Last Updated on 1 week ago by Christopher Jan Benitez
Building a freelance writing career is a juxtaposition.
You can’t get good jobs if you don’t have a portfolio.
But you can’t build a portfolio if nobody pays you to write!
Sure, you can write for free and hope people notice. Eventually, someone might hire you.
But why would you do that when you can get paid to write articles right now, even without a portfolio?
The websites in this post actively pay writers for content. Some pay $50 per article. Others pay $500 or more.
I’ve personally verified each site to make sure they’re still active and paying writers in 2026. Sites that have shut down or stopped paying writers have been removed.
Let’s get into it.
- Technology and Web Development
- Business, Marketing, and Finance
- Food and Cooking
- Travel and Adventure
- Creative Writing and Literary
- Essays and Personal Stories
- Health, Fitness, and Wellness
- Parenting and Family
- Environment and Outdoors
- General Interest and Lifestyle
- You’ve Found the Sites. Now What?
- Quick Tips Before You Pitch
- Important Notes About This List
- Do You Want Us to Include Your Site in the Table?
Technology and Web Development
These sites pay for tutorials, how-to guides, and technical articles. Perfect if you have coding or tech skills.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smashing Magazine | $200-$350 | Web dev, UX, design | Write for Us |
| A List Apart | $200 | Web design, development | Contribute |
| SitePoint | $150-$300 | JavaScript, Python, React | Write for Us |
| DigitalOcean | $300-$400 | Cloud, DevOps, Linux | Community |
| LogRocket | Up to $350 | React, Vue, Frontend | Guest Author |
| CSS-Tricks | $250-$400 | CSS, JavaScript, HTML | Guest Posting |
| Auth0 | Up to $450 | Security, Authentication | Apollo Program |
| CircleCI | $300 | CI/CD, DevOps | Guest Author |
| Linode (Akamai) | $300 | Linux, Cloud Hosting | Write for Linode |
| TutorialsPoint | $250-$500 | Programming, IT | Write for Us |
| FusionAuth | $500-$1000+ | Authentication, Dev | Write for Us |
| Hasura | $300 | GraphQL | Writer Program |
| Vonage | $500 | APIs, Communications | Developer Blog |
| Twilio | $500 | APIs, Messaging | Voices Program |
| Honeybadger | $500+ | Ruby, Elixir, DevOps | Write for Us |
| Real Python | $300 | Python | Write for Us |
| Vultr | Up to $300 | Cloud, Server Admin | Docs Program |
| Geekflare | $60-$250 | Cloud, Security | Write for Us |
| Plesk | $50-$200 | DevOps, Web Hosting | Write for Plesk |
| CodeCov | $500 | Testing, CI/CD | Write for Us |
| Draft.dev | $300-$500 | Developer Tools | Apply |
| ContentLab | $300-$500 | Technical Writing | Apply |
| SQL Server Central | $150+ | SQL, Databases | Guidelines |
| Semaphore CI | $100-$300 | CI/CD, DevOps | Write for Us |
| Couchbase | $200 | NoSQL, Databases | Write for Us |
| Atlantic.net | $75-$300 | Cloud Hosting | Write for Us |
| Paperspace | $200-$300 | Machine Learning | Write for Us |
| Appsmith | $200-$400 | Low-Code, Dev | Write for Us |
| Strapi | $200 | Headless CMS | Write for Us |
| Envato Tuts+ | $100-$250 | Web Dev, Design | Write for Us |
| Stack Abuse | $150-$200 | Programming | Write for Us |
Business, Marketing, and Finance
If you know about business strategy, marketing, or personal finance, these sites want your expertise.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copyhackers | $300-$1,000 | Copywriting, Marketing | Write for Us |
