15 Best Freelance Writing Sites & Platforms (Real Rates + How to Get Started)
Find the best freelance writing platforms. Compare Upwork, Fiverr, Medium, Contently, and 10+ others. Real rates, earnings potential, and how to get started.
Momer
Freelance Writing Expert
Writing Platforms
The Freelance Writing Landscape Has Changed (And Most Writers Don't Know It)
Five years ago, freelance writers had three real options: Upwork, Fiverr, and hope.
Today? The game is completely different.
There are now 15+ platforms where writers can earn serious money—but most of them pay differently, require different approaches, and attract different types of clients. Some pay by the word. Some pay by project. Some pay monthly retainers. And some? They're pure garbage and you should avoid them entirely.
I've tested every major freelance writing platform available to U.S. writers. I tracked which ones actually pay writers fairly, which ones have the best clients, which ones are easiest to get accepted to, and which ones will waste your time.
Here's what I found.
The Truth About Freelance Writing Rates
Before we dive into specific platforms, you need to understand the reality of freelance writing income.
Most freelance writers earn between $20-$100/hour.
But here's the catch: That varies wildly depending on:
- Your niche (writing about finance pays 3x more than general blog writing)
- Your experience (new writers: $20-40/hr, experienced: $50-100+/hr)
- Your platform (some platforms take 20-50% commission, others take nothing)
- Your client type (businesses pay more than content mills)
The platforms in this guide range from $0.01/word (content mills) to $500+/article (premium clients).
Pick the wrong platform, and you're competing on price with writers in low-cost countries willing to work for $5/hour. Pick the right one, and you're earning $50-150/hour from serious clients.
TIER 1: Best for Serious Earning Potential ($50-150+/hour)
Earnings potential: $50-$200+/hour
Pros:
- ✅ Highest-paying clients (Fortune 500, major brands)
- ✅ No platform commission (you keep 100%)
- ✅ Professional payment (direct bank transfer)
- ✅ Long-term relationships (repeat clients common)
- ✅ Only high-quality projects (no content mills)
Cons:
- ❌ Hard to get accepted (they vet your portfolio strictly)
- ❌ Slower to get first client (relationship-based)
- ❌ Requires strong portfolio or published work
- ❌ Small job board (curated, not high volume)
Best for: Experienced writers with portfolio, journalists, professionals
Timeline to first client: 2-4 weeks (after acceptance)
Earnings potential: $75-$250+/hour
Pros:
- ✅ Premium copywriting clients (serious money)
- ✅ High rates (conversion copy pays 2-3x more than blog writing)
- ✅ No platform fees (direct relationships)
- ✅ Professional community (networking opportunities)
Cons:
- ❌ Requires copywriting experience/portfolio
- ❌ Smaller job board
- ❌ Competitive (best gigs go fast)
Best for: Experienced copywriters, conversion-focused writers
Timeline to first client: 1-3 weeks (after vetting)
Earnings potential: $75-$200+/hour
Pros:
- ✅ No platform fees (you keep 100%)
- ✅ Highest-quality clients (vetted through LinkedIn)
- ✅ Professional relationships (not race-to-bottom pricing)
- ✅ Passive income (people find you)
Cons:
- ⚠️ Slower to start (reputation-building required)
- ⚠️ Requires strong LinkedIn presence
- ⚠️ Lower volume of leads initially
Best for: Experienced writers building personal brand, B2B writers
Timeline to first client: 4-8 weeks (after building presence)
TIER 2: Good Balance of Earnings + Ease ($30-80/hour)
Earnings potential: $30-$100/hour
Commission: 10-15%
Pros:
- ✅ Massive job volume (1000s of writing gigs daily)
- ✅ Easy to get started (low barrier to entry)
- ✅ Long-term clients available (retainer work)
- ✅ Clear project scope (you know what you're getting)
- ✅ Payment protection (escrow system)
Cons:
- ❌ Proposal fatigue (send 50+ to land 1 job)
- ❌ 10-15% platform commission
