Finding the best freelance writing sites that pay is probably at the top of your to-do list as a freelance writer.
Time after time, the number one struggle I hear from new and established freelancers is how to find clients.
Freelance writing sites can make finding paid writing jobs easier. And you may also be able to land paying gigs faster than waiting for your networking or cold pitching efforts to pay off.
But freelance writing websites aren’t all created equally.
So today, I’m walking you through the best freelance sites for writers that can help you start earning now. I’ll also share some tips on how to make the most of freelance writing sites.
Ready? Let’s go!
Related post: 5 Easy Ways to Create Freelance Writing Samples That Win Clients
Best Freelance Writing Sites to Find Paid Writing Gigs
1. Contena
Contena is a paid premium freelance writing website and it’s also a learning resource for freelancers.
When you join Contenta, you get access to:
- Premium job listings which can include gigs featuring in the $5,000 to $10,000 range
- Courses that are designed to help you start or grow your freelance writing business
- Coaching for writers who want to turn a side hustle into a full-time career
- Publishing so you can easily build an online portfolio to show to prospective clients
Contena does require you to apply to join. And you’ll pay a fee for access to member benefits.
But you could easily earn the fee back and then some if you’re able to snag four- or even five-figure writing jobs.
For that reason, it ranks as one of my favorite freelance writing sites for earning premium rates.
2. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a top online resource for freelance writing jobs and remote work.
This site has been around for over a decade and it’s earned a reputation for being the #1 site to find flexible, remote and work at home opportunities.
That includes freelance writing jobs from premium clients.
There are currently close to 6,000 companies and 30,000 jobs listed on FlexJobs. You can purchase subscriptions in 1-week, 1-month, 3-month and 12-month increments.
Once you join FlexJobs, you’ll have these benefits:
- An extensive list of fully-vetted, scam-free flexible jobs to browse
- One-on-one career coaching
- Resume reviews
- Skills tests
- Mock interviews
- Content curated from career experts
FlexJobs is one of my favorite freelance writing sites based on the variety and quality of jobs available.
3. Virtual Vocations
Virtual Vocations is another top freelance site for writers and others seeking remote or flexible work.
When you register with Virtual Vocations, you’ll be able to browse remote job listings, including paid writing gigs.
This site offers even more opportunities than FlexJobs, with more than 23,000 company profiles and nearly 40,000 remote jobs listed.
You can create a free account or opt for Premium Subscriber access. The Premium level includes the following:
- Full access to the Virtual Vocations remote jobs database, which hand-screened and researched daily
- Priority alerts for new remote job opportunities that match your interests
- Job application history to track jobs you’ve applied to through our site
- The option to save jobs you’re interested in and attach private notes to stay organized during your job search
- The option to upload and store job application documents so you can quickly apply
- Telecommuting Handbook and Interview guide downloads to help you get started
- Exclusive online courses and action plans to help in your job search
Learn more about Virtual Vocations
4. Writers Work
Writers Work is an all-in-one platform for freelance writers. When you sign up, you can unlock:
- Freelance writing job listings
- Career training
- Online writing portfolio
- Writing tools
- Project organization
- Habit builders to help you work more efficiently and productively
Writers Work has partnerships with some of the top leading writing job companies. So they can confidently offer their writers access to some of the best writing gigs available.
You can filter the listings so you only see the kind of writing jobs you want. And you can get instant notifications any time new jobs are listed.
Although this is a paid freelance writing site, it’s one of the better options in terms of value. You get a ton of resources here, aside from just job listings, to help you grow and improve as a writer.
Try Writers Work now (30-day money-back guarantee!)
5. nDash
nDash is one of the better freelance writing sites for experienced writers.
I’ve personally used this site to work with a number of clients in the finance niche, including one that paid me $400 for one 800-word blog post.
nDash is free to use and if you already have a LinkedIn profile, you can use that ID to get started.
Once your profile is set up, you’ll have access to a personalized dashboard where you can:
- Read and send messages to clients
- Search for companies
- View job listings
The best part? You get paid as soon as you complete and submit assignments.
So no more chasing down clients for money, which is a huge stress-saver.
6. Contently
Contently is a freelance writing website that’s designed for writers who have a solid portfolio.
This site attracts top brands, including companies like:
- Dell
- Discover Bank
- RBC Wealth Management
- PayPal
It’s free to set up a profile and you can build a portfolio here as well.
As far as the pay goes, I’ve earned anywhere from $319 for a 500-word blog post to $2,000 for a 1,500-word white paper.
