55 Proofreading Jobs Online No Experience Needed

proofreading jobs from home no experience

Last Updated on August 9, 2024 by Katie

You may have googled the ‘best proofreading jobs online no experience’ and landed on this page. I did when I first started investigating proofreading to see if you could get work, even as a beginner.

What I found was pleasantly surprising and I’m going to share it all with you today.

There are many places to get proofreading work with little experience.

With the rise of online content, people writing their own books and businesses having an online presence, the demand for proofreaders is continually rising.

Maybe you work at home already and are looking for a new remote job? Or you might be looking for a money-making part-time side hustle.

Either way, proofreading is a top way to make money online and be location-independent.

If you’re just starting out, follow this guide on how to become a proofreader with no experience.

Need more help?

Check this FREE proofreading workshop from Proofread Anywhere.

Table of Contents show

55 Best Proofreading Jobs Online No Experience

Clickworker
Get Editing Jobs
Proofreading Services
Proofreading Pal
Lionbridge
Reedsy
Edit Fast
Quality Proofreading
Writing Jobz
Upwork
Gramlee
Sibia
Wordvice
Words R U
Kibin
Cactus Communications
Polished Paper
Resume Edge
Jobs for Editors
Scribbr
Proofreading.org
Proofread Now
Edit 911
Edit My English
Lifetips

Keep reading below for more proofreading jobs online no experience.

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Best Proofreading Jobs Online No Experience Needed

Now we’re going to look at the best proofreading jobs online that don’t require experience.

To demand a higher rate as a proofreader, set yourself up a professional profile on LinkedIn and even set up a website.

This shows you really mean business and will put you ahead of others.

Also, think about niching down and offering proofreading services for one demographic like medical, marketing, finance, fiction books or another area you have expertise in.

1. Clickworker

Clickworker is a crowd-sourced platform that offers a variation of online work including proofreading jobs. Many companies post work that needs to be done on Clickworker which you can pick and choose.

To get started on Clickworker, you must register and fill out a few questions about your skills, the languages you speak and where you live.

Next, you must head to the assessments section and take tests to show you have the required skills. To qualify for proofreading work, you must first take on a few text creation jobs. If you do these well, you can move on and take their proofreading test.

Clickworker offers some of the best proofreading jobs online, no experience is needed. But be aware that work may be sporadic.

2. Get Editing Jobs

Get Editing Jobs is a freelancer platform offering a range of proofreading, editing and writing jobs.

Sign up for their free email alert to know when new proofreader jobs are posted. You can even polish your editing skills in the ‘resources’ section where you’ll find a huge amount of content from experts in the field.

You can create a free job seekers account and upload your resume to show prospective employers.

3. Proofreading Services

Proofreading Services is a top platform to get well-paid proofreading and editing work. You don’t need any formal education, just the ability to pass their 20-minute proofreading test.

Just click on the ‘apply to be a proofreader’ button and do your best to pass. You’ll be asked a series of questions about grammar and spelling and then have to write a short essay.

Pay is $19 — $46 per hour, depending on your turnaround time and you can work flexible hours. They also take on workers for transcription, tutoring and resume writing roles.

4. Proofreading Pal

According to Proofreading Pal, their editors and proofreaders earn from $500 – $3,000 per month. But to be accepted, you’ll need to have a graduate degree or have some type of editing or proofreading experience.

Proofreading Pal uses two proofreaders to edit every document. This is great for you in the beginning, as you’ll get feedback on your work allowing you to fine tune your skills.

To be accepted, sign up through their career opportunity page filling out your details, qualifications and any experience.

5.Telus International

Telus International is a crowd-working platform offering a range of freelance gigs like proofreading, search engine evaluation, translation, writing and more.

All you have to do is register, answer a few questions about your skills, complete an evaluation and then you’ll be contacted when work is available.

6. Reedsy

Reedsy makes it easy to connect with authors and get proofreading work. Just sign up on the platform, fill out your portfolio and if accepted, you’ll be shown to prospective employers.

