ExtraEssay Review 2025:
Is ExtraEssay.com Legit or a Scam?

💡 Quick ratings snapshot: Reviews.io gives ExtraEssay 4.8/5 stars (587 reviews), Sitejabber rates it 4.4/5 (163 reviews), but review sites like NoCramming and ScamFighter aren't recommending it. One of us was skeptical going in; another thought the pricing looked reasonable. Here's what we actually found.

Quick Answer: Should You Use ExtraEssay?

👉 Quick answer? ExtraEssay works best for straightforward essays with flexible deadlines if you're on a tight budget. The base pricing starts at $9/page, which is competitive, but quality can vary depending on which writer you get. Not ideal for complex research papers or tight 24-hour turnarounds where consistency matters most. If you need more reliable quality control, you might want to compare alternatives (more on that below).

How We Test (Why You Can Trust This Review)

• Placed a 5-page undergrad order (3-day deadline); first file arrived ~4 hours early.
• Checked formatting (APA), sources (8 used vs 6 requested), and similarity (Turnitin 3%).
• Requested one targeted revision; measured response time (~36 hours).
• Documented pricing steps, add-ons, and coupon behavior (desktop, USD storefront).

Disclosure: We fund tests from our editorial budget. If you choose a service via our links, we may earn a commission. Your price doesn’t change.

What Is ExtraEssay.com? Company Overview

Price

4.8

Quality

4.8

Features

4.8

Support

4.8

Ease of Use

5.0

Reputation

4.8

Main Highlights Snapshot (checked Oct 2025)

ExtraEssay launched in 2004 and positions itself as an affordable academic writing service for high school through PhD students. The company claims to employ writers with advanced degrees and offers a free inquiry system where you can check if they can handle your assignment before paying. They serve students across 34 countries and report adding over 85,000 new customers in the past year, while maintaining over 10,000 returning clients.

The service operates entirely online with no physical offices listed publicly. Their website design is clean and functional, updated in 2023 with improved mobile responsiveness. We noticed the site loads quickly and doesn't bombard you with pop-ups—something many competitors get wrong.

ExtraEssay claims to specialize in academic papers for English-speaking countries, primarily targeting students in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. The company processes payments through encrypted third-party gateways and maintains SSL certification for secure transactions.

Rating breakdown across platforms:

You can see the screenshots below 👇

What Services Does ExtraEssay Offer?

👉 Quick answer? ExtraEssay covers most standard academic writing needs—essays, research papers, dissertations, editing, and even presentations. They handle all academic levels from high school to PhD.

Here's the complete service list we confirmed:

• Essay writing (argumentative, persuasive, descriptive, narrative)
• Research papers and term papers
• Dissertations and thesis projects (all chapters)
• Case studies and capstone projects
• Coursework and homework assignments
• Book reports and literature reviews
• Editing and proofreading services
• Rewriting and paraphrasing
• PowerPoint presentations
• Admission essays and personal statements
• Lab reports and reflective writing
• Annotated bibliographies
• Discussion board posts

One thing we noticed: There's limited information about subject specialties. The site doesn't specify which fields their writers cover most strongly, so if you're working on something niche like astrophysics or legal theory, you'll want to use their free inquiry system first to confirm they can match you with someone qualified.

Bottom line: Good range for standard undergraduate work. Use the inquiry feature for specialized topics.

👉 Quick answer? Pricing ranges from $9/page (high school, 14-day deadline) to $42/page (PhD, 24-hour deadline). That's competitive at the entry level but climbs quickly for urgent orders or advanced work. We paid $16/page for an undergraduate essay with a 3-day turnaround.

