My favorite free resources

[pmmg]

As someone who's at the point where I'm looking for critiques, I found Betareader.io to be the best site for finding beta readers so far, so it comes with its share of challenges. The free version gets you three beta reader slots, but you can gain more by reading other peoples' works (or by paying $10 per month). I got over 20 interested readers in a few days. It's frustrating only having 3 readers slots with so many applicants, but once your figure out the messaging system you can draw additional readers to your own copies of your manuscript.

Has anyone else found a good tool for finding beta readers?

No, I have some beta readers, but you never really have enough

Scribophile has a karma system, but it will get you reviews if you put in the effort. I look at what you posted.

 

[skip.knox]

I don't think one finds good beta readers, in the sense of a sort of pool where one can cast one's line and draw out a fine fish. Rather, finding a good beta reader is a bit like finding a good friend. One has to put in the time.

This means finding communities (like this one), putting in the time to become an active member of that community, and gradually developing relationships with the sort of people who are willing themselves to invest the time in another's work. And the best way to do that, imo, is to yourself invest the time in *other* people's work, becoming a beta reader yourself.

That takes a ridiculous amount of time. I've done it before and can attest to the investment. The return for you, the beta reader, is that you will (or should) learn a great deal about how to critique a work--both in what to notice and in how to phrase that to a fellow writer. This is no small skill, for you can transfer it directly to critiquing your own work.

But a place where folks will work for you for free? No, I've not found such a place.