Knowadays vs. Proofread Anywhere: Pros & Cons

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If you’re interested in taking an excellent proofreading course, you’ve probably discovered two of the most popular proofreading courses on the market: the Knowadays class and the Proofread Anywhere class. But which one is right for you to achieve your goal of becoming a proofreader?

As a professional proofreader who has completed the Proofread Anywhere program and is working through the Knowadays program, I can help you find your answer!

Both the Knowadays course and the Proofread Anywhere course will teach a beginner everything they need to know to become a professional proofreader. The Knowadays class offers a work guarantee to those who qualify, and the Proofread Anywhere class teaches you how to build a proofreading business.

Let’s closely examine these two courses to see which one best meets your needs!

A Comparison of Knowadays and Proofread Anywhere

Knowadays’ flagship course, Becoming a Proofreader, was created by proofreading and editing experts at Proofed—a well-respected online proofreading and editing company. They launched the class in August 2017. (Knowadays was formerly known as Proofreading Academy.)

Proofread Anywhere’s course, General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™, was created by Caitlin Pyle. Pyle has extensive experience as a general and transcript proofreader. She launched her class in April 2017.

These two programs teach you to be a general proofreader, meaning you’ll be able to proofread a wide range of documents.

If you want to be a transcript proofreader—one who proofreads court transcripts—you’ll need to take a more specialized course.

Knowadays and Proofread Anywhere in a Nutshell

Below is a chart comparing the main differences between these two classes. Later, we’ll explore these differences further.

Company / Price	Certificate Given	Special Course Feature
Knowadays / $499	yes	work guarantee if you qualify
Proofread Anywhere / $597 (Ignite) or $697 (Ignite Plus)*	see**	training in building a business and marketing

*Proofread Anywhere offers a $100 scholarship for either version of the course to those who watch the free webinar associated with their class.

**You’ll earn a certificate from Proofread Anywhere if you purchase the Ignite Plus version of the course and score 90% or higher on the final exam.

Before we go into more detail, let’s briefly look at the pros and cons of both programs.

The Pros and Cons of the Knowadays Course

Pros of Knowadays:

• guaranteed work at Proofed for those who qualify (only in conjunction with their editing course)
• excellent support from tutors who answer course-related questions
• teaches you how to proofread typeset documents
• shows you how to enhance a document’s readability and tone

Cons of Knowadays:

• no access to a peer support group
• minimal training for how to set up a proofreading business and market yourself
• the guaranteed work offer will eventually become saturated

Who Is Knowadays Best Suited To?

The Knowadays program is your best bet if you want to learn how to proofread typeset documents and improve a text’s readability and tone. Furthermore, they offer a work guarantee (if the trial period goes well) for those who take the Becoming a Proofreader and Becoming an Editor course and score 80% or higher on the final exam in each class. If you know you want to proofread and edit, you can save 15% by purchasing the Proofreader and Editor Course Bundle. Finally, this class is ideal for those wishing to proofread academic documents since it provides detailed instruction in that area.

You can try the Knowadays course for free here. To access the free lessons, click “Learn More.”

The Pros and Cons of the Proofread Anywhere Course

Pros of Proofread Anywhere:

• lifetime access to a supportive Facebook group
• training to build an online business and market yourself
• guidance for integrating AI (artificial intelligence) into your proofreading work
• engaging user interface and valuable bonus materials

Cons of Proofread Anywhere:

• less access to support from staff (have to pay extra for tutoring)
• no work guarantee available
• doesn’t teach you how to proofread typeset documents

Who Is Proofread Anywhere Best Suited To?

The Proofread Anywhere program is your best bet if you want to learn how to build an online proofreading business and market yourself. Additionally, if having lifetime access to a proofreading peer support group (and the possibility of lifetime access to a marketing mastermind group) is important to you, Proofread Anywhere will serve you well. Finally, this class is particularly well-suited to those wanting to proofread books (fiction and nonfiction) since it follows The Chicago Manual of Style—the style guide used in the United States book publishing industry.

From December 20th–24th, Proofread Anywhere is offering 70% off either version of the General Proofreading: Theory & Practice™ course!

