Alpha Reader vs Beta Reader: What’s the Difference?

Enlisting alpha and beta readers can be a big help during the writing process. But what exactly is the difference between them, and how do you know which one you need?

Here’s a quick guide to what alpha and beta readers do, how they differ, and how you can find them.

What Is an Alpha Reader?

An alpha reader is someone who reads a very early draft of your story and offers constructive feedback. They might even be the first person ‌besides you.

There are several reasons you might want an alpha reader:

• You want reassurance about your concept. Maybe you want to know if the idea is worth persevering with or if you should go back to the drawing board.

• You want a second opinion on what’s working and what’s not and what you should focus on while you redraft.

• You just want to talk about the project with someone who “gets it.”

They give you a good idea of whether what exists in your head is translating well onto the page. If what they’re picking up on isn’t what you want readers to focus on, it’s much easier to make changes at this early stage than it would be later.

Likewise, they can also spot plot or characterization issues that you’re too close to the story to see. They can highlight things that need more development. They can even help you kick ideas around and experiment with different directions.

They can also be useful from an emotional perspective. You can talk through doubts with them, and they provide that thrill of having your work read, which can give you the motivation boost you need to carry you into the next draft.

How you approach the alpha reading process really depends on you. You might share parts of your draft as you go, or you might wait until you can hand the whole thing over. Likewise, you might give them a raw, messy draft, or you might tidy it up a little.

It’s important to get the balance right between trusting your alpha reader and trusting your gut. You need to distinguish between feedback that’s hard to hear but will make a positive difference and feedback that doesn’t fit your vision.

It’s worth mentioning that alpha readers aren’t for everyone or for every project. Sometimes having someone get involved that early on can disrupt your flow or impede the story’s natural development.

If you prefer to wait until you have things figured out before sharing, having an alpha reader may not suit you, and that’s okay. However, if you find it helpful to talk to others about your work, they could be well worth experimenting with.

If you’re nervous about showing other people, ProWritingAid’s Manuscript Analysis and Chapter Critique can help. While they’re not intended as substitutes for a human perspective, they can give you actionable technical feedback on how to strengthen your story so that it’s in the best shape possible when you’re ready to share.

What Is a Beta Reader?

Beta readers read a later, more polished draft of your story.

It’s impossible for you to imagine what it might be like to open your book for the first time as a reader. A beta reader is there to give you that reader’s perspective, so you know if you need to make changes or address issues before you publish.

They can comment on a range of things they noticed, like whether it was emotionally satisfying, what they thought of the characters, whether the pacing kept them engaged throughout, and any parts that didn’t land for them. They might point out plot inconsistencies that you’d missed.

In terms of what the process looks like, most authors deliver the entire manuscript and give their chosen readers a set amount of time to come back with feedback on the whole thing. Some might do it chapter by chapter, but this is less common.

As with alpha readers, you need to carefully evaluate a beta reader’s feedback to make sure it aligns with your idea of the project. Having multiple beta readers can help with this, as it enables you to spot patterns.

If you’re in a hurry or struggling to recruit multiple beta readers, you could supplement your process with ProWritingAid’s Virtual Beta Reader. While it isn’t meant to replace a human reader, it can give you a helpful preview of how they might react.

What’s the Difference Between Alpha and Beta Readers?

The major difference between alpha and beta readers is when you invite them into the process.

While an alpha reader reads an early, unrevised draft, a beta reader reads something that’s much closer to being done. Ideally, you’re confident that you’ve got it most of the way there, even if there are aspects you’d still like second opinions on.

While beta readers can highlight problems with plot and characterization, these shouldn’t be as foundational as the problems an alpha reader might spot. You’ll hopefully be refining, adjusting, and fixing inconsistencies or plot holes at this stage, rather than doing major rewrites.

Of course, all stories and writers are different, so this might not always be the case. However, these are good principles to keep in mind to make sure your expectations match up with your readers’.

Choosing Alpha and Beta Readers

So, what kind of person should you look for to alpha or beta read your story?

For both roles, you need people who enjoy reading and, crucially, thinking about what they read. Ideally, they should be readers of the genre or type of book you’re writing, so they’re familiar with the genre conventions and such.

Neither kind of reader needs to write creatively themselves. However, you’ll probably get more targeted technical feedback if you ask a writer, as they’ll likely have a better grasp of story mechanics—that could be particularly relevant for alpha readers.

You need to feel able to put your trust in both types of reader but especially your alphas. You need to feel comfortable enough to share your rough drafts with them and also feel confident that they have sound judgment, even if you don’t always agree.

Both alpha and beta readers need to feel at ease with offering honest feedback. You want them to point out areas that need improvement (supportively, of course).

Alpha readers need to be open to the idea that they’re seeing a work in progress and not be put off by a messy draft. In contrast, beta readers will receive something a lot closer to a publishable standard, so don’t need to be as forgiving.

You also want to find someone who has the time to commit to the chunky task of reading and feeding back on an entire book. Alpha reading could be an even larger commitment if you want them to chat to you about the book or to look at multiple drafts.

Whether you’re inviting someone to be your alpha or your beta reader, don’t jump in with the entire manuscript right away. Try them on a sample first, then you’ll both be able to get an idea of whether it’s going to work.

How to Find Alpha and Beta Readers

The process of looking for alpha and beta readers is pretty similar. Here are several places you can look for both—just make sure you set clear expectations for what you’re looking for.

Asking friends and family can work well as you likely already feel comfortable with them. However, they might struggle with constructive feedback because they want to spare your feelings or because their affection for you interferes with their ability to be objective.

Local writing or book groups are great places to find people with the knowledge and enthusiasm you need. If you find a designated critique group, someone there may be willing to alpha read for you—and you can improve your craft by providing feedback for others too.

You can also head online to find writing communities and groups on social media sites or specialist writing forums. There are groups especially for linking people up with alpha and beta readers, but you could also try communities for your specific genre.

If you have the budget, you can also hire paid alpha and beta readers via freelance marketplaces (though paid alpha readers are less common). Just vet anyone you’re thinking about working with thoroughly, including checking their reviews.

Conclusion: Alpha Reader vs Beta Reader

Hopefully, this has cleared up the confusion around alpha and beta reader meanings and left you feeling a lot more confident about when and how to invite people into your process.

Whether it’s an alpha reader helping you make crucial decisions about your early draft or a beta reader helping you refine your book so that it’s as good as it can be, getting a second opinion on your story really can make a massive difference.

If you’re struggling to find as many readers as you’d ideally like or want quicker feedback, you can always turn to ProWritingAid’s Manuscript Analysis, Chapter Critique, or Virtual Beta Reader. They offer strong additional support for your story editing needs.