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Are you a proofreader (or an aspiring one) who wants a comprehensive overview of the best online proofreading jobs for beginners? I’ve spent a ton of time doing the investigative work for you, finding the best beginner-friendly opportunities and distinguishing between companies that hire proofreaders and those that hire only editors, who are sometimes tasked with proofreading.
A significant difference exists in the scope of work performed by proofreaders and editors. If you’re a proofreader like me, you certainly don’t want to take on a job that appears to be for a proofreader but is actually intended for an editor.
Also, if you’re serious about making decent money from proofreading, you’ll need adequate training. If you haven’t received training, I wrote an article that discusses reputable proofreading courses.
If you’re prepared to proceed along the paved path to procure payment via online proofreading, let’s pound the pavement! 😉
What Is Proofreading?
It’s essential to know precisely what proofreading entails when you’re looking for jobs.
Proofreading involves finding and fixing punctuation, spelling, grammar, capitalization, and formatting errors. It also entails looking for misused words (usually homophones) and words that have been repeated or omitted.
My Research Process for Developing This Job List
It was often unclear which editorial professionals (proofreaders/copy editors/editors) companies hire because terms like proofreading and editing are used so loosely. Therefore, I reached out to these businesses. I’ve sent numerous emails, filled out several contact forms, and talked to customer service representatives.
I wanted to give you accurate information so you can save lots of time hunting for jobs!
Top-Notch Tip: When searching for proofreading jobs, read the job description carefully to ensure it’s what you’re looking for.
Since proofreading and copyediting overlap, I’ve included two businesses that hire copy editors at the end of this list.
Many proofreaders (including myself) learn copyediting to expand their skill set and make more money.
How This List Is Organized
I’ve grouped the jobs (all are entry-level) listed in this article according to where you can find them:
- Freelance Platforms (Easiest to Get Started)
- Job Boards with Remote Work Listings (Largest Pool of Opportunities)
- Online Proofreading and Editing Companies (Potentially Higher Earnings)
The online proofreading and editing companies are roughly organized from least to most selective.
Note: You’ll notice I haven’t given any information about expected pay rates since many businesses don’t include these numbers on their websites. (Of course, more selective companies tend to offer higher pay.)
Please visit the companies’ websites for the most up-to-date information about hiring requirements and job availability, as these can change over time.
Is Experience Needed for the Jobs in This Article?
None of the websites included in this article list proofreading experience as a requirement on their websites, except ProofreadingPal. However, you can work for ProofreadingPal—no experience needed—if you meet their education requirement (listed in the next section below).
The job boards listed will have opportunities for beginners, but you’ll also find positions that require experience.
Is a Degree Needed for the Jobs in This Article?
Three of the online proofreading and editing companies on the list require applicants to have a college degree:
- Proofessor requires you to have a degree from a UK/Ireland university.
- ProofreadingPal wants you to have a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a US university as a grad student (with a minimum GPA of 3.5).
- CACTUS Communications (copy editors only) requires you to hold a bachelor’s degree at a minimum.
The Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners
FREELANCE PLATFORMS (EASIEST TO GET STARTED)
One of the best ways to start as a beginner proofreader is by working on a freelance platform.
These platforms are marketplaces that connect buyers (clients) with sellers (freelancers).
Remember that although the platforms take a cut of your pay (usually 10%–20%), you’ll save a lot of time by not having to market yourself.
On the freelance platforms mentioned below, you set up a profile (it’s free) so clients can see who you are and what you offer.
Except for Fiverr, you need to write a proposal (a sales pitch) to every client you’re interested in working with.
Due to stiff competition, the most challenging part of selling your services on these marketplaces is getting your first few clients.
Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to working on just one marketplace.
1) Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the most well-known freelance platforms, and it’s where I got my start.
I love that you don’t have to send proposals on Fiverr. Instead, clients come to you if they’re interested.
Fiverr takes 20% of everything you earn, including tips. You can see Fiverr’s current seller fees here.
Requirements: None
Availability: Lots of opportunities
Since getting your first handful of clients will probably be your biggest challenge, I wrote this in-depth article: “How to Succeed on Fiverr: 40 Solid Tips for Fiverr Sellers.” Although the post is relevant to all Fiverr sellers, I customized it for proofreaders and copy editors since you all are my people! 😊
2) Freelancer
Freelancer is another popular freelance platform.