- ❌ Price-competitive (many low-paying jobs)
- ❌ Quality varies wildly (some great clients, some terrible)
Best for: Beginners, people building portfolio, volume-focused writers
Timeline to first client: 1-2 weeks (if profile is strong)
Pro tip: Filter for 'Verified Clients' + 'Offering Higher Rates' to find better-paying jobs
Earnings potential: $20-$60/hour
Commission: 20%
Pros:
- ✅ Fastest to first client (gigs live immediately)
- ✅ Passive income (gigs work 24/7)
- ✅ No proposal fatigue (clients come to you)
- ✅ Recurring gigs (repeat buyers common)
Cons:
- ❌ 20% flat commission (highest fee)
- ❌ Lower rates than other platforms
- ❌ Gig saturation (tons of competition)
- ❌ Scope creep (revision requests common)
Best for: Beginners, people wanting quick wins, productized services
Timeline to first client: 1-3 days (gigs live immediately)
Pro tip: Price higher than you think (better positioning, fewer cheap requests)
Earnings potential: $1-$5 per 1,000 reads
Commission: 0% (passive)
Pros:
- ✅ Passive income (write once, earn forever)
- ✅ No client acquisition needed
- ✅ Build personal brand/authority
- ✅ Community feedback (improve your writing)
- ✅ Freedom to write what you want
Cons:
- ❌ Unpredictable earnings (depends on readers)
- ❌ Lower pay than client work ($50-500/month typical)
- ❌ Slow to scale (need consistent audience)
- ❌ No guaranteed income
Best for: Content creators, personal brand builders, long-term passive income
Timeline to first client: 1-2 months (after publishing consistently)
TIER 3: Getting Started / Building Portfolio ($15-50/hour)
Earnings potential: $25-$75/hour
Commission: 0%
Pros:
- ✅ Writing-specific (not competing with developers/designers)
- ✅ Higher quality jobs than generic boards
- ✅ Access to exclusive listings
- ✅ Active writing community
Cons:
- ⚠️ Subscription cost ($30-50/month for access)
- ⚠️ Medium job volume
- ⚠️ Mixed pay rates
Best for: Serious writers willing to pay for filtered opportunities
Timeline to first client: 1-2 weeks
Earnings potential: $20-$50/hour
Commission: 15-20%
Pros:
- ✅ Large platform (lots of projects)
- ✅ Regular work available (some clients post monthly)
- ✅ Easy to apply
- ✅ Payment protection
Cons:
- ⚠️ Competitive bidding (many writers, lower prices)
- ⚠️ Scripted takes commission (~15-20%)
- ⚠️ Mixed quality
Best for: Building portfolio, high-volume writers
Timeline to first client: 1 week
Earnings potential: $15-$40/hour
Commission: 25-30%
Pros:
- ✅ Consistent work (assignments available daily)
- ✅ Easy process (claim → write → submit)
- ✅ Beginner-friendly
- ✅ Payment guaranteed
Cons:
- ❌ Lower pay ($15-30/hour typical)
- ❌ First-come, first-served (miss good assignments)
- ❌ Less creative control
- ❌ Commission taken (~25-30%)
Best for: Beginners, high-volume writers, portfolio building
Timeline to first client: 1-2 days (assignments available immediately)
Earnings potential: $15-$50 per article
Commission: 50/50 split
Pros:
- ✅ Option to write on your own schedule
- ✅ Passive income (articles sell indefinitely)
- ✅ Easy to get started
- ✅ No client communication (platform handles it)
Cons:
- ❌ Lower pay ($15-50/article typical)
- ❌ Unpredictable sales (you don't control demand)
- ❌ Royalties shared (article may sell multiple times)
Best for: Beginners, passive income seekers, topic specialists
Timeline to first client: 1-2 weeks
TIER 4: Content Mills (Avoid if Possible)
Earnings potential: $5-$15/hour
Commission: High
Pros:
- ✅ Extremely low barrier to entry
- ✅ Immediate work available
- ✅ No portfolio required
Cons:
- ❌ Extremely low pay ($0.01-0.10/word = $5-15/hour)
- ❌ Outsourced work quality suffers
- ❌ No client relationships (no portfolio value)
- ❌ Exploitative to writers
Best for: Desperate for quick cash or building portfolio with zero experience
Timeline to first client: Immediate
Only use if: You're desperate for quick cash or building portfolio with zero experience. Move to better platforms ASAP.