| ElitePersonalFinance | $300 | Personal Finance | Write for Us |
| The Penny Hoarder | $75-$800 | Money, Side Hustles | Write for Us |
| Money Pantry | $30-$150 | Earning, Saving Money | Write for Us |
| Income Diary | $200-$500 | Online Business, SEO | Write for Us |
| Dollar Stretcher | $0.10/word | Frugal Living | Submissions |
| Wise Bread | $100-$200 | Personal Finance | Write for Us |
| Entrepreneur | $1.50/word | Business, Startups | Contributor Network |
| Inc. Magazine | Varies | Business Leadership | Submit |
| Forbes | $500+ | Business, Finance | Contributor Network |
| Fast Company | $1/word | Innovation, Leadership | Contact |
| Business Insider | Varies | Business, Tech | Contributor |
| HubSpot Blog | $500+ | Marketing, Sales | Write for Us |
| Moz Blog | $250+ | SEO, Marketing | Contribute |
| Search Engine Journal | Varies | SEO, PPC, Content | Write for Us |
| Content Marketing Institute | $150-$300 | Content Marketing | Contribute |
| MarketingProfs | $200-$400 | B2B Marketing | Write for Us |
| CXL | $800+ | CRO, Analytics | Contribute |
| Ahrefs Blog | $500-$1,500 | SEO | Write for Us |
| Shopify Partners Blog | $500+ | E-commerce, Dev | Write for Us |
Food and Cooking
Food writers can pitch recipes, restaurant stories, and culinary essays to these publications.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food52 | $200-$500 | Recipes, How-Tos | Pitch Guidelines |
| Bon Appétit | $250-$0.50/word | Food Culture, Essays | Pitching Info |
| Eater | $0.31-$0.67/word | Restaurants, Food Culture | Pitch Guidelines |
| Serious Eats | $0.20/word | Recipes, Techniques | Pitch editors directly via site |
| Edible Communities | $0.25/word | Local Food, Farms | Find Your Local Edition |
| Taste of Home | $100+ | Home Cooking, Recipes | Contributor Guidelines |
| EatingWell | $350+ | Healthy Eating | Pitch Guidelines |
| Saveur | $0.33/word | Global Cuisine | Pitch Guidelines |
| Food & Wine | Varies | Food, Wine, Travel | About Us |
| Life & Thyme | $200-$500 | Food Journalism | Contribute |
| Smart Mouth | $400 | Food Culture | Pitch Guidelines |
| Modern Farmer | $350+ | Sustainable Farming | Pitch Guidelines |
| Kitchn | Varies | Home Cooking | Submissions |
| Wine Enthusiast | $1/word | Wine, Travel | Submission Guidelines |
| Punch | $0.50/word | Drinks, Cocktails | Pitch Guidelines |
Travel and Adventure
Share your travel stories and destination guides with readers around the world.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel + Leisure | $1/word | Travel, Destinations | Pitch Editors |
| International Living | $75-$400 | Expat Life, Retirement | Write for Us |
| BBC Travel | $0.50/word | Culture, Destinations | Contributor Brief |
| AFAR | $1/word | Experiential Travel | Contribute |
| Condé Nast Traveler | $1/word+ | Luxury Travel | Pitch Editors |
| Atlas Obscura | $0.25/word | Unusual Places | Contribute |
| Transitions Abroad | $75-$150 | Work Abroad, Study | Write for Us |
| Lonely Planet | Varies | Destinations, Tips | Contribute |
| Matador Network | $60-$150 | Adventure Travel | Write for Us |
| World Nomads | $150 | Adventure, Safety | Contribute |
| Go World Travel | $30-$200 | Destinations | Write for Us |
| Great Escape Publishing | $50-$200 | Travel Writing | Submit |
| Roads & Kingdoms | Varies | Food, Politics, Travel | Pitch |
| Adventure.com | $0.25/word | Adventure Travel | Write for Us |
| Hidden Compass | $550+ | Narrative Travel | Submit |
| Perceptive Travel | $100 | Narrative Travel | Guidelines |