Detailed Pricing Breakdown

Additional Service Costs

The base price is just the starting point. Here's what extras cost:

• Top Writer: +$4.18/page (top 30 writers by customer ratings)
• Premium Writer: +$8.36/page (top 10 most experienced writers)
• Quality Check: +$9.75 (certified editor review)
• Copy of Sources: +$2.09 (digital copies of research materials)
• Plagiarism Report: Usually free, but confirm at checkout

We ordered a 5-page undergraduate essay on environmental policy with a 3-day deadline at standard quality. Total cost: $80 ($16/page). No surprise fees, which was reassuring. One of us wished the Top Writer upgrade was cheaper - $4.18/page adds up fast on longer papers.

Bottom line: Budget-friendly base pricing if you plan ahead, but urgency and upgrades inflate costs quickly.

First Time Using ExtraEssay?

★★★★★

ExtraEssay

Try it out and save 15% on your first order. It might just be the backup plan you didn’t know you needed

Visit ExtraEssay Website Now!

👉 Quick answer? ExtraEssay claims to hire writers with advanced degrees through a strict vetting process, but there's no writer profiles or portfolios to review before ordering. You're trusting the assignment system to match you appropriately.

Here's what the company says:

• Writers hold Master's and PhD degrees
• Strict hiring process (no specifics provided)
• Subject-matter experts across disciplines
• Native English speakers from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia

Here's what we couldn't confirm:

• Actual writer qualifications or samples
• How the matching algorithm works
• What percentage are native vs. ESL writers
• Writer specialties by academic field

Our Test Order Experience

We ordered a 5-page undergraduate essay on "The Impact of Microplastics on Marine Ecosystems" with a 3-day deadline. The paper arrived 4 hours early, which was a pleasant surprise. The content covered the basic topic requirements and included proper APA citations.

Quality observations:

• ✅ Followed instructions and hit the page count
• ✅ Included 8 academic sources (we requested 6 minimum)
• ✅ Proper APA formatting throughout
• ⚠️ Writing was serviceable but not exceptional—felt like a solid B-level paper
• ⚠️ Two minor grammatical quirks (missing articles)
• ⚠️ Analysis was surface-level; no deep critical thinking

Honestly, one of us expected worse based on the ScamFighter review. Another thought it was fine for the price point. The paper would pass for a standard assignment but wouldn't impress a tough grader.

Bottom line: Acceptable quality for routine assignments. Don't expect graduate-level analysis without the Premium Writer upgrade.

Real Customer Reviews: What Students Are Actually Saying

👉 Quick answer? Customer feedback is genuinely mixed. Positive reviews praise fast delivery, responsive writers, and meeting basic requirements. Negative reviews complain about inconsistent quality, grammatical errors, and communication issues. Let's break down what actual customers report

Positive Customer Feedback

• SiteJabber
• Reviews.io

From Reviews.io and Sitejabber, we found consistent themes in satisfied customer reviews:

"Thank you for helping with my paper, fast and responsive" – This sentiment appears repeatedly. Many students appreciate quick turnaround times, especially when writers deliver early. One reviewer noted their paper arrived ahead of schedule on a 3-day deadline, giving them time to review before submission.

"The writer understood the request perfectly and made sure to wrap all necessary points into the essay cohesively" – Several reviews highlight writers who follow instructions carefully. A psychology student mentioned receiving an A-grade paper with proper APA formatting and all required sources included.

"Consistently awesome and ahead of schedule! Thank you!" – Repeat customers tend to leave the most positive reviews. One client reported using ExtraEssay for five consecutive assignments with satisfactory results each time, particularly praising the revision process.

"Writer knowledge and professionalism are evident in the assignment" – When matched with qualified writers, customers appreciate the subject expertise. An engineering student noted their writer clearly understood technical concepts and explained complex systems accurately.

Critical Customer Feedback

Now for the less flattering reviews—because they matter too:

Quality inconsistency tops the complaint list. One student on ScamFighter reported receiving a paper with "grammatical errors throughout and awkward phrasing" that required extensive revision. Another mentioned the analysis was too basic for a Master's-level assignment, despite ordering at that academic level.

Communication gaps frustrate some customers. A few reviews mention writers who didn't respond to messages during the writing process, leaving students uncertain about progress. One reviewer said: "I had to reach out to customer support three times to get an update."

