55 Places to Find Paid Freelance Writing Jobs Online

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One of the biggest struggles for new freelancers is finding freelancing writing jobs.

Am I right? 

I get it because I’ve totally been there.

When I was starting my freelance side hustle, I didn’t really know the rules for finding paid work.

I took a gig at a content mill, which wasn’t great. But I was making money so I stuck with it for a while.

Soon enough, I learned that it wasn’t really the kind of freelance writing job I wanted. So I started looking for ways to trade up to better clients and more money.

And that’s where the struggle gets real for a lot of writers, especially when you’re completely brand-new.

But the good news is, there are tons of ways to find your first paid freelance writing gig (or your next one if you’re an established writer.)

 

How to Find Paid Freelance Writing Jobs as a New Freelancer

So there’s definitely something of a learning curve with finding paid freelance writing jobs in the beginning.

You have to figure out your niche and who your ideal client is. And you have to decide what kind of writing you really want to do and how much you’d like to get paid for it.

If you’re a busy mom like me and you want to start your freelance writing career off on the right foot, you don’t have time for all that. You want to start landing high-quality, paying jobs right out of the gate, right? 

So to help you, I’ve put together this guide of 55 places to find paid freelance writing jobs online.

They’re grouped into five categories:

• Freelance writing jobs that are free to use
• Paid freelance writing job boards
• General and remote work job boards
• Freelancing platforms
• Outside-the-box places to find freelance work

Ready to find your first paid freelance writing job? Let’s dig in!

(P.S. This post weighs in at almost 5,000 words. So if you can’t devour it in one sitting, be sure to bookmark it for later! :))

 

Job boards are where I found a lot of my early gigs as a new freelance writer. 

They’re great if you’re looking for some variety because you haven’t settled on a niche yet.

It’s possible to find high-quality writing gigs on freelance job boards. But you’ll need to commit some time to look through the listings each day to see what turns up. 

Pro tip: Some freelance writing job boards let you search for gigs using keywords. So plug in keywords relevant to your niche to weed out jobs that don’t match up with your writing specialty.

1. Problogger

The Problogger Jobs board is packed with job listings for virtually any kind of freelance writing gig you can imagine.

It’s free to use and it’s easy to search for gigs in your niche by keyword. Problogger Jobs also has an alert feature that automatically sends new job listings that match your keywords to your inbox.

2. Freelance Writing Jobs

Freelance Writing Jobs offers running postings on its job board. It also features daily round-up posts featuring the latest jobs.

Postings come from other job boards. They run the gamut from copywriting to technical writing to content writing.

3. JournalismJobs.com

JournalismJobs.com is another freelance writing job board I spent a lot of time on as a new freelancer.

This site breaks writing gigs down by category. You can browse the jobs that best fit your niche if you don’t have time to sift through all of them.

4. Blogging Pro

If you’re looking for blog writing jobs, you’ll definitely want to check out Blogging Pro.

Elite Daily, Bustle and Healthline are just some of the brands that use Blogging Pro to connect with bloggers, editors and freelancers. 

5. Media Bistro

Media Bistro’s job board includes openings for both remote and location-specific freelance writing jobs. You can also listings for other types of media positions like photographers and production assistants.

This board is favored by big-name media brands, including Fox News, CNBC, HBO and NBC.

6. Freelance Writing

Freelance Writing lists journalism, copywriting, content and blogging gigs. It’s designed for beginning freelancers and expert writers.

If your background fits any of those categories, this site is a solid option for finding quality gigs that pay well.

7. BAFB $50 Job Board

Be a Freelance Blogger is an all-around excellent resource if you’re looking to break into blog writing.

The BAFB $50 Job Board features blogging gigs that pay $50 or more. There’s also a BAFB Forum on Facebook you can join to connect with other freelance bloggers.

8. All Freelance Writing

All Freelance Writing is a freelance writing job board but it’s also an educational resource for writers who are just breaking in or want to step up their game to the next level.

