Academic editing assistance offered online are usually affordable and reliable for both students and academic professionals. This is important as having your academic writing edited is a crucial stage before final submission. Although academic writing can be difficult, academic editing can substantially improve your final document.
An academic editor can find and correct errors in punctuation, sentence flow, and spelling. In addition, they can provide advice and commentary to show how the work can be improved or vital elements that are missing in terms of substance and structure and the strength of your logic and arguments.
In this article, I discuss the benefits of using professional academic editing, their disadvantages, and an alternative. More importantly, I rate the top three academic editing services in terms of prices, resource support, and customer satisfaction.
Which is the best academic editing service?
There are so many academic editing providers out there that it can be hard to choose. Identifiable names include Scribbr, Scribendi, Cambridge, Paper True, and so on.
These companies have arisen in response to the massive demand for academic and proofreading services from university students and persons who work in academia.
The best proofreading website is of course a matter of subjectivity. However, we can try to answer the question by looking at various factors such as price, convenience, and customer satisfaction.
In the process, I selected 10 popular academic editing companies and compared them in terms of pricing, fastest turnaround time, customer satisfaction, and resource support.
1. Considering price
The average price per 1000 words for the average proofreading service is 36.3 USD, and the median value is 30 USD. So, we can say that the typical price you can expect from these services is 30 USD per 1000 words.
However, it should be noted that the price changes based on the type of service. These companies differentiate between proofreading and editing. They also differentiate pricing based on turnaround.
For example, an order with a turnaround time of twelve hours will be more expensive than one with a turnaround time of three days.
In the bar chart below, I used standard turnaround time, which ranges between three and seven days.
Bar chart showing price in USD per 1000 words for standard services.
Note. A bar chart showing academic editing rates per 1000 words in USD for 1. Scribendi, $37; 2. Scribbr, $42; 3. Proofed, $45; 4. Paper True, $32; 5. Enago, $58; 6. Editor World, $28; 7. Cambridge, $30; 8. Wordvice, $48; 9. Editage, $58; and 10. ProofreadingPal (PP), $28.
2. Considering speed
All of the editing companies provide 24-7 service. They also have a minimum of a 12-hour turnaround time (TAT) service, which is a premium service that comes at a slightly higher price. Table 1 shows the different TATs fo each company in hours.
However, it appears that these academic editing companies understand just how severe the time constraints can be for students. Therefore, they provide expedited services that can range from two to eight hours.
Scribendi seems to offer the fastest at two hours. However, the price for this expedited service at two hours for 1000 words in 159.77 USD. This is more than 400% more expensive than standard pricing!
3. Considering customer satisfaction
For customer service, I looked at the Trustpilot rating. Trustpilot is a website that allows customers to anonymously review companies and rate the companies based on these customer reviews.
The average Trustpilot rating for academic editing companies was 4.6 out of 5, with none of the proofreading services scoring below 4.2. However, Cambridge Proofreading had the highest rating at 4.9 out of 5 stars from Trustpilot.
4. Considering resource support
Besides proofreading and editing services, other factors you might consider are the resource support provided by these websites. These are resources that answer questions related to how to understand or improve academic writing.
Scribbr offered the most comprehensive set of free resources to students and academics.
Resource support includes blogs, YouTube channels, podcasts, and so on. Most of the websites had blogs, but many were not updated or only half-heartedly answered common questions that students have related to academic writing.
Scribbr, by far, has the most comprehensive and user-friendly resources in that regard. I even included their academy and YouTube channel as useful resources in boosting your academic writing in another article.
Top 5 academic editing services overall
Choosing the top three academic editing companies is simply a matter of opinion. I used a subjective qualitative method that took into account the four factors previously mentioned to rate the top three academic editing companies overall: 1. Price, 2. Customer satisfaction, 3. Speed of service, and 4. Educational resources.
Rank | Proofreading Service | Standard Price in USD Per 1000 Words | Customer Rating | Country |
1 | Scribbr | $42 | 4.4 | Netherlands |
2 | Cambridge Proofreading | $30 | 4.9 | USA |
3 | Paper True | $32 | 4.8 | India |
4 | Wordvice | $48 | 4.6 | UK |
5 | Proofreading Pal | $28 | 4.5 | USA |
Table showing scores for top 5 academic editing companies. Customer satisfaction scores are based on Trustpilot.
Note. Table shows ten companies and includes information on their names, price per 1000 words in US dollars, Trustpilot score, and their fastest turnaround time (TAT) in hours.
No 1. Scribbr
We chose Scribbr because of its combination of unique benefits. This includes the relatively low pricing and the wide range of rich educational resources that it offers for free.
Scribbr is an academic editing company based in the Netherlands. They offer on average 25 USD per 1000 words for standard turnover periods, when the median is 30 USD per 1000 words. More importantly, their available educational resources are impressive!
I have never seen an online ad by Scribbr. This is because they don't need them. They simply write articles and blogs around questions that students have, and you end up landing on their website.
Scribbr offers the best free educational resources through its knowledge base and YouTube channel.
This means that they do such a good job of answering these questions that Google rewards them by putting their website on the first page of Google search results related to academic writing questions.
Their YouTube channel also does a good job of engaging students and directly answering questions they have about their assignments and research.
No. 2. Cambridge Proofreading
Cambridge Proofreading stands out because of its high customer satisfaction rating. It is an academic editing company based in the US. It scores an amazing 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
This means that students and academic professionals who use it are quite happy with it. Moreover, this in combination with its price of 30 USD per 1000 words suggests that its clients are getting value for their purchase.