| Alaska Airlines Magazine | $150-$700 | Destinations | Guidelines |
| Texas Highways | $0.50/word | Texas Travel | Pitch |
| Escapees Magazine | $100-$200 | RV Lifestyle | Submit |
| Wanderlust | £220/1000 words | Adventure Travel | Guidelines |
| Hawaii Magazine | Varies | Hawaii Travel | Guidelines |
Creative Writing and Literary
Fiction writers, poets, and essayists can find paying markets here.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkesworld Magazine | $0.12/word | Science Fiction, Fantasy | Submissions |
| The Sun Magazine | $200-$2,000 | Essays, Fiction, Poetry | Submit |
| Narrative Magazine | $150-$1,000 | Fiction, Essays | Submission Guidelines |
| Asimov’s Science Fiction | $0.10-$0.12/word | Science Fiction | Guidelines |
| Analog Science Fiction | $0.10-$0.12/word | Science Fiction | Guidelines |
| The Threepenny Review | $400 | Essays, Fiction, Poetry | Submit |
| One Story | $500 | Short Fiction | Submit |
| Tor.com | $0.25/word | Fantasy, Sci-Fi | Submissions |
| Strange Horizons | $0.10/word | Speculative Fiction | Submit |
| Apex Magazine | $0.08/word | Dark Fantasy, Horror | Submit |
| Fantasy & Science Fiction | $0.12-$0.15/word | Fantasy, Sci-Fi | Guidelines |
| Lightspeed Magazine | $0.10/word | Fantasy, Sci-Fi | Submit |
| The Paris Review | $1,000+ | Fiction, Poetry | Submit |
| VQR | $200+ fiction, $200 poetry | Literary | Submit |
| Ploughshares | $45/page | Literary Fiction | Submit |
| Zoetrope: All-Story | $1,000 | Short Stories | Submit |
| The Missouri Review | $40/page | Fiction, Essays, Poetry | Submit |
| Granta | Pro rates | Literary Fiction, Essays | Submit |
| The Iowa Review | $0.08/word | Fiction, Poetry, Essays | Submit |
| The Kenyon Review | Varies | Fiction, Essays, Poetry | Submit |
| The Gettysburg Review | $30/page | Literary Fiction, Essays | Submit |
| CRAFT Literary | $100-$200 | Fiction, Creative Nonfiction | Submit |
| Chestnut Review | $120 | Fiction, Poetry, Essays | Submit |
| Boulevard Magazine | Up to $300 | Fiction, Poetry, Essays | Submit |
| Orion Magazine | $0.25-$1/word | Nature, Environment | Pitch |
| AGNI | $30/page (max $300) | Fiction, Essays, Poetry | Submit |
| Colorado Review | $200 | Fiction, Poetry, Essays | Submit |
Essays and Personal Stories
Publications that pay for personal essays, memoirs, and opinion pieces.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narratively | $750+ | True Stories, Memoir | Pitch Us |
| Longreads | $500-$1,500 | Essays, Features | Submissions |
| The New York Times Modern Love | $300+ | Relationships | Submit |
| Dame Magazine | $200 | Women’s Issues | Write for Us |
| Catapult | $100+ | Personal Essays | Submit |
| Electric Literature | $100-$500 | Literary Essays | Submit |
| Guernica | $100-$500 | Personal Essays, Fiction | Submit |
| The Rumpus | $75-$500 | Essays, Reviews | Submit |
| Creative Nonfiction | $50-$1,000 | True Stories | Submit |
| Brevity | $45 | Flash Nonfiction | Submit |
| Fourth Genre | $100+ | Literary Nonfiction | Submit |
| River Teeth | $100+ | Literary Nonfiction | Submit |
| The Gay & Lesbian Review | $100-$250 | LGBTQ+ Essays, Reviews | Guidelines |
| The Audacity (Roxane Gay) | $1,000 | Literary Essays | Submit |
| Salon | $100-$200 | Essays, Features | Pitch |
| HowlRound | $200-$400 | Theatre Essays | Submit |
| LiisBeth | $100-$2,000 | Feminist Entrepreneurship | Pitch |
| Bright Magazine | $500 | Social Impact Essays | Pitch |
