Which is the Best Book Editing and Proofreading Company?

Every writer has a dream. You finish your manuscript after months, maybe years, of hard work. You can almost see it on bookstore shelves or in readers’ hands. But there's the mind-pinch catch: it's not quite there yet. Typos find their way in, sentences read depthless, and the narrative might not be as smooth as you'd like. That is where professional book editing services mostly become a haven for such scenarios. The right professionals of this dominion tend to polish your written work, scrutinize mistakes you might have overlooked, and get your book publish-ready. Selecting the perfect one may be hard due to how many of them offer these services at costly prices. Which is the best? We can determine together what is best for you without breaking the bank.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover what editing and proofreading mean, what to look for in a company, and how much it all costs. Plus, we’ll compare some top players in the game and share tips for self-published authors. By the end, you’ll have a clear path to finding a reliable book editing service that fits your needs and budget.

What’s the Difference: Book Proofreading vs Editing?

Even before you think of hiring anyone, you have to have the surety about what you’re asking for. Book proofreading vs editing confuses a lot of writers, so let’s clear it up.

Editing is the heavy lifting. It digs into your manuscript and fixes big issues. Maybe your characters need more depth, or your chapters jump around too much. There are different types:

Developmental Editing: This looks at the big picture. It’s about structure, plot, and pacing. Your editor might suggest moving scenes or cutting weak spots.

Line Editing: It assists in leveling out your writing style. It smooths out your sentences and keeps readers interested throughout chapters. The core focus of line editing is to ensure better readability without any fragmentation between sentences.

Copy Editing: This aspect of editing strictly includes grammar checking and punctuation scrutiny. It mainly ensures that your writing style is abiding by consistency—e.g., writing "gray" rather than switching to "grey" mid-text. That’s the base of copy editing.

Proofreading comes last. It’s the final sweep to catch small mistakes. Think typos, missing commas, or wonky formatting. If editing builds your book, proofreading gives it that shiny finish.

So, what do you need? If your story feels solid but needs a cleanup, proofreading might do. If it’s rough around the edges, start with editing. Many writers use both to get their book just right.

What Is the Best Company for Book Editing? – Simplistic Way to Know!

Not every editing service delivers quality work. Some stand out because they get the important things right. Here's what actually matters when choosing:

Editing Chops: You need pros who live and breathe words. Do they require editors with actual writing credentials? A degree in English? Great! But real-world experience editing books like yours? That's the gold.

Right Services: Does their menu match your needs? Proofreading-only shops won't fix plot holes. Developmental editors might over-polish your final draft. Match the service to your book's stage.

Realistic Speed: Deadlines matter. Can they handle a 300-page novel in two weeks? Do they offer rush options without compromising quality? Get timelines upfront.

Clear Pricing: Good editing costs money. Bad editing costs readers. Look for transparent per-word/page rates. Watch for hidden fees like "complex manuscript" surcharges.

Real Reviews: Skip the glowing testimonials on their site. Hunt for unfiltered opinions on Goodreads author forums or Reddit's r/selfpublish. What's the worst anyone says?

Human Connection: Can you actually talk to your editor? Or are you stuck with a support ticket queue? You want someone who answers questions and respects your voice.

Nail these six points, and you'll find a partner - not just a service. Let's see who measures up.

Top Companies to Consider in 2025

Let’s dive into some standout companies offering professional book editing services. These are names you’ll hear again and again, each with its own strengths. We’ll look at their services, costs, speed, reviews, and what makes them special.

Ghost Writing Professionals
Ghost Writing Professionals matches writers to your exact book type. Their editors don’t just write - they specialize in your field.

Services: Complete ghostwriting, developmental editing, cover design, and publishing help. Handles fiction, memoirs, business books, and more.

Pricing: Custom quotes per project. Fixed packages for tight budgets. No surprise fees.

Turnaround: Faster than most. You’ll get progress updates weekly.

Reviews: Authors mention strong research skills and deadline reliability.

Standout Feature: They mimic your style. Send samples of your writing so drafts sound like you.

Scribendi

Scribendi’s been around for over 20 years. They’ve got a big team and work with writers worldwide.

Services: Editing and proofreading for all book types.