No. 3. Paper True
Paper True is a company with offices based in India. They charge on average 27 USD per 1000 words. This is below the median of 30 USD. This means that they are relatively cheaper when compared to the competition.
Their customer rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot also suggests that their customers are getting more than their money's worth. They prominently display their offer of a free sample.
Paper True is based in India and offers a free editing sample.
This means you can edit up to 1000 words for free before deciding whether or not to go ahead and purchase their services. Lastly, they have among some of the most innovative AI-generated ads out there.
This is again a subjective standard. To see an evaluation based on more scientific means, please check out my article on The 10 Best Proofreading Services In 2024.
No. 4. Wordvice
Wordvice is an editing website based in the UK. Although, they do appear to have offices located in South Korea. It stands out due to its comprehensive blog, which serves as a useful resource to students. This blog like the Scribbr blog provides answers to queries such as:
How to write a research paper
How to write an introduction
And so on
It would be a useful guide for students even before they order editing services. Most websites besides Scribbr and Wordvice have very weak or insufficient blogs.
No. 5. Proofreading Pal
ProofreadingPal is serviced based in the US. They are among the most affordable of the five selected websites. The standard editing pricing is around $28 per 1000 words. This is impressive considering they have a customer rating of 4.5 out of five. This means customers are getting their money's worth.
Their blog resources are not as comprehensive as Scribbr or Wordvice. However, they provide a quirky and unique approach to talking and teaching about academic topics. You could see for yourself.
The advantages and disadvantages of using academic editing companies
Academic editing companies have both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are based on the convenience and speed of service. On the other hand, the disadvantages are based on the lack of personalization and face-to-face or direct communication between the author and the editor.
Getting your document edited through a big online editing company can be like processing it through a factory assembly line. Source: Austrian National Libray via Unsplash.
Advantages of using academic editing service companies
1. Cheap pricing. Because of the intense competition, proofreading and editing prices can be relatively inexpensive. With standard turnaround times of three to seven days, you end up paying only 30 USD per 1000 words.
2. Access to skilled proofreaders and editors. Academic editing companies use both in-house editors and freelance editors located throughout the world. They endure difficult qualifying tests and training before they can start editing your paper.
3. Speedy and convenient services. Academic editing companies offer turnaround times that range between four hours and two weeks. They are typically web-based and allow the chance to upload your document and pay 24-7.
4. Educational resources. The ideal editing company does not just edit or proofread your document. Instead, they offer a richness of resources, such as blogs and YouTube videos to help explain the questions you have relating to academic tasks and writing.
The disadvantages
As mentioned earlier, it's a highly competitive industry. They focus on speed and low pricing. This creates conditions that can encourage non-personalized work. Operating at such speeds means that the unique value of your work may be missed by the person editing it.
Here is a list of some of these disadvantages:
1. Lack of personalization. Academic editing companies are run like factory assembly lines. This is from necessity. They edit such a large volume of academic papers that they need to develop scaled processes that are fast and efficient. This means no face-to-face communication or interactions with the editor who edits your work.
2. Rushed services. Academic editing companies often give clients the option of a minimum 12-hour turnaround. This is great for students with limited time to turn in their assignments. However, this violates the fundamental principles of good editing.
Ideally, an edited work needs time to sleep. At least two to three days have to pass before the editor gets back to it to make sure that they did not miss anything. These tight deadlines and operations to scale don’t allow this to happen.
3. Poor freelance working conditions. Academic editing companies typically have several hundred freelance editors working for them. Although there is alot of freedom that comes with freelancing, the rate of pay may be low. Also, the working conditions can be tough, especially when freelancers are under tight deadlines.
Final thoughts
I have spent over five years working as a freelancer for academic editing companies. During that time, I have edited over five million words. And I must be frank. The average editing company does a more than good enough job of editing even the most difficult document.
However, your document will be treated like a commodity going through a factory assembly line. Of course, if you just need the work to get done effectively, this would suffice.
The Italian novelist Umberto Eco once said, “Your thesis is like your first love. It will be difficult to forget. In the end, it will represent your first serious and rigorous academic work, and this is no small thing."
You better not be a romantic if you decide to go with one of the big academic editing companies. Because a big academic editing service will not be treating your manuscript like your "first love."
Instead, it will be treated as an order that needs to be processed through the assembly line. So, what options are available besides a big academic editing website?
Think of getting a freelance editor and proofreader
A freelance academic editor and proofreader can provide more personalized assistance. Having your own personal proofreader allows direct and face-to-face communication. This is unlike an academic editing company, which prohibits direct communication with its freelancers.
Direct communication without the stress of tight deadlines and the impersonal bureaucracy of a large editing company can lead to deeper understanding between editor and client. This can also lead to unique value being contributed to your manuscript or academic work.
So think about getting your own personal freelance academic editor. And good luck with your research writing!
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I use Grammarly to edit?
Grammarly has gained some popularity as an editing tool among students. Unfortunately, however, Grammarly wasn’t designed for editing academic writing. The software is best used for professional writing, such as business emails and blogs.
2. Can I use ChatGPT as a proofreader?
ChatGPT is an even less ideal option than Grammarly. This software has not been optimized for academic editing and proofreading. Instead, use professional proofreading and editing software designed and trained specifically for academic writing.
3. What is the difference between proofreading and editing?
In short, editing refers to services for documents that need more work before being good enough for publication or submission, whereas proofreading services refer to editing on documents much closer to being published.
Cite this EminentEdit article |
Antoine, M. (2024, August 29). The Five Best Academic Editing Services. https://www.eminentediting.com/post/the-5-best-academic-editing-services |
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