Searching for an honest Knowadays review that looks at both the good and the bad?
I gotcha back. (This review is a low-key proofreading exam, by the way — see how many of my mistakes you can catch 😉).
Knowadays proofreading course claims to teach you how to start a remote career as a freelance proofreader and even guarantees their graduates a job.
But is it actually any good? And can it really help you earn a decent income online?
Our research team spent hours dissecting the program to determine if it’s legit.
Nobody likes wasting money on worthless trainings (been there, done that). So in this Knowadays Proofreading course review, we’ll give it to you straight so you can decide for yourself if it’s right for you.
Let’s dive in.
If you’re still on the fence after reading this review, I’d recommend simply dipping your toes in with a free trial of Knowadays. Testing it out is the best way to determine if it’s a good fit for you.
👀 This is a Level 2 review. Read more about our in-depth course review process.
Table of Contents
- Knowadays review: What you need to know
- Is Knowadays legit? Meet the creators.
- What’s included in Knowadays Proofreader course?
- Knowaday’s Becoming a Proofreader cons ❌
- Knowaday’s Becoming a Proofreader pros ✅
- TL;DR: Is Knowadays worth it?
- Is there a Knowadays discount code?
- Where can I sign up?
- Knowadays vs. Proofread Anywhere
Knowadays review: What you need to know
Knowadays offers some of the most comprehensive online training programs that help budding proofreaders and copy editors learn the skills needed to earn money online as a freelancer.
That said, I don’t think the proofreading course is the best fit for everyone.
Before investing in the course, there are some things you should know.
Let’s start by investigating who actually created the course.
If, after reading the review, you decide the course is right for you, scroll to the bottom of this page to get a special sign-up bonus.
Is Knowadays legit? Meet the creators.
Knowadays is the brainchild of Kiran Chauhan and William Hannay.
Before creating Knowadays, Kiran founded a company called Proofed, which is a platform that matches the world’s best proofreading and editing services with clients around the world.
When he was doing his master’s, Kiran struggled big time trying to find the right editor for his thesis. That’s when the idea for Proofed struck him — finding a top-notch editor should be a breeze.
He wasn’t the only one who felt this way, and Proofed took off like a rocket.
William joined Knowadays as an early investor and board member after spending eight years in the world of management consulting.
Together, Kiran and William built up Knowadays, a platform that offers courses to help aspiring proofreaders and editors not only learn the ropes, but also create extra income for themselves.
Knowadays is unique in that students who earn their certification have the opportunity to work for Proofed.
What’s included in Knowadays Proofreader course?
Knowadays was built to help anyone who wants to become a proofreader get the skills they need. They do this through different courses, but the one we’re going to focus on today is the Becoming a Proofreader course.
The course material is broken down into 3 parts:
- Course Modules
- 1:1 Tutoring + Bonuses
- Final Exam + Job Guarantee
- Private Facebook Group
#1.) Course Modules
The course modules include roughly 30 – 40 hours of learning content.
It covers everything from nailing down formatting, to mastering spelling and grammar, to the intricacies of editing for different industries.
For example, there are lessons in proofreading legal documents, fiction novels, and even scripts for video content.
The course begins with the fundamentals of the English language (covering English grammar in the US, UK, and Australia), and then moves into more niche topics.
Here is a quick breakdown of each module:
1: Introduction
2: Proofreading And Editing
3: The Basics Of Microsoft Word
4: Common Spelling Mistakes
5: Common Grammar Mistakes
6: Common Punctuation Mistakes
7: Other Common Errors
8: Proofreading In Practice: Style
9: Advanced Formatting In Microsoft Word For Windows
10: Advanced Formatting In Microsoft Word For Mac
11: Academic Proofreading
12: Academic Proofreading: Referencing And Citation
13: Creative Writing And The Publishing Industry
14: Proofreading Business Writing
15: Finding Work And The Final Assignment
As you can see, it’s basically an intense refresher of high school grammar class.
Because it’s a proofreading course, there aren’t a ton of video lessons. You’ll be reading through the entire course.