Aside from checking out job listings, you can browse paying markets and their writer guidelines to see which gigs pay the most.

9. Writers Weekly

Writers Weekly lets you browse paying markets and look for freelance writing jobs in one place. And if you write about writing, you could pitch the site directly; Writers Weekly pays freelancers for unique articles.

Remember to check out the guidelines carefully before submitting a pitch.

10. Ed2010 (Whisper Jobs)

Whisper Jobs posts an eclectic mix of freelance writing gigs. You can find both print and digital writing jobs here, including remote and location-specific roles.

You’ll need to create an account to access the job board but it’s free to browse once you’re logged in.

11. Krop Jobs

Krop Jobs is a job board for creatives of all backgrounds, not just freelancers, but it’s worth a look if you’re angling for a writing job.

Like some of the other freelance writing job boards mentioned here, this one lets you set up email alerts for specific categories, which can be a time-saver as you look for gigs.

12. Cision Jobs

Cision is the company responsible for Help a Reporter Out, which is one of the sites I use to connect with expert sources for the reported articles I write.

Cision now partners with Gorkana Jobs to offer journalist job listings, including freelance reporter gigs.

13. Morning Coffee Newsletter

The Morning Coffee Newsletter isn’t a job board per se. Instead, it’s a daily newsletter that includes freelance writing gigs. The newsletter is actually an extension of the FreelanceWriting.com job board.

14. Working Nomads

The Working Nomads job board is designed for freelancers and digital nomads who are looking for remote work.

Jobs for freelance writers make up a small subset of the site’s job postings but it’s still worth checking out if you’re looking for remote writing gigs.

Not all freelance writing job boards are free. Some charge a monthly membership fee to access them.

So is it worth paying to use freelance writing job boards?

Paid boards can offer access to upper-tier clients and brands, which usually means better pay rates. It could be a good investment if a paid job board unlocks a high-paying gig.

But some of them can be expensive so it pays to know what kind of ROI you can expect. 

Pro tip: If you’re considering a paid freelance writing job board, check out ones that offer a money-back guarantee or trial period so you can give it a try with no obligation.

15. Paid to Blog

Paid to Blog lists high-quality freelance blogging jobs, along with a database of guest posting opportunities. When you become a member, you also get access to the site’s pitching guide to help you refine pitches before sending them out.

There are three membership levels to choose from, ranging from $39 monthly to $299 yearly, with a 28-day money-back guarantee.

16. FlexJobs

FlexJobs touts itself as the biggest and best job site for curated remote and flexible jobs. The site isn’t exclusively devoted to writing but there are plenty of freelance writing job listings to sort through.

You can pay monthly or yearly for access, with pricing starting at $14.95/month. You can get a month free when you friends and other freelancers for a FlexJobs account.

17. Freelance Success

Freelance Success is designed for professional writers and editors. Writers and editors pay $99/year to join the site and connect with freelance writing opportunities.

18. Contena

Contena is a freelance writing-focused paid membership site that regularly posts new listings from top brands. Members can enroll in Contena Academy, which is an online course aimed at helping freelance writers launch their businesses.

Memberships start at $42 per month when you pay for the year in full.

19. Freelance Writer’s Den Junk-Free Job Board

Carol Tice was one of the freelance writers I looked to as a mentor when I was first getting started. Because she absolutely knows her stuff and she’s a big reason why I kept pushing myself to grow my freelance writing business.

Her Freelance Writer’s Den Junk-Free Job Board costs $25/month but that’s a bargain for the kind of quality gigs you can unlock. The Den only opens up for new members twice a year so be sure to get on the waiting list now if you’re interested.

20. SolidGigs

SolidGigs advertises fresh leads daily for freelancers who want to “break the feast or famine cycle”.

The site is also packed with resources that can help you improve your skills and grow your business, including expert interviews, courses and client email templates.

You can try it for 30 days for just $2; after that, it’s $19 a month to maintain your membership.

You can also find freelance writing jobs on boards that are more general.

