ProofreadingPal Review – Hiring Remote Proofreaders & Editors

I've had trouble finding a proofreading/editing company that is consistently hiring, but ProofreadingPal seems to fit the bill. My ProofreadingPal review below has lots of details you may be curious about.

Their application page is open almost every time I check, and there's a lot of detailed information online regarding exactly how this works.

Keep reading to find out if you qualify to apply, what the job is like, and more.

How much does ProofreadingPal pay?

The application page for proofreaders states that most of their workers earn between $500 and $3,000 per month.

This is a pretty big range, and what it means is that you're paid per word and some workers are a lot more active/busy/faster than others.

I went to Glassdoor (as I usually do) to dig up some more detailed information on pay. Three anonymous users had posted what they earn, averaging to about $45,000 a year.

I also looked for a ProofreadingPal review giving more information on pay. I did find several with detailed info, such as:

• You are paid by the word
• The pay varies depending on the project and how tight the deadline is
• Not all contractors are paid the same, it will depend on what “level” you're at, which I'm gathering is based on your experience and skill
• They apparently fine you somewhere between $40 and $60 a month if you do not meet the minimum number of proofreading hours you committed to for that month, which seems to really upset many contractors
• You are paid once a month, between the 14th and 17th, for the previous months' work
• You won't get paid for the month unless you've earned at least $60 or $80 (there were contradictory reviews on the minimum, but there is a minimum). It rolls over to the next month if you don't earn the minimum
• It's possible to get bonuses

Can anyone in the world work for ProofreadingPal?

The company is based in the US, but they are open to other countries. When you apply to be a proofreader/editor for ProofreadingPal, you are asked to list your country.

So if you meet the criteria to work for them and you are located outside the United States, apply if you think this may be a fit for you.

Does ProofreadingPal hire you as an employee?

They do not. This is an independent contractor role, as is the case with most proofreading and editing jobs you do from home.

How does scheduling work with ProofreadingPal?

Scheduling with ProofreadingPal is flexible. However, as mentioned above, you do have to let them know your availability and hours you plan to work for the month ahead of time.

You work in blocks of times that you schedule yourself for. So, in a way, you DO have a set schedule, but you are completely in control of that schedule and can decide before the month starts when and how much you'll be working.

This could be problematic if your life is crazy and you aren't sure a month in advance what's going to work for you.

Again, if you aren't able to meet the hours you said you'd meet, they will fine you an amount ranging from $40 to $60. I'm not clear on the exact amount because there were contradictory amounts listed in the reviews.

Also, if I understood correctly, your time only counts for when you're actually proofreading. If you sign up for a block of time on a specific day between 1 PM and 5 PM, for example, the time you are not working during that block and simply looking to claim proofreading jobs doesn't count toward the hours you promised.

Those details weren't very clear so if someone has worked with ProofreadingPal and knows this information to be inaccurate, please feel free to comment below and provide clarification.

How does the editing and proofreading process work with ProofreadingPal?

They have a job board and you can claim what you'd like to work on based on what is available.

What you may be editing or proofreading varies. They take all kinds of assignments — essays, dissertations, newsletters, memos, book reviews — there is pretty much nothing they won't accept, so you could be working on anything.

They let you look something over before you start working on it, just to be sure you're a fit for it. If you decide you aren't, you can release the job back into the pool and claim something else.

After you claim a job and finish your work, it will be looked over again by another proofreader and editor who is a higher level than you.

I think this is a good system for the paying clients because it helps ensure everything is done perfectly, and any mistakes from one proofreader will be picked up and corrected by the next.

The proofreader looking over your work provides constructive criticism and feedback for you so you can improve going forward.

Is work consistent at ProofreadingPal?

I don't recall a single ProofreadingPal review on Glassdoor stating that there is never any work, so I gather the company must stay pretty busy.

That said, as is the case with any freelance/contracting opportunity, you can't depend on or expect consistent work. The company is under no obligation to guarantee there will be work, either.

So just make sure you have other things to do for income and don't rely on this entirely as your day job.

What is the application process like with ProofreadingPal?

You just visit their application page and fill out the form online. They ask you basic questions first and then there are more detailed questions following that, such as your proficiency with different writing styles, the languages you are fluent in, and so forth.

After you've submitted your application, they say you will hear from them within 5 to 10 business days. The next step is taking their timed examination.

ProofreadingPal Review – From the Worker's Perspective

The reviews were mixed overall. I've already pointed out some things that I read in the information I shared above.

In general, workers enjoy the flexibility, the timely pay, the two-tier proofing system, and communication from management is said to be responsive and polite.

Regarding the complaints, workers really, really don't like being fined when they fail to meet the time requirement each month. This is understandable, and it's a little bit different and not something you see most companies doing.

I understand that this is a way for the company to help ensure all their orders get done and workers make a real effort not to “flake” on them since naturally no one wants to lose any money they earned.

But I also get that, as a worker, it would be incredibly frustrating to get $40 to $60 cut from what you earned fair and square — especially if you had a legitimate, valid reason for not being able to work.

Many workers also say the pay is very low for what you're doing and that professional proofreaders and editors should expect to earn a lot more than this.

I also saw multiple complaints that it's hard to get a hold of the “good jobs.” They appear on the job board and are gone too quickly to grab them. You have to be fast and really watching the board to get the less problematic work.

You can always visit Glassdoor and read through the reviews yourself. I'd strongly recommend doing this before applying just so you can really weigh the pros and cons.

How do you apply with ProofreadingPal?

If this ProofreadingPal review has you thinking about applying, just go here for more details and to start your application. Good luck!