Many budding and seasoned writers look for reliable websites that pay you to write.
That’s why we researched 20 websites offering excellent opportunities for content writers and bloggers alike.
The only catch with websites is you need to be patient. Getting your submission selected often takes a while.
Let’s dive to help you find a few websites that pay writers.
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Listverse
As its name suggests, this website focuses on listicles, so freelance writers should submit their articles in list format. Listverse has been around for ages and still looks for unique pitches and submissions focusing on uncommon knowledge, rare finds, and offbeat news.
The website also takes everyday topics with a quirky or unique approach. Avoid listicles related to self-help, sports, gaming, or personal stories, as your chances of getting published decline.
The pay is $100 per submission, and your listicle needs to be around 1,500 words. Payment is usually processed via PayPal.
Note: Listverse only accepts submissions from Ireland, Canada, Australia, the US, UK, NZ, and South Africa.
Listverse is also highly open to inexperienced freelance writers with a keen sense of humor and a love for unusual topics.
Pay: $100 per submission contains at least ten items per list.
Niche and topics: General, Offbeat
Submission guidelines: Listverse
Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan doesn’t need a formal introduction. Writers can pitch their ideas for both online and print publications.
Before pitching, we highly suggest perusing their website or previous volumes to see whether they have covered the same topic in the past. If yes, we advise presenting the subject from a fresh angle for a unique story. Your pitch should also have a proper headline, and the body should have the article summary with no more than 200 words.
However, pay attention to the acceptance rate before shooting a pitch email. The print publication always takes 1-2 pieces, while the digital magazine allows a maximum of 10-15 articles per month.
Your chances of selection increase if you attach a few links to your previous work related to the topic. Since Cosmopolitan is well-known, you must put your best effort forward to cut the crowd.
Pay: $250 per 1,000-word submission
Niche and topics: Sex, Health, Beauty, Fashion, LGBTQ+, Work-life
Submission guidelines: Cosmopolitan
3. Transitions Abroad
This website is dedicated to travel and takes submissions that fit their exact criterion.
Since the website is unlike your regular travel blog, the article needs to follow a particular writing style to get published.
You can refer to their submission guidelines and previously published articles.
Transitions Abroad mostly lean towards submissions with a journalistic writing style. The topics mainly include working abroad, volunteering abroad, studying and student travel abroad, and cultural immersion travel topics. Since Covid, however, this website prefers articles related to virtual internship programs, virtual learning, virtual volunteering, online teaching, etc.
Payment is $75 to $150 per post, depending on the submission’s topic, length, and content. You can opt either for a PayPal transaction or a check.
Pay: $75 to $150 for 1,250-3,000+ word count
Niche and topics: Travel
Submission guidelines: Transitions Abroad
4. What Culture
What Culture offers entertainment coverage, news, and opinions to millions of users each month. This UK-based magazine famously covers the popular zeitgeist around the world.
You can submit drafts related to gaming, music, sports, television, film, and more. Wha Culture team publishes nearly 700 articles weekly, giving you a high chance of acceptance.
Their primary focus is listicles, but they are open to galleries, quizzes, news pieces, or video submissions. Payment is usually processed via PayPal.
Pay: $25-$500 per submission
Niche and topics: Listicles, Quizzes, News pieces, Soft News on Film, TV, Gaming
Submission guidelines: What Culture
5. Vibrant Life
Vibrant Life is a health and wellness-related website that accepts submissions related to mental health, spirituality, healthy living, stress prevention, nutrition, and more.
The articles should have a gender-neutral flair that attracts both male and female demographics while reading. We highly suggest contributing to the site if you have a few rough ideas or write-ups related to a holistic approach with a purely Christian perspective.
Pay varies depending on the topic, but the standard rate is $100-$300 per submission. However, ensure that you avoid hard-to-understand medical terminology so readers can understand and enjoy the article.
Pay: $100-$300 per submission
Niche and topics: Health, Self-help, Family, Spiritual Balance, Environment
Submission guidelines: Vibrant Life
6. Cracked
If Listverse has caught your attention, meet the big fish of the listicle world—Cracked.
The website has been serving fresh, funny content since 2007 and is famous for publishing articles by new writers.
Cracked usually accepts articles in listicle form. Apart from that, you can write on any topic under the sun, from science, technology, history, sex, and movies. The article needs to be highly creative or funny to publish.
The site also pays to create charts, infographics, memes, and more.
The pay differs based on the topic and article type, but writers usually receive $50-$200 per submission.