You may have to do a little more digging with these sites since they’re not just freelance writing-focused but don’t count these out as you search for gigs.

Pro tip: Create a simple freelance writing resume highlighting your past experience and skills that you can easily upload to job boards when you’re ready to apply for a job.

21. Dice

If you’re a tech writer, you might have luck finding writing gigs with Dice.

There are tens of thousands of job listings here, including ones for digital copywriters, technical writers, grant writers and science writers. A lot of the writing jobs are on-site but you can filter for work at home opportunities.

22. Indeed.com

Indeed can be an amazing resource for finding freelance writing jobs, depending on which niche you’re in.

I’ve found multiple writing gigs in the financial space using the site. It’s a good place to land work with well-known companies and brands.

23. Glassdoor

Glassdoor is another general job board you can use to find freelance writing work. This site is also a great resource if you want to compare salary details for different types of freelance writing gigs.

For example, you can get an idea of what a grant writer typically makes compared to a content writer or a medical writer.

24. SimplyHired

SimplyHired posts millions of job listings and a decent slice of them are for freelance writers.

Some of the jobs I’ve come across here include postings for resume writers, exam prep content writers and TV show recap writers so there’s a lot of variety. And SimplyHired offers a free resume builder tool if you need a little help putting yours together.

25. ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter is the #1 rated job search app and you can apply for jobs right from your smartphone. You can also join ZipRecruiter’s talent network, which allows top brands to connect with you if they think you might be a good fit for what they need.

26. AngelList

AngelList is where startups go to list job openings, including ones for freelance writers.

A lot of the companies you’ll encounter here are in the tech and fintech space but you can also find health care startups, travel agencies, digital marketing agencies and more.

27. LinkedIn Jobs

I love LinkedIn for finding freelance writing jobs.

You can search the LinkedIn Jobs feature for freelance positions and apply through the site with your LinkedIn profile.

And you can grab the attention of companies that might be looking for freelancers by updating your profile with keywords that show off your experience and expertise in your niche.

28. Virtual Vocations

Virtual Vocations is a job board just for telecommuting gigs, including remote writing positions. It’s free to sign up and create a basic account; that’ll get you access to a limited selection of telecommuting job listings daily. If you want to see all the jobs available on the site, you’ll need a paid membership which starts at $15.99/monthly.

29. Sologig

Sologig is another tech and engineering-focused job board that’s used by companies like Robert Half and UPS.

Freelance writing jobs aren’t as plentiful on this board as they are elsewhere but if you’ve got technical or scientific writing skills you may find something that’s right up your alley.

30. We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely is the largest remote job community online, with over 2.5 million visitors monthly.

This site breaks jobs up into specific categories with one designated just for copywriting jobs. A lot of tech companies look for freelance and remote workers here but you can also find companies in the medical, educational and legal sectors.

31. Craigslist

There are freelance writing jobs to be had on Craigslist if you’re patient enough to search for them.

One trick I used to use was to look for jobs using a Craigslist search engine — this always saved a lot of time. Just make sure you read the ads carefully before responding to make sure it’s not a scam.

And if a posting seems too good to be true, it probably is.

32. Kolabtree

Are you awesome at research? Do you geek out over science and math? Are you hoping to make it big as a freelance science writer?

If so, then check out Kolabtree. This site connects freelance science and medical writers with businesses that need help with writing projects spanning from press releases to white papers to academic papers.

33. Genuine Jobs

Genuine Jobs offers a free search platform for telecommuting jobs. You just enter in keywords for the type of freelance writing work you’re looking for and Genuine Jobs delivers a list of remote openings.

There are gigs for product review writers, blog writers, lifestyle writers, freelance editors and just about everything in-between.

34. Work From Home Leads

Work From Home Leads is an offshoot of The Work at Home Wife.

The jobs listed here aren’t all freelance writing positions but they are work at home jobs that are geared towards moms. Some of the options outside of freelancing include tutoring gigs and virtual customer service rep roles.

Marketplace freelance writing platforms are a little different from job boards.