Contently pays using a 50-50 model, so you get paid half when you submit your first draft, then the other half once it’s been reviewed by an editor.
You can receive payouts through PayPal so it’s one of the best freelance writing sites for getting paid instantly.
7. JournalismJobs
JournalismJobs.com was one of my go-to freelance writing sites when I was just starting out as a new freelancer.
This site features an online job board for media professionals, including writers who are looking for freelance, remote, part-time or full-time positions.
JournalismJobs.com is free to use and you can easily search job listings to find paid writing gigs.
Some of the outlets that use this site to find freelancers include:
- Magazines
- Websites
- Newspapers
- Trade publications
- PR companies
- Startups
- Government agencies
- Nonprofits
- Academic institutions
This is a great freelance writing site for writers of all niches. Whether you’re a reporter, writer, editor or copy editor it’s worth a look.
Start searching JournalismJobs.com
8. ProBlogger Job Board
ProBlogger is one of the first freelance writing sites I used to find paying work as a new writer.
Run by Darren Rowse, this board is chock full of freelance writing and blogging jobs for writers of all experience levels and backgrounds.
You can find remote writing jobs, part-time gigs, contract gigs and freelance writing jobs that pay the same day. There are companies looking for everything from finance experts to legal writers to generalists who can write about anything.
I like this job board because it’s easy to filter by keyword, location and writer type.
So you can quickly find the jobs you’re interested in, without having to wade through a bunch of listings that aren’t a good fit.
Check out the ProBlogger Job Board now
9. MediaBistro
MediaBistro is similar to JournalismJobs.com, in that it caters to media professionals.
There are lots of in-person writing and editing jobs listed here but you can also find remote writing opportunities.
The kinds of companies that use MediaBistro to find writers include:
- NBC
- HBO
- Fox News
- CNN
So these aren’t penny-a-word jobs; there are lots of legit, high-paying writing opportunities to be found.
Aside from job listings, MediaBistro also offers some other useful resources, including:
- A guide on how to pitch
- Mastheads and editorial calendars
- Career advice
You can get all that for free or you can sign up for MB Unlimited. With MB Unlimited, you can get access to freelance tools, online courses and money-saving discounts, including a free LinkedIn evaluation.
10. BloggingPro
If you’re specifically interested in getting paid to blog, then you’ll want to add BloggingPro to your list of favorite freelance writing websites.
This site features:
- Contract blogging jobs
- Freelance writing opportunities
- Full-time and part-time writing jobs
- Internships
- Temporary writing gigs
New blogging and freelance writing jobs are posted regularly. And you can sign up to receive alerts any time new jobs appear.
Recent job listings have included car app writers, gaming features editors, senior copywriters and travel writers. So there’s plenty to choose from for paid blogging gigs.
11. Upwork
Upwork is a global freelancing marketplace that connects writers and other freelancers with businesses that hire them.
Here’s how it works:
- You create a freelance writer profile (it’s free)
- Search for job opportunities through the platform
- Submit bids on jobs that fit your skills/interests
- Complete work and get paid
I used Upwork to find some of my very first paid writing gigs. So I know that it’s legit. The key to using Upwork is to know how to filter out good projects from the not-so-good.
Companies can choose what they want to pay writers, so it’s important to know what kind of rates you want to charge going in.
You can bid on gigs on an hourly rate basis or a flat fee per project. So consider what your target rate is when deciding where to submit proposals.
Create your free Upwork profile
12. Guru
Guru is another freelance marketplace that’s in the same vein as Upwork.
Companies that want to work with freelancers can post jobs here; freelancers can submit proposals to bid on them.
If your bid is accepted you can complete the work, submit it through Guru and get paid.
To date, Guru has paid out $250 million to freelancers and more than 800,000 employers worldwide use the platform.
The types of writing jobs you can find here include:
- Translation
- Articles and news writing
- Editing and proofreading
- Web content
- Research writing
- Book writing
Like Upwork, you’re limited as to how many bids you can submit. And both Guru and Upwork do take a cut of your earnings in exchange for helping you find paid writing jobs.
But overall, freelance marketplaces like Guru and Upwork can be good places for writers who prefer to work with clients through a middleman.
13. ClearVoice
ClearVoice is a content marketing and freelancing platform.
When you create an account with ClearVoice you can create a custom portfolio for free. One thing I like about it is that ClearVoice sends reminders any time new clips appear online. This way, you can easily add them to your portfolio.