Knowadays vs. Proofread Anywhere: Differences

Now that we’ve explored the pros and cons of each program, let’s go into detail about how the courses differ. We’ll look at the following elements:

• Price
• Support from Staff
• Support from Peers
• Help Building a Business and Finding Clients
• Guaranteed Work Possibility
• Improvements to Course
• Course Content and Teaching Methodology
• Getting a Certificate
• Unique Selling Propositions (USPs)

1. Price

The Knowadays course costs $499.

The Proofread Anywhere course costs $597 for the Ignite version and $697 for the Ignite Plus version.

However, if you watch Proofread Anywhere’s free webinar in its entirety, you’ll be given a $100 scholarship for either version of the course. Depending on your chosen version, it will lower the price to $497 or $597.

You have to use the scholarship within one hour of the end of the webinar.

Proofread Anywhere: Ignite vs. Ignite Plus

As mentioned, if you decide to receive your training from Proofread Anywhere, you’ll choose either the Ignite or Ignite Plus version of the program. The Ignite Plus version includes everything in the Ignite version and a final exam (graded by hand).

If you score 90% or higher on the exam, you’ll receive the following:

• a certificate of completion (showing you passed the exam)
• membership in a marketing mastermind Facebook group
• one year of free access to the new Hire a Proofreader Directory, where you can add your profile and look for work on the job dashboard

Winner: Tie (The Knowadays course is less expensive than Proofread Anywhere’s Ignite Plus version. However, if you use the scholarship, Proofread Anywhere’s Ignite class is two dollars cheaper than the Knowadays class.)

2. Support from Staff

You can receive support from the staff in both programs, but it’s more robust in the Knowadays program. Tutors from Knowadays are available to answer any questions you have throughout the course; they’re only an email away.

And if you’re still confused about something, you can schedule a tutoring call for free.

Tutoring is available in the Proofread Anywhere program, but it’s not free. It costs $50 per 30-minute session. I paid for one session and found it beneficial.

The Proofread Anywhere course also has a staff member who is active in the private Facebook group for students.

Overall, the Knowadays course offers the most support from staff.

Winner: Knowadays

3. Support from Peers

Whereas the Knowadays class is designed for students to seek help from tutors, the Proofread Anywhere course is set up for students to get assistance from their peers.

As mentioned, the Proofread Anywhere class has a private Facebook group for students. Students are encouraged to work through the course and consult the group if they’re unsure how or why to make corrections in the practice documents.

This teaching methodology has given rise to informative and thoughtful discussions.

The staff only steps in when a student asks a question that group members can’t answer. Since the course has been around for many years, you can find answers to almost any question you’d have by searching the group.

If you have a question that no one has addressed, someone from the group will help you. Many students feel this Facebook community is the most beneficial part of the program.

Winner: Proofread Anywhere

4. Help Building a Business and Finding Clients

Both classes teach you how to proofread, but only the Proofread Anywhere course will show you how to build a business.

In its module about turning proofreading into a business, you’ll learn how to set up a company website and get a checklist with the details to include on your site.

You’ll also learn about writing your résumé, setting rates, and taxes.

One of my favorite parts of the course was an in-depth video where Caitlin talked with a CPA about taxes and whether to incorporate your business.

Knowadays provides some information on finding clients, but Proofread Anywhere makes this a much more significant part of its course.

Proofread Anywhere’s module on finding clients focuses on how to use social media to your advantage. You’ll learn about several social media platforms and actionable tips that are platform specific.

You’ll also learn how to create an online profile to attract your ideal clients.

Finally, if you pass the final exam, you can access a private Facebook group designed to help you market yourself as a proofreader.

Winner: Proofread Anywhere

5. Guaranteed Work Possibility

Knowadays offers a work guarantee with its sister company, Proofed.

Launched in 2010, Proofed is a reputable international network of proofreading businesses with branches in the UK, the US, and Australia.

You can start working as a freelancer for Proofed on a trial basis if you take both the Becoming a Proofreader and Becoming an Editor course (bundle deal available) and score 80% or higher on the final exam for each class.

If you successfully complete the 10-document trial, they’ll invite you to work on longer texts.

And how much can you earn working for Proofed?

