Are there any actually good free online college essay editors out there?

There are a few reputable ways to get feedback on your college essays online for free, though the truly in-depth and high-quality coaching you might find through paid services is harder to replicate. Most free platforms will be limited to basic editing, but there are still some helpful options.

One approach is to use school-based resources outside of teachers—many high schools offer writing centers or peer tutoring groups where older students volunteer to review application essays. These are often free and can be surprisingly effective because the reviewers have just been through the process themselves. For example, a student in my graduating class ran a lunchtime essay review club, and I found their feedback more useful than a random grammar check online.

If you’re focused on online-only solutions, Reddit’s r/ApplyingToCollege runs a free peer essay review thread every application season. You’ll get feedback from other applicants or occasionally from older students, and it’s moderated to maintain quality. I posted a supplemental essay there last fall, got two detailed reviews within a couple of days, and everyone was cool about privacy (you can remove your essay after it’s been reviewed if you’re worried about your writing floating around the internet). Just be proactive: if you review others’ essays first, you’re more likely to get someone to look at yours.

There are also a few writing platforms like Scribbr and ProWritingAid that provide free versions for basic grammar and clarity suggestions. While these won’t give you the nuanced, personal feedback you’d get from a human, they work well for catching awkward sentences and typos. I once used ProWritingAid’s free trial to polish a research paper, and it did flag some run-on sentences I overlooked.

Safety-wise, always remove any personally identifying information from your document before uploading it anywhere. And if you’re using a forum or thread, consider deleting your post after you get feedback.

In sum: peer review platforms, writing-focused subreddits, and school-based peer editors are your best bet for substantive, free feedback without risking quality or privacy. Focus on clarity, authenticity, and direct personal insight in your drafts, as peer reviewers can be especially helpful in pointing out where your voice isn’t coming through.