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The best websites for freelance writers are places that offer free tools, a depth of knowledge, and paths to getting paid to write. The good news is that there’s no shortage of these types of sites designed to grab the attention of potential freelance writers (this blog is even one of them).

However, just because a website claims to help freelance writers, it doesn’t mean it’s actually helpful. After almost three years of full-time content writing, I’ve curated a long list of my favourite websites, including writing platforms, paid writing sites, and paid freelance job postings.

Keep reading to learn:

• Best Freelance Writing Platforms
• Best Paid Writing Sites
• Best Websites for Making a Writing Portfolio
• Best Websites for Finding Freelance Writing Jobs
• Best Freelance Writing Resources
• How to Get Started as a Freelance Writer

Best Freelance Writing Platforms

Notion

This is not the first (or the last) time that I am singing Notion’s praises. It’s a writing platform that doubles as a project management tool to organise and track the multiple writing projects freelance writers are usually juggling.

Notion’s free plan has pretty much everything you need as a solo freelancer. It’s particularly great for content writing on-page SEO thanks to the shortcuts for creating headings and embedding links. The learning curve is a little steeper than other online writing platforms, but in my opinion, the payoff in flexibility, uses, and intuitive working is more than worth it.

Google Docs

Sometimes the simplest answer is the best one. Unless I’m working within a client’s CMS (content management system), I’m submitting work through Google Docs. If you’re not already set up and familiar with using Google Docs, then now is the time to do it.

Google Docs is also best (in my opinion) for collaboration and addressing comments. When I’m looking for feedback (whether from a client or friend), I send them a Google Docs link and ask them to leave comments in the document. Trust me, this is the smoothest workflow and easiest way to track changes…just don’t give anyone edit permission unless you have to.

Substack

So many writers overlook Substack. It’s a great blogging platform where you can write, share your pieces, and interact with other writers. If you manage to grow an audience, you can even monetise your writing on Substack by placing certain posts behind a paywall.

I particularly love Substack for finding new writers and reading their work. There is endless inspiration on Substack with blogs on every topic including writing and freelancing advice. If you’re a brand-new freelance writer, Substack is also ideal for practicing putting out your writing and building confidence.

Best Paid Writing Sites

Fiverr

I’ll be honest – I’ve had my ups and downs with Fiverr. I think it’s a fantastic site for new writers to grow their confidence, find their first paid writing clients, and create a writing portfolio. That being said, it doesn’t value its talent and prioritises new sellers over those that are already established.

In other words, there’s a cap on how much you can really do (or make) with Fiverr. I’ve done over $35,000 in sales with 100+ five star ratings and only two cancelled orders (outside of my control), just for Fiverr to demote me to a level 0 seller and blacklist my gigs. Luckily, I had already built a client base outside of Fiverr before this happened.

That being said, there’s nothing like the rush of getting your first Fiverr order. This was step one in my freelancing journey, and it can be for yours too.

Upwork

Upwork is sort of like Fiverr’s older and more mature brother. There’s more earning potential on this site with legitimate larger clients that can lead to long-term work. The catch? It’s incredibly competitive to get paid Upwork gigs.

If you’re willing to put in the upfront work to set up your profile, undersell, and over-deliver, then the rewards can be huge. I absolutely recommend investing your time in Upwork to level up your beginner freelancing journey. It’s another potential client pipeline that can produce portfolio pieces, long-standing client relationships, and real paid writing work.

Medium

Here’s the thing…Medium is a legitimate paid writing site. If you’re ready to pay them first. There are many people who make money by writing for Medium, a few of whom are even in my personal network. But this isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, it’s legitimately difficult to garner enough Medium clicks to warrant getting paid.

However, I still recommend the site. Why? Because it’s a great place to get your first published writing piece for a portfolio. There are so many publications on Medium, many of which are open to submissions from beginner writers. If you have no other published work for a portfolio, then these can act as published pieces for pitch submissions.

Best Websites for Making a Writing Portfolio

WordPress

WordPress is the industry standard for blogging. Particularly for brand new writers, creating your own website and sharing blog posts is a fantastic way to exhibit your writing. A website can house your portfolio, share contact information, and sell your services all in one place.

Choose a WordPress template and simply fill in the details to get your website started. If you already have published work for a portfolio, then add a pre-made portfolio page and link to your pieces. No work to share? Create a blog post and get to writing.

Journo Portfolio

Journo Portfolio is ideal for freelance writers who don’t want to create a whole website just to share their work. Everything is pre-made and so easy with this freelance writing website. Simply create an account, choose a theme, and add links to your work. Journo Portfolio will automatically create thumbnails, pull photos, and add a description. You can also filter by things like publication date, website, or personal tags.

A free account lets you add up to 10 portfolio pieces, or upgraded plans start at £4/month ($5) for 50 portfolio links.

Best Websites for Finding Freelance Writing Jobs

LinkedIn

I want to be honest here, it is almost impossible to find paid freelance writing jobs on traditional job boards. From my experience, 90% of remote freelance writing posts are spam or scams, and the few legitimate opportunities are usually location-specific and wildly competitive.

Trust me, LinkedIn is the best way to find paid freelance writing jobs. Grow your network, share links to your published work, and stay vigilant for any potential opportunities. The key is to respond to hiring calls quickly with precisely what they’ve asked for. Always include portfolio links, a brief bio, and your experience with their industry niche.

TOFU

Top Of The Funnel (or TOFU) is an online community and Slack group created for anyone in the world of SEO and content marketing. On top of their free resources, community support, and courses, TOFU is an incredible place to find paid writing gigs.

Their Slack channel for work opportunities has daily updates from people hiring freelancers as well as a weekly round-up of paid roles. Not all of these are writing-related or remote, however, enough are that it’s worth joining and switching on that notification bell!

Best Freelance Writing Resources

Reddit

Reddit contains a wealth of knowledge from the hive mind of millions. I am constantly checking out the r/blogging page for tips, tricks, and advice, or reading responses to questions in r/freelancewriters.

As a rule of thumb, assume your problem has already been asked and answered. Instead of posting immediately, first make sure to search for your issue in Reddit…or just Google a question followed by the word “reddit” to see what comes up.

HubSpot Academy

My first foray into freelance writing was a free HubSpot content marketing course. It taught me a lot of the basics when it came to content writing without me having to invest any actual money.

HubSpot Academy has so many free courses and resources for beginner freelancers to dip their toes in the water and find their feet in this world. You can hop around different topics, join communities, and find online support for getting started in the SEO, content, and marketing world.

How to Get Started as a Freelance Writer

There are infinite ways to begin your freelance writing journey. To help create your path to getting paid to write, I’m sharing resources, guides, and writing breakdowns for free on this blog. Input your email into the box below to get these posts straight to your inbox every single week.