“On average, freelancers earn around $12–16 per hour with Proofed once they have proofread enough documents to be able to work with confidence. This can rise to as much as $18–24 per hour as they gain more experience, take on add-on services, and work on a wider range of documents and projects.”

– Knowadays

How much Proofed’s freelancers earn is subject to change, so please check Knowadays’ website for the most up-to-date numbers.

Some people are concerned that the work guarantee will eventually become saturated, which seems logical.

However, before, students only had to pass the proofreading course to qualify for the work guarantee. Since students now need to pass the editing class also, people will qualify at a slower rate. Nevertheless, it’s still something to consider.

And if you’re wondering if Proofed is a legitimate company, it is.

Their UK branch has earned an excellent (4.8/5.0) rating on Trustpilot, and the US branch has a great (3.8/5.0) rating on Trustpilot. (Trustpilot ratings for the Australian branch aren’t available.)

Proofread Anywhere provides a year of free access to their new Hire a Proofreader Directory for those who score at least 90% on the final exam, which is a lovely feature. But it doesn’t match up to providing the possibility of guaranteed work.

Winner: Knowadays

6. Improvements to Course

Both Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays have improved their respective courses since their inception. This is likely why these two courses have become the most popular programs on the market.

However, Proofread Anywhere has added more content.

When I first wrote this article, Proofread Anywhere had 10 modules, and Knowadays had 13.

Proofread Anywhere now has 14 modules, and Knowadays still has 13.

At one point, Knowadays added a module called Advanced Formatting in Microsoft Word for Mac. (The original course already had a formatting module for MS Word in Windows.)

However, students found the two formatting modules too difficult, so they removed them from the course.

But Knowadays added the module below, which remains in the program:

• An Introduction to Becoming a Proofreader

The introduction module includes info about navigating the course, learning objectives, and how you’ll be assessed.

Proofread Anywhere has added five modules:

1. Grammar Refresher
2. Sentence Structure
3. Spelling and Word Use for Proofreaders
4. Punctuation Principles
5. Understanding AI

The first four modules were designed to respond to students’ desire for more material covering grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

A 71-page skills workbook is included at the beginning of these modules. It contains 22 worksheets with answer keys.

These modules were a comprehensive addition that added valuable practice to enhance students’ proofreading skills.

The fifth module, Understanding AI, is the latest addition to the program.

This module shows students how to use AI tools (including ChatGPT) to increase efficiency. It also goes over the advantages and disadvantages of using AI and includes an FAQ.

Winner: Proofread Anywhere

7. Course Content and Teaching Methodology

Both programs provide excellent content, but they take a different approach concerning style guides.

An Important Distinction: Style Guide vs. No Style Guide

The Proofread Anywhere class teaches you how to use a specific style guide: The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). CMOS is one of the most commonly used style guides for US English and is used to proofread books.

Note: The most current version of The Chicago Manual of Style is the 18th edition. However, the last time I checked, the class was still using the 17th edition to annotate the proofreading practice essays.

Proofreaders use different style guides for different types of content.

I especially enjoyed Module 7: Proofreading Practice in the Proofread Anywhere course because it helped me learn how to use CMOS as a reference for working on the practice documents.

Since I use CMOS for most of my proofreading work, I benefited from reading it and learning how to navigate it.

The Knowadays class, however, doesn’t use a particular style guide during the training.

Instead, they base the punctuation and grammar instruction on generic rules, with the understanding that you’d refer to a specific style guide depending on the kind of document you’re proofreading.

Both approaches to style guides make sense.

The Type of Content You’d Like to Proofread

As mentioned, you’ll learn how to proofread various texts in both classes.

However, since the Proofread Anywhere course follows CMOS, you may want to lean toward this course if you know you want to proofread books.

On the other hand, if you prefer working on academic documents, you may want to favor the Knowadays course.

I especially appreciate Knowadays’ Module 10—Academic Proofreading: Referencing and Citations. It covers numerous academic referencing styles, including Harvard, APA, MLA, Chicago, and Turabian.

How to Proofread Typeset Documents

One thing Knowadays teaches that Proofread Anywhere doesn’t is how to proofread typeset documents. You’ll need this knowledge to work for a publishing company.

However, if you only work for self-publishing authors, it’s highly unlikely you’d come across typeset texts.