Last-minute deliveries cause stress. While our paper arrived early, several customers report receiving work with only minutes to spare before their deadline—even when ordering with multi-day windows. A college student mentioned getting their paper "at 11:58 PM for a midnight deadline," leaving no time for review.

Refund disputes can be frustrating. A handful of negative reviews mention difficulty getting refunds when quality didn't meet expectations. The company requires evidence and revision attempts first, which some students find bureaucratic. One reviewer spent "two weeks going back and forth" before receiving a partial refund.

Honestly, one of us found the negative reviews concerning; another thought they were typical for budget services. The pattern suggests quality depends heavily on which writer you're assigned—and you have no control over that.

Bottom line: Read reviews carefully. The service works for many students but isn't universally reliable.

How Does the Ordering Process Work?

👉 Quick answer? The order form is straightforward—pick your paper type, academic level, deadline, and page count. The interface is clean with no aggressive pop-ups, but there's no real-time price calculator visible until you fill out everything.

Step-by-Step Ordering

1. Select paper type and academic level (dropdown menus)
2. Choose deadline (14 days down to 3 hours—though 3-hour orders cost significantly more)
3. Enter page count or word count (275 words = 1 page, double-spaced)
4. Add instructions (topic, requirements, formatting style)
5. Upload files (optional: rubrics, source materials, examples)
6. Select add-ons (Top Writer, Quality Check, etc.)
7. Apply promo code (if you have one)
8. Create account and pay (credit card or PayPal)

The process took us about 6 minutes. No confusing upsells, which we appreciated. The instructions box has plenty of space, and file uploads worked without glitches.

Minor friction point: You can't see the total price until step 6, which feels intentionally opaque. One of us would prefer a live calculator that updates as you adjust settings.

Bottom line: Simple and functional. Just wish pricing was more transparent upfront.

TOP 3 Best Writing Services

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2. 02.

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3. 03.

   EssayHub $11/page

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Payment Security and Methods: Is Your Information Safe?

👉 Quick answer? Payment processing appears secure. ExtraEssay uses SSL encryption and third-party payment processors (not storing card details on their servers), which reduces fraud risk. We encountered no security issues during checkout.

Accepted Payment Methods

• Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
• PayPal: Available for added buyer protection
• Debit Cards: Accepted through the same processing system

We paid with a Visa credit card. The checkout page redirected to a secure payment gateway with visible SSL padlock in the browser. The transaction processed smoothly, and the charge appeared on our statement as expected with a clear merchant descriptor.

What about chargebacks? If you dispute a charge with your credit card company, be prepared to show evidence: your order confirmation, the delivered paper, any correspondence about quality issues, and proof you attempted revisions. The company's terms of service mention they contest unjustified chargebacks.

💡 Pro tip: Use PayPal if you want extra buyer protection. Their dispute resolution can be easier to navigate than credit card chargebacks, especially for digital services.

Bottom line: Payment security seems solid. Standard encryption and reputable processors.

Deadlines and Delivery: Do They Meet Turnaround Times?

👉 Quick answer? Our paper arrived 4 hours early on a 3-day deadline. Customer reviews are mixed—many praise early delivery, while others report last-minute submissions or missed deadlines. Plan conservatively.

Available deadline options:

• 14 days (most affordable)
• 10 days
• 7 days
• 5 days
• 3 days
• 48 hours
• 24 hours
• 12 hours (limited availability, expensive)
• 6 hours (limited availability, very expensive)
• 3 hours (emergency orders, premium pricing)

We tested the 3-day deadline and received the paper with time to spare. However, Reviews.io has comments from students who received papers "just in time" or with only minutes to review before their deadline. Pro tip: Add a buffer. If your deadline is Monday, order with a Saturday delivery target.

What happens if they miss the deadline? According to the ExtraEssay Refund Policy Explained, late delivery can qualify for a partial or full refund depending on how late and whether you contacted support. We didn't test this scenario.

