Are you a new freelance writer looking to monetize your skills? Or are you a seasoned freelance writer looking for new freelance writing websites to augment your income?
There are many freelance writing platforms that connect freelance writers with clients, allowing them to earn money from the comfort of their homes. However, most times, finding these websites can take time and effort.
To help out, I took my time to research and put together a comprehensive list of the best freelance writing websites to secure your next high-paying writing gig.
What is a Freelance Writing Website?
A freelance writing website is an online platform that connects clients with freelance writers. These clients may be individuals who need help with written content. Freelance writers can browse through various writing jobs and pitch their services to clients on the platforms.
Many freelance writing websites also act as escrows. They hold clients’ funds and release them to freelancer writers after the completion of a project. These platforms also serve as a meeting place where clients and freelance writers can communicate and share ideas to complete a project.
What are the Best Freelance Writing Websites?
The best freelance writing websites are:
- Upwork
- Fiverr
- FlexJobs
- PeoplePerHour
- Guru
- Freelancer.com
- Contena
- Problogger
- Mediabistro
- Iwriter
Let’s go in-depth into the list of the best freelance writing sites:
1. Upwork
Upwork is one of the most popular freelance writing sites. The competitive online marketplace connects new and seasonal freelance writers with clients from around the world. Freelance writers are expected to register for the platform, set up an eye-catching profile—using the right keywords—and bid for a wide array of jobs that suit their skills.
To bid for jobs and send proposals on Upwork you need connects. You also need them to boost your proposal—that is, increase its visibility. Freelance writers can earn from as low as $15 per hour to as high as $80 per hour.
Your earnings depend on your experience level and the nature of the projects you complete. In addition to freelance writers, Upwork also caters to other freelancers like web developers, graphic designers and many others
Pros
- It’s free
- User-friendly website
- Payment protection
- It’s easy to set up an account
- One of the best freelance writing websites
Cons
- Issues with scams
- Huge competition
- It’s not easy to secure gigs
- You have to buy connects to submit proposals
2. Fiverr
Founded in 2010 by Micha Kaufman and Shai Wininger, Fiverr helps connect freelancers with businesses needing their services. Whether you are an email copywriter, technical writer, or content writer, Fiverr has a huge buyer base (about 3.42 million according to searchlogistics.com) looking to hire you and pay you fair compensation for your services.
It is also important to note that Fiverr works differently from Upwork. Your ability to get jobs on the platform depends on how well you optimize and promote your gigs. If your gigs are well-optimized, they’ll appear on the first page when clients search for keywords related to your services. And if your gig description is persuasive enough, they’ll eventually write you a message.
Pros
- It’s free
- Setting up an account is easy
- One of the best freelance writing sites
Cons
- Competition is high
- Gigs may not gain impression without ads
- Issue of unexpected account restrictions
3. FlexJobs
FlexJobs, like Craigslist, is another freelance writing site looking for secure writing gigs. It features 39,410 remote jobs from almost over 5,500 companies, making it a lucrative option for seasoned and newbie freelance writers.
The platform, which serves different professionals, features multiple job listings tailored to remote, hybrid, or full-time freelancers. You can search for jobs based on location, type, schedule, career level, education, and title. While browsing different job listings is free, you have to subscribe to access the jobs.
Pros
- User-friendly app
- Features high-paying jobs
- Career advice section
- Features full-time, part-time, and freelance job listings
Cons
- A subscription is required to access jobs.
4. PeoplePerHour
One thing to know about PeoplePerHour is that it operates like Upwork. The freelance writing platform helps connect clients to freelance writers available to work hourly or per project.
Clients fill out a form describing their project; then they are matched with the ideal freelance writers. Like Upwork, you are required to submit tailored proposals to land gigs. You’ll also be given 15 free proposal credits at the beginning of each month, which will come in handy when submitting proposals.
Pros
- Flexible working hours
- Easy to find different freelance projects
- Access to a wide range of foreign clients
Cons
- High competition
- Less enticing payment rate
- Need proposal credits to submit proposals
5. Guru
Guru is a freelance marketplace where freelancers meet clients who require their services and vice versa. Like other freelance writing sites, getting gigs on Guru can be challenging, thanks to the fierce competition.
However, you are more likely to secure a gig on Guru if your profile is well set up and optimized for the right keywords. Plus, being able to craft exquisite quotes can also increase your chances of getting hired.
Pros
- Has an in-built payment system
- Access to numerous writing gigs
- Features collaboration tools
Cons
- No mobile app
- Manual quote evaluation
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6. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is a freelance marketplace that serves as a virtual meeting place between freelancers and clients, who are often individuals looking to outsource projects to professionals.