Pricing: Around $0.03 per word. A 60,000-word book costs roughly $1,800 with a week’s turnaround.

Turnaround: Flexible—8 hours to a week, depending on your needs.

Reviews: Mixed bag. Some rave about the speed; others say quality depends on the editor you get.

Standout Feature: Super-fast options for tight deadlines.

Reedsy

Reedsy is a marketplace. You pick from freelance editors with at least five years of experience.

Services: Varies by editor—proofreading to developmental work.

Pricing: You request quotes. Costs differ based on who you choose.

Turnaround: Depends on the editor’s schedule.

Reviews: Writers like the control. You see portfolios and pick someone who fits.

Standout Feature: Total freedom to choose your editor.

ServiceScape

ServiceScape has been editing for 25 years. Their editors often have master’s degrees or PhDs.

Services: Broad editing and proofreading options.

Pricing: Starts at $0.04 per word. A 60,000-word book might run $2,400.

Turnaround: Varies by editor.

Reviews: Solid feedback on quality and the ability to select your editor.

Standout Feature: Detailed editor profiles help you decide.

PaperTrue

PaperTrue keeps things affordable without skimping on quality. Their editors are native speakers.

Services: Editing and proofreading at budget-friendly rates.

Pricing: About $0.03 per word. A 60,000-word book costs around $1,800.

Turnaround: 12 hours to a week.

Reviews: Authors call it a great value—good work for less money.

Standout Feature: Fast and wallet-friendly service.

Each of these companies has something to offer. Editor World leads with quality and price. Scribendi’s great for speed. Reedsy gives you choice. ServiceScape brings experience. PaperTrue saves cash. Which fits you best? Let’s keep digging.

From Words to Wallet: Decoding Editing Costs and Affordable Options

Money’s a big deal when you’re asking, “How much does book editing cost?” It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. Costs change based on a few things:

Editing prices are established on four non-haggling variables. Manuscript size dictates the model - almost all editors charge by word. Service type is the largest source of price variation: proofreading is the lowest investment, and developmental work costs top dollar. Rush fees are tacked on for tight deadlines, and established firms will quote based on their market standing.

Budget is a top concern. You need realistic figures to plan. Here are typical per-word rates:

Pricing tags can feel steep at times, but consider this as a long-term and smart investment for a sustainable outcome. A polished book sells better and earns stronger reviews. Still worried about price? Let’s cover the affordable book editing company checklist below:

Finding an Affordable book editing company

A tight budget should not mean low quality. Follow these steps to find value:

1. Use freelance marketplaces with rating systems.
2. Seek bundle offers that combine editing and proofreading.
3. Pay for a short sample edit to gauge fit.
4. Compare per-word rates to hourly fees.
5. Ask writer friends for referrals.

Affordability lies in balancing cost with quality.

You don’t want to hand your manuscript to just anyone. Try these steps:

1. Know What You Need: Are you after a big-picture edit or a typo hunt? Define it first.
2. Dig Around: Check company websites. Look at their services, editor bios, and sample work.
3. Read Reviews: See what other writers say. Check Google, TrustPilot, or writing forums.
4. Test Them Out: Ask for a free sample edit. Most companies do a few pages to show their skills.
5. Get Quotes: Contact three or more places. Compare costs and timelines.
6. Talk to Them: Email or call with questions. How they respond tells you a lot.

A good company won’t dodge your questions or rush you. They’ll show they care about your book as much as you do.

Want to cut costs more? Try these tricks:

• Focus on Proofreading: If your book’s close to done, skip heavier edits.
• Ask for Discounts: New clients sometimes get deals. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
• Split It Up: Edit half now, half later, if cash is tight.

Cheap doesn’t mean bad. Look at samples and feedback to ensure you’re still getting good work.

Self-Publishing Book Editing: Why It Matters

If you’re going the self-publishing route, self-publishing book editing is non-negotiable. Traditional publishers have in-house editors. You don’t. That means you’re in charge of making your book professional.

Why bother? Here’s the deal:

• First Impressions: Readers judge fast. Errors make your book look amateur.
• Competition: Millions of books hit the market yearly. A clean, tight story stands out.
• Reviews: Typos or plot holes lead to bad feedback. Good editing keeps readers happy.