Bottom line: Our experience was positive, but don't cut it close. Order with cushion time.

Revisions and Customer Support: What If Something's Wrong?

👉 Quick answer? ExtraEssay offers free unlimited revisions within 14 days of delivery, but responses aren't instant. Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone—live chat is fastest.

Revision Policy Details

• Free revisions: Unlimited within 14 days (or 30 days with 20+ page orders)
• What qualifies: Instructions not followed, missing requirements, formatting errors
• What doesn't qualify: Changing your original instructions, requesting new sources or topics
• Turnaround: Typically 1–3 days for minor revisions (based on customer feedback)

We requested one minor revision to add more detail to the conclusion section. The writer responded within 36 hours with the updated version. One of us thought that was reasonable; another felt it should've been faster given the "unlimited revisions" promise.

Customer Support Channels

Live Chat: Available 24/7, response within 1–3 minutes. We used this to ask about writer qualifications and deadline options. Agents were polite and answered basic questions but couldn't provide writer profiles.

Email: [email protected]—slower response, typically 6–12 hours. Better for non-urgent questions.

Phone: Listed on the site, though we didn't test it. Customer reviews mention it's helpful for complex issues. - 1-929-201-0120

Bottom line: Use live chat for speed; email for detailed issues. Revisions are available but not lightning-fast.

Plagiarism and Originality: Is the Work Actually Original?

👉 Quick answer? ExtraEssay promises 100% original content and offers a free plagiarism report. Our test paper passed with 3% similarity (all properly cited sources) when we ran it through Turnitin.

The company's originality guarantees:

• Papers written from scratch
• No pre-written templates or essay banks
• Free plagiarism report (usually—confirm at checkout)
• Sources properly cited in required format (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard)

We ran our 5-page essay through two checkers:

• Turnitin: 3% similarity (acceptable—all matches were citations)
• Grammarly: 2% similarity (same result)

No red flags for AI-generated content or copy-paste plagiarism. The paper read like human writing—sometimes awkwardly, which actually reassured us it wasn't AI-polished.

Some customer reviews on Sitejabber mention receiving papers with higher similarity scores (8–12%), requiring revisions to rephrase sections. Pro tip: Request the plagiarism report upfront and check it before submitting to your professor.

Bottom line: Originality checks out in our test. Always verify the report yourself.

ExtraEssay Money-Back Guarantee: How Does the Refund Policy Work?

Quick answer? ExtraEssay offers a money-back guarantee, but it's not automatic. You need to demonstrate the issue (missed deadline, wrong instructions, low quality) and go through a dispute process. Full refunds are rare; partial refunds are more common.

The policy covers:

• Late delivery: Partial to full refund depending on delay
• Instructions not followed: Refund after revision attempts fail
• Poor quality: Partial refund if writer didn't meet standards
• Duplicate orders: Full refund if you're charged twice

What the policy doesn't cover:

• Changing your mind after delivery
• Requesting a refund without trying revisions first
• Issues caused by unclear initial instructions
• Grade-based refunds (they don't guarantee specific grades)

The refund process requires contacting customer support to explain the issue, submitting evidence, and working with their dispute team. According to their terms, this can take several days to resolve. We didn't test the refund process, so we can't confirm how smoothly it actually works.

For a detailed breakdown of scenarios and how to navigate the policy, see our full guide: ExtraEssay Refund Policy Explained.

Bottom line: Refunds exist but aren't guaranteed. Communicate issues clearly and try revisions first.

ExtraEssay vs Grademiners: Quick Comparison

👉Quick answer? If you're weighing ExtraEssay against Grademiners, here's the short version: ExtraEssay is cheaper for simple essays with flexible deadlines, while Grademiners offers more consistent quality and better writer transparency. Both have mixed reviews.

One of us preferred ExtraEssay's lower entry price; another thought Grademiners felt slightly more polished. For a full side-by-side breakdown with test results, read: Grademiners vs ExtraEssay.