Like other freelance platforms, users are required to create an eye-catching profile to stand out from the competition. They are also required to apply for jobs and place bids. Clients can browse submitted bids and accept bids that appeal to their project needs. They can also post jobs and invite freelancers to apply.
Pros
- High user-base
- Has a mobile app
- Access to high-profile clients
Cons
- The platform charges fees
- Only 8 bids are allowed per month
7. Contena
Don’t have time to search different job boards for high-paying writing gigs? Why not try Contena, one of the top-rated websites for freelance writing?
Contena is a freelance platform that helps compile writing gigs from different sources and categorize them based on your preference and skills.
Are you an article writer, a medical writer, or an email copywriter? Contena has gigs that require your skills. The platform also has an academy designed to teach individuals client acquisition and retention strategies, making it ideal for beginner freelancer writers.
Pros
- Simple application process
- Has a 30-day money back guarantee
- Home to many freelance writing jobs
- Academy to help newbie freelance writers
Cons
- Some job postings are available on other job boards
- Very expensive (costs $497 for a year membership)
8. Problogger
Problogger is a job board that features writing gigs from different countries worldwide. Freelance writers can search for jobs based on location. They can also choose to work on a contract, per-time, full-time, or freelance basis.
Problogger offers blogging courses for newbie bloggers. This makes it not just one of the best websites for freelancers but for bloggers as well. Unfortunately, Problogger lacks extensive content writing-related job listings, fueling the competition on the platform as many freelancers contest for the limited available job openings.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Free job searches
Cons
- Less popular with brands
- Lots of competition for jobs
9. Mediabistro
Mediabistro offers job opportunities to freelance writers looking to work for media companies. The job board features job listings from popular brands like Daily Mail, CNN, Bloomberg, NBC Universal, etc. Given that it consists of mainly media-related jobs, the platform is ideal for landing journalism gigs.
To secure writing gigs on Mediabistro, users are required to pay a monthly subscription. The fee gives you access to valuable tools like guides for pitching editors and discounts for industry events.
Pros
- Offers opportunities to work for top media companies
- One of the best websites for freelance writers looking to land PR or Journalism jobs
Cons
- Jobs are limited
- Has less resources to help freelancers
10. Iwriter
Iwriter is one of the best websites for freelancers looking to secure writing gigs and make money hassle-free. The platform has writing queues that contain writing gigs waiting to be completed. You are expected to browse through the queue to find projects that interest you.
One should also note that there’s no gorm of bidding or even application. Just find a project, review the instructions, and start writing. You get paid when your content is approved by the client, who can also send you special requests.
However, this feature and several other features are limited to the Elite and Elite Plus levels. Payday is every Tuesday. To get paid every Tuesday, you must earn a minimum of $20 by the previous Monday.
Pros
- No bid required
- Flexible working hours
- Clients can tip writers for their exceptional work.
Cons
- Low pay results in low-quality work
- Complaints of clients using rejected articles
- Zero compensation if your article gets rejected
Now that you know the best freelance writing websites, what’s the next step?
After discovering the best freelance writing sites, the next thing to do is choose one that suits your skills, interests, and goals. Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn are some of the best and highly rated. They are home to clients who’ll pay you big bucks, provided you can offer them the desired results.
You can also decide to open accounts with two freelance writing platforms to increase your chances of landing gigs. Finally, exercise patience as you bid for jobs on these platforms, especially if you are a newbie with zero portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Is The Best Site For Freelance Writing?
Determining the best site for freelance writing is difficult as every writer has different goals, preferences, and skills. You can check out the array of freelance writing sites to determine which suits you. The best places to start are Fiverr, Upwork, and LinkedIn.
Can I Earn With Freelance Writing?
Yes, you can earn certain amounts of money through freelance writing. However, this depends on your level of expertise and your client acquisition game. If you are good at what you do and you know how to pitch clients, you can easily make a comfortable amount each month via freelance writing.
Which Freelance Website Pays Highest?
Upwork, freelancer, and Fiverr are the top freelance websites that most writers earn from. However, your ability to command a high fee on these freelance writing sites depends on your level of expertise.
Which Category Of Freelance Writing Pays Most most?
Copywriting, technical writing, and business writing are the freelance writing that pay freelance writers in huge amounts. This doesn’t mean you should switch your expertise if you’re already working with another category of freelance writing. Any category can be profitable to you, it all depends on writing and bidding skill.