The work process is pretty simple. Clients can message you through ClearVoice to offer you work.
If you’re comfortable with the scope of the project, you can accept, do the work and get paid via PayPal.
ClearVoice doesn’t pay instantly or right away, however. It can take up to 30 days to get paid. But the rates are competitive and every job I’ve done there has been zero hassle.
Check out ClearVoice to create your portfolio
14. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is probably one of the best-known freelance writing websites.
People who need to hire writers can come here to post open-end or closed-end writing projects, including opportunities like:
- Editing
- SEO writing
- Blog post creation
- Children’s book writing
- Content writing
There are also jobs for other kinds of freelancers here, too. For example, I recently saw listings for logo designers, virtual assistants and Photoshop experts.
So if you have multiple skills besides writing, you could find other ways to make money online here as well.
Explore Freelancer.com’s job listings
15. Indeed
Indeed is not strictly a freelance writing website; instead, it’s an online job site.
But I still chose to include it on my list of best freelance writing sites because I’ve used this job board to find so many great-paying gigs.
The key to using Indeed to find freelance writing jobs is knowing how to fine-tune your search.
So, for example, say you’re a finance writer like me. You could use search terms like “personal finance writer”, “personal finance blogger”, “finance writer” or “money blogger” to look for jobs.
Indeed posts remote jobs and in-person writing jobs and you can filter by location. And it’s free to upload your resume and apply for writing gigs.
Tips for Using Freelance Writing Websites to Find Work
Finding the right freelance writing websites is the first step. But it also helps to know how to make the most of them to find paying gigs.
Here are some tips that can help to boost your odds of finding the right freelance writing jobs when browsing freelance sites.
1. Weigh the value of free vs. paid sites
This list of the 15 best freelance writing sites includes both paid and free sites.
And you might be wondering, are paid freelance writing job sites better than free ones?
In some respects, yes. Because paid sites may offer up freelance writing job listings you won’t find anywhere else. I’ve found this to be true with Contena and FlexJobs.
But that doesn’t mean free sites aren’t worth your time or that the jobs they offer are inferior.
I’ve personally landed some great jobs from free job boards. I found one of my best-paying and longest clients (6+ years running) from a free writing job board.
So which one should you use?
If you can afford to pay for one or two premium job boards then I think they can definitely be worth the money. Paying $15 a month is nothing if you’re consistently snagging jobs that pay $500 or $1,000+.
But if you’re on a zero budget, then free job boards can help you find your first writing gigs. Once you start earning, you can reinvest some of what you make into a premium freelance writing job board membership.
2. Fine-tune your profile
Some freelance writing sites ask you to complete a profile when you join.
This is a great chance to showcase your skills and experience, which could make it easier to match up with the right gigs.
When creating your profile on a freelance writing website, be thorough.
Link all of your social media accounts that you use to promote your freelance writing services. Link your blog or portfolio as well.
Highlight any and all relevant writing experience, including current or past clients.
If you haven’t done any writing professionally, then play up any other writing experience you have even if it’s limited to your college newspaper or church newsletter.
And don’t forget to attach some clips or samples!
This can give prospective clients a chance to check out your writing. If you don’t have any writing samples, starting a blog can be the simplest way to create them.
3. Pitch daily
Checking out freelance writing websites can only get you so far. At some point, you have to take action on the job listings you’re seeing.
This is where daily pitching comes in.
Pitching–whether that means submitting an application or sending a cold email–is central to being successful as a freelance writer.
Freelance writing is a numbers game. The more pitches you send out, the better your odds of getting offered a gig.
Think about it.
If you send out 10 pitches a day, 7 days a week that’s 70 pitches. Even if only 10% are accepted, that’s 7 paid writing gigs!
So get in the habit of checking your go-to list of freelance writing sites daily. Multiple times a day is even better if the sites post new job listings on a rolling basis.
Then, commit to sending out a set number of pitches each day. It could be 3, 5, 10 or more–the goal is to make regular pitching part of your writing routine.
4. Read the requirements
Once you start spending time on freelance writing websites and job boards, you’ll get a feel for what job posters expect when you apply.
And the rule I can’t stress enough here is to read the requirements.
That means if a job listing asks for 3 samples, don’t send 1 or 10. Send 3, just as the listing asks for.
And if you’re expected to include a certain phrase or keyword in the subject line, do it. This is actually a pretty common way for job posters to screen out writers who didn’t read the listing.
