Proofread Anywhere vs Knowadays (Which Is Better?)

Do glaring typos make your skin crawl? Are you the friend who always gets asked to check over resumes, assignments, and emails? Then you likely have what it takes to become a proofreader and establish a lucrative side hustle! 

You don’t need a literature or communications degree to become a professional proofreader, but you should have a good grasp of English. You also need a strong understanding of style guidelines, an eagle eye for detail, and stellar research skills. And if you enjoy reading, this could be a great gig for you!

An online proofreading course can teach you all the skills and knowledge you need at a fraction of the price of a degree. Several organizations provide online proofreading courses, but two of the most reputable are Proofread Anywhere — (yes, that’s us!) — and Knowadays. We’ll explain the courses both companies provide and their key differences to help you decide which is right for you. 

Proofread Anywhere Overview

Proofread Anywhere was initially established in 2014 by experienced proofreader-turned-freelancer, Caitlin Pyle. She created PA with a simple mission in mind: to teach others how to hone their proofreading skills and grow their own freelance business from scratch — just like she was able to do all those years ago. 

As pioneers of online proofreading courses, we specialize in proofreading while other companies simply offer it as one among many in their course catalogs. As the PA team is also made of graduates and proofreading experts, our courses are made by proofreaders, for proofreaders.

Since its inception, Proofread Anywhere has helped thousands of people from all backgrounds become successful freelance proofreaders. Proofread Anywhere is now one of the most well-known online proofreading organizations in the world, and its main courses — General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading — are highly regarded in the publishing industry. 

Proofreading Courses

General Proofreading is designed for beginners wanting to build a freelance proofreading career, while Transcript Proofreading is perfect for those who want to specialize in a lucrative niche where you can read real true crime transcripts.

General Proofreading: Theory and Practice Course

Proofread Anywhere’s General Proofreading course contains over 70 lessons dedicated to teaching you the skills needed to thrive as a professional proofreader. The course covers the fundamentals, such as grammar rules and publishing style guidelines, plus plenty of practice materials to work through.

On top of all the essentials, the course offers guidance on how to self-market your skills and build a business from scratch. You’ll learn how to craft effective proposals, cultivate a professional reputation, and build a business website on a budget. You’ll even be taught the nitty-gritty of freelance tax processes and legal processes including contract creation.

What’s more, the course is updated regularly to keep students up-to-date on industry changes and new developments. As an example, there is now a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) module showing you how to use AI-powered tools to improve your productivity while proofreading. 

Full syllabus available here.

Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice Course

Transcript Proofreading teaches you how to proofread legal transcripts that are transcribed by court reporters, meaning you’ll feel like a detective reading real criminal and civil court secrets.

The course contains more than 60 lessons, covering essential legal terminology and how to properly handle verbatim (spoken) records. The course even helps you become acquainted with common transcript technology, like CAT software. You’ll also be able to study using 50 REAL court transcripts (with privacy info redacted).

Similar to the General Proofreading course, you’ll also learn vital self-marketing skills and how to connect with clients in the legal field. The course takes 3 to 6 months on average to complete. You’re provided with worksheets, practice transcripts, quizzes, and resources throughout the program. 

Full syllabus available here.

Experience & Trustworthiness

Proofread Anywhere is a legitimate and trustworthy organization, but you don’t have to take our word for it. The experience of our fully-vetted team speaks volumes — our courses are currently run by expert freelance proofreaders who, combined, have more than 35 years of experience in the industry.

Our founder, Caitlin Pyle, is also a well-respected figure in the proofreading community. She has over a decade of professional proofreading experience and has been featured in reputable publications such as Forbes, New York Post, and Business Insider. 

At PA, we believe that all the nitty-gritty details should be accessible to students before any purchases or commitments are made. Information about our course fees, enrollment procedures, terms and conditions, and assessment processes is readily available on our website. We also have a dedicated FAQ page. 

Student Reviews

Most PA students only have good things to say about the courses. As of May 2024, Proofread Anywhere boasts over a hundred 5-star reviews on Trustpilot. 

In the reviews, students frequently praised PA’s business and self-marketing course content. Many noted they felt truly prepared to set up their freelance career after taking a course through Proofread Anywhere. Other students commented that the courses are digestible, organized, and packed with helpful freelance resources.

Knowadays Overview

Knowadays, formerly known as Proofreading Academy, is another reputable organization that provides online courses for eagle-eyed individuals. The UK-based company was established in 2017 and offers several courses in the publishing industry.

