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If you’re looking for the best book editing and proofreading services on the market, I’ve got you covered! I’ve researched dozens of companies to bring you the best of the best. Additionally, I’ve sent emails to most of the businesses listed in this article to get info that isn’t available on their websites.
Some proofreading and editing businesses offer more extensive services for books compared to other types of documents.
For example, a company may provide a combined copyediting and proofreading service for business reports. However, they may also do developmental editing for book manuscripts.
If you have any doubts about the difference between editing and proofreading, I address this in the first question of this article’s FAQ.
To be included in this listicle, a business had to meet the following criteria:
- specialize in or be able to work on books
- have at least a 4.0 rating from a minimum of 10 reviews on Trustpilot—a customer review website
- offer reasonable turnaround times
BookBaby has the lowest (although still excellent) Trustpilot rating of all the services listed.
However, they’re the first entity I mention because they specialize in book editing and are incredibly popular, with over four thousand Trustpilot reviews.
Om Proofreading Picks for Book Proofreading and Editing
Here are my choices for the best editing and proofreading services for books.
| Pick | Reason |
|---|---|
| Most Popular: BookBaby | They have over twice the number of Trustpilot reviews of any other business in this article, and they specialize in book proofreading and editing. |
| Most Highly Rated: London Proofreaders | They have a 4.9 (excellent) rating on Trustpilot. |
Let’s see all nine companies in order of highest to lowest Trustpilot rating.
The Best Businesses to Make Your Book Better
| Company | Trustpilot Rating |
|---|---|
| London Proofreaders | 4.9 (163)* |
| Editage | 4.8 (163) |
| Edit911 | 4.8 (38) |
| WordSharp Editing and Proofreading | 4.7 (55) |
| ProofreadingPal | 4.6 (2,071) |
| PaperTrue | 4.6 (485) |
| Proofed | 4.6 (385) |
| Wordvice | 4.6 (273) |
| BookBaby | 4.5 (4,359) |
Best Book Editing and Proofreading Services Available
Now let’s look at the details about each company, including how much they charge per 10,000 words.
1) BookBaby
BookBaby works with authors who want to publish, print, and sell their books, including e-books. They work with all types of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books, including the following:
- Biographies
- Children’s books
- Cookbooks
- Textbooks
- Religious/spiritual books
- Comic books
Based Where: United States
Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 (excellent) out of 4,359 reviews
Free Sample Edit: Yes. They perform line editing or copyediting (you choose) for five pages of your book. By their count, one page is about 265 words, so the sample edit is for roughly 1,325 words.
About the Editors: They hire experienced and qualified editors, many of whom have worked with best-selling authors.
Notes about How It Works: The turnaround time for your document depends on the page count.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 1
Services Offered: Proofreading, Copyediting, and Line Editing
Proofreading: They check grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
Copyediting: Basic proofreading plus checking for word choice, sentence structure, clarity, concision, and consistency. For fiction, they check for consistency in the plot, characters, and setting.
Line editing: Basic proofreading plus improving the content, organization, flow, tone, style, voice, language usage, consistency, and concision. They’ll also provide feedback on your writing so you can make improvements. For fiction, they’ll enhance character development, plot, and pacing.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Page count
- Turnaround time
- Service level (proofreading, copyediting, or line editing)
Price for Proofreading, Copyediting, or Line Editing for a 10,000-Word Document
| Service Level | TAT | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Proofreading | 6–8 days | $114 |
| Copyediting | 7–9 days | $266 |
| Line Editing | 8–10 days | $380 |
Get a price quote from BookBaby.
If you don’t know the page count for your book, you can give them the word count. They’ll convert it to pages.
2) London Proofreaders
London Proofreaders offers combined proofreading and editing for a wide range of writing. They work with all kinds of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books, including the following:
- Comic books
- Cookbooks
- Diaries
- Prayer books
- Series
- Trilogies
- Self-help
- Travel
- Poetry
Based Where: United Kingdom
Trustpilot Rating: 4.9 (excellent) out of 163 reviews
Free Sample Edit: No
About the Editors: They hire expert editors who are native English speakers.
Notes about How It Works: You can place an order for documents of up to 100,000 words. They have separate order pages for regular and express orders.
It’s important to note that they’re closed on weekends, so they don’t return texts on Saturdays or Sundays.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 2
Services Offered: Combined Proofreading and Editing
Combined Proofreading and Editing: They check grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, word choice, and sentence structure. They also improve flow, readability, and tone and provide content suggestions (e.g., plot problems, weak dialogue). Finally, they give you a one-page summary offering ways to improve big-picture issues.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time (if you order express proofreading)
Price for Proofreading and Editing a 10,000-Word Document
| TAT | Price |
|---|---|
| 3 working days | £125.00 |
Get a price quote from London Proofreaders.
3) Editage
Editage offers a combined proofreading and editing service for all kinds of documents. They handle the full scope of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books, including the following:
- Academic books of all subjects
- Novels
- Short stories
Based Where: They have offices in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Japan, China, Singapore, and South Korea; they also have representatives in Turkey and Brazil.