Platform Comparison Table (All Features)
| Platform | Earnings | Commission | Time to 1st Client | Best For | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contently | $50-200+/hr | 0% | 2-4 weeks | Professionals | High |
| Copywriter.com | $75-250+/hr | 0% | 1-3 weeks | Copywriters | High |
| $75-200+/hr | 0% | 4-8 weeks | Experienced | Medium | |
| Upwork | $30-100/hr | 10-15% | 1-2 weeks | Everyone | Low |
| Fiverr | $20-60/hr | 20% | 1-3 days | Beginners | Very Low |
| Medium | $1-5 per 1K reads | 0% (passive) | 1-2 months | Brand builders | Low |
| ProBlogger | $25-75/hr | 0% | 1-2 weeks | Writers | Medium |
| Scripted | $20-50/hr | 15-20% | 1 week | Portfolio building | Low |
| WriterAccess | $15-40/hr | 25-30% | 1-2 days | High-volume | Very Low |
| Constant Content | $15-50/article | 50/50 split | 1-2 weeks | Passive income | Very Low |
Which Platform Should YOU Use? (The Decision Tree)
Are you a complete beginner with no portfolio?
→ Start with Fiverr (fastest to first client) + WriterAccess (consistent work)
Do you have 1-2 years writing experience?
→ Go to Upwork (bigger jobs, better rates) + ProBlogger (quality opportunities)
Are you an experienced writer with portfolio/publications?
→ Target Contently (highest rates) + LinkedIn (passive brand-based work)
Do you want passive income?
→ Use Medium Partner Program (long-term) + Constant Content (supplemental)
Are you a copywriter (not just blog writer)?
→ Apply to Copywriter platforms (specialty commands premium rates) + Upwork for volume
How to Actually Get Accepted & Earn More
#1 Build Your Writing Portfolio First
Don't apply to platforms without samples. Create 3-5 writing pieces first:
- Write on your own blog
- Contribute to Medium
- Write guest posts for relevant sites
- Create samples on your own website
Then use these as your portfolio.
#2 Specialize, Don't Generalize
❌ "I'm a writer"
✅ "I write SaaS blog posts about cybersecurity"
Specialization = 2-3x higher rates.
#3: Know Your Rate Before Applying
Don't wing it. Use our Freelance Rate Calculator to know your minimum rate before you apply anywhere. Also see our detailed comparison of Upwork vs Fiverr vs Freelancer to choose the right platform for your rate.
Example:
- Desired income: $40,000/year
- Billable hours: 25/week
- Result: You should charge minimum $40-50/hour
Don't accept less.
#4: Optimize Your Profile
All platforms judge you by:
- Professional photo
- Clear bio (what you write + for whom)
- Strong samples (2-3 best pieces)
- Testimonials/reviews (once you get them)
Spend time on this. It's your sales page.
#5: Start High, Adjust Down Strategically
Post your first gig/profile at your calculated rate. If you get no clients in 2 weeks, drop 10% and try again. Most platforms let you raise rates as you succeed.