Knowadays is owned by Proofed, an online platform where you can hire vetted proofreaders and editors. Proofed was created by Kiran C., who at the time was a master’s student seeking to hire an editor to help polish up his thesis. Becoming increasingly frustrated at how hard it was to find high-quality editors, Kiran created a platform (Proofed) that made it easier to connect with reliable proofreaders and editors across the globe. 

Knowadays Courses

Knowadays offers two main courses for aspiring side hustlers: “Becoming a Proofreader” and “Becoming an Editor.”

The company’s course in editing teaches students how to bring out a written material’s full potential, including all facets of the editing process, common editing techniques, and how to work with client briefs. The proofreading course provides an overview of the basics of proofreading and teaches students how to refine their eagle eye. 

Other courses Knowadays provides include “Becoming a Freelance Writer,” “How to Fact Check,” “Becoming a Public Speaker,” and “Formatting in Microsoft Word.” 

Becoming a Proofreader

Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” course contains 78 lessons, each divided into 13 key modules. You’ll learn the rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, common publishing style guidelines, and how to use editing tracking tools.  

Knowadays approaches proofreading from a UK English perspective, but every course includes lessons on the differences between US and UK English.

Though you are “guaranteed” work with Proofed after getting 80% or higher on the final exam, many previous students have noted that the final exam instructions aren’t clear and that the final exam is extremely difficult to get through.

Some of the reviews on Trustpilot also note that Proofed is a job board and doesn’t always have enough work for all of the graduates.

Full syllabus available here. 

Experience & Trustworthiness

Knowadays has built a strong reputation over the years, and its team consists of established freelancers and professional tutors who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Many of Knowadays’ tutors hold degrees (or equivalent qualifications). However, not all of these tutors are experienced in proofreading.

Student Reviews

Knowadays is also highly rated on Trustpilot and Students particularly praised the tutor support, affordable price, and listing on Proofed. Many students also felt the courses contained helpful practice-based exercises.

However, there are some reviews stating that Proofed pays below the common proofreading rates and doesn’t give proofreaders the opportunity to set their own rates. While graduates loved getting one job under their belt quickly, they also found that Proofed doesn’t provide regular work after their trial period and the course doesn’t provide any information regarding how to find clients outside of the Proofed platform.

Comparing Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays

Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays are trustworthy and have overwhelmingly positive reviews, which can make it hard to choose between them. We’ll highlight the similarities and differences between the two brands below, so you know exactly which option is better suited to your needs, budget, and learning goals.

Customer Support

Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays have received glowing reviews regarding their customer support. Students from both organizations claimed that their queries were typically answered within 24 hours and that the responses were helpful and detailed. 

Proofread Anywhere has a dedicated support email with responses coming no later than 24 hours after sending. All of PA’s customer service agents are graduates of PA, meaning they have hands-on experience with the courses and can accurately answer any of your questions or concerns. PA is also dedicated to not using AI chatbots because, well, we think they’re time wasters. And if there’s one thing we all want more of, it’s time.

Knowadays offers a live chat feature with some bot management. They are based in the UK, so if you are not in a close time zone, you may have a delay in speaking to a customer service agent live.

Refund Policy 

At Proofread Anywhere, we offer a “Worry-Free Guarantee” for both our General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading courses. This guarantee allows you to try out your chosen course for 14 days, and if you decide that it isn’t right for you within this time, we’ll refund you without question.

Knowadays offers a 14-day money-back guarantee too. However, refunds may not apply if you’ve already completed over 50% of the course content so be sure to read the fine print. 

Value

PA’s General Proofreading: Theory and Practice includes a certificate upon completion and a hand-graded exam. General Proofreading students also have access to a Marketing Mastermind group.

Our Transcript proofreading course costs a few hundred dollars more than GP. While more expensive than our General Proofreading course, Transcript Proofreading is more technical and teaches students how to work in a niche with more regular clients.

Both PA courses offer extensive information about how to find clients and most graduates state that they are able to earn back the cost of the course within three months. Proofread Anywhere also offers the option to use Klarna or Afterpay payment plans to help students with a tighter budget.

Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” course costs a few hundred dollars less than PA courses, though if you purchase it with the Becoming an Editor course, you’ll receive a 15% discount on the overall price. However, if you don’t pass the final exam with a grade higher than 80%, you won’t be able to be listed on the Proofed job board which makes paying off the course much more difficult.