Reedsy uses data science to match you with clients that are likely to be a good fit. This is hugely helpful, cutting down the time you have to scroll through thousands of job listings.

What makes it even easier is; on the Reedsy platform, clients only request quotes from 5 freelancers at a time which slashes the competition.

7. Edit Fast

Edit Fast hires proofreaders, writers and editors who are looking for freelance work. To begin, you’ll need to register, complete the resume builder, take an editing test, build your web page on their platform and fill out a non-disclosure agreement.

If accepted, your web page will go live and you’ll be able to receive new project notifications. You will need a degree or some proofreading experience to be accepted with Edit Fast.

8. Quality Proofreading

If you have experience in science, engineering and/or business management, you’ll be able to get proofreading work with Quality Proofreading.

To be accepted, send an email with the subject line ‘proofreading application’ and describe why you’d be a great fit to work for them.

9. Writing Jobz

What I like about Writing Jobz is that you can search and apply for proofreading gigs depending on your experience level and time available.

Get started by filling out their form, a bit about your background and what your areas of interest are.

Once accepted, you can apply for a range of opportunities including academic proofreading, article proofreading and book proofreading. They also have a large variety of writing jobs on offer including sports writing, essay writing, ghostwriting, grant writing and more.

10. Upwork

Upwork is a place where you can build your own freelance proofreading business. It’s a well-established platform with a huge amount of traffic and therefore customers.

It’s easy to get started on Upwork, just sign up, fill out your profile with details of your proofreading experience and then start browsing through the work available.

You can set your own rates and send proposals to proofreading jobs that take your fancy.

As a beginner, expect to work for around $12 an hour and with more experience, up to $30+ per hour. Once you start completing assignments and get feedback, you can put your rates up and earn more.

11. Gramlee

Gramlee is always on the lookout for new talent and is one of the best places to find proofreading jobs online no experience.

They take on editors as contractors and once you’ve been accepted into the team you can determine your availability.

If you’re interested to work for Gramle, start by filling out their employment application form. Be patient after sending your form in as they receive hundreds a week.

Pay ranges from $10 – $20 an hour, depending on how many corrections you have to make and what type of editing service was given.

12. Sibia

Sibia offers editing and proofreading services such as ESL editing, journal article editing, thesis editing, essay editing, academic editing, book editing and business editing.

Because of the high level of proofreading and editing required, they only take on native English speakers with experience and college backgrounds.

They’re currently not hiring right now, but keep your eye open for when they do.

13. Wordvice

Wordvice offer a range of proofreading and editing services in the academic, admissions, business, book and screenplay niches.

They are one of the fastest growing academic editing companies in the world, but still keep an intimate connection with their workers. Their editors live and work all over the world and are free to choose a scehdule that works for them.

To get accepted as a Wordvice proofreader, you’ll need a degree, editing experience and the willingness to learn and take on feedback.

They’re currently hiring for multiple positions such as:

Freelance editor
Freelance translator
Research expert content writer
Educational video instructor
Seminar and workshop lecturer
Sales managers for China and Japan

14. WordsRU

WordsRU offers a range of editing and proofreading services for academics, authors and businesses.

They offer edits in US, UK, Canadian and Australian English. To work with WordsRU you’ll need to hold a master’s degree, a PHD or have equivalent professional experience.

You’ll also be required to:

Have at least 2 years of experience proofreading or editing
Be proficient in MS Word and the tracked change feature
Have experience in efficient document management
Be familiar with formatting styles, business documentation and/or manuscripts and web content styles

Editors are accepted from any country but will be expected to work weekends.

15. Kibin

Kibin is currently hiring editors and particularly encourages editors to apply who live outside international timezones, like the US and Canada or that have overnight ability.

Kibin focuses on essay and thesis editing and aims to help students to be better writers. The platform gives 24/7 access to editors and has a library of over 500,000 essay examples for eager student eyes to peruse.