Freelancer takes 10% or $5 (whichever is greater) for fixed-price projects and 10% for hourly projects.
Also, you need to use “bids” to submit job proposals. You receive a limited number of bids each month but will need to pay to upgrade your membership if you want additional bids.
Requirements: None
Availability: Plenty of opportunities
Top-Notch Tip: Focus on creating a solid profile and writing short but sweet proposals tailored to each job.
3) Guru
Guru is a lesser-known platform, but it’s still a good option.
Guru takes 5%–9% of your earnings, depending on your membership plan. The basic plan is free, and the rest are paid. Here, you can see what you get with each plan.
Requirements: None
Availability: Although many clients on this platform seek programmers and developers, you can still find numerous customers looking for proofreaders and copy editors. These jobs are listed in Guru’s “Writing & Translation” category.
4) Upwork
You’ve probably heard about Upwork due to its popularity.
Upwork takes 0%–15% of your pay. You will see this percentage prior to taking on a project. You can view Upwork’s current fee structure here.
Also, you use “Connects” to submit job proposals. Upwork gives you a limited number of Connects each month, but you’ll likely need to purchase more if you’re active on the platform.
Requirements: None
Availability: Many opportunities
5) PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is another platform to consider. They allow you to send 15 proposals per month for free.
You can purchase additional opportunities (credits) to send more proposals. Credits you purchase roll over each month if you don’t use them.
PeoplePerHour takes a percentage of your earnings according to your lifetime billings with each client.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Percentage Taken | Amount Billed |
|---|---|
| 20% (excl. VAT) | under £250 |
| 7.5% (excl. VAT) | £250–£5,000 |
| 3.5% (excl. VAT) | over £5,000 |
Requirements: They don’t mention specific requirements; however, you have to apply and be approved to work on the platform. You can start an application here.
Availability: My guess from looking at this site is that it has fewer jobs than Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork. However, I think it’s still a good option since it’s a reasonably well-known platform.
6) Hubstaff Talent
Hubstaff Talent is a freelance marketplace where you can start a profile and upload your résumé. A great feature of this platform is that it doesn’t charge buyers or sellers any fees.
“Hubstaff Talent does not take any commission fees and is 100% free of charge.”
– Hubstaff Talent
Requirements: You have to submit your profile for approval, which usually takes one to two business days. This article from Hubstaff Talent will help you through the process of creating a profile.
Availability: When I checked in June 2026, I didn’t see any proofreading jobs; I only saw a couple of editing jobs. However, since some freelancers offer proofreading services on this platform, proofreading opportunities may occasionally be posted.
JOB BOARDS WITH REMOTE WORK LISTINGS (LARGEST POOL OF OPPORTUNITIES)
Job boards are another great place to search for freelance proofreading jobs.
These boards (except for FlexJobs) usually post in-house positions; however, you can find opportunities to work from home by typing “remote” into the job location search bar.
Below is a list of some of the most popular job boards online.
7) FlexJobs
FlexJobs has some excellent remote opportunities, but you have to pay to use their website. Here are the fees based on the length of your subscription. For the most up-to-date pricing information, please visit FlexJobs’ pricing page.
| Time Subscribed | Price |
|---|---|
| two weeks | $2.95 (auto-renews at $23.95, billed every 4 weeks) |
| three months | $29.85 (auto-renews every 3 months) |
| one year | $71.40 (auto-renews every year) |
Their research team screens every job they display to ensure you find legitimate opportunities. They have an A+ rating by the BBB and offer a no-risk satisfaction guarantee to their users:
“We want our users to be happy with our service, and if for any reason you’re not, simply let us know you’d like a refund within 14 days. You’ll get it. It’s that easy.”
– FlexJobs
8) Glassdoor
Glassdoor is a decent place to look for proofreading jobs and a super site to see how employees and freelancers rate companies.
The ratings on Glassdoor are based on factors like work/life balance, compensation and benefits, and senior management.
9) Indeed
Indeed is another great spot to scope out potential jobs. After creating an account on Indeed, you can upload your résumé.
10) Mediabistro
Mediabistro is a site for all types of creative jobs. They occasionally have job opportunities for freelance proofreaders. You can upload your résumé after creating an account.