Bottom line: ExtraEssay wins on price; Grademiners edges ahead on consistency.

How ExtraEssay Compares to Other Writing Services

👉 Quick answer? ExtraEssay sits in the budget-friendly tier alongside services like GradeMiners and EssayPro. It's cheaper than premium options like 99Papers or CustomWritings, but offers less quality consistency. Here's how it stacks up.

ExtraEssay vs. Budget Competitors

ExtraEssay vs. EssayPro: EssayPro uses a bidding system where you choose writers based on their bids and ratings. This gives you more control over selection but requires more time comparing options. ExtraEssay's automatic matching is faster but less transparent. Pricing is similar ($9–$30/page), though EssayPro's bids can go lower for simple tasks. One of us prefers EssayPro's transparency; another likes ExtraEssay's simplicity.

ExtraEssay vs. WritePaperFor.Me: WritePaperFor.Me advertises starting at $6.99/page, which undercuts ExtraEssay's $9 baseline. However, their quality reviews are more negative overall (3.2/5 average), with frequent complaints about ESL writers and grammar issues. ExtraEssay's quality, while inconsistent, appears slightly better.

ExtraEssay vs. Premium Services

ExtraEssay vs. 99Papers: 99Papers charges $12–$40/page (similar to ExtraEssay) but offers verified writer qualifications and better quality control. Customer ratings average 4.6/5 vs. ExtraEssay's 3.8–4.8/5 range. If you can afford the slight premium and want more reliability, 99Papers edges ahead. For tight budgets, ExtraEssay remains competitive.

ExtraEssay vs. SpeedyPaper: SpeedyPaper ranks higher on most review aggregators (4.9/5 on ScamFighter vs. ExtraEssay's 1.6/5). They offer 3-hour deadlines with better reliability but charge $15–$50/page. SpeedyPaper is the better choice for urgent, high-stakes work; ExtraEssay works for routine assignments with time to spare.

Bottom line: ExtraEssay occupies the budget-friendly middle ground. Not the cheapest, not the most reliable, but functional for low-risk assignments.

Best Practices: How to Get the Most Out of ExtraEssay

👉 Quick answer? To maximize your chances of success with ExtraEssay, order early, provide detailed instructions, and use the free inquiry system for complex topics. Here are specific strategies we recommend.

Before Ordering

1. Use the Free Inquiry Feature
For specialized topics (engineering, medical, legal), submit a free inquiry before paying. This lets you confirm they have a qualified writer available. We tested this with a complex neuroscience topic and received confirmation within 2 hours.

2. Search for Promo Codes
Always Google "ExtraEssay promo code 2025" before checkout. We found codes ranging from 7% to 30% off on coupon aggregator sites. That's $5.60–$24 saved on a 10-page order. You can also find current promo codes on our discount page.

3. Order with Buffer Time
If your deadline is Friday, order with a Wednesday delivery target. This gives you 48 hours to review and request revisions if needed. Never cut it close with budget services.

During the Order Process

4. Provide Detailed Instructions
The more specific you are, the better your results. Include:

• Exact topic and thesis statement (if applicable)
• Required sources or types of sources
• Citation style with examples
• Grading rubric (if you have one)
• Professor's pet peeves or preferences
• Any formatting requirements (headers, title page style, etc.)

5. Upload Reference Materials
If you have lecture notes, previous assignments, or example papers, upload them. This helps the writer match your course's specific expectations and terminology.

6. Consider the Top Writer Upgrade
For orders 10+ pages or at the Master's/PhD level, the $4.18/page upgrade might be worth it. We didn't test this, but customer reviews suggest Top Writers deliver noticeably better quality.

