratings and feedback from clients who purchased the specific gig you’re viewing.
Fiverr’s Unique Features
Each Fiverr seller has a helpful FAQ section.
You can also view a graph showing the total number of reviews a seller has received for each star rating (1–5).
For example, maybe a seller has 25 five-star ratings, 3 four-star ratings, 1 three-star rating, and no two- or one-star ratings.
Deciding If You’d Like to Purchase The Proofreader’s Gig
Most sellers offer a gig with three different packages, so you can select the one that best meets your needs. You’ll be able to compare the packages side by side while viewing the following information:
- the price
- what you’ll receive
- how many revisions are available to you (if any)
- the delivery time
- the number of words a gig covers
You then have the opportunity to place your order unless the seller wants you to contact them first.
You can communicate with Fiverr sellers via text message and video chat.
The hiring process is the main difference between Fiverr and the other two platforms we’ll discuss below.
On Fiverr, you typically don’t post a job for all the freelance proofreaders to see. Instead, you directly hire the proofreader who is best suited to your project.
However, you can post a job if you don’t have time to look for someone to hire.
If you take that route, look carefully at the profiles and reviews of the proofreaders applying to your job.
If you’d like to hire a proofreader on Fiverr, you can sign up here.
Inexpensive Proofreading on Freelancer and Upwork
Freelancer and Upwork allow you to contact a specific proofreader directly, but you have to start by posting a job (it’s free) on the platform.
The Hiring Process on Freelancer and Upwork
After registration, you’ll follow these steps:
1) Post a job.
You provide a few details about the proofreading job, which will be posted in front of freelancers with proofreading skills. (Upwork will give you a shortlist of candidates best suited to the assignment.)
You’ll receive proposals from freelancers interested in taking on your project.
2) Browse freelancers’ profiles.
After you’ve posted a job, you can peruse freelancers’ profiles to determine whether you want to contact anyone in particular.
On Freelancer, you can make a direct offer to a proofreader after posting your job.
On Upwork, you can invite one or more proofreaders to submit a bid.
3) Compare the proposals and chat with freelancers.
You then review the proposals you’ve received and communicate with freelancers if you have any questions regarding their proposals.
You can communicate through text messages or video calls.
4) Select the best candidate for the job.
Finally, you hire the freelancer best suited to your project.
What You See on Each Freelancer’s Partial Profile
Like Fiverr, you can search for freelancers using keywords. You’ll see a portion of each freelancer’s profile in a list on Freelancer and Upwork.
You’ll be able to view the following details for each person:
- their picture
- the type of work they do
- their overall rating (expressed as a job success percentage on Upwork)
- where they are from
- their hourly rate
Delving a Bit Deeper
You can use search filters (e.g., overall rating, hourly rate) to narrow down the pool of proofreaders.
Then select an individual proofreader to look at their complete profile where they discuss their qualifications, experience, and what they offer to buyers.
Many freelancers also have a portfolio so you can view some of their past projects.
Finally, you can see the reviews (out of five stars) and comments left by clients for each job the freelancer has finished.
On Upwork, you can usually view a brief description of each completed job and of any projects the freelancer is currently working on.
Freelancer Has a Couple of Special Features
On each profile, you’re able to see what time it is where the proofreader lives. Also, all profiles show (as a percentage) the following details: jobs completed, jobs delivered on time, jobs delivered on budget, and repeat hire rate.
If you’d like to hire a proofreader on Freelancer, you can sign up here.
Upwork Has Unique Features Too
Upwork shows freelancers’ availability—more than 30 hours/week, less than 30 hours/week, or as needed. It also notes whether a freelancer usually responds to invitations within 24 hours.
You can sign up here if you’d like to work with a proofreader on Upwork.
Top-Notch Tip: On all three platforms, you’ll notice a tiny green circle next to the seller’s name if they’re online. The seller is offline if the circle is gray (or nonexistent). On Upwork, if the circle is orange, they’re online but away.
How to Choose a Reliable Proofreader
What’s the point of hiring a proofreader if you can’t rely on them to do a good job? Let’s see how to make sure you find someone who can do quality work.
Read the proofreader’s reviews.
Reviews are telling. If other people had a positive experience with a proofreader, you probably will too.
Be sure to look at their most recent reviews since those will be the most relevant.
Think about what you want most in a proofreader, then determine if the reviews match your needs.
Know the proofreader’s qualifications.
The proofreader’s profile will provide information about their education and job-specific training. Although having a college degree is a plus, it’s by no means an indication that someone is qualified to be a proofreader.
The most important factor is whether a proofreader has completed a reputable proofreading course.
It’s a good sign if a proofreader has trained with any of the following organizations:
- Proofread Anywhere—based in the US
- Knowadays—based in the UK
- The Publishing Training Centre—based in the UK
- The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)—based in the UK
Examine the proofreader’s experience.
If someone has worked as a proofreader at a company or has experience as a freelancer, you know they’ve had some time to hone their skills.
A proofreader’s portfolio can give you a general idea of how they work and what kinds of projects they’ve worked on in the past. Keep in mind that each project is different, and proofreaders sometimes follow specific guidelines or a style sheet provided by the client.
Witness the proofreader’s written communication.
Notice if the proofreader’s written communication is up to par. If their profile is full of errors, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Likewise, if you ask them questions and their written responses contain several mistakes, it’s a red flag.
Inquire about the style guide they use.
A well-trained proofreader will be familiar with at least one commonly used style guide. It’s a good idea to ask them which one they usually use.
If they typically proofread US English, they’ll probably be familiar with The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook.
If they primarily proofread UK English, they’ll likely know about New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide.
Be sure to get a sample edit if you have a long document.
If you have a large project (e.g., a book manuscript), the proofreader you’re considering will often want to do a sample edit for you so they can gauge how much work your text needs.
A sample edit means they’ll proofread a small section (about 500–1,000 words) typically taken from the middle of your document.
Most proofreaders charge for this service.
If you aren’t offered a sample edit for a long text, ask for one!
This way, you can look over the sample to see if you’d be satisfied with their work. Even if your piece of writing is much shorter than a book manuscript, you can still ask for a sample edit relative to the size of your document.
Finally, you can always start by giving a proofreader a small project.
Then, if you’re happy with their performance, you can hire them for more work.
I hope this article has helped you with finding affordable proofreading services on freelance platforms. Good luck finding a proofreader who fits the bill!
Best wishes to you!
“Everyone shines, given the right lighting.”
– Susan Cain
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