Real Earnings Examples: What Writers Make on Each Platform
Platform: Fiverr + WriterAccess
Time: 20 hours/week
- Fiverr rate: $25/article (3-4 per week)
- WriterAccess: $20/hour average
Monthly: $1,200-1,500
Platform: Upwork + ProBlogger
Time: 25 hours/week
- Upwork: $40/hour average
- ProBlogger: $50/article (2-3 per week)
Monthly: $3,200-4,000
Platform: Contently + LinkedIn + Direct clients
Time: 20 hours/week (selective)
- Contently: $100/hour on projects
- LinkedIn: $150/hour from network
- Direct: $1,500-3,000/month retainers
Monthly: $5,000-8,000+
The Brutal Truth About Freelance Writing
Most freelance writers earn $20-40/hour because they:
- Write for content mills
- Compete on price, not value
- Accept first offers without negotiating
- Work through low-paying platforms
- Never specialize
If you want to earn $50-150+/hour, you have to:
- Specialize in a high-paying niche (finance, SaaS, healthcare)
- Build a portfolio that proves expertise
- Target platform with serious clients (Contently, LinkedIn, direct)
- Charge your calculated rate confidently
- Refuse low-ball offers
Your Action Plan: This Week
Day 1:
- Use our Freelance Rate Calculator to determine your minimum rate
- Choose your starting platform based on experience level (see decision tree above)
Day 2-3:
- Create/finalize your portfolio (3-5 strong writing samples)
- Set up profiles on your chosen platform(s)
- Write compelling profile bio (specialization + benefits)
Day 4:
- Apply to 10-20 jobs/opportunities on your chosen platform
- Customize each application (not templates)
- Set your rate at or above your calculated minimum
Week 2:
- Follow up on applications
- Land first client
- Deliver exceptional work (gets testimonials)
Week 3+:
- Build social proof (reviews, testimonials, case studies)
- Raise rates 10% after first 5 projects
- Expand to 2nd platform if first isn't sufficient
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Applying to Too Many Platforms
❌ "I'll sign up for 10 platforms and apply everywhere"
Result: You're exhausted, profiles are weak, conversion sucks.
✅ Do this: Pick 2 platforms max. Master them. Then expand.
Mistake 2: Underpricing Yourself
❌ "I'll charge $0.05/word to get clients"
Result: You attract low-quality clients, leave money on table, build bad habits.
✅ Do this: Charge your calculated rate even if it's scary. Better to land 1 good client than 10 terrible ones.
Mistake 3: Applying Without Samples
❌ Sending proposals with no portfolio
Result: Instant rejection.
✅ Do this: Create 3-5 samples first, THEN apply.
Mistake 4: Writing Generic Applications
❌ "Hi, I'm a writer and would love to help with your project"
Result: Lost in the pile with 100 identical proposals.
✅ Do this: "I notice you're writing about healthcare compliance. I've written 12 articles on this topic for [publication] and understand your audience. Here's why I'm the right fit..."
Platform Quick-Start Guide
If You Choose Upwork:
- Create detailed profile (good photo, bio, samples)
- Browse writing jobs (filter: $50+ budget, professional clients)
- Customize 3-5 proposals DAILY
- Focus on quality > quantity
- After 5 jobs: raise rate 10-20%
If You Choose Fiverr:
- Create 2-3 gigs (e.g., "Write 1000-word blog post", "Copywriting package", "Blog posts with SEO optimization")
- Price 20% higher than you think
- Use gig description to show specialization
- Get first 5 reviews, then raise prices
- Create video intro (huge conversion boost)
If You Choose Contently:
- Compile your best 3-5 published articles
- Build portfolio on your website or Medium
- Apply to Contently with strong samples
- Wait for vetting (2-4 weeks)
- Start pitching to projects once approved
Real Numbers: What Different Types of Writing Pay
| Writing Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Blog Posts (General) | $25-75/article or $30-60/hour |
| Blog Posts (Specialized: SaaS, Finance, etc.) | $75-200+/article or $50-100+/hour |
| Copywriting (Sales pages, emails) | $100-500/article or $75-250+/hour |
| Journalism/Long-form | $50-300+/article or $50-200+/hour |
| Technical Writing | $60-150+/hour |
| Grant Writing | $75-200+/hour |
| Content Mills (avoid) | $0.01-0.10/word ($5-15/hour) |
Bottom line: Specialization = 3-5x higher pay.
Internal Links
After "Know Your Rate" section: Link to Freelance Rate Calculator — "Calculate your minimum rate before applying"
In "Choose Your Platform" section: Link to Upwork vs Fiverr vs Freelancer — "Compare platforms side-by-side"
In earnings examples: Link to Income Tracker (optional) — "Track your earnings across multiple platforms"
Ready to start earning as a freelance writer?
✅ First, calculate what you should charge using our free Freelance Rate Calculator
✅ Then, compare platforms using our Upwork vs Fiverr vs Freelancer guide
✅ Join 1,000+ freelancers in SideStackers (get weekly writing income strategies and platform tips)