To apply as a Kibin editor you need to:

Sign up for a Kibin editor account
Prove your grammar and style skills with a timed pre-test
If you pass the test, you’ll be asked a bit more about yourself
If you’re deemed a good fit, you’ll be asked to complete a final test sample edit
You can gain access to available editing work

16. Cactus Global

Cactus has a range of remote job opportunities including freelance academic editing, translation, design, medical writing, customer service and more.

They take on workers from all over the world and have a great reputation for having an open and inclusive work culture. Cactus even ranked number 18 among the top 100 companies for remote jobs in 2022.

To work as an editor for Cactus, hit the ‘current openings’ tab and apply to be a freelance editor. You will need native-level English, a PHD or master’s degree and a high level of computer literacy.

17. Polished Paper

Polished Paper offers first-class editing and proofreading services for essays, businesses documents, dissertations, journal articles, personal statements, resumes, novels and more.

They hire contract editors from all over the world who can pick and choose the assignments they wish to complete.

To be excepted, you must have a native command of English, be familiar with academic styles and have the latest version of Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Adobe PDF editing software.

The application process contains a two-part editing test and you’ll need to show an up to date resume.

18. Resume Edge

Resume Edge is a professional resume writing and editing service.

They work in a range of industries but specialize in the executive, IT, nursing, engineering, military to civilian and federal spaces.

If you fancy writing and editing resumes, send them an email via their contact form.

19. Jobs for Editors

Jobs for editors is currently hiring editors, proofreaders, translators, writers and copywriters.

To get registered and start receiving work you need to:

Submit your resume
Speak with a recruiter
Pass a short online Skype interview
Complete an English test and edit a 2-page sample
Complete the in-house educational course
Register a profile on the platform

Editors and proofreaders receive a percentage of the price paid for each order (5 – 50 %). Monthly bonuses are paid according to the quality and quantity of completed orders.

20. Scribbr

Scribbr is currently hiring editors and proofreaders who speak English, French, German and Dutch.

The platform aims to help students graduate with professional proofreading services, a plagiarism checker, a reference generator and an extensive knowledge base.

As a Scribbr proofreader, you’ll be polishing up essays and dissertations and answering questions about academic writing.

To start editing for Scribbr, you’ll need to take the language quiz, fill out an application form and complete tasks in the Scribbr academy.

21. Proofreading.org

Cambridge Proofreading takes on experienced editors from around the world.

They claim to have 300+ editors working for them and have edited over 201,000 documents! Work is flexible and you retain control over your schedule, working the hours that suit you.

The majority of their clients are students or academics, so they prefer their editors to have a bachelor’s degree, and:

Be a native English speaker
Have prior editing experience
Have stable internet and the ability to meet deadlines

Average pay is $20 – $25 per hour, paid twice monthly.

To become a part of the team you’ll need to take a Cambridge grammar quiz, fill out an application form and edit a short trail document of 750 words.

22. Proofread Now

Proofread Now offers 24/7 proofreading and editing service for businesses. The types of documents they work on include:

Emails
Websites
Research papers
Legal briefs
Advertisements
Marketing brochures
Sales proposals
Medical letters
Many other business documents

The main services the company offers are clarity proofreading, style copy editing and translation.

To work for Proofread Now, you’ll need a minimum of five years of experience and be expected to pass editing tests. You’ll also need reliable internet, Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Professional.

23. Edit 911

Edit 911 claims to have edited over 100,000 documents since its founding in 1999. All their editors are native English speakers and have a PhD or a professional equivalent.

The type of editing and proofreading services they offer includes book editing, business document proofreading, essay and dissertation editing, article editing and proofreading and scientific editing.

Some of their big clients include Toyota, DHL, Unicef, the University of London and many more.

To join their freelance editing team, check you meet their minimum requirements and send your resume plus a sample of your writing.

24. Edit My English

If you’re looking for proofreading jobs online no experience, Edit My English is worth checking out. This company offers proofreading and editing services for students and professionals and claims to have edited over 125 million words since 2004.