11) SimplyHired
SimplyHired is another site where you can scout out proofreading jobs. After establishing an account, you can upload your résumé.
12) LinkedIn
LinkedIn isn’t a job board; it’s a popular social networking site for professionals. But it has a board where you can search for remote jobs.
After creating a LinkedIn profile, you can put the #opentowork badge around your profile picture so recruiters and hiring managers know you’re available.
You can also download the LinkedIn app from the App Store or Google Play to receive notifications of new job opportunities while you’re out and about.
13) Google Jobs Results
This isn’t a job board either, but it’s worth mentioning.
By “Google jobs results,” I’m referring to a job list Google generates if you search in a specific way.
To see the jobs, first type a keyword into Google. Below, I typed “online proofreading jobs for beginners” into the search bar and hit Enter.
Next, I clicked the “Jobs” tab directly below the search bar. Then, I clicked “Remote” to filter the jobs.
Finally, after scrolling past the “Sponsored results,” I could see the list of jobs Google aggregated from websites:
ONLINE PROOFREADING AND EDITING COMPANIES (POTENTIALLY HIGHER EARNINGS)
Numerous online companies provide proofreading, copyediting, and editing services to clients. They hire a pool of freelancers to do the work their customers need.
Some businesses only hire a small group of workers, so plenty of jobs are available for everyone.
However, other organizations hire so many people that finding consistent work is challenging.
The first company in this section is a crowdsourcing site. Crowdsourcing is relying on a large group of people (usually from the online community) to provide services and ideas.
14) Clickworker
Clickworker is a crowdsourcing platform. If you click the link above, you can learn more about the proofreading jobs offered on this site and register as a Clickworker. After registration, you can take relevant tests to demonstrate your skills.
Requirements: None
They say you need to have a strong command of your native language and be able to follow instructions. You have to qualify to take on a few “text creation” jobs before taking the proofreader assessment exam, which you can only take once.
Availability: After you register for a Clickworker account, you’ll gain access to a limited number of basic micro-tasks. To access higher-paying tasks, you need to fill out your profile, take unpaid assessments, and verify your information.
However, the consensus is that the pay is quite low, which makes sense due to the lack of selectivity.
15) R3ciprocity
Professor David Maslach is the creator of R3ciprocity. He’s a chemical engineer with a doctorate in strategic management.
David created the platform for academics and grad students to give each other feedback on their writing.
When you edit or proofread the work of others, you earn credits. You can use the credits to have someone edit or proofread your writing.
The platform works on the simple principle of give and take.
Before you can work on other people’s writing, you need to be approved by a R3ciprocity admin. You’ll be required to work on several documents that are less than one page long.
I’ve emailed Dave, and he’s super helpful and kind!
It’s possible to be paid to work on this platform after the admin team receives enough feedback about your work.
Requirements: Anyone can participate on R3ciprocity; however, you’ll need the admin team to verify your skills before you can work for money. The platform charges a fee on each paid transaction.
Availability: To learn about opportunities for paid work, you’ll need to create a profile. You can reach out to the support team from the “contact us” section of your profile.
I’m not sure how much you can make on R3ciprocity, but it’s a great platform for honing your proofreading skills by helping others. And if you need someone to proofread your writing, you can use your credits.
Here’s a brief video from Dave showing how things work on his site.
16) Grammar Chic
Grammar Chic provides a variety of services including editing, writing, and formatting. They hire proofreaders, copy editors, and editors.
Requirements: I recommend emailing them at [email protected] to learn about their current requirements.
Availability: Unknown
17) Proofessor
Based in the UK, Proofessor provides proofreading, editing, rewriting, paraphrasing services, and more.
Requirements: You need to be a native English speaker who has graduated from a UK/Ireland university. You must also have a strong command of English and achieve an excellent score on their tests.
Availability: Unknown
18) ProofreadingPal
ProofreadingPal provides proofreading and copyediting for a broad range of documents.
They hire proofreaders and copy editors.
Requirements: To work for ProofreadingPal, you need to meet one of the following criteria:
- Be employed by or enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student in an accredited US university or college and have a GPA of 3.5 or above
- Have a graduate degree and at least five years of proofreading and editing experience (By “editing” experience, they’re referring to copyediting experience.)
Please visit their website for other preferred qualifications.
