- Tech and developer sites that pay writers
- Consumer tech sites that pay freelance writers
- Entertainment, travel and lifestyle sites that pay writers
- Magazines that pay for essays, nonfiction and journalism
- Magazines that pay for fiction and poetry
- How to get accepted by a site that pays
- Frequently asked questions
The short version: the websites most likely to pay you to write in 2026 fall into three groups: tech and developer blogs like Smashing Magazine and LogRocket, big entertainment and consumer tech publishers hiring remote freelancers, and literary magazines that pay per word. Below are 41 sites that say on their own pages today that they pay writers, with how to apply. I checked every one live on 29 September 2026.
I've written for a lot of publications over the years, paid and unpaid, and the number one waste of time I see is writers pitching sites that stopped paying years ago. Old lists online are full of them. I cut every site where I couldn't see payment mentioned on its own page today, and every one that says it's closed. Rates change, so I've left them out; check the guidelines before you pitch. I've also left the links off on purpose. Type the domain into your browser.
If you're newer to this, start with how to start freelance writing with no experience and how to find your first freelance writing client. And if you write for exposure and links rather than money, my list of 5,000 websites that accept guest posts and the free write for us finder are where to go.
Tech and developer sites that pay writers
| Name | What it is and who it's for | How to get in | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smashing Magazine | Web design and front-end development magazine. Pays an honorarium on publication. | Read the Write for Us guidelines, then pitch your idea. | smashingmagazine.com |
| LogRocket Blog | Front-end development blog that pays guest authors per post. | Apply on the Become a Guest Author page. | blog.logrocket.com |
| Draft.dev | Technical content agency with a paid writing network for developers. | Apply on the Write page. | draft.dev |
| Baeldung | Java and software tutorials. Pays per article based on author level and length. | Follow the contribution guidelines. | baeldung.com |
| Real Python | Python tutorials site that pays writers per project, starting with a paid pilot article. | Apply through the tutorial writer job page. | realpython.com |
| Twilio Developer Voices | Paid programme for developers writing tutorials on building with Twilio. | Apply on the Developer Voices page. | twilio.com |
| Hackmamba | Technical writing community with paid content marketing programmes for authors. | Join as an author through the technical writing hub. | hackmamba.io |
Consumer tech sites that pay freelance writers
| Name | What it is and who it's for | How to get in | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| XDA | Phones, PCs and software. Pays competitive per-story rates for remote freelancers. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | xda-developers.com |
| MakeUseOf | Consumer tech how-tos and explainers. Paid, remote freelance roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | makeuseof.com |
| How-To Geek | Tech tutorials and explainers. Paid per article. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | howtogeek.com |
| Android Police | Android news, reviews and guides. Freelance rates depend on experience. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | androidpolice.com |
| Pocket-lint | Gadget news and reviews. Paid per story. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | pocket-lint.com |
Entertainment, travel and lifestyle sites that pay writers
| Name | What it is and who it's for | How to get in | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScreenRant | Film, TV, gaming and anime. Paid, remote freelance roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | screenrant.com |
| CBR | Comics, film and TV. Paid, remote freelance roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | cbr.com |
| Collider | Movies, TV and games. Paid, remote freelance roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | collider.com |
| MovieWeb | Film and TV news and features. Paid, remote freelance roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | movieweb.com |
| DualShockers | Gaming site. All writing is paid. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | dualshockers.com |
| TheTravel | Travel ideas and guides. Paid, remote writing roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | thetravel.com |
| HotCars | Car news and features. Paid, remote freelance roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | hotcars.com |
| Simple Flying | Aviation news and features. Paid, remote contributor roles. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | simpleflying.com |
| BabyGaga | Parenting and pregnancy. Contributors get a byline and are paid. | Apply on the Work With Us page. | babygaga.com |
Magazines that pay for essays, nonfiction and journalism
