Updated April 30, 2025.
If you’ve got a background in research, academic writing, or science and you like the idea of working from home on your own schedule, CACTUS Global might be worth checking out.
They’ve been around for years and consistently rank as one of the top companies hiring for remote work. A lot of their freelance roles are academic, but in recent years they’ve expanded into tech and AI-based work too.
So if you’ve got the skills, this could be a great work at home option.
What Is CACTUS?
CACTUS (also known as Cactus Communications) works with publishers, universities, corporations, and other organizations that need help with editing, translating, and reviewing academic content. They also offer services powered by AI. This includes things like automated manuscript tools and peer review solutions.
They’ve won awards for being freelancer-friendly and were named one of the Top 100 Remote Companies several years in a row.
What Kind of Work Can You Do?
Most of the roles are in academic editing and review, but not all. As mentioned above, you’ll also find opportunities in AI and translation, especially if you’re bilingual or tech-savvy.
Some of the freelance roles I’ve seen include:
- Academic Editor
- AI Translation Reviewer
- Substantive Editor
- Peer Review Assistant
- Graphic roles tied to research presentation (through their Mind the Graph brand)
Most positions ask for a strong background in a specific field, such as life sciences, medicine, economics, or engineering. A master’s or PhD is preferred for some roles, especially the editing ones, but not always required.
What It’s Like to Freelance for CACTUS
The big perk is flexibility. You work when and where you want, and no boss is looking over your shoulder.
Payments are always on time, and if there’s ever an issue, from what I've read they’re quick to fix it. That’s not something you can say for every freelance gig.
They’ve got a solid workflow system in place. It’s easy to track your projects, submit your work, and know where everything stands.
They’re also pretty responsive. If you have questions, I've read someone gets back to you.
One thing I like is how upfront they are. Their policies are clear, their expectations are listed, and you won’t run into surprises. They apparently also send out surveys and newsletters to keep freelancers in the loop.
Pros
- 100% remote and very flexible
- Reliable payments
- Organized system for managing projects
- Good support and communication
- Strong company reputation
Cons
- Most roles require specific degrees or experience
- You may not always have consistent work
- The editing tests can be a little intense up front
How to Apply
You can head to the freelance section of their site to see what’s open right now. The application process usually includes uploading your resume and completing a test tied to the role you want.
Note that they don't have much available for people in the US at the moment, but this changes periodically.
Looking For Even More Legit Remote Jobs?
If you're serious about working from home, FlexJobs is one of the best sites out there. I’ve used it myself to find solid leads and learn about companies I hadn’t heard of before.
Most of the jobs listed pay well above minimum wage, and they’re with real, established companies. No mystery listings or shady stuff.
Every single job on FlexJobs is hand-screened to be 100% scam-free. They add new listings five days a week, and everything is either remote or flexible.
There are no ads on the site, which I love. But because of that, they do charge a small membership fee to keep things running.
It’s super affordable—just $2.95 for a full 14-day trial. That gives you plenty of time to browse and see if it’s worth it.
And if you don’t love it, it’s really easy to cancel. You can do that anytime during your 14 days and won’t be charged again.
? Click here to check out FlexJobs.
Good luck, and I hope you find something amazing!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 15 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.