Winner: Tie (It depends on which approach you like best.)

8. Getting a Certificate

In the Knowadays class, all participants receive a certificate of completion when they finish the course.

In the Proofread Anywhere class (Ignite Plus version), you earn a certificate if you score 90% or above on the final exam. Students who don’t achieve this score are not awarded a certificate.

In case you’d like to see an example of a certificate, here’s mine from the Proofread Anywhere course:

Winner: Tie (Would you rather earn a certificate or be given one?)

9. Unique Selling Propositions (USPs)

A USP is a defining feature that differentiates a product or service from its competitors. Both programs have valuable USPs.

Knowadays’ USPs

• A work guarantee for those who qualify
• A team of supportive and responsive tutors to answer questions throughout the course
• Instruction for improving a document’s readability and tone
• Training for how to proofread typeset documents
• Course has gained CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certification

Proofread Anywhere’s USPs

• A Facebook marketing mastermind group for those who qualify
• Lifetime access to a private Facebook group (support from peers)
• An active staff member who serves as a mentor in the private Facebook group
• Training to set up an online business and market yourself
• Valuable bonus materials

The bonus materials include the following:

• A Money Mindset Transformation workshop and workbook
• Access to the first level of the Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ course
• These four resource guides:
  1. Look Better in Writing™ Handbook of Commonly Misused (and Abused!) Words
  2. The Ultimate Freelancer Tax Guide
  3. The Mindset Mastery Guide
  4. 5 Mindset Shifts for Goal-Crushing Confidence

Winner: Tie (Which set of unique features best meets your needs?)

Knowadays vs. Proofread Anywhere: Similarities

Now that we’ve seen how the courses differ, let’s look at their similarities. Both programs have a lot going for them. In case you need reassurance, here’s a list of what both classes deliver:

• Good Value for the Money
• High-Quality Instruction
• Appropriate Level of Difficulty
• Sufficient Real-World Practice
• User-Friendly Navigation
• Responsive Customer Support
• Solid Reputation
• Comprehensive and Relevant Content
• Lifetime Access to Content
• Opportunity to Try or Learn More Before You Buy

Let’s look at these commonalities in more detail.

1. Good Value for the Money

Considering the earning potential from proofreading, these classes are well worth the investment.

2. High-Quality Instruction

The creators of these classes are well-versed in proofreading and have created programs that prepare you for success.

3. Appropriate Level of Difficulty

Both courses are sufficiently challenging to prepare you for proofreading in the real world.

Becoming a proofreader is rewarding, but it requires hard work. Students in both classes are often surprised by how much you need to know to become a proofreader. I know I was!

These programs excel at breaking down the material and making you aware of everything you need to know.

4. Sufficient Real-World Practice

Proofreading the real-world practice documents in the Proofread Anywhere course was the most helpful part of the class for me. It allowed me to see where I was doing well and areas where I needed to improve.

Both programs offer lots of practice texts, which provide that much-needed proofreading practice. You’ll learn the basics of proofreading in US and UK English.

5. User-Friendly Navigation

The Proofread Anywhere course is beautifully designed and easy to navigate. They’ve redesigned the class since I took it, and it’s even better than before.

And as I’m working through the Knowadays course, I see how it’s also easy to follow.

6. Responsive Customer Support

I’ve been in contact with customer service from both courses, and I’ve always received prompt and helpful responses to my questions.

7. Solid Reputation

Both programs are well known in the industry and have received many positive reviews from students.

Reviews of the Knowadays Course

Knowadays has earned an excellent rating of 4.8/5.0 (from over 475 reviews) on Trustpilot.

Here are two relevant Trustpilot reviews for Knowadays:

Reviews of the Proofread Anywhere Course

Proofread Anywhere has earned an excellent rating of 4.6/5.0 (from over 200 reviews) on Trustpilot.

Here are two relevant Trustpilot reviews for Proofread Anywhere:

8. Comprehensive and Relevant Content

The courses provide thorough content that’s relevant to today’s digital proofreading methods.

Both programs are divided into modules. Let’s look at what you’ll learn in each class.

