This is a list of the 23 best places online to find freelance writing jobs, including freelance marketplaces, job sites, job boards and newsletters.
Before I launched The Ways To Wealth, I was a successful freelance writer myself. And these days, I frequently hire freelance writers to help produce the content you find here.
Here’s some of what me and my team looked at when analyzing the different freelance job sites to create this list:
- Our experience. When available, we considered our experience using a particular site to find freelance writing jobs and/or to hire freelance writers.
- Quality of listings. We paid particular attention to the quality of the companies behind the listings.
- The potential for long-term engagement. Churning through clients is a difficult way to make money as a freelancer, so we gave preference to sites that offer the potential to find long-term work and/or high-paying projects.
Just starting your freelance writing journey? Check out our step-by-step guide: How to Become a Freelance Writer.
The Best Freelance Writing Job Sites
#1. Upwork
Best for: Those willing to make a little less money in the short term in order to gain experience and earn more in the long term.
Upwork has thousands of job listings for gigs that require no experience, including many freelance writing jobs. Clients often post relatively small, simple writing projects — and they don’t want to pay a lot for them. That means the more experienced writers on the site don’t bother to bid, making it easier for new writers to get a few gigs under their belts.
The site also hosts plenty of high-paying projects, which you can compete for once you’ve bolstered your profile.
Here’s an article that goes over how to get your first job on Upwork.
#2. Sonia Weiser’s “Opportunities of the Week” Newsletter
Best for: Experienced writers with at least a few by-lines.
Sonia Wiser is the curator of a twice-weekly newsletter that features calls for pitches from a wide range of publications. Most of the opportunities you’ll find here are with well-known outlets including online newspapers and magazines, making it a great place to get clips to build up your portfolio.
Projects are usually one-offs, and you’ll often need to come up with an idea to pitch to the assignment editor, so getting these jobs can be time-consuming. You’re also going up against some stiff competition, so the success rate of pitches can be relatively low. And on top of all that, you may find that these gigs pay less than jobs you find on platforms like Upwork.
But the resume boost you’ll get from having by-lines in well-regarded publications is enormous, and it can help you get more (and better-paying) freelance writing jobs in the future. So it’s a good idea to sign up for the newsletter and pitch to the opportunities that best fit your skills.
The cost starts at $1 per month through Patreon, though Weiser says free memberships may be available for people who can’t afford the monthly subscription fee.
#3. ProBlogger Job Board
Best for: Those who understand that blogging is in fact “real” writing.
Some writers — especially those with a lot of experience — turn their noses up at blogging jobs, but the ProBlogger Job Board is widely regarded as one of the authority sites for blogging and attracts some big-name outlets that are seeking talented writers.
Plus, companies looking for writers on the site have to pay to post jobs, so the listings tend to be legit (and they usually pay well).
#4. FreelanceWriting.com
Best for: This freelance writing job board is one of the oldest and most active, and always features lots of fresh listings — making it a great place for those looking to gain some experience quickly.
FreelanceWriting.com also sends out a newsletter with tips to help aspiring writers improve their work. There are not only postings for writing gigs, but also social media related work.
#5. FlexJobs
Best for: Those looking to move from part-time to full-time freelance writing.
FlexJobs is a paid job board (it costs about $15 per month) that offers remote opportunities, many of which are full-time employee or contract positions offered by companies that don’t care where a writer is located.
FlexJobs screens each posting, so you’ll never run into a scam on the site.
#6. Fiverr
Best for: New writers. You can charge much more than $5 on the site (you set your own prices, in $5 increments), but many clients are attracted to the site because they know they can find writers willing to work for low rates.
When you create a Fiverr gig, you have the ability to set multiple price points for different levels or types of service. So, the best practice is to offer one very limited package at the $5 level (writing one tweet, for example), as well as more expensive and feature-rich options.
This allows you to test out multiple niches within freelance writing. Then, once you find what works, expand to different job boards knowing there’s high demand.
#7. The Writer Finder
Best for: The Writer Finder is an agency that matches business owners with freelancers, so it’s a good fit for writers with expertise in a specific area.
Writers apply and, if accepted, the site will send you emails with writing opportunities that best match your skills. From there, you can choose to apply to the postings. Each posting is sent to only three writers, so unlike many job boards, you aren’t up against dozens of other freelancers.
#8. Clearvoice.com
Best for: Writers looking to work with brands, as there are a lot of social media writing jobs available at Clearvoice.
You’ll create your profile, including your rates and your area(s) of specialty. Based on your profile information, you’ll receive email leads for opportunities that match your skills. Sometimes, an employee of the site will reach out to you individually with a job that they think you’re well suited for (which means you won’t be competing against fellow writers).
#9. Contently
Best for: This is another site that works with well-known brands, connecting them with qualified writers. Contently also hires article writers to produce content for its own site.