Self-publishing authors wear a lot of hats. Editing’s one you can’t skip. Plan for it early. Set aside cash—maybe $1,000-$2,000 for a mid-sized book. Look for editors who get your genre. Sci-fi needs different eyes than romance. And don’t rush, give your editor time to do their best work.

Here’s a tip: many self-published writers do two rounds. First, an edit to fix the story. Then, proofreading to catch leftovers. It’s an extra cost but worth it for a book you’re proud to share.

• Guide you on ebook and print formatting
• Prepare metadata for retailers
• Review your cover and back matter for professionalism
• Advise on ISBN and distribution steps

Self-publishers need a partner who can move smoothly between editing tasks and publishing logistics.

Factors That Influence Pricing

Several elements can push costs up or down:

• Editor expertise: Senior editors charge more.
• Turnaround time: Rush jobs cost extra.
• Genre complexity: Technical or academic works need specialists.
• Manuscript condition: Rough drafts need more work.
• Service bundles: Agencies may offer package deals.

A clear scope of work keeps you within budget. Detail your needs in writing.

The Round 2 Of Copy Editing vs Proofreading:

Still fuzzy on copy editing vs proofreading? Let’s simplify it one more time.

Copy editing is the deep clean. It fixes grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It also makes sure your style stays steady, same spellings, same tone. It’s about clarity and polish. Proofreading is the quick shine. It spots typos, missing periods, or formatting slips. It’s the last step before you hit “publish.”

Here’s an example. Say you write, “She runned fast.” Copy editing changes it to “She ran fast” and checks if it fits your voice. Proofreading catches if you accidentally left “runnned” with three n’s.

Need both? Probably. Copy editing builds a strong base. Proofreading seals the deal.

So, what is the best company for book editing? There is no easy solution when it comes to copy editing and proofreading; it is up to you. Your book kind, timeframe, and budget all matter. Can't decide between the two?

Here’s a quick checklist:

ü  Best Overall: Editor World (quality + cost)

ü  Best for Speed: Scribendi

ü  Best for Choice: Reedsy

ü  Best Budget: PaperTrue

The real “best” is the one that clicks for your project. Weigh your priorities and test a few out.

Case Study: From Draft to Published Novel

Wending the dessert of this question “How do I find a reliable book editing service?” Consider an author who writes a 90,000-word fantasy. They chose a mid-tier Professional book editing services package.

Here is their workflow:

1. Developmental Edit
• Editor flagged pacing issues in the middle.
• They suggested merging two minor characters.
• Author rewrote three chapters based on feedback.
2. Line Edit
• Editor smoothed dialogue and cut redundant adverbs.
• Author approved 85 percent of changes and revised the rest.
3. Copy Edit
• Editor corrected verb tense shifts and fixed inconsistencies in world-building terms.
• They applied the Chicago Manual of Style.
4. Proofread
• Once the interior designer applied the layout, the proofreader caught a few orphan words and a misplaced comma.
• The manuscript was now error-free.

The final novel launched with strong reviews. Readers praised tight prose and clear world details.

Best Practices for a Smooth Editing Process

You and your editor form a team. Follow these steps to get the most from the partnership:

1. Outline Your Goals
• Communicate your priorities up front.
• Share any style guides or reference texts.
2. Prepare Clean Files
• Submit in the format requested.
• Label chapters clearly.
3. Track Changes and Comments
• Accept or reject each edit deliberately.
• Use comments to ask questions.
4. Plan for Multiple Passes
• Schedule developmental edits first.
• Follow up with copy editing.
• Finish with a final proofread.
5. Keep Records
• Archive all file versions.
• Note deadlines and deliverables.

Clear communication and organization ensure fewer surprises and a stronger manuscript.

Preparing Your Next Step

Your book deserves to shine. Whether you’re self-publishing or chasing a big publisher, professional book editing services make a difference. They turn rough drafts into stories readers can’t put down. The trick is finding the right company, one with great editors, fair prices, and a process you trust.