Health, Fitness, and Wellness
Write about physical health, mental wellness, and lifestyle for these publications.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| SELF | $450+ | Health, Fitness | Pitch Guidelines |
| Healthline | Varies | Medical, Wellness | Write for Us |
| Greatist | Varies | Fitness, Nutrition | Pitch Guidelines |
| Experience Life | $1/word | Health, Wellness | Writer’s Guidelines |
| Well+Good | Varies | Wellness, Fitness | Contribute |
| Men’s Health | $1/word | Fitness, Nutrition | Contribute |
| Women’s Health | $1/word | Fitness, Wellness | Contribute |
| Prevention | Up to $2/word | Health, Wellness | Pitch Editors |
| Shape | $0.50-$1/word | Fitness, Nutrition | Pitch section editors via masthead |
| Runner’s World | $1/word | Running, Fitness | Contribute |
| Bicycling | $1/word | Cycling | Contribute |
| Outside Magazine | $1-$2/word | Outdoor Fitness | Pitch |
| Yoga Journal | $0.50-$1/word | Yoga, Mindfulness | Pitch section editors via masthead |
| Brain & Life | $0.75/word | Neurological Health | Submission Guidelines |
| Psych Central | Varies | Mental Health | Write for Us |
| Verywell | Varies | Health Topics | Contribute |
| Vibrant Life | $100-$300 | Health, Wellness | Guidelines |
| MindBodyGreen | Varies | Wellness, Spirituality | Contribute |
| The Mighty | $75-$150 | Disability, Health | Pitch |
Parenting and Family
Sites that pay for parenting advice, family stories, and child development content.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parents Magazine | $1/word | Parenting, Family | Write for Us |
| Scary Mommy | $100 | Parenting Essays | Submit |
| Your Teen Magazine | $100-$300 | Teen Parenting | Write for Us |
| ADDitude | $150-$300 | ADHD, Learning | Write for Us |
| Motherly | $50-$500 | Motherhood | Contribute |
| Fatherly | Varies | Fatherhood | Contribute |
| Romper | Varies | Parenting | Write for Us |
| A Fine Parent | $75 | Positive Parenting | Write for Us |
| Her View From Home | Up to $100 | Family, Motherhood | Submit |
| Metro Parent | $40-$200 | Regional Parenting | Guidelines |
| Chicago Parent | Varies | Regional Parenting | Write for Us |
| Freelance Mom | $75-$100 | Working Moms | Write for Us |
| PTO Today | $125-$500 | School Volunteering | Writer Guidelines |
Environment and Outdoors
Publications focused on nature, conservation, and outdoor recreation.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Magazine | $1-$1.50/word | Environment | Contribute |
| Audubon Magazine | $0.50-$1.50/word | Birds, Conservation | Pitch |
| National Geographic | $1+/word | Nature, Science | Contribute |
| bioGraphic | $1.05/word | Biodiversity | Pitch |
| High Country News | $0.50-$1/word | Western Environment | Pitch |
| Hakai Magazine | $0.50-$1/word | Coastal Science | Pitch |
| Backpacker | $0.50-$1/word | Hiking, Camping | Contribute |
| Outdoor Life | $0.50-$1/word | Hunting, Fishing | Pitch via masthead editors |
| Gray’s Sporting Journal | $600-$1,250 | Hunting, Fishing | Writer’s Guidelines |
| Field & Stream | $0.50-$1/word | Hunting, Fishing | Pitch via masthead editors |
| Adventure Cycling | $150-$250 | Bicycle Travel | Write for Us |
| Paddling Magazine | $0.20-$0.35/word | Kayaking, Canoeing | Writer’s Guidelines |
| Climbing Magazine | $0.25-$0.50/word | Rock Climbing | Submit |
| Trail Runner | $0.25-$0.50/word | Trail Running | Submissions |
General Interest and Lifestyle
Broader publications that accept various topics.
