Ranking the Top 8 Freelance Writing Platforms to Find Clients and Get Paid

Note: This post contains affiliate links which I may earn a small commission from, at no extra cost to you.

With three years of full-time freelancing and two more years of side hustling on freelance writing platforms, I feel pretty qualified to bring you this ranking of the best freelance writing platforms.

I’ve tried all of these sites, made money on some of them, and wasted a lot of time on others. Now, I’m sharing those insights with you.

Keep reading to learn which freelance writing platforms are going to genuinely help you find real clients and get paid, as well as tips on how to optimise your chances.

1. Contra

Contra is one of the newer freelancer platforms on the market and, in my opinion, is the only real competition to Upwork in 2025. This is because Contra is distinctively marketed for higher-end freelancers looking for professional work with real companies.

The minimum wage is $25/hour, and the best part? Contra takes 0% commissions. If you’ve read any of my previous posts about freelance writing websites, then you know just how much I appreciate Contra not stealing the freelancer’s pay.

By upgrading to a pro account for $199/year, you will unlock a lot of additional features to increase your chances of getting hired, but I don’t think it’s necessary if your portfolio is already impressive.

So what’s the catch? Because Contra isn’t as established as other platforms and follows strict standards for clients posting jobs…there just aren’t as many customers as elsewhere. That being said, the clients you can find on Contra are guaranteed to be legitimate and high-paying.

I also have to point out that Contra doesn’t call itself a freelancer platform, but a freelancer/client networking platform. In theory, this means that even if you don’t find jobs directly through Contra, you should be able to connect with other freelancers and clients, which could lead to paid gigs in the future.

Even though it may take some time to land clients and get paid on Contra, I still think it’s worth the time investment to set up a profile and portfolio. You’ll then need to check the jobs board every now and again.

2. LinkedIn

Don’t skip this one! LinkedIn may not seem like a freelance writing platform on the outside, however, I have personally found clients and made money through it. A quick search for your freelance writing niche on LinkedIn will reveal countless posts of people looking to hire someone just like you.

Just like Upwork or Fiverr, you can actually list your services directly on LinkedIn and use the social media to connect with potential clients. The difference? No paywall, commissions, or reliance on reviews.

The key with LinkedIn is to have a strong connection network and to share your success regularly. You’ll be surprised how many opportunities start to pop up on your home page of people hiring, looking for recommendations, or searching for talent.

The most important factor in applying for these roles is timing. Do not wait around! A post looking to hire a freelance content writer can have upwards of 300 applicants within a few hours, so it’s imperative to get your application in asap.

Here’s an additional top tip: Find people who run freelance writing job boards and connect/follow them. Every time they comment on a LinkedIn job post to say they’ll share it with their newsletter, you’ll get the post directly to your home feed. This means applying before the hordes of others and giving yourself the best chance of success.

3. Upwork

I’ve been freelance writing on Upwork for probably four years now with some pretty good success, and in the battle of Upwork vs Fiverr, I’m going to recommend Upwork every time. This is because of its lower 10% commission rate, pitching options, and potential for more legitimate clients.

I say potential as in the last few years, I have noticed more and more spam and extremely low-paying jobs being listed on the site. Whilst this is annoying, I promise that there are still a great deal of genuine gigs to win through Upwork, if you’re willing to put in the time to get them.

The most successful Upwork profiles are the most complete ones. That means adding at least a bio, an extensive portfolio, and a project catalogue, but ideally also verification and your education.

The real key to landing Upwork gigs is in your pitches. You need a concise and convincing pitch, complete with competitive pricing and work samples, to land your first 10-20 jobs before clients start approaching you.

What makes Upwork unique is that submitting a pitch costs a certain number of ‘connects’. Free members get 10 connects a month, or upgrade to a Plus account for $19.99/month for 100 monthly connects. You also have the option to buy more ‘connects’ on any plan.

The Beginner’s Guide: How to get your First Upwork Order

Freelancers need to diversify their income streams across multiple platforms. Here’s my proven strategy for success on Upwork.

4. The Starters

The Starters is another freelancer platform in the form of an expert/client network. They hand-pick only the most legitimate and established freelancers to be offered to an impressive roster of returning clients. Large brands like Nike, Liquid Death, and Manscaped have even hired directly from The Starters talent pool.

Of course, you will first need to get accepted to join The Starters.

The application is surprisingly simple, consisting of a brief form and linking to your LinkedIn, portfolio, and resume. Those with specific experience in B2B, SaaS, UI writing, and SEO content strategy may fit particularly well on their rostrum, just make sure to have all your experience clearly laid out on your LinkedIn.

Another huge bonus of being listed with The Starters is that the platform doesn’t take any commission from its freelancers. Instead, the cost is passed onto the clients and recruiters as a fee to access the talent pool.