Start by figuring out what your manuscript needs. Editing? Proofreading? Both? Then, use the tips here to hunt down a reliable book editing service. Check out Ghost Writing Professionals, Scribendi, Reedsy, and others. Get quotes, read reviews, and ask questions. Don’t skimp on this step; it’s your book’s shot at being its best.

Writing’s tough. Pouring your heart into a story takes guts. A good editor doesn’t change your voice; they lift it up. So, take your time, pick wisely, and get ready to share your work with the world. You’ve got this!

When Machines Meet Manuscripts: Should You Trust AI or Humans?

Let’s not sit idle on the recent technological development when it comes to Self-publishing book editing. In the last few years writers have welcomed digital helpers into their workflow. Programs like Grammarly and the Hemingway Editor promise instant fixes for typos and clunky sentences. You paste in your draft and watch red and yellow flags pop up. These tools sift through text in seconds. They spot misplaced commas and catch unbalanced tenses. They even point out passive voice and repeated phrases. For many authors this feels like a safety net. It frees up time that might otherwise go to hunting down every small error. Yet relying on these apps alone can leave you with a clean draft that still feels hollow.

DIY Editing with Caution

If you plan to handle your own revisions, start by feeding your manuscript through an AI checker. Let it correct spelling and basic grammar. Then run it through a style app to highlight sentences that drag or hide your meaning. Rewrite each flagged sentence until it feels natural. Pause often to read sections out loud. You will catch moments where the software’s fix sounds awkward. Or where a suggestion clashes with your voice. At every step, remind yourself that these tools follow rigid rules. They do not know the story you want to tell or the message you intend to share.

After you clean up your prose, use an AI detector on your text. These services look for uniform patterns that they link to machine writing. If they raise a flag, you may see your sentence openings lining up too neatly. You may spot a narrow range of vocabulary. To avoid that outcome, keep some of your rough edges in place. Let a few longer sentences linger. Leave a handful of contractions. Those quirks whisper that a real person wrote these words.

When Algorithms Fall Short

Algorithms excel at consistency. They catch every instance of “affect” versus “effect.” They enforce the same comma rule from the first page to the last. They never get tired, and they never miss a typo. But they cannot judge whether your opening chapter hooks a reader. They cannot sense if a character’s motivation rings true. They do not know the difference between an inspired metaphor and a cliché. Their suggestions feel mechanical because they follow a checklist rather than a human instinct.

At best, these tools work as a first filter. At worst, they give a false sense of completion. You might believe your draft is ready when it still needs a deeper read. A software pass cannot untangle a plot twist that confuses or smooth out a narrative jump that jars. For these tasks, you need more than algorithms.

Blending AI and Human Insight

Many self-publishers find a hybrid approach hits the sweet spot. tart by cleaning your draft with AI tools. Use Grammarly to handle the low-hanging fruit of grammar and spelling. Use Hemingway to trim overlong sentences and cut filler. Once the easy fixes are done, send your cleaned draft to a human editor. With the basics off their plate, the editor can focus on deeper revision. They refine structure, strengthen characters, and tighten arguments.

When the editor is done, run your manuscript through AI checkers one more time. This final sweep catches any minor errors introduced during heavy edits. It also reveals whether your polished prose leans back toward a machine’s uniform patterns. Then give your text a final read-aloud session. That step reconnects you with your own voice and often exposes small glitches a tool or an editor might miss.

This three­stage cycle leverages speed without sacrificing depth. It ensures the final draft carries your style. It keeps the marks of genuine authorship that slip past AI detectors. You avoid paying a human editor to hunt every comma. Instead, you invest in the insights only a person can provide.

Bringing This Back to Your Company Choice

When you ask, “What is the best company for book editing?” remember that your choice depends on more than price per word. It depends on the level of insight you need after you finish your own AI-assisted pass. If you opt for a full package with a professional service, your manuscript will arrive in their hands in a much stronger state. You do not force them to spend hours on routine fixes. You let them dive straight into the big picture and the subtle turns that matter most.

A hybrid path positions you to pick the right partner. You know which sections still need work and where you want deep feedback. You can compare providers not just on cost but on the precise support they offer. That way, you make a smart investment in the one service that will elevate your work beyond what any algorithm can do alone.