The Knowadays Course Content (13 Modules):

1. Introduction
2. Proofreading and Editing
3. The Basics of Microsoft Word
4. Common Spelling Mistakes
5. Common Grammar Mistakes
6. Common Punctuation Mistakes
7. Other Common Errors
8. Proofreading in Practice: Style
9. Academic Proofreading
10. Academic Proofreading: Referencing and Citations
11. Creative Writing and the Publishing Industry
12. Proofreading Business Writing
13. Finding Work and the Final Assignment

Below, you can see the first five modules inside the Knowadays proofreading course.

Here’s a link to the course curriculum if you’d like more info about each module. You’ll need to scroll about halfway down the page until you see the “Becoming A Proofreader Course Curriculum” heading.

The Proofread Anywhere Course Content (14 Modules):

1. Introduction to General Proofreading
2. Grammar Refresher
3. Sentence Structure
4. Spelling and Word Use for Proofreaders
5. Punctuation Principles
6. Proofreading Methods
7. Proofreading Practice
8. Types of Proofreading
9. Turning Proofreading into a Business
10. Finding Clients
11. Marketing Basics
12. Understanding AI
13. Your Workflow
14. Getting the Most out of the Freelancing Life

Ignite Plus Exam (only available to students who purchased the Ignite version of class)

Bonus: Introduction to Transcript Proofreading

Number of Attempts Allowed for the Final Exam

Knowadays allows one attempt at the final assignment.

You can purchase up to two additional attempts.

Proofread Anywhere allows two attempts at the final exam.

You’ll need to pay a fee if you want a third attempt.

9. Lifetime Access to Content

You have lifelong access to the content in both courses so you can take advantage of any updates and brush up on your skills as needed.

Due to the amount of content that’s been added to the Proofread Anywhere program, it will take at least one month to finish. However, if you don’t have substantial time to study each day, I’d plan on it taking several months.

The Knowadays program can be completed in roughly 40 hours.

10. Opportunity to Try or Learn More Before You Buy

If you’d like to get a feel for the Knowadays class, you can try it for free. You’ll need to click “Learn More” to access the free lessons. I enjoyed the free trial. It’s a great way to discover the course’s style.

It contains a quiz at the end to check your comprehension and a brief document for you to practice proofreading.

Knowadays offers a refund if you’re not satisfied with the course.

“All course purchases will be refunded in full if requested within 14 days of the purchase date. If you’d like to request a refund, all you need to do is email us at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch.”

– Knowadays

You can also learn more about the Proofread Anywhere class by watching a free 76-minute webinar by the course creator, Caitlin Pyle. I attended the workshop and thought it was interesting and informative.

Caitlin gives you helpful advice about creating a profitable freelance proofreading business.

Proofread Anywhere also has a refund policy.

“We want you to love your purchase, and that’s why your investment comes with our Worry-Free Guarantee. We guarantee you’ll enjoy our offers, but if you are less than satisfied with your investment, we’ll give you a full refund for any reason within 14 days of purchase.

Please note that our Worry-Free Guarantee applies only to our full course programs which are all versions of General Proofreading: Theory and Practice and Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice.”

– Proofread Anywhere

Is Knowadays or Proofread Anywhere Best for You?

You can’t go wrong with either one of these courses.

The fact that Knowadays hires its graduates to work for its well-respected partner company, Proofed, is a testament to how much they believe in their training.

Likewise, Proofread Anywhere hires its graduates to proofread the content it puts out. At one point, Caitlin hired three of her grads to help expand and further improve the course.

Both companies are keen on getting feedback from their students and implementing suggestions.

So now that you know more about the programs, what do you think? Based on the pros, cons, and USPs, which course best meets your needs: Knowadays or Proofread Anywhere?

If you’re still having trouble deciding, I wrote a thorough Proofread Anywhere review and a comprehensive review of Knowadays.

You can also check out my review of the best proofreading courses on the market. However, the two programs in this article have quickly become the two most popular classes by far (and for good reason).

If you decide to join me on error patrol, I wish you the very best!

We have plenty of punctuation pitfalls to pluck out, fistfuls of formatting fumbles to fix, and gobs of grammar gaffes to guard against!

I sincerely hope the content on Om Proofreading helps you along your path!

Best wishes to you!

“For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.”

– Neil deGrasse Tyson