If this were any other course, perhaps this would be a turn-off. But when you consider that you’re preparing yourself for a job that is literally 90% reading, it makes sense for this course.
There’s also a quiz at the end of every lesson and real life writing examples for you to practice editing.
If you’re thinking all this sounds easy, it’s not.
My team struggled with some of the questions because it doesn’t come up in everyday writing.
This is what a lesson looks like:
And this is what a quiz looks like:
You have to pass the quizzes to move on to the next module, which helps you actually internalize what you’re learning (instead of just binging the course and forgetting everything).
It also prepares you for the final exam, which we’ll touch on in a sec.
You get lifetime access to it, so you can start and finish at your own pace.
One other note is that you have to use Microsoft Word. I know, sad day for all you Google Docs users out there.
Here are some other course requirements you need to be aware of:
At the end of the course, you’ll get a CPD certificate. This certificate shows that you’ve done the work to become a proofreader and gives you an edge over your competitors.
#2.) 1:1 Tutoring + Bonuses
If you’re struggling with any of the course materials or lessons, there’s 24/7 tutoring support available to you from Knowaday-certified tutors.
In addition to the proofreading fundamentals, you also get access to bonus lessons that cover the business side of things.
These bonus lessons show you how to get your first client, how to market yourself, and how to start a freelancing business. They are a great way to get started, but they are by no means comprehensive training on freelancing.
Also, the tutors can’t help you with the business side of things. They are there to answer any questions you have about the course materials.
But if you’re trying to scale your business, you’re better off with a business coach or YouTube.
#3.) Final Exam + Job Guarantee
Remember the co-founder Kiran that also started up the site Proofed? Well, this is where things get interesting.
All students who score above 80% on the proofreading and editing exam are guaranteed a job opportunity editing for Proofed.
Two things to note here:
- To be eligible, you need to pass the exams of both the “Becoming a Proofreader” AND “Becoming an Editor” courses (you can get a discount if you bundle them though).
- This is a temporary paid position. If you do well, it can turn permanent.
Either way, it’s a heck of a lot better than finishing the program and having to hunt for your first client alone with no experience to show.
Many students work with Proofed long-term. But even if you just use it as a “stepping-stone” opportunity, it gives you experience to put in your portfolio, which will make it MUCH easier to land other clients.
They claim that you can work part-time or full-time and earn over $50,000 per year with Proofed, but I feel like this is unlikely for most people as the platform has stiff competition.
To earn the big bucks, you’ll eventually have to venture out on your own. But it’s comforting knowing that you’ll be able to make money immediately after finishing the course.
I don’t know of other courses that offer this type of job guarantee.
That said, you only have three attempts at the exams. If you don’t pass after three tries, you’re disqualified from working with Proofed. The first try is free, but every retake is $50 (so study extra hard before taking it!).
My VA Farhanah took the exam to see what it was like, and honestly, it was a lot more difficult than she expected.
There are a ton of things she missed simply because she wasn’t thinking about it or was rushing through. Either way, she found that the exams are a great way to not only test your skill set, but also practice what it’s like working on a real job.
#4.) Private Facebook Group
If the 1:1 on tutoring isn’t enough, you can also poke around the private Facebook community for help.
This community is there to help support and motivate you, as well as answer any questions you might have.
That said, because the tutors are easily accessible, we found that the Facebook group isn’t really that active.
Here you can see that there’s only 14 new posts in the last month and no new members.
Knowaday’s Becoming a Proofreader cons ❌
❌ Limited business help. They teach you all the proofreading skills you need to start earning, but the lessons on getting your business off the ground aren’t super comprehensive. You might need to do some outside research and planning once you get to this point.
❌ Price. At first glance, the price seems a bit steep just to learn about proofreading. But when you consider that in addition to the training content you all get 1:1 tutoring, graded final assignment, and guaranteed job placement, it’s seems like a fair price to learn a new money-making skill.
❌ Reading is tiring. There’s a lot of reading, but then again, it is a proofreading course
❌ Word-only. Because of the editing process used in the course, you need Microsoft Word.