These are places where freelancers can connect with clients. Writers submit their work through the platform and the client pays them the same way.

But don’t confuse these platforms with content mills. Content mills are the bane of a good freelance writer’s existence. Mills expect writers to churn out content quickly and get paid pennies in return.

The freelance writing platforms I’ve included here are ones that I’ve either used myself or have heard good things about from other freelancers.

Some of these platforms may require you to apply to join but if you pass the test, it can open you up to top-notch brands.

Pro tip: Before signing up for a freelance writing platform, check the fees. Some sites take a cut of what you earn right off the top in exchange for connecting you with clients.

35. PubLoft

PubLoft is a content marketing platform that’s geared mainly towards up-and-coming brands. The kind of clients that use PubLoft are looking for writers who understand SEO and know how to deliver content that grabs readers’ attention and drives traffic.

There is an application to join PubLoft but it’s pretty painless to fill out. You’ll want to have your LinkedIn profile, blog and online portfolio ready to go since PubLoft uses those to vet prospective writers.

36. HubStaff Talent

Hubstaff Talent is a slightly different kind of freelance platform.

Freelancers can browse the site to find agencies and brands that need writers, then contact them directly. You’ll need to create a profile but it’s free to use the site to connect with prospects.

You can find fixed-rate projects as well as hourly writing projects. If you have a set hourly rate you want to earn, you can filter out jobs that fall below that number.

37. Contently

Contently is the main freelance writing platform I use to find work. Last year, I made about 40 percent of my freelance writing income here.

If you’re a travel writer or you write in the financial space, you can work with brands like JetBlue, Marriott, Discover and Prudential. It’s free to set up an account and create a portfolio.

You’ll have to be invited to join brand teams before you can write for them and having some great clips in your portfolio is key to landing those invites.

38. Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com allows businesses and brands to post projects they want to hire freelancers. It isn’t strictly a platform for writers but a lot of the jobs that get posted here are in the writing arena.

To use the site, you have to create a profile and then you can start browsing project listings. If you find one you like, you can bid on it.

Assuming your bid is accepted, you get hired, do the work and get paid. If you’re not sure how to get started, Freelancer offers guides on how to use the site and make money freelancing.

39. CloudPeeps

CloudPeeps is sort of like a matchmaking site for brands, similar to Freelancer.com.

Companies list a description of the freelance services they need and they receive hand-crafted proposals from “Peeps”. If your proposal is accepted, you can get hired for a freelancing job.

Freelance writing Peeps can check out opportunities related to copywriting, content writing and SEO. It’s free to join and set up a profile so you can start viewing available jobs.

40. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour uses artificial intelligence to match freelancers with projects that fit their skill set and expertise.

Writers can then submit proposals to the projects they’re most interested in. If your proposal gets the green light, the project manager gives you a deposit, with the rest of the payment due when work is completed.

You can choose to get paid by project or using an hourly rate, depending on what you prefer.

41. ServiceScape

With over 82,000 registered clients, ServiceScape is an established freelance marketplace.

Freelancers can apply to join in one of four categories: writing, editing, graphic design and translation. In the writing category, the kinds of projects freelancers typically handle include blog posts, website content, business writing, press releases, ghostwriting and job applications.

There’s an application you have to fill out to join. And heads up: you’ll need to include several links to your best work online.

42. Upwork

A lot of freelance writers swear by Upwork for finding jobs; others won’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. But I’m kind of in the middle.

I used Upwork to find writing clients the first year I was in business. I actually still write for one of those clients today, although we’ve since taken our relationship off the Upwork platform.

I’m all for new freelancers giving Upwork a try to see how it works for them but I will say that it shouldn’t be the only place you’re looking for work.

43. Guru

Guru is very similar to Upwork, in terms of how the platform works, how you bid on jobs and how you get paid. However, there are some differences. 

I used Guru as a beginning freelancer. But I found that Upwork was easier to navigate.

If you’re not sure which one is better, I’d suggest creating profiles on both sites to get a feel for the kinds of jobs that are listed in your niche and how user-friendly each one is.