5. Fiverr

I’d be incredibly surprised if this is your first time coming across Fiverr. The freelance gig platform allows anyone to make an account and list their services for customers to buy.

This was the first ever freelance money I made by offering formal feedback on film scripts. If you’re a complete freelancing beginner, then Fiverr is a great starting point where you can find your first few clients, build confidence, and create a strong portfolio.

As soon as you have what you need from the freelance writing platform, I recommend moving away from it. Either ask your existing clients to work with you directly, or use the portfolio you’ve built on the site to find work on the other freelance writing platforms on this list.

My disdain for Fiverr comes from its exorbitant 20% commission rate that even includes tips – something that I think should be illegal. It also frequently changes its search algorithms and rating systems without explanation. Fiverr is openly a customer-first freelancer platform that protects clients and actively puts new sellers above those who are already established.

And yes, I’m talking from personal experience. My $30k in sales, 100+ orders, and 100% five-star reviews meant nothing in the last seller ratings update, which sent me to a Level 0 Seller and got me shadow-banned from the site.

The Beginner’s Guide: How to Get Your First Fiverr Order

As a successful Fiverr seller, I’ve built a steady income stream with minimal effort. Here’s my strategy.

6. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is another freelancer platform where freelancers can list their services and bid for projects. The site separates itself from the others by claiming to review every individual freelancer application and booting anyone who doesn’t receive two positive reviews within the first three months of being a PeoplePerHour seller.

I like the PeoplePerHour UX and mission, but it falls short in clientele and project opportunities. It doesn’t have as high a calibre as on Contra or The Starters, or the volume of customers on Fiverr. As a result, it just isn’t able to gain you as many clients or make you as much money as might be possible on another freelance writing platform.

On the other hand, if you have a specific niche and an impressive portfolio, you may be able to break into the PeoplePerHour ecosystem and make some real money. The rates on the site are generally on the more reasonable side, and there aren’t nearly as many spam job postings as on Upwork or Freelancer.

7. Freelancer

In feeling, Freelancer is a sort of Upwork/Fiverr hybrid with the bidding system of Upwork, but Fiverr’s lower rates. The freelance writing platform is fully designed for freelancers to connect with potential clients, however, I have to say there is an unfortunate amount of bots and spam on the platform…and even more competition.

I’ve watched $20 writing jobs get 20+ bids in the first 20 minutes, so you can imagine just how difficult it is to land anything actually worth your time. Setting up a profile is time-consuming enough without having to also handwrite every project proposal, and when the rates and clients aren’t as good as on Upwork, I find it difficult to recommend this site.

One thing I do like about Freelancer is its attempts to follow in LinkedIn’s footsteps with a social media dashboard. You can share insights and posts, connect with other users, and potentially network with this feature…although I don’t think it really offers anything that LinkedIn doesn’t already.

8. Medium

Yes, it is technically possible to make money as a freelance writer on Medium. But it’s really hard to do, and requires you to pay them first. Essentially, Medium acts as a facilitator for online publications. Anyone can write and post to Medium, create their own online publication, and write for others.

Then, if you pay $5/month, you have the chance to earn money from these articles.

The more reads an article gets, the more money you make. The reality is that the majority of articles make almost nothing, with the occasional viral post bringing in something worth your time. The general consensus is that an article that makes over $10 is a success.

The reason I am particularly sceptical of Medium is that with the same time investment and regular posting schedule, you could build and monetise your own blog. If you can grow an audience and create SEO-friendly posts on Medium, you might as well just do it for yourself.

Bonus: Three Freelancer Websites for Writers

The eight freelance writing platforms above are a great place to start when it comes to finding clients and getting paid, but you’re going to need a few things to really take off.

Here are three supplementary websites to help new freelance writers earn an income.

WordPress

This is the industry standard when it comes to hosting a personal blog. Growing an audience, using your blog as a portfolio, and finding leads using your website are all really important elements of a successful freelance writing business, and WordPress is what works for me.

Journo Portfolio

Journo Portfolio is, in my opinion, the best online portfolio tool available. Adding portfolio items and showing off your work is so easy with this site, and it looks incredibly professional. Trust me, a standout portfolio is the number one way to stand out against other freelance writers and improve your chances of landing that new client.

Who Pays Writers?

This site is amazing! It is an anonymous database of how much freelance writers have been paid by a variety of different publications, and can be used to establish your own rates. I love transparency when it comes to pay, and Who Pays Writers? is working for exactly this cause.

More Resources for Freelance Writers

Looking for more freelance writing tools, guides, and assistance? Input your email into the box below to receive these weekly blog posts directly to your inbox.