Knowaday’s Becoming a Proofreader pros ✅
✅ Job guarantee. You’d be hard-pressed to find another course that guarantees job placement (if you meet the requirements). It might not be a job you want to keep forever, but finding your first client without experience is often the hardest step, and Knowadays solves this problem.
✅Expert tutors. Grammar can be confusing, and it’s frustrating if you don’t know if you’re doing something wrong. Other courses charge extra for tutoring, but with Knowadays, it’s included.
✅Various niches. It teaches you how to proofread in different niches for a variety of industries.
✅Real practice assignments. There’s a ton of practical tips and real life examples to help you practice and prepare.
✅Low-risk. They offer a free trial and 14-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the waters before committing.
TL;DR: Is Knowadays worth it?
Knowadays earned its reputation for being one of the better programs out there for proofreading and editing. The fact that it partners with Proofed, a leading site for sourcing proofreaders, is the cherry on top.
As someone who has worked in the online business world for a while, I can’t tell you enough how important it is to get the first paying client. It boosts both your confidence and your portfolio.
So while I genuinely enjoyed the lessons and feedback on my work, the real prize is the partnership with Proofed.
Landing that first client can be a game changer.
That said, no course is perfect. This course isn’t for you if:
- You hate reading.
- You’re not proficient in English.
- You’re already an experienced proofreader.
- You’re looking for quick money (check the requirements for even getting listed on Proofed’s site).
- You’re uncomfortable with self promotion. Ultimately this is a freelancing gig, which means you’ll need to promote yourself to find work.
This course is for you if:
- You’re interested in earning extra income as a freelancer.
- You’re the type of person who always notices mistakes and errors.
- You’re willing to actually practice. This is a skill you need to learn, just like any other skill.
Is there a Knowadays discount code?
There is no Knowdays discount code. However, they do run periodic sales on the course bundle, so it’s worth checking what types of discounts they’re offering.
I’ve seen discounts range between 15% and 25% off the Proofreading + Editing course bundle.
Where can I sign up?
I hope you found my write-up insightful. It took a good chunk of time to put together, so if you found it helpful, decide it’s for you, and want to say, “Thanks, Mitch!”— I’d be thrilled if you purchased using my affiliate link button below (at no extra charge to you). I’ll even send you an extra bonus (see below).
Either way, Knowadays is one of the most efficient ways to jumpstart your proofreading career.
✨ Bonus Offer ✨
If you purchase using any link on this page, I’ll throw in my Work from Anywhere Toolkit ($25 value) for free. This mega-resource is packed with 200+ free (or very cheap) tools to help automate your business — and even do it while traveling the world!
Just forward me a copy of your receipt with subject line “WORK FROM ANYWHERE TOOLKIT BONUS” and I’ll give you access to the toolkit.
Knowadays vs. Proofread Anywhere
The most popular Knowadays alternative is Proofread Anywhere, which is similarly priced.
After diving into both courses, I found each option to have different strengths.
Both are great courses, so the right course for you really depends on what you’re looking for.
Knowadays includes tutoring and offers guaranteed job placement, while Proofread Anywhere does not.
On the other hand, Proofread Anywhere has a more active community and does a better job of teaching you how to find your own jobs.
So if you want the security of having a job lined up after graduating, go with Knowadays.
But if you want a slightly more comprehensive training on how to find your own jobs, go with Proofread Anywhere.
If you’re still undecided, you can also take Proofread Anywhere’s free course to get a better feel for the teaching style. (When you take the free course, you also get offered a limited time $100 discount).
You can also check out my full Proofread Anywhere review for a closer look at the course.
Mitch is your typical nomadic backpacker. Or at least, he was. But after stopping in Colombia to take “one week” of salsa lessons, his life took a sharp left turn. He met a cute Colombian girl in dance class, fell in love, and got married. Over half a decade has passed since he left his career to travel the world as a digital nomad, and he’s never looked back.
Nowadays, he’s the blogger behind Project Untethered — where he runs an awesome email newsletter and Youtube channel teaching adventure-craved wanderlusters how to escape the rat race, earn money from anywhere, and build an “untethered life”.
His advice has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, Reader’s Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, and more.