| Name | What it is and who it's for | How to get in | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sun Magazine | Ad-free magazine of personal essays, fiction and poetry. Publishes its rates in the guidelines. | Follow the submission guidelines on the Submit page. | thesunmagazine.org |
| Electric Literature | Pays for personal and critical essays about books and culture. | Submit through the essays call when it's open. | electricliterature.com |
| Brevity | Journal of concise literary nonfiction. Pays an honorarium for featured essays. | Submit through the Submissions page. | brevitymag.com |
| The Walrus | Canadian magazine of long-form journalism and essays. Pays writers by length and depth of reporting. | Pitch following the submission guidelines. | thewalrus.ca |
| High Country News | Reporting on the American West. Pays per word for reported pieces and essays. | Pitch following the submission guidelines. | hcn.org |
| Guideposts | Inspirational first-person stories. Pays when a story is accepted. | Follow the writer's guidelines. | guideposts.org |
| Chicken Soup for the Soul | True personal stories for its themed books. Pays for stories it publishes. | Pick a book topic and use the submission form. | chickensoup.com |
| Mother Earth News | Homesteading and self-reliance. Pays for published Country Lore tips. | Follow the writer's guidelines. | motherearthnews.com |
| Writer's Digest | The magazine for writers. Pays per word on acceptance. | Follow the submission guidelines. | writersdigest.com |
| Reactor | Science fiction and fantasy culture site. Pays for original content. | Pitch following the submission guidelines. | reactormag.com |
Magazines that pay for fiction and poetry
| Name | What it is and who it's for | How to get in | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkesworld | Science fiction and fantasy magazine that pays per word. | Follow the fiction guidelines. | clarkesworldmagazine.com |
| Uncanny Magazine | Speculative fiction. Pays per word, including audio rights. | Submit during open reading periods. | uncannymagazine.com |
| Asimov's Science Fiction | Established science fiction market that pays per word. | Follow the writer's guidelines. | asimovs.com |
| Analog Science Fiction and Fact | Science fiction with a science focus. Pays per word. | Follow the writer's guidelines. | analogsf.com |
| Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine | Crime and mystery fiction, plus some poems and nonfiction. Pays per word. | Follow the writer's guidelines. | elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com |
| Beneath Ceaseless Skies | Literary fantasy magazine that pays after final edits. | Follow the submission guidelines. | beneath-ceaseless-skies.com |
| The Dark | Dark fantasy and horror fiction. Pays per word on publication. | Follow the submission guidelines. | thedarkmagazine.com |
| One Story | Publishes one short story at a time and pays for each. | Submit through the Submit a Story page. | one-story.com |
| The Threepenny Review | Literary magazine that pays per story, article and poem. | Submit when the reading period is open. | threepennyreview.com |
| Poetry (Poetry Foundation) | The poetry magazine. Pays for every published poem and prose piece. | Submit through the How to Submit page. | poetryfoundation.org |
How to get accepted by a site that pays
1. Read three recent pieces first. Pitch something that fits the gap between them, not something they ran last month.
2. Follow the guidelines to the letter. Editors use them as a filter. Missing one instruction is the easiest rejection they'll make all day.
3. Pitch the headline and the angle, not a finished draft. Unless the guidelines ask for a full manuscript, which fiction magazines usually do.
4. Show you can write for their reader. Link two clips that match their tone. I've written up how editors decide what gets accepted, and the same rules apply to paid work.
5. Know your number before you say yes. Here's what freelance writers charge per article so you can judge an offer.
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Related guides live in the Creator Pay Rates: What YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat Really Pay (75 Answers).
Related: guest post submission sites.
Frequently asked questions
Which websites pay writers the most?
Magazines that pay per word for reported journalism and literary work tend to pay the most per piece. Tech tutorial sites pay well for specialist developer knowledge. Check each site's current guidelines, because rates change.
Can beginners get paid to write for these sites?
Yes, especially the fiction magazines, which read work from anyone, and the big entertainment publishers, which hire fans who can write fast and clean. Your clips matter more than your CV.
Do I need a portfolio to apply?
It helps a lot. Two or three published pieces that match the site's style are enough. A personal blog counts if the writing is good.
Why aren't there links to the sites?
I've listed the domains as plain text so you can type them in and go straight to the current guidelines page.