The main services they offer include:

Academic editing
Business editing
Author editing
College admissions essay editing
Translation services

While they do hire editors and proofreaders from all over the world, you will need to be a US citizen and have a degree from a US university.

The compensation rate depends on the number of pages edited and you’ll receive 60% of the client payment. To be considered for paid work, fill out their application form and upload your resume.

25. Lifetips

Lifetips is a platform offering 120,000+ tips, 50+ books and 300+ weekly podcasts. Alongside this, they offer writing services for business clients to help drive traffic and engage readers.

To help with content production, they need editorial staff to help develop content strategies and edit the content sent in by their freelance writers.

This is a full-time role with a salary and full medical benefits included.

To apply, fill out your contact information and upload your resume. A team member will respond to you within a week if you’re successful.

Find Beginner Proofreading Jobs Online Via Job Boards

Another easy way for new proofreaders to find work is on job boards. Some ask you to create a profile and others allow you to scroll through available jobs and apply to the ones that fit your experience and skill level.

Some proofreading jobs on job boards will be remote, while others may require you to work in-house. You can filter options in the search bar by typing in ”remote”.

Check out these job boards for proofreading jobs online no experience:

Find Beginner Proofreading Jobs Online Via Freelance Platforms

Freelancer platforms are a popular way for beginners to find entry-level proofreading work. These websites have a massive client base, which often means you’ll have clients come to you.

To get noticed, you’ll need to create a clear profile detailing what you do, any experience and why someone should choose you over the rest.

Some popular freelancer platforms worth taking a look at include:

Find Beginner Proofreading Work Via a Publishing House

While many large publishing houses only take on proofreaders with experience, you can often get your foot in the door with an internship.

Another idea is to scout out smaller publishing houses that may be willing to give you a chance as a beginner proofreader. Always do your research to find out the companies hiring requirements.

Here are a few publishing houses worth contacting:

Extra Proofreading Opportunities

Start a Proofreading Business

There are more ways to find beginner proofreading jobs online than applying to work for big companies.

You can set up your own proofreading business and keep 100% of all your profits. Of course, to get noticed, you will have to direct some of these profits back into your business for advertising, website fees and social media.

But, once you get a few clients, you can ask for reviews and use these as social proof. Display these reviews on your proofreading website and on your social media pages.

Send Out Cold Emails

Another great way to find proofreading clients is to send out cold emails. If you see a company you’d like to work for, search out their website and social media profiles.

They may have details on how to contact them about work. If not, this doesn’t mean you can’t contact them, before they know they even need your help!

Write a customized email, detailing how you can help them and why you think you’d be a good fit for their brand.

Do your research and make sure to comment something nice about what they do. Some big companies get hundreds of pitches each week and you need to make yours stand out.

Check out these cold pitching tips for a little extra guidance.

Find Clients Through Networking

Sometimes, it’s not what you know, but who you know!

One of the best ways to get proofreading jobs online no experience is through networking. Do you have friends, family or social media acquaintances who might need your help?

Even if you complete a few projects for free for someone you know, this could give you the experience and reviews that’ll help you snag a high-paying, real-life client.

Create professional proofreading profiles on large social platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook.

LinkedIn has a massive network of companies and professionals who would use a proofreader like you. Take the time to build connections and down the line, you can offer your proofreading services.

Facebook is another social platform worth networking on. Join proofreading groups where freelancers and those looking for proofreaders will hang out.

Again, take the time to become a useful member of any group you join. If you join to just spam your proofreading website details everywhere, you won’t last long in the group.

Answer questions and show an interest in other people and what they’re doing.

FAQs

Proofreading Jobs Online No Experience

What Does a Proofreader Do?

Proofreaders check and edit written documents like books, articles and website text. They provide the final quality check before the text is published and viewed by the public.