Writers can create a profile and portfolio, and then wait for a Contently employee to reach out with opportunities. You will work more closely with the Contently editors than with the client, and professional editors are often demanding, so you may deal with several rounds of revisions. That can be frustrating and time-consuming for a writer — but it can also make you better.
#10. Skyword
Best for: Those who want to write for high-profile brands.
The site is cagey about publicly releasing client names, but most are brands you’ve heard of. In many cases, you’d have to work for an advertising agency to get access to brands like these, making Skyword a prestige site.
Make sure your profile is top-notch, as Skyward is picky about who they connect clients with. But with that said, the pay can be worth the effort.
#11. Writer’s Den
Best for: Those willing to pay for access to a community of fellow writers.
Writer’s Den is more than just a job board — it’s an active community of freelancers. You can chat with others, exchange ideas, and get advice from fellow writers in the forums. And the site requires that each job posting pay at least $50.
The cost to join the site is $25 per month, and for those very new to writing, the community can be a great learning tool.
#12. CisionJobs.com
Best for: Those who specialize in content writing in the media and entertainment niches.
CisionJobs is a portal that not only lists freelance opportunities, but also contract positions and in-house positions that allow for remote work. You’ll find some heavy hitters here, including the Wall Street Journal, GQ and Barron’s. You can click on the “Apply” button on the site and it will redirect you to the employer’s page, where you go through their application process.
#13. Indeed
Best for: Those looking for full-time or local work.
Indeed is a job board that pulls listings from all over the internet. Many of the postings are for full-time jobs, and you can narrow your search to your immediate area if you don’t prefer to work remotely.
Most postings have a lot more information about the job description and requirements than you’ll find on other sites, so you have a better idea of what you’re applying for.
#14. FreelanceWritingGigs.com
Best for: Those who don’t have a lot of time to scroll through several different sites looking for writing jobs, as FreelanceWritingGigs.com is an aggregator.
The site publishes a weekly summary of freelance writing jobs that have been posted on various other sites. That said, writing gigs tend to go quickly because freelance writing is a crowded field. Waiting a few days to see and apply for a project may mean others who saw the original post beat you to the punch.
#15. Craigslist
Best for: If you live in a fairly large city, you might be able to find local writing gigs on Craigslist. And it’s a good site for beginners because most of the writing jobs posted are for relatively easy part-time jobs, like writing a newsletter or a press release for small businesses.
You will have to sort through a lot of scam postings (which is true of any job category on Craigslist), but there are plenty of legit online jobs posted there too.
#16. Mediabistro
Best for: Those who want to find a mix of writing, editing and journalism work, as the site offers all three.
Mediabistro charges a fee for posting jobs, so you’re less likely to run into scammers here.
The site also offers a number of tools and resources to help you increase your chances of landing jobs on the platform, which can be helpful for anyone new to freelancing. Mediabistro offers freelance, remote, and contract-based projects.
#17. PubLoft
Best for: New writers are welcome at PubLoft, but you will need to show some skill. Writers must apply and will be vetted based on overall writing ability, as well as grammar, research and fluency skills.
The site also helps writers with the business end of things, like managing unpredictable income and managing multiple clients, and offers feedback to help new writers improve and land more clients.
#18. BeAFreelanceBlogger.com
Best for: Intermediate freelance writers looking for bylines at large publications.
This site is an aggregator and features posts from various sites we’ve covered above. Each posting must pay at least $50, and if the client pays per word, the rate must be at least 10 cents.
Most postings show the pay rate, word length, and the number of pieces the client is looking for (some of them are looking to hire regular writers for multiple pieces each week). Unfortunately, not all of the listings are for new jobs (many are months old), so be sure to check the posting date before applying.
#19. BloggingPro
Best for: Those looking for various writing opportunities ranging from blogging to journalism to magazine pieces — there are even gigs for technical writers.
There are also postings for proofreading and editing jobs available. Would-be writers must apply and be approved before they’re allowed to search the listings.
If you’re interested in starting your own blog, BloggingPro offers tips and strategies to help you do so. The jobs on the site are not vetted, but those seeking writers must pay to post (which cuts down on scam postings).
Related: How to start a blog and actually make money.
#20. All Freelance Writers (Formerly All Indie Writers)
Best for: Writers with a creative bent.
This site has a lot of jobs you won’t see on other freelance boards, including postings looking for poets and short story authors. So if you want to branch out into more artistic writing fields, All Freelance Writers can help you do so. It’s also one of the easiest boards to navigate — you’ll see the type of assignment and the approximate pay ranked from low to pro level.
#21. Ndash.co
Best for: Ndash connects writers with major brands, so it’s ideal for those who have a specific area of expertise. That’s particularly true since many of the companies that use the site are looking for writers who can produce white papers.