44. ClearVoice

ClearVoice is a freelance writing platform focused on content marketing. I don’t use this one as often as I do Contently, though, mostly because the jobs seem to be fewer and the rates are slightly lower.

But one nice feature you might appreciate is the ability to create a very detailed freelance writing portfolio and profile to help attract clients.

45. Ebyline

It’s free to set up a Creator profile on Ebyline and you may want to give it a shot if you’re in the lifestyle, food, fashion or beauty space.

Ebyline has a specific content focus that includes news pieces, blogs, website copy, reviews, infographics, videos and animations. If your writing skills extend to any of those areas, you could end up as a Creator for companies like eBay, Goldman Sachs, Home Depot or Toyota.

46. NewsCred

NewsCred is a content creation platform and freelancers can apply to join the content studio.

I’ve worked with two major banking brands through the platform and rates are definitely at the higher end of the scale. One of the best things about working through NewsCred is how easy the platform is to use when working on writing projects.

47. Great Content

If you’re a freelance writer who speaks more than one language, Great Content is designed with you in mind.

Brands come to the platform to find freelancers for multilingual copywriting, editing and proofreading and blog management. A lot of the brands that use the site are European but the client list also includes some U.S. companies, like KAYAK and Foot Locker.

48. nDash

nDash is another marketplace platform for freelance writers from a diverse group of backgrounds.

There are professional journalists writing alongside former attorneys, marketing execs and brand-new freelancers just starting out. So whatever your niche is, you’ve got a shot at fitting in.

You’ll have to create an account and fill out your profile completely before you can browse job openings, which includes connecting your bank account to Stripe so you can get paid.

49. Skyword

And finally, there’s Skyword. This one is similar to many of the other freelance writing platforms included here: freelancers create a profile, brands peruse them and invite the writers they want to work with to their content teams.

There’s a pretty interesting mix of clients that have used the site, which includes Mastercard, Colgate and Revlon.

There are a few other places to find freelance writing jobs online that don’t fit perfectly into any of the other categories.

Since they can be super valuable for turning up freelance leads, I didn’t want to wrap things up without mentioning them.

And without further ado, here are six not-so-obvious (but proven) ways to find freelance writing jobs that pay online:

50. Reddit

So, Reddit may not be the first place that comes to mind to find freelance writing work but hear me out. There are actually two subreddits you can use to scope out freelancing jobs: r/writing_gigs and r/hireawriter.

The writing gigs subreddit is just what it sounds like–a list of freelancing writing gigs that other Reddit users have found online and posted links to.

Hire a Writer is a little different, however. Freelance writers can post advertising their services and people looking for a writer can post their jobs here.

You might also want to take a peek at the r/writersforhire subreddit and r/writingopportunities while you’re at it.

51. Facebook Groups

I love Facebook for connecting with other freelance writers and mom bloggers. I tend to lurk in groups most of the time but I have used them to find writing gigs.

In fact, I found one of my current clients in the Freelancing Females group.

If you’re looking for some groups to join, either for networking, to find freelance writing jobs or a little of both, here are a few I recommend:

• Creative Freelancers Unite
• Female Freelance Writers
• No-Fluff Freelance Writing Group
• Successful Freelance Writing Moms
• Freelance Content Writing Jobs

Pro tip: READ THE RULES!!!! Facebook groups can be a great way to find writing gigs but make sure you understand the rules so you don’t run the risk of a moderator or admin booting you out.

52. Twitter

I’ll admit, I don’t spend as much time promoting my freelance writing or blogging efforts on Twitter as I should. However, I do know that you can land gigs on Twitter since I’ve done it a time or two myself.

As far as how to do it, here are my best tips:

• Update your profile to include keywords like “freelance writer” or “freelance blogger”
• Use keywords that are specific to your writing niche
• Follow editors, brands and influencers in your niche
• Search hashtags to find conversations from users who are looking for freelance writers (some that work: #hireawriter, #freelancewriter, #copywriter)
• Tweet to editors and brands directly to ask if they need freelance writing help

And if all else fails, you can always follow freelance writing job boards on Twitter. Check out @ProfileWriting, @FLW_Home, @Mediabistro and @FreelanceWJ to start.