Availability: According to their website (which I visited in early June 2026), they anticipated accepting applications again in early summer 2026. You can enter your name and email address to receive updates about future hiring opportunities.
19) Writer’s Relief
Writer’s Relief helps writers who want to get published. I spoke with someone on live chat who said they hire proofreaders from time to time.
Requirements: They prefer experienced proofreaders, but beginners are welcome to apply. However, according to their website, they only hire the top 2% of applicants.
Here’s what the staff member from Writer’s Relief told me about their hiring process:
“We primarily will refer to the proofreading test given, but having proofreading experience would certainly be helpful.”
– Writer’s Relief Staff
Availability: Unknown
20) Gramlee (Copy Editors Only)
Gramlee offers editing, copyediting, and proofreading services. They only hire copy editors and editors.
Requirements: They don’t mention any specific requirements on their site.
Availability: They’re always looking for extraordinary copy editors and editors. If you’d like to work for Gramlee, you can complete the employment application on their website.
They have one application for content editors and one for dissertation editors.
21) CACTUS Communications (Copy Editors Only)
CACTUS Communications aims to make scientific knowledge accessible to everyone worldwide, aiding the development of societies and improving people’s lives.
Requirements: A bachelor’s degree (at a minimum) in a specialized subject area. Subject areas are likely to include the following:
- physical sciences
- engineering
- materials science
- healthcare
- life sciences
- medicine
- surgery
Prior experience is preferred but not mandatory.
Availability: You can check their website to see if they have opportunities for copy editors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my first proofreading job?
Landing your first proofreading job often requires multiple approaches. In addition to freelance marketplaces, opportunities can come from LinkedIn, networking, and direct outreach to potential clients. Also, having your own website can help build credibility and give potential clients a place to learn more about your services.
Are proofreaders still needed?
Yes, proofreaders are still needed. While AI tools can help writers correct many mistakes, proofreaders are still needed to review important documents for accuracy, consistency, and issues that software may miss.
How much do beginner online proofreaders make?
According to ZipRecruiter, as of June 2026, the average yearly salary for an online proofreader in the United States is $57,520, or about $28 per hour. In my experience, beginner proofreaders often start out earning about $12–$18 per hour. If you’d like more information, I wrote a detailed article about how much proofreaders get paid.
Can proofreaders work from home?
Yes, proofreaders can work from home. Many proofreading companies, job boards, and freelance platforms offer remote opportunities. You simply need a laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection.
How can I become a proofreader online with no experience?
To become a proofreader online, I recommend taking a reputable proofreading course so you’ll be in a good position to land jobs. Proofreading entails more than most people realize, so getting proper training is essential. A comprehensive proofreading class will teach you the necessary skills, give you confidence, and enable you to compete with other proofreaders who have received formal training.
What skills and qualifications do I need to be a proofreader?
The only qualification you need to be a proofreader is the appropriate skill set. Although some proofreading jobs require a degree (usually in English or journalism), plenty of opportunities are available to those without a degree.
Is proofreading a good side hustle?
Proofreading is a good side hustle because it requires minimal startup costs and can be learned relatively quickly. Another advantage is that proofreading can be done from home. You can even proofread while you travel as long as you have a solid internet connection.
What tools do online proofreaders need for their work?
Online proofreaders need a laptop or desktop computer, a reliable internet connection, and access to word-processing software such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Many proofreaders also use optional tools like Grammarly and PerfectIt to improve efficiency.
If you’d like to learn more, I wrote thorough articles about the software proofreaders use and the reference books they rely on.
What’s the difference between proofreading, copyediting, and editing?
Proofreaders correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and formatting errors. They work at the word level to catch mistakes that were overlooked during earlier editing stages.
Copy editors work at the sentence level and focus on making writing clear, concise, consistent, comprehensive, and correct.
Line editors and developmental editors work at the paragraph level and overall document level, respectively. Line editors improve a text’s language, while developmental editors improve its content and structure.
I sincerely hope this article has given you many avenues to find online proofreading work if you’re a beginner.
After you get some experience, you can check out my article about online proofreading work for experienced proofreaders to find more lucrative options.
I wish you luck as you progress on your proofreading path. May it be paved with platinum!
Best wishes to you!
“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”
– Roy T. Bennett
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