Also, don’t worry if you’re not able to check off every box on the job poster’s list.
I’ve applied to jobs that I wasn’t 100% qualified for and gotten them because my writing samples were good enough to make up for any gaps in experience.
So don’t feel like a job listing has to be a perfect match to apply. But do make sure you’re sending your absolute best writing samples.
(And again, if you have no samples yet, starting a blog is a great way to get them!)
5. Watch out for scams
Scams are the bane of a freelance writer’s existence because they can suck up your time and leave you with zero financial benefits.
Unfortunately, there are people out there who are only too willing to take advantage of new (or experienced) freelancers.
Here are some red flags to watch out for when looking for jobs on freelance writing sites:
- Listings that ask you to pay something upfront
- Listings that ask for your bank account information or Social Security number without a contract in hand
- Job posters that don’t offer a contract or balk when you ask about signing one
- Jobs that seem too good to be true
The more time you spend on job boards and writing sites, the easier it becomes to spot these kinds of scams.
And remember that if anything seems off about an interaction with a job poster, always go with your gut.
Freelance Writing Websites FAQs
By now you might be chomping at the bit to start checking out some of these freelance writing sites.
But before you go, here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions I get from up-and-coming freelancers.
1. What is freelance writing?
Freelance writing means providing writing services on a contract basis.
When you’re a freelance writer, you’re not an employee. Instead, you’re an independent contractor.
You receive a Form 1099 at the end of the year from each client you work with, rather than a W-2. You’re responsible for paying yourself, managing your expenses and covering your tax obligations.
Freelance writing is something you can do as a side hustle. Or you can turn it into a full-time business.
2. Do I need a website to be a freelance writer?
This post has covered the best freelance writing sites to find paid writing jobs.
But you might be wondering whether you need to have a website of your own to make money as a freelance writer.
The answer is no, not necessarily. I started freelance writing with nothing more than a LinkedIn profile and a personal email account.
But can setting up a freelance writer website help you to grow your business and make more money?
For sure!
Having a freelance writer website of your own is a great way to establish and build your brand. And if it also includes a blog, that’s a simple way to polish your writing skills.
Interested in creating a writer website? Learn how to set up a writer website that gets you noticed!
3. Which site is best for freelance writing?
The best freelance writing website is the one that:
- Offers the types of writing jobs you’re interested in
- Features jobs that pay your target rate
- Makes it as easy as possible for you to connect with clients and land writing gigs
With that in mind, the 15 freelance sites included here are the ones I think are the best, based on my years of writing experience.
I’ve used many of these sites personally to find writing work so I can vouch for their quality.
When comparing different sites, there’s some trial and error that goes into it.
So that’s why it helps to use several different sites to look for paid writing jobs, rather than focusing on just one.
This way, you can decide which ones meet your needs in terms of the type of jobs they offer and the overall user experience.
4. Where can I find high paying freelance writing jobs?
We all want to make more money as freelance writers. And you might want to find higher-paying jobs so that you can earn more and work less.
That’s literally been my mantra for years.
When I was looking for high-paying freelance writing jobs, I started with freelance writing sites, including the ones on this list.
With Contently, for example, I’ve earned close to $200,000 over the years.
But I also branched out my job search to include other outlets like LinkedIn. And I’ve gotten more than a few high-paying freelance writing jobs through referrals from past and present clients.
So in short, finding high-paying freelance writing jobs is all about casting the net wide. The more paths you follow to find high-paying writing gigs, the more opportunities you can find.
5. How do I break into freelance writing?
If you’re reading this post because you want to start freelance writing, then I have some resources that can help!
The first is my ultimate guide to becoming a freelance writer.
This post walks you through everything you need to know to get started with freelance writing, including:
- What is freelance writing?
- How to choose a niche
- How to identify your ideal writing client
- What to know about networking
- How to set rates
You can also sign up for my Freelance Launch Plan. It’s a free 6-day email course that’s effectively a “how to break into freelance writing” mini-guide.
Check out the course here and sign up to get your first freelance writing lesson!
Final thoughts on the best freelance writing sites
Freelance writing websites can be an invaluable resource, whether you’re new to freelancing or you’ve been writing for years.
I’ve given you the 15 best freelance writing sites for finding paid work in all niches and at all skill levels.
Now it’s your turn!
What freelance writing sites do you use to find paid work? Are there any you recommend to include on this list?
Head to the comments and tell me about it! And for more freelance writing tips, check out my free “6 Figure Secrets Checklist” for making more money!