Frustrating Experience with EssayShark

Pros at a Glance:

• Mobile app exists
• Decent website design (visually)
• Multiple payment options
• Discounts sometimes advertised

Cons That Hit Me Hard:

• Writers often non-native English speakers
• Prices way higher than advertised
• Quality of papers is inconsistent at best
• Payment security feels sketchy
• Deadlines frequently missed

I don’t usually trust online writing services like Essayshark. To be honest, most of them feel sketchy the second you land on their homepage. But this past semester nearly broke me. Between juggling three essays, a massive research paper, and a lab report that needed graphs and proper formatting, I was drowning. Sleep was non-existent, my coffee budget tripled, and I started googling every shortcut imaginable.

That’s when EssayShark kept popping up in my searches. Top 10 “best essay writing service” lists? They were there. YouTube reviews? Plenty of creators swearing by it. Even Reddit threads mentioned it here and there, though the comments were suspiciously polarized–half the people saying it saved their GPA, the other half calling it a scam.

Still, the five-star ratings plastered across review sites made me pause. Could it really be the one? A site with a sleek design, a mobile app, and supposedly professional writers available at your fingertips–it all sounded like the academic equivalent of Uber Eats for essays. And at that moment, I was desperate enough to believe in anything that promised relief.

EssayShark homepage

So I thought, “Alright, maybe this is my ticket out of the chaos. Maybe I just got lucky finding it.” I clicked Order Now. That’s where things started to unravel.

Writers

EssayShark boasts a roster of highly qualified professionals. Their site claims that every freelancer has diplomas, certifications, and years of experience. Sounds solid on paper, right? The reality is murkier.

I ended up with a writer from Belarus who claimed to have a “Master’s in English Literature.” Honestly, I don’t doubt their degree exists, but the paper I received looked like something a freshman would throw together at 2 a.m. It was disorganized, choppy, and full of awkward phrases that screamed “non-native English.” I tried chatting with support to request a rewrite–took over 45 minutes to get a half-hearted response.

EssayShark writers

They say top writers exist, but from my experience, there’s zero noticeable difference between “standard” and “premium” freelancers.

Pricing That Doesn’t Add Up

Here’s where EssayShark really got me. I ordered a 6-page research paper with a 3-day deadline. Price listed: $115. Market rates for similar services: usually $60–$70. The site keeps dangling discounts, but when you actually try to apply them, nothing works.

EssayShark pricing

Honestly, for $115, I expected a polished, well-structured paper. Instead, I got a dry, clunky mess. Not only did it fail to meet the assignment criteria, but it also required a complete rewrite on my part.

Ordering Process (Confusing and Frustrating)

The process to place an order is needlessly complicated. You fill out the order form, provide all details, confirm your email, then wait… and wait. There’s no real “urgent” option, and deadlines feel arbitrary because the platform doesn’t guarantee prompt action.

Pop-ups constantly try to grab your attention. I lost count of how many times they prompted me to subscribe to newsletters or apply coupons that don’t exist. Navigation is slow, text is sometimes hard to read, and the site occasionally loads in pieces.

Payment Security: Worrisome

I paid using my credit card and felt uneasy. The site doesn’t reassure you that your payment info is safe. A friend warned me later that she noticed suspicious activity after using EssayShark. My payment went through fine, but this lack of transparency really shook my confidence.

Paper Quality

The variety of papers you can order is impressive: essays, research papers, term papers, theses, dissertations–you name it. But here’s the truth: most writers are not equipped to handle these. My research paper felt like a patchwork of Google snippets and Wikipedia info. It wasn’t insightful, it wasn’t polished, and it certainly wasn’t worth the premium price.

Their Own “Testimonials”

One of the first red flags I noticed after using EssayShark was the review landscape. If you look only at their website, you’d think this company was the Harvard of essay writing. Every review is glowing–five stars, “amazing service,” “lifesaver,” “would use again.” It almost feels like scrolling through an Amazon page where every single product magically has perfect ratings. Not a typo in sight, no one ever complains about missed deadlines or poor writing. Suspicious, right?

Now, hop over to Trustpilot, SiteJabber, or even Reddit, and the story changes fast. That’s where you’ll find real students venting about late deliveries, clumsy grammar, and customer service that disappears when you actually need help. I remember one Trustpilot review saying, “The paper looked like it was written by ChatGPT without editing”–and honestly, that hit close to home because mine felt the same way.

It’s not unusual for companies to showcase their best reviews, but with EssayShark the gap between their curated “testimonials” and what’s said on neutral platforms is enormous. To me, that screams self-generated reviews. Think about it: if a service was truly that good, you’d expect consistency across the board, not perfection on their site and chaos everywhere else.

EssayShark’s site testimonials

External review site

In short, don’t let the shiny homepage fool you. Look beyond their walls, and you’ll see the cracks.

I wanted to trust EssayShark. I really did. The flashy website, the advertised top-tier writers, the convenient order process–all of it looked promising. But after my experience, I can’t recommend it.

If you’re thinking of paying a premium for your assignments, look elsewhere. You might get lucky and land a good writer, but the risk is high. Refunds are not guaranteed, deadlines are shaky, and quality is unpredictable.

Score: 11/100

Alternative Solutions

Instead of throwing money at EssayShark, consider:

• EssayPay – consistently decent reviews and clearer pricing
• KingEssays – verified writers, reliable deadlines
• Local university writing centers – free and trustworthy

Trust me–your grades, sanity, and bank account will thank you.

Questions You May Have

Is EssayShark legit?
Yes, it’s a real company, not a phishing scam. But in practice, the service often fails to deliver on quality, deadlines, or refunds. So while it’s “legit” in the sense that it exists, whether it’s trustworthy is another story.

Are the writers actually professionals?
EssayShark claims every writer has a degree and professional background, but my experience says otherwise. Most writers seem to be freelancers from non-English speaking countries, and there’s no real way to verify their qualifications.

How much does it cost to use EssayShark?
Prices start around $20 per page, but once you factor in deadlines and complexity, the costs quickly climb above competitors. My 6-page research paper was $115, and the quality didn’t justify that price.

Does EssayShark offer discounts?
They advertise discounts for new customers, but I never saw a real working coupon. It felt more like a marketing trick than an actual deal. Regular customers don’t get loyalty perks either.

Is EssayShark safe for payments?
This is a gray area. While they accept standard payment methods, there’s no clear reassurance that your data is protected. Some users even reported strange bank activity after paying. I personally didn’t get hacked, but the lack of transparency is concerning.

Will my paper arrive on time?
Not guaranteed. Some people reported never receiving their papers. I got mine right on the deadline, which left me no time to proofread. If your professor is strict about deadlines, this is risky.

Can I get a refund if I’m not satisfied?
In theory, yes. EssayShark’s policy mentions refunds. In reality, good luck–my refund request went unanswered, and plenty of reviewers on external sites said the same thing.

Is EssayShark safe to use for important papers?
If it’s a small assignment you don’t care much about, maybe. But if it’s something crucial, like a thesis or final paper, I wouldn’t trust EssayShark with it. The risks outweigh the benefits.

About the Author

Michael L.

He believes that using relevant and up-to-date information is the key to success for any paper. While researching, Michael relies only on reputable sources.

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