Trustpilot Rating: 4.8 (excellent) out of 163 reviews
Free Sample Edit: Yes (up to 1,700 words)
About the Editors: Their editors are experts with experience editing manuscripts of various genres.
Notes about How It Works: You choose either the standard or consultative editing plan, fill in a bit of info, and upload your document. They send you a customized quote within one business hour.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 2
Services Offered: Proofreading and Editing
Proofreading (Standard Plan): They check grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, word choice, and sentence structure.
Editing (Consultative Plan): Everything included in their proofreading service, plus checking for character development, plot, and pacing in fiction.
For nonfiction, they boost the appeal of the core concept. They also enhance character development for biographies and autobiographies.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time
- Editing plan
Price: For the standard plan, the base price is $0.017 per word (tax not included) for documents up to 10,000 words. You’ll need to pay a higher rate if you have a tight turnaround time.
For the consultative plan, the base price is $0.025 per word (tax not included) for up to 10,000 words. Fast turnaround times mean paying higher rates.
Editage provides customized quotes for documents over 10,000 words.
Price for Proofreading or Editing a 10,000-Word Document
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard (proofreading) | $170 |
| Consultative (editing) | $250 |
Get a price quote from Editage.
4) Edit911
Edit911 provides copyediting and editing for a wide variety of documents. They take on a complete assortment of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books.
Based Where: United States
Trustpilot Rating: 4.8 (excellent) out of 38 reviews
Free Sample Edit: They provide a sample edit of 1,000–2,000 words for documents of 60,000 words or more. Please see their FAQ (scroll halfway down page) to learn more about this.
About the Editors: All their book editors are PhDs, published authors, and native English speakers.
Notes about How It Works: Turnaround times depend on your book’s word count and Edit911’s schedule. However, they won’t edit your document unless they can return it to you before your deadline.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 1
Services Offered: Copyediting and Editing
Copyediting (Premium Service): They check grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, word choice, sentence structure, flow, and clarity.
Editing (Premium Plus Service): Includes everything their copyediting service offers. They’ll also provide feedback for numerous elements of your writing, including the content, organization, and logic.
For fiction, they’ll improve the plot, characters, pacing, dialogue, narrative voice, and more.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time
- Service level (copyediting or editing)
Price for Copyediting or Editing a 10,000-Word Document
| Service Level | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium (copyediting) | $260 |
| Premium Plus (editing) | $300 |
Get a price quote from Edit911.
5) WordSharp Editing and Proofreading
WordSharp offers combined proofreading and editing for a broad range of texts. They work on the full range of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books, including the following:
- Novels
- Short stories
- Religious/spiritual/inspirational books
- Autobiographies
Based Where: United States
Trustpilot Rating: 4.7 (excellent) out of 55 reviews
Free Sample Edit: Yes
About the Editors: Their qualified editors have experience writing for publishers and agents.
Notes about How It Works: WordSharp provides the current turnaround time on their home page.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 1
Services Offered: Combined Proofreading and Editing
Combined Proofreading and Editing: The editors check for grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and word choice. Additionally, they enhance clarity, consistency, concision, and coherence.
They also improve the book’s content, organization, tone, style, and flow. Finally, they design your table of contents and other pages that are considered front matter.
For fiction, they improve pacing, dialogue, and character development. And, if asked, they’ll provide a brief manuscript critique addressing various elements.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time
Price for Proofreading and Editing a 10,000-Word Document
| TAT | Price |
|---|---|
| Depends | $130 |
Get a price quote from WordSharp.
6) ProofreadingPal
ProofreadingPal offers proofreading for all kinds of documents. They provide combined proofreading and copyediting for the complete range of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books, including the following:
- Novels
- Short stories
- Children’s books
- Memoirs
- How-to books
- Training manuals
Based Where: United States
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6 (excellent) out of 2,071 reviews
Free Sample Edit: Yes (up to 400 words)
About the Editors: They only hire competent copy editors and proofreaders. Many have a master’s degree or are getting their PhD.
Notes about How It Works: For manuscripts over 15,000 words, they invite you to call their office for a custom quote.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 2 (for texts of up to 50,000 words)
Services Offered: Combined Proofreading and Copyediting
Combined Proofreading and Copyediting: They check for grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and word choice. They also provide recommendations to improve various elements of your writing (e.g., genre conventions, point of view).
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time
Price for Proofreading and Copyediting a 10,000-Word Document
| TAT | Price |
|---|---|
| 10 hours | $490 |
| 24 hours | $440 |
| 36 hours | $370 |
| 2 days | $340 |
| 3 days | $300 |
| 5 days | $280 |
| 7 days | $270 |
Get a price quote from ProofreadingPal.
7) PaperTrue
PaperTrue offers combined proofreading and copyediting for all types of texts, including all kinds of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books.