As a proofreader you’re responsible for fixing grammar or spelling mistakes, ensuring the text flows and that it follows any company style guide.

Proofreaders work in many industries including:

Legal
Medical
Academic
Business
Publishing
Litigation support
Marketing

Basically, any industry that produces written content online or offline will use a proofreader. Mistakes can harm a brand’s reputation, which is why proofreading is an important step in any content creation process.

As a proofreader, you can take on many types of proofreading jobs.

Some of the content you may be asked to proofread includes:

Books
Magazines
Blog posts
Website copy
Research articles
Social media content
Adverts and flyers
Legal and medical transcripts
Reports and white papers

You can specialise in one area of proofreading such as books or legal transcripts or take on a variety of work.

What Skills Do I Need to Be a Proofreader?

To be a successful proofreader, you are the last eye on a piece of text before it goes out and you need to ensure it reads perfectly and is error-free.

It helps if you are detail-oriented, able to focus on the same task for extended periods without distraction and you have a decent level of computer proficiency.

The skills needed to be a high-paid proofreader include:

Excellent grasp of grammar
Sound knowledge of spelling and punctuation
Eye for detail and accuracy
Ability to concentrate for long periods
Great time management and organisation skills
Good communication skills
Knowledge of widely used style guides
Refined research ability
Competent computer skills
Self-motivated and disciplined

Can Anyone Be a Proofreader?

All different types of people have made proofreading their chosen career. Proofreading jobs online no experience are open to anyone, as long as they take the time to learn how the job works and brush up on their English language skills.

College students, bloggers, stay-at-home moms and those wanting a flexible side hustle can all make money proofreading if they want.

Just like any job, some will take to it more naturally than others. If you already notice spelling and grammar mistakes online, then you’re halfway there.

If English grammar isn’t your thing, take the time to practice with free tests online:

And if you feel your spelling isn’t good enough, there are plenty of free tools to help you when starting out. These include;

And, one way to help yourself as a new proofreader is to use the experience you have.

If you have a background in health, you’ll have a greater knowledge of medical terms than the average proofreader.

Try niching down and applying for work as a medical proofreader and make sure to talk about your medical background.

Even if you don’t have a ton of proofreading experience, having insider knowledge will make you stand out.

How Much Money Do Proofreaders Make?

According to Indeed, the average salary of a proofreader in the United States is $24.99.

This will of course depend on your experience and who you are working for. One of the top proofreading salaries was $41.35/hour working for Medicins San Frontieres.

As a freelance proofreader, you can set your own rates. A good rate for a beginner proofreader would be $20/hour and up to $30/hour if you have experience.

How Can I Train to be a Proofreader?

There are many proofreading jobs online no experience that don’t require you to have any official qualifications.

Some companies will provide in-house training, as long as you can pass their initial grammar and English tests.

However, if you have a proofreading qualification, this gives you a better chance of being selected to work for higher-paying companies.

The Proofread Anywhere training course was created by the successful proofreader Caitlin Pyle.

She’s been working in the industry since 2007 and seriously knows her stuff.

After building a successful career for herself, she now helps others do the same. The Proofread Anywhere training course teaches you:

Skills needed to be successful
Proofreading basics
Proofreading methods and practice
Where to find proofreading jobs and clients
How to work with clients and develop relationships
Common mistakes to avoid
Turning proofreading into a business

The whole course package includes 40+ lessons, 8 modules, practice grammar worksheets and real-life example jobs to gain experience with.

At the end, you’re encouraged to take the exam.

After passing with 90% or higher, you’ll be presented with a certificate of completion and gain access to the Self-Publishing School Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex, which will help you find paid work.

If you’re not sure if the full course is right for you yet, try out the Proofread Anywhere FREE Proofreading Workshop.

This gives an information-packed 76 minutes, helping you learn basic proofreading skills and a bit about the industry so you can decide if it’s right for you.

How Can I Market Myself as a Proofreader?

To have a successful proofreading career, you must learn how to market yourself. This is especially important if you don’t have years of experience under your belt.