After Receiving Your Paper

7. Review Immediately
Don't wait until the night before your deadline. Check the paper as soon as it arrives. Verify:

• Instructions were followed
• Sources are appropriate and properly cited
• Formatting matches requirements
• Word count is correct
• No obvious grammatical errors

8. Request the Plagiarism Report
Even if it's supposed to be free, explicitly request it. Run the paper through your own checker (Turnitin, Grammarly, Copyscape) for verification. Don't rely solely on their report.

9. Use Revisions Strategically
If something's wrong, be specific in your revision request. Instead of saying "improve the analysis," say "Add more detail to paragraph 3 explaining the causal relationship between X and Y, using at least one additional scholarly source."

10. Keep All Communication Records
Save order confirmations, messages with writers, revision requests, and delivery notifications. If you need a refund, this documentation is essential.

Bottom line: Treat ExtraEssay like a tool that requires setup. The more effort you put into clear instructions and review, the better your outcome.

Pros ✅ Competitive pricing starting at $9/page for high school work with long deadlines ✅ Free inquiry system lets you confirm capability before paying ✅ Wide service range covering essays, research papers, editing, and presentations ✅ Our paper arrived 4 hours early with acceptable quality for the price ✅ Free unlimited revisions within 14–30 days ✅ 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone ✅ Plagiarism report included (verify at checkout) ✅ No aggressive upsells during the ordering process

Cons ❌ No way to choose your writer manually ❌ No writer profiles or portfolios to review before ordering ❌ Price calculator not visible until late in the order form ❌ Mixed deadline reliability in customer reviews (some late, some early) ❌ Writing quality is serviceable but not exceptional—surface-level analysis ❌ Revision turnaround can take 1–3 days, not instant ❌ Refund policy requires dispute process, not automatic

Bottom line: Good for straightforward work on a budget; risky for high-stakes or complex assignments.

Honestly? We expected worse quality based on the low ScamFighter rating and Killer Papers' harsh review. Instead, we got a decent, plagiarism-free paper delivered early. It wasn't brilliant, but it was functional and met the basic requirements. One of us was pleasantly surprised; another said it confirmed the "you get what you pay for" rule.

The other surprise: No pushy sales tactics. Many budget services bombard you with pop-ups and upsells. ExtraEssay's order form was refreshingly straightforward. The flip side? The lack of transparency around writers and pricing felt like a trade-off.

Bottom line: Lower expectations led to a better-than-feared experience, but it's still not our first choice for critical assignments.

Final Verdict: Is ExtraEssay Worth Using in 2025?

On balance, ExtraEssay is a workable option for budget-conscious students with straightforward essay needs and flexible deadlines. If you're looking for help with a standard 5-page undergrad essay and you have a week to work with, the $11–16/page price range is competitive, and our test experience was acceptable.

Who should use ExtraEssay:

• Students on a tight budget needing routine essays or editing
• High school or early undergrad assignments (less critical grading)
• Orders with at least 3–7 day deadlines (don't rush it)
• Anyone willing to review and potentially request revisions

Who should look elsewhere:

• Graduate students needing deep research and critical analysis
• Anyone with a 24-hour or shorter deadline (too risky)
• Students in specialized or niche subjects (confirm via inquiry first)
• High-stakes assignments where inconsistency is unacceptable

💡 Pro tip: Use ExtraEssay for less critical work and budget situations. For dissertations, thesis chapters, or anything worth a large portion of your grade, invest in a more premium service with verified writer profiles.

Ready to Give ExtraEssay a Try?

★★★★★

ExtraEssay.com

If you're working with a tight budget and need help with a straightforward essay or editing project, ExtraEssay might fit the bill. Start with their free inquiry system to confirm they can handle your specific assignment before committing. Use our a promo code (-15 off) before checking out, and order with a few days of buffer time for the best results.

Visit ExtraEssay Website Now!

Readers also read

• ExtraEssay Refund Policy (2025): steps & evidence
• Grademiners vs ExtraEssay : Prices, Rush Windows, Refund Rules
• Verified essay coupons (updated weekly)

*All screenshots are used under U.S. fair use law for review and commentary purposes.