53. Google

Google is great for searching up freelance writing jobs and it’s also good for the next option on the list, which is guest posting.

I’ve found the simplest way to turn up solid results is to search for “write for us” + whatever your niche is.

So if I were doing a search, I’d punch in “write for us personal finance” and get something like this:

I’ve actually written for two of those sites before so I know this tactic works for finding paying gigs.

Pro tip: Try your search with different niche keywords to see whether that turns up some additional writing opportunities. 

54. Guest Posting

Guest posting can do two things for you as a freelance writer: it helps you develop a body of samples for your portfolio and it’s an easy way to gain some exposure for your writing.

So here’s the quick and dirty version of how it works:

You submit a guest post to a site that (hopefully) has a large following. Those followers read your awesome guest post and absolutely love it so they share it with their followers and so on.

The other pretty sweet thing about guest posting is that you can get paid to do it.

You can find paying guest post gigs using Google but to make things easier, check out Guest Post Tracker’s ultimate list of 121 blogs that pay for guest posts. 

Pro tip: Read the guidelines before submitting your guest post. The site you’re pitching may have specific rules you need to follow, so be clear on the do’s and don’ts before submitting.

55. Cold Pitching

I totally saved the best for last because cold pitching, even though it can be super-scary at first, is hard to beat as a way to find paid work as a freelance writer.

Cold pitching means skipping the job boards, writing platforms, social media and all the other stuff in-between and going straight to a prospective client’s inbox.

You hit them up with a short but sweet note explaining who you are and how you can help their brand or business.

Is there a right way to cold pitch?

There are two keys to success with cold-pitching when trying to land freelance writing jobs: fully researching the person or business you’re pitching before you hit send and going high-volume.

On the research side, you’d first want to find out who you need to send your pitch to.

That could be an editor, associate editor, blog manager, content manager, digital marketing manager–check out the team page and get to know who’s who.

Then you have to craft your pitch so it catches that person’s attention and keeps it.

I always say go for quality over quantity. Keep it concise, to the point and focused on the value you can bring to the table for the client.

Finally, remember that cold pitching is a numbers game. So the more pitches you send, the greater your odds of getting hooked up with a paying gig.

Pick a set number of pitches you want to send out daily or weekly and commit to hitting your pitch target consistently. And remember to follow up in a week or two if you don’t hear back. 

Persistence really can pay off!

What About Starting a Blog as a Freelance Writer?

Starting a blog is definitely something I wish I’d done when I first got into freelancing.

I think it’s one of the fastest and easiest ways to become an expert freelance writer and it can help you land freelance writing jobs.

Because you can’t help but become an expert when you’re writing multiple posts on the same topic. And while you’re becoming an expert in your niche, you’re also creating a body of samples you can show to clients.

Can you make money from your blog as a new freelance writer?

Well, it really depends.

Blogging is typically a long game for most people. It can take months or even years before you start making money.

But don’t count it out.

It’s definitely possible to start a blog and monetize it right away using affiliate marketing or selling products. And if you’re a freelance writer, you could make money from blogging indirectly by offering your services through your site.

So, if you don’t have a blog and you’re struggling to find freelance writing jobs, definitely consider starting one.

And if you need a little help on how to do it, check out my step-by-step tutorial for starting a blog with Siteground.

Start Making Money as a Freelance Writer!

If you made it all the way to the end, then bravo! That was a lot to get through, so give yourself a high-five!

I know how overwhelming and frustrating it can be when you’re trying to find freelance writing jobs.

So I genuinely hope that you can use some (or even better, all) of these resources to start making an income as a freelance writer.

And if you’ve got the inside scoop on another great place freelance writers should look for paying work, head to the comments and tell me about it. 🙂

And please pin and share if this post helped you!

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