Potential clients will check you out, so you need to have a great online presence to make a good impression. To market yourself, you must:

Have a Proofreading Website

Setting up a proofreader website allows you to showcase your skills and shows you are a professional.

Customers are more likely to trust you know what you’re doing, if they can see you have your own website.

It’s also a way to easily tell people a bit about yourself and your prices and any other information.

Recommended pages to include on your proofreading website are:

About. Give a little information about yourself, your experience and why someone should choose you over the rest. Include any qualifications if you have.
Services. Detail what types of proofreading services you offer and any niche specialities.
Samples. As you complete work, add links here to show what you can do.
Rates. Write a little about your pricing structure and any discounts for big orders.
Contact. Include contact information and social media handles here.
Blog. To help your website get found in ‘proofreading’ searches and to show your expertise, you can write articles here.

Set Up Professional Social Media Profiles

Set up social media accounts specifically for your new proofreading business. Detail what you offer and how you can help a business.

Two of the best for proofreaders are LinkedIn and Facebook. All the big brands and companies in the world will be on these platforms and will likely need the help of a proofreader.

Update your social accounts regularly, with content showing your expertise in the industry.

Share other big accounts content and network with other proofreaders and businesses you’d like to work with in the future.

A few ideas for social posts when starting out as a proofreader include:

Links to your proofreader website blog posts
Content educating followers on grammar and punctuation
Videos and photos showing your office and what you’re working on
Stories about life as a proofreader, plus ups and downs
Links to educational editing and proofreading content
Ask questions enticing followers to engage

Apply for Proofreading Jobs Daily

Applying for proofreading jobs no experience can be tough in the beginning. You may get little or no response and feel like it’s not for you.

However, the key to succeeding in any new career is perseverance.

It took me 3 months to get my first freelance writing client and I was sending at least 50 cold emails a day.

Spread your efforts between cold emailing, freelancer platforms and applying for proofreading jobs on job boards.

Set aside a specific amount of time each day to apply for work. And remember, even if you don’t get a response immediately, your details may be kept on file for when they do need a proofreader.

Join Proofreading Associations

Proofreading associations are a place to network and find support on your proofreading journey.

Most countries will have their own association and many accept international members. Below I will detail and few of the biggest ones:

United States

United Kingdom

Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

Australia

Institute of Professional Editors (IPED)

What Are the Pros and Cons of Working as a Proofreader?

There are many benefits to working as a proofreader. However, you also need to be aware of the challenges that may come your way.

Pros

Low start-up costs. A laptop, internet and excellent English grammar skills are the basics need to start proofreading. Take this FREE proofreading course to give yourself a head start.
Work remotely. Work at home, in a coffee shop or while travelling in another country – it’s up to you.
Little barrier to entry. While proofreading experience and a degree is a plus, it’s not necessary. Many companies hire beginner proofreaders and train them up to their particular style guide requirements.
Flexible work hours. While you will have deadlines, you can choose to get the work done morning or evening time.

Cons

Need working knowledge of multiple style guides. It helps if you take the time to familiarize yourself with style guides relating to the content you wish to proofread.
May be asked for quick turnaround times. Clients will often need a quick turnaround and you’ll be expected to provide.
Can take time to build a steady client base. As a new proofreader, it will be hard, in the beginning, to convince clients you’re right for the job.

Proofreading Jobs Online No Experience – Conclusion

Now you know how to find the best proofreading jobs online no experience.

Proofreading is a great job to make money from home part-time or full-time. If you love reading and writing, this could be a perfect job.

Don’t let your lack of experience stop you from realising your dream of becoming a professional proofreader.

Take your time to learn the basics, market yourself and apply for proofreading jobs every day and you’ll soon be earning a great income.

And, if you still feel overwhelmed, start by taking a FREE proofreading course to learn what a proofreader does and how the industry works.

Have you tried getting work as a proofreader? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments…

Further reading: