Proofread Anywhere Review: Can You Really Make Money Proofreading?

We all know someone who takes a bit of joy in finding errors — in books, marketing materials or even social media posts. That’s actually something that can be turned into a marketable skill or side hustle. Proofread Anywhere offers proofreading courses that it says could help you kickstart your side hustle in proofreading or beef up your skills for your full-time job. But is Proofread Anywhere legit? Our Proofread Anywhere review digs into the details. 

What Is Proofread Anywhere?

Proofread Anywhere is a company that offers online courses and workshops in proofreading. There’s a course on general proofreading skills and one specific to transcript proofreading for court reporters. It also provides resources specifically for freelancers, like a course on starting your freelance business and how to market yourself on social media. 

Proofread Anywhere was founded in 2014 by Caitlin Pyle, who started the company after working for a court reporting agency and freelance proofreading for court reporters. (She did, however, sell the company in 2022.) Proofread Anywhere began as a resource for court reporters. However, its training courses now help proofreaders who work with all types of documents. It says more than 24,000 people have taken the course. 

Course Content & Structure

The general proofreading course has 14 modules plus several bonus modules. The 14 sections are: introduction to general proofreading, grammar refresher, sentence structure, spelling and word use for proofreaders, punctuation principles, proofreading methods, proofreading practice, types of proofreading, turning proofreading into a business, finding clients, marketing basics, understanding AI, your workflow and getting the most out of freelancing life. The bonus modules address topics like taxes for freelancers and marketing. It’s self-paced, but the website says it usually takes about a month to complete. 

The course for transcript proofreaders tends to take longer — about three to six months. It’s a more advanced course for reading legal transcripts. You’ll be quizzed and do practice exercises to boost your skills. That includes real life examples. Proofread Anywhere says the courses are comprehensive and were developed by veteran proofreaders.  

Cost & Refund Policy

The basic general proofreading course costs $697, and there’s a “plus” course that adds on extras like a digital certificate of completion for $100 more. The transcript course is a little more expensive at $997. You would have 14 days to get a refund if you decided the course wasn’t for you (this only applies to full-course programs for general proofreading and transcript proofreading). 

Earning Potential & Job Outlook

Ziprecruiter says the average nationwide salary for a freelance proofreader is $28 an hour. That means even if you don’t do this full time, you can still make about $1,000 to $3,000 a month before taxes. Not too shabby. 

But, is it still an in-demand skill? It’s a fair question. There are AI tools that proofread, and companies certainly use them. However, even AI makes mistakes and can’t always evaluate for tone and structure in the way a human can. Beyond that, many companies are creating content with AI that needs a human editor. Proofreading also is a marketable skill regardless if it’s your full-time role. So, although it’s not necessarily a booming industry, it’s not on its last legs either.  

It’s also important to note the course is meant to make you more prepared to pursue proofreading as a side hustle or full-time freelancer. It doesn’t guarantee income, clients or a job.

Pros and Cons of Proofread Anywhere

Here are some of the pros to using Proofread Anywhere:

• Comprehensive, structured course that you can do on your own time.
• You can do a course specific to court transcript proofreading, which typically pays more.
• You’ll gain lifetime access to an active community of proofreaders, which can help with skill building and networking.
• The courses cover both proofreading skills and business setup.

These are some potential drawbacks: 

• Initial investment is expensive.
• Refunds are limited to 14 days after purchase.
• The proofreading market is competitive.
• AI proofreading tools could reduce demand for basic jobs.

Student Reviews: Praise & Complaints

Proofread Anywhere has an average rating of 4.5/5 stars on TrustPilot. The positive reviews say the courses are well designed with valuable tools and information. Users also praised the fact that it taught them about marketing, business and social media. Negative reviews say it’s a bit overpriced and they don’t agree with the refund policy. However, an overwhelming majority of users say it’s a challenging and worthwhile course for those serious about proofreading, and they had positive experiences with customer service. 

Is Proofread Anywhere Legit?

Yes, Proofread Anywhere is a legitimate business that provides well-designed and challenging courses for people who hope to make money proofreading. The company’s website says more than 24,000 people have taken the course, and it has mostly positive reviews. 

It is, however, important to consider that it is not a guarantee of income. To see a return on your investment, you’ll have to put in the hours to build a client list and find work. You’ll also have to figure out how to stand out in a competitive market. 

Proofread Anywhere Review: Should You Take This Course?

If you really are set on proofreading to make money, it can be a valuable tool in building your skillset. It’s also great for people who need help with social media, marketing and getting their freelance business off the ground. Because it’s not a one-way ticket to a job or clients, it’s best for those who are willing and able to put in the work needed after the course is over. That means building up your own list of clients to work with and securing freelance work. If your goal is quick and easy money, this might not be for you. 
Those who are interested can sign up here.

FAQs About Proofread Anywhere