Pay: $50-$200 per submission
Niche and topics: General, Humor
Submission guidelines: Cracked
7. Chicken Soup for the Soul
You’ve probably heard of Chicken Soup for the Soul’s book series, but now you can get the opportunity to have your writing featured in an upcoming edition.
The book requires you to write a funny, heartwarming, or exciting story in first-person narrative.
The only drawback of the publication is you must wait several months or even years to get your write-up published in the book. Once published, you will receive $200 for your story or poem and ten free copies of the book.
If you have a decently heartwarming story or an anecdote that you can turn into a story write-up, we highly recommend submitting it.
You may not receive instant payment, but you’ll be a part of a long tradition of touching stories once published.
Pay: $200 per submission
Niche and topics: First-person essays
Submission guidelines: Chicken Soup for the Soul
8. Money Pantry
Money Pantry is a well-known personal finance blog that usually covers money-related topics and ways to earn and save money.
If you have decent ideas on saving money, paying off debt, and retirement preparation, consider submitting your idea to the website.
The strategies and ideas related to your article need to be unique and should have a fresh personal perspective that people can implement with ease.
Consider running a quick search on the website to see whether a particular topic has been covered.
Money Pantry only accepts previously unpublished content, and payment is sent via PayPal as soon as the post goes live.
Pay: $30-$150 per submission
Niche and topics: Finance
Submission guidelines: Money Pantry
9. Barefoot Writer
The Barefoot Writer is a freelance writing-based website that seeks articles on interesting yet practical topics that writers can use in their daily life.
You can contribute to their ongoing series of monthly motivators, productivity secrets, becoming a better writer, or thinking like a writer.
Payment is $100-$300 per submission, and you can get published quickly if the content follows their content style and guide.
Pay: $100-$300 per submission
Niche and topics: Motivation, Freelance writing
Submission guidelines: Barefoot Writer
10. Edible Seattle
Edible Seattle primarily relies on freelancers for most of their food stories across departments.
Since the website has no strict rules related to the topics, writers have complete freedom to select their favorite food-related topics.
However, we highly recommend keeping an eye on their submissions call page as the editor sometimes asks for specific topic-related assignments based on the issue.
The rates of your article usually depend on your experience and department.
Payment is always sent when the article is published, along with a copy of the issue.
Pay: $0.20-$0.30 per word
Niche and topics: Food
Submission guidelines: Edible Seattle
11. Strong Whispers
Strong Whispers offers a wide range of articles related to the environment, lifestyle, and various societal issues. The content range is vast, and so are your chances of getting published.
Your articles can cover education reform, environment, world leadership, and exploitation of resources. The minimum rate per submission is between $50-$150, but the final rate is negotiable depending on the topic and research.
To submit, we recommend following their guidelines: send a neat outline of your article along with your pay expectation. You can also attach your previous published work if it’s relevant.
Once the idea gets approved, try to write according to their style guide. As soon as the publication decides to publish, you will receive your payment via PayPal.
Pay: $50-$150 per submission
Niche and topics: Social Issues, Environment, Lifestyle
Submission guidelines: Strong Whispers
12. Focus On The Family
Focus On The Family is a Christian ethics-based website that promotes good behavior, ethics, parenting, faith, and culture via well-written articles.
Currently, they have a few topics that you can explore and write about.
The new issues include parent-kid time, gratitude, gift-giving, candy and young children, historical Thanksgiving fiction based on family stories, hacks, facts, and biblical worldview.
Each topic has a detailed submission guideline wherein the editor explains the topic, word count, payment, due date, format, audience, and much more in extreme detail.
These details can help you whip out the perfect content based on their liking and guidelines.
Pay: $0.25/word for 1,200-1,500-word articles
Niche and topics: Parenting, Faith, Culture, Marriage
Submission guidelines: Focus On The Family
Extra Websites Worth Exploring
13. Blog Paws
14. Lady Qs
15. Rova
16. Reader’s Digest
17. One Story
18. Healthy Mummy
🤑 Want more? Get access to 500+ sites that pay writers.
Conclusion
We hope our list helped you find a few websites worth pitching. To curate this list, we have thoroughly checked the background of each website so we can vouch for their reliability.
We highly recommend visiting Who Pays Writers to better understand rates before pitching. This website contains a crowd-sourced list that is frequently updated, so you get a list of the websites and their standard payment rates.
Additionally, you can browse through the directory to find more websites that take submissions based on your niche and get paid. Happy hunting!