Both Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays offer regular discounts on courses. They also offer free “taster” workshops, where prospective students can get a feel of the training approach before they commit to a full course. 

You can check out these workshops here:

• Proofread Anywhere’s 7-day, free online course in Transcript Proofreading
• Proofread Anywhere’s free general proofreading webinar
• Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” free 7-day trial (unlocks access to two complete lessons)

Comparing Proofreading Courses

PA’s General Proofreading and Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” educate you on the nitty-gritty of proofreading and how to put your eagle eyes to practical use. However, they do have a few key differences to be mindful of. 

Main Focus

Both brands’ courses are specifically tailored to beginners without previous experience in the publishing industry. With that said, General Proofreading by PA includes lessons on building a freelance proofreading business from scratch and self-marketing. Some of our business-oriented modules include “Marketing Basics,” “Freelance Tax Guide,” and “Finding Clients.”

While the Knowadays’ Becoming A Proofreader isn’t as business-focused, the course includes modules on proofreading for specific niches, specifically in business, academic, and creative writing fields. 

Student Support and Community

Being in an online course can be challenging, so it is essential that courses include a vibrant student community to help you in your studies. 

Proofread Anywhere

Proofread Anywhere provides graduates and students access to exclusive course Facebook groups. In reviews, students praised these groups, claiming the ability to talk with fellow students truly helped them stay motivated to meet their goals, and many found this support network an invaluable part of the experience. Many graduates also find work through the PA graduate groups.

They also noted that the PA team is always on hand to answer any queries or concerns posted in the groups. Proofread Anywhere also offers students one-on-one discussions with tutors who are PA graduates. You can purchase as many sessions as you feel you require, and the tutor is fully vetted and professionally trained to meet PA’s standards, meaning you can rest assured you’ll be getting an expert’s advice. 

Knowadays

Knowadays provides students with free, real-time tutors who are available 24/7, though these tutors aren’t guaranteed to be experienced proofreaders and student reviews mention that their tutors are often unsure of the correct answers on exams.

Graduates of Knowadays’ course are also invited to an alumni group to share their success stories and support one another moving forward. 

Certificate of Completion

Proofread Anywhere students who earn a 90% pass rate on the course’s final exam receive a certificate of completion. After completing the final exam, a PA team member will reach out to share results and give advice if the exam needs to be retaken.

After passing the exam, the certificate of completion is signed by PA team leaders and can be shown to potential clients or employers as proof of training. Graduates are also provided with a completion badge that can be displayed on their resume and LinkedIn page.

Knowadays offers a CPD-accredited certificate to all students who successfully complete the course and pass the final exam. However, CPD is a UK-based organization and may not be recognized by employers worldwide. 

Course Length and Lifetime Access

Both Knowadays and Proofread Anywhere grant students lifetime access to all course materials and updates, meaning you can refresh your knowledge at any time. 

PA’s General Proofreading course can take up to three months to complete, on average, with the course content released over a few weeks. Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” course takes around a month.

Work Guarantee and Career Support 

Knowadays has a work “guarantee”, where those who successfully complete and pass final exams with 80% on both the “Becoming a Proofreader” and “Becoming An Editor” courses are invited to work for Proofed on a trial basis. However, many graduates have mentioned that there isn’t enough work after the trial period and that the Proofed pay rates are below the standard for proofreaders and editors.

Proofread Anywhere graduates are invited to create profiles on PA’s dedicated freelance job board, Hire A Proofreader where you can find freelance clients and job postings.

Proofread Anywhere’s courses also teach you how to establish your own freelance career and find clients independently instead of working for a specific company. This enables graduates to set their own rates and work as much or as little as they want.

Which Should You Choose?

Both Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays offer excellent value for the price, and each brand offers its fair share of perks. 

Proofread Anywhere provides:

• Authentic proofreading courses that were created by experienced proofreaders and include real-world applications and business information.
• A support team of PA graduates so you know that you are talking to real people with real experience.
• A thriving community of students and graduates that provide support during the course and help each other find work after the course.
• Free and reliable blog posts, freelancer resources, and newsletters.
• Specialized transcript proofreading training to help you study and work in one of the most lucrative niches.
• A team of experienced freelancers to genuinely want you to succeed.
• A free listing on the Hire a Proofreader job board.

Knowadays provides:

• A wide range of courses that range from creative writing to editing courses.
• 24-hour live chats with freelance professionals from around the world.
• CPD accreditation.
• Potential work through the Proofed platform after a trial period.
• Slightly cheaper prices.