Based Where: They have locations in the United States, India, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6 (excellent) out of 485 reviews
Free Sample Edit: Yes (up to 300 words)
About the Editors: Their expert editors are native English speakers who have years of experience in book editing and proofreading.
Notes about How It Works: The ordering process is straightforward.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 2
Services Offered: Combined Proofreading and Copyediting
Combined Proofreading and Copyediting: The editors check for grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and word choice. They also enhance clarity, consistency, concision, and coherence. Finally, they improve the book’s content, organization, tone, style, and point of view.
For fiction, they make recommendations to further develop the plot, characters, and setting.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time
Price for Proofreading and Copyediting a 10,000-Word Document
| TAT | Price* |
|---|---|
| 2 days | $350 |
| 3 days | $270 |
| 7 days | $249 |
| 10 days | $228 |
Get a price quote from PaperTrue.
8) Proofed
Proofed provides proofreading and editing for a wide array of writing. They take on the complete range of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books, including the following:
- Short stories
- Novels
- Poetry
Based Where: United States
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6 (excellent) out of 385 reviews
Free Sample Edit: Yes, (up to 500 words) for their proofreading service
About the Editors: They hire qualified editors who have undergone extensive training.
Notes about How It Works: The ordering process is straightforward.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 1
Services Offered: Proofreading and Editing
Proofreading: They check for grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, word choice, clarity, and concision.
Editing: Includes everything in the proofreading service, plus checking for overall structure, flow, tone, and style. They also give feedback and advice on writing style or content.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time
- Service level (proofreading or editing)
Price for Proofreading or Editing a 10,000-Word Document
| TAT | Proofreading | Editing |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | $300 | $450 |
Get a price quote from Proofed.
9) Wordvice
Wordvice provides a combined editing and proofreading service for a broad range of texts. They handle all kinds of fiction and nonfiction books and e-books.
Based Where: They have operations in the United States, Turkey, China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6 (excellent) out of 273 reviews
Free Sample Edit: They’ve suspended their free sample editing service for lengthy documents.
About the Editors: Their editors are native English speakers with many years of editing experience and advanced degrees (PhDs and master’s degrees).
Notes about How It Works: The ordering process is straightforward. You can save up to $50 on your order if you’re a first-time Wordvice client.
Number of Editors Assigned to Document: 1
Services Offered: Combined Proofreading and Editing
Combined Proofreading and Editing: They check for grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, word choice, concision, clarity, logic, tone, flow, and readability.
Factors that Influence Price:
- Word count
- Turnaround time
Price for Proofreading and Editing a 10,000-Word Document
| TAT | Price |
|---|---|
| 9 hours | $930 |
| 13 hours | $790 |
| 24 hours | $540 |
| 2 days | $460 |
| 3 days | $430 |
| 7 days | $400 |
Get a price quote from Wordvice.
Now let’s look at some common questions related to book proofreading and editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a book editor and a proofreader?
When we think about book editors, we usually envision developmental editors. These individuals evaluate and make suggestions to improve a book’s content and organization. For fiction books, developmental editors improve the pacing and enhance the book’s plot and character development.
Proofreaders are the ones who eliminate punctuation, grammar, capitalization, and spelling mistakes that other editors miss.
Here’s a look at the roles of the editors and the proofreader. In traditional book publishing, the editing process begins with developmental editing and ends with proofreading.
| Type of Professional | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Developmental Editor | Adds/subtracts/reorganizes entire sections of text to improve the overall content and structure |
| Line Editor | Refines the language to improve flow, clarity, and consistency in style and tone |
| Copy Editor | Makes writing correct, comprehensive, consistent, clear, and concise; fixes mistakes with sentence structure |
| Proofreader | Corrects errors with grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and basic formatting issues; checks for repeated, omitted, and misused words |
What is the going rate for editing a book?
According to a survey given to Editorial Freelancers Association members in 2023, developmental editors charge $.03–$.073 per word. The price varies based on the book’s genre.
So it would cost $1,800–$4,380 for a developmental edit of a 60,000-word book. However, it will likely cost more if you have a tight turnaround time or a book requiring more extensive work than is typical.
To get an estimate for developmental editing from an online proofreading and editing company, I suggest carefully reading the editing service description since it varies from one business to the next.
Then, use the company’s price calculator to plug in factors like word count, turnaround time, and genre (if applicable). That way, you’ll receive an accurate and customized price quote.
What is the average rate for proofreading services?
The average rate for proofreading services is about 3–6 cents per word if you hire a proofreading service. This translates to $300–$600 per 10,000 words.
If you paid a freelance proofreader, it would cost roughly 1–3 cents per word. That comes to $100–$300 per 10,000 words.
It’s important to note that a fast turnaround time, a highly technical text, or a document riddled with mistakes will result in a higher fee.
I authored an article about the price of proofreading if you’d like to learn more.
I hope this article has helped you decide which book editing and proofreading service makes the most sense for you.
Best wishes to you!
“There’s a quiet comfort in knowing I have not yet crossed paths with all of the people who will bring magic into my life.”
– S.M. Klees
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