The site works both ways: writers can pitch clients directly, and clients can reach out to writers. Writers create profiles and can choose to have them verified.
Ndash will make suggestions to improve the profile, and while this can involve some back and forth, it’s worth it. Clients will see that you’ve been verified and it gives you the ability to make direct pitches.
#22. eByline.com
Best for: Those whose writing trends toward journalism. Writers create a profile that’s more extensive than for many sites (you need to include a resume and references, for example).
Writers can search the pitch board and make a pitch to the client on the topics they’re interested in. You can also write an article, post it, and a client can purchase it. And finally, clients can hire you based on your profile.
#23. JournalismJobs.com
Best for: Those with journalism experience, although you’ll sometimes see postings looking for freelance copywriters and social media management.
This site shows job ads for companies and government agencies, and the listing will take you directly to the client’s website (where you’ll apply for the opportunity). Writers also create a profile, so clients can come to you. Be sure to carefully read a job posting before applying, as some of them require a writer who is local to the area.
#24. R/HireAWriter
Best for: Writers of various experience levels looking for a platform with transparent pay rates.
R/HireAWriter is a money-making subreddit functioning as a job board for writers with differing levels of experience.
Clients post opportunities for entry-level, general, or advanced writers, while writers can share their availability and areas of expertise.
This platform stands out due to its transparency regarding pay rates and minimum pay requirements. Entry-level jobs must pay at least 5 cents per word, general jobs at least 10 cents per word, and advanced jobs at least 15 cents per word.
Though these rates aren’t sky-high, they’re higher than those offered by many leading platforms and enough for a decent living.
The community is active, with more posts from writers seeking work than companies hiring, but new opportunities are posted regularly, making it worth your time if you’re a freelance writer or an aspiring one.:
Freelance Writing Jobs FAQ
There are no experience or educational requirements to get into freelance writing. The key skills you need are above-average writing talent, good research skills and the ability to follow directions. Outlets like newspapers and magazines have higher standards, but these opportunities represent just a small fraction of the freelance writing jobs that are available. More often than not, you’ll be working with smaller clients who don’t care about your background — they just want someone who can deliver a piece of content as described, accurately and on time.
Taking an online freelance writing course can be helpful overall, but it’s not necessary in order to get started. In fact, we recommend waiting until you’ve completed some projects before signing up.
While freelance writing courses are great for teaching you how to work better with clients, deliver better results and raise your rates, they can be expensive. So it’s a good idea to make sure you like the field and intend to stick with it.
It’s hard to put into numbers specifically how much demand there is for freelance writers, because so many different types of businesses hire them for so many different types of tasks. But here’s what you need to know: the demand far outpaces the supply of skilled freelancers. If you’re a reasonably good writer who can handle deadlines, manage your schedule and work with clients, you will never have trouble finding jobs.
Unfortunately, there is no widely followed scale or average pay rate for freelance writers. Rates range from as little as 1 cent per word to as much as $1 per word, and how much you can earn within that range is somewhat arbitrary; it depends on factors like your writing skill, your education and your experience, but also on your ability to market yourself to potential clients.
As a general rule, rates of around 10 cents per word are good for a beginner freelance writer with a few successful projects under their belt. With a couple of years’ experience, it’s possible to consistently earn 20 cents per word.
You can charge a lot more than that in certain scenarios. For example, if you niche down and become an expert in a specific topic area, you’ll be much more valuable to clients who need authoritative content in that subject.
It’s worth noting that, surprisingly, you will usually make more money as a freelance writer for independent clients (like those you’ll find on a site such as Upwork) than by writing for publications like newspapers and magazines, which often pay freelancers just a few cents per word.
As a rule, technical writing is the highest-paying type of freelance writing. The highest-paying niches include personal finance and health, as writers with expert knowledge in those topics are relatively rare and command higher rates.
But it’s not just what you write about that will determine your rate; it’s also the adjacent skills you bring to the table.
For example, blogs and websites need visibility in Google’s search results. Often, they’re hiring freelance writers specifically with the aim of producing content that will rank well on Google and generate traffic. Writers with knowledge of search engine optimization best practices are better able to produce that kind of content, and can command significantly better rates.
Freelance Writing Job Sites: Final Thoughts
There’s going to be a learning curve for each of these freelance writing sites. Expect it to take time to get up to speed on how to find the best jobs on the platform. Plus, for some sites there’s a feedback system, which makes it harder to land that first job.
It’s for this reason that we recommend being very selective in signing up for sites. Ideally, choose one site to go all-in on, working to make yourself one of the top freelancers on the platform.
If you’re not sure what site is a fit, limit signing up to no more than three sites at first. Making sure to actually apply for jobs on the platform, so you’re getting feedback.
Want to learn more about becoming a successful freelancer? See our in-depth resource How to Start Freelancing.