| Site Name | Pay Rate | Topics | Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listverse | $100 | Lists, Facts | Write for Us |
| Cracked | $100-$250 | Humor, Culture | Write for Us |
| Mental Floss | $150+ | Interesting Facts | Pitch Guidelines |
| Atlas Obscura | $0.25/word | Unusual Stories | Contribute |
| Smithsonian | $0.50-$1/word | History, Science | Contribute |
| Popular Science | $1/word | Science, Tech | Pitch |
| Discover Magazine | $300-$1/word | Science | Pitch Guide |
| Wired | $500+ | Technology, Culture | Pitch Guide |
| The Atlantic | $1/word+ | Culture, Politics | Pitch |
| Slate | Varies | News, Culture | Pitch |
| Vox | $400+ | Explainers, Analysis | Pitch firstperson@vox.com |
| The Week | Varies | News Summary | Contact |
| JSTOR Daily | $200-$300 | Research-Based | Pitch Us |
| Reader’s Digest | $0.50-$1/word | Human Interest | Submit |
| Real Simple | $1/word | Lifestyle | Pitch via Hearst masthead editors |
| Good Housekeeping | $0.67/word | Home, Lifestyle | Pitch via Hearst masthead editors |
| Cosmopolitan | $0.25-$2/word | Lifestyle, Relationships | Pitch via Hearst masthead editors |
| Bustle | $0.25/word | Culture, Lifestyle | Pitch Guidelines |
| Refinery29 | Varies | Culture, Style | Pitch |
| Vice | Varies | Culture, News | Contribute |
| Upworthy | $150+ | Positive Stories | Pitch |
| The Progressive | $50-$1,000 | Politics, Social Justice | Pitch |
| Dissent Magazine | Varies | Politics, Culture | Submit |
| Informed Comment | $100 | Politics, Foreign Policy | Guidelines |
| Christian Science Monitor | $200-$225 | News, Features | Guidelines |
You’ve Found the Sites. Now What?
Read their guidelines carefully. I can’t stress this enough.
Every site has specific requirements. Some want SEO-focused content. Others want personal stories. Missing these details is the fastest way to get rejected.
At the same time, you need the skills to write content that meets their standards.
If you need a refresher on how to write high-quality content, these articles will help:
- How to Write Website Content That Works: 11 Ways
- What is SEO Content Writing: How to Write an Article that Google Loves
- How to Write a Good Blog Post in Three Hours Flat
- How to Write Good Content for a Website: 15 Dead-Simple Tips
- How to Write a Great Blog Title that People Will Click on
Best of luck!
Quick Tips Before You Pitch
Here are some things I’ve learned from years of freelance writing:
Read their content first. Spend 15 minutes reading what they publish. Understand their tone, topics, and audience.
Follow their guidelines exactly. If they say 1,500 words max, don’t send 3,000. If they want a Google Doc, don’t send a PDF.
Pitch ideas, not finished articles. Most sites want to approve your topic before you write. Don’t waste time writing full drafts before pitching.
Start with realistic expectations. Higher-paying sites are more competitive. Build clips at smaller publications first, then work your way up.
Be patient. Some sites take weeks to respond. Follow up once after two weeks, then move on if you don’t hear back.
Important Notes About This List
Some sites pause submissions when they have a backlog of content. This doesn’t mean they’re not legit. It just means you need to check back later.
Pay rates can also change. The amounts listed are accurate as of my last verification, but always confirm with the site’s current guidelines.
If you notice a site that’s no longer paying or has changed its rates, let me know so I can keep this list updated.
Do You Want Us to Include Your Site in the Table?
If you’re paying contributors to write content for your website, we would love to feature your site above so you can attract talented writers who share your passion.
Fill out the form below and we’ll include your website in this list ASAP:
Recaptcha v2
This form is currently undergoing maintenance. Please try again later.