Wondering if there are online magazines that pay decent freelance writing rates in 2025?
You’re not the only one. It’s a volatile time for almost everybody. But businesses, magazines, and digital publications still have freelance writing jobs they need to fill.
In many niches, the demand for well-written articles and writers who know how to dig up solid research, interview sources, and hit tight deadlines is even greater than before the pandemic.
How do you get some of that work? There’s an old-school skill that works in any economic environment. Pitch great story ideas to editors.
And if you don’t get a response right away? Keep going. Just about every editor is scrambling to fill their editorial calendars right now.
Show up in their inbox with a fresh idea, and you’re a lot more likely to land assignments with online magazines that pay than if you sit back and do nothing until “things get better.” Make sense? Good.
39 online magazines that pay $100+
To save you some time, we’ve compiled a list of 39 digital magazines you can pitch right now. Check out the list and get to work.
Magazines for women
Some of these online magazines that pay freelancers also have print versions.
1. Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan has an annual readership of 16 million. Last time we checked, they were paying as much as $0.25 USD a word for digital content in alignment with their brand, which is focused on the empowerment of young women.
2. Good Housekeeping
The majority of Good Housekeeping’s 25 million readers are women who are married, have children, and work outside the home. You can pitch digital director Lauren Matthews. They reportedly pay as much as $0.67 USD a word for short narratives on “blessings” and overcoming health challenges.
3. Glamour
Into women’s style, beauty, entertainment, wellness, or culture? You can reach digital editor Perrie Samotin about contributing to Glamour. There are no published guidelines for pitching, but they’ve paid $0.27 USD a word in the past.
4. Oprah Daily
Oprah Daily, formerly O, the Oprah Magazine, continues inspiring women to live their best lives. No guidelines are available, but the print version previously paid $2 USD a word (expect less for digital).
5. LiisBeth
LiisBeth publishes content focused on feminist entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders committed to gender equality. Writers of all gender expressions can email pitches to nick@rabble.ca. In the past the magazine has paid $250 USD for personal essays and $800+ USD for policy/issue analysis but that may have changed since their merger with rabble.ca.
6. Teen Vogue
Have a teen or connect well with teens? You can reach out to editor Brittney McNamara at Teen Vogue via email (brittney_mcnamara@condenast.com) to pitch topics related to teens taking on the world. Average pay is $0.30 USD a word for digital publication.
Science magazines
7. Audubon
Calling all birders. You can email Digital Editorial Director Andrew Del-Colle at adelcolle@audubon.org. Audubon has reportedly paid as much as $0.40 USD per word for stories on birds and their habitats.
8. Discover
Like to geek-out on science? Writers with proven expertise in medicine, physics, technology, space travel, paleontology and other science-based topics can pitch ideas to Discover Magazine. The pay rate for digital is around $300 USD per story (print is $1 USD per word). Discover encourages writers to keep pitching if not accepted the first time around.
9. bioGraphic
bioGraphic is a multimedia magazine featuring stories from around the globe about the wonder of the natural world, the most pressing threats to biodiversity, and the most promising sustainability solutions. Reportedly, they’ve paid as much as $1.05 USD a word.
10. Smithsonian Magazine
Unsolicited proposals are accepted by Smithsonian Magazine from experienced freelancers pitching stories on art, history, science and innovation, and travel. You can reach editor Brian Wolly. The pay rate varies, but the average is $0.36 USD word.
11. National Geographic Travel
Love to explore the natural world? This online magazine has several sections with various editors. Check the masthead for the right editor to pitch your ideas on beautiful, unique, and wild places to visit. You can also try pitching to editor@natgeo.com, and they’ll direct you to the right section. Pay varies by section as well, but the lowest is $0.50 USD a word.
Design magazines
12. Dwell
Established writers with a beat on the architecture of homes can pitch to Senior Design Editor Mike Chino. Dwell reportedly paid $1 USD a word for an article that appeared in print and online. Pitches must include photos of lived-in dwellings (no staged images!). Follow-up is encouraged, including resending your pitch a few weeks later if unanswered.
13. Architectural Digest
Write about architectural gems near and far—the houses, interiors, gardens, and landscapes of iconic places, designers, and celebrities. You can email your pitch for Architectural Digest to Digital Editor David Foxley. They’ve reportedly paid as much as $1 USD a word for digital articles.
Lifestyle magazines
14. Early American Life
New writers and photographers are encouraged to submit queries on American life from colonial times to the mid-1800s on topics related to antiques, architecture and decorating, history, studio crafts, and travel. You can pitch Early American Life editor Jeanmarie Andrews at queries@firelandsmedia.com. The guidelines state they promise to pay and estimate $500 USD for new writers.
15. High Country News
There are multiple editors for multiple sections at High Country News, so check the guidelines for names, contact information, and details. The reported pay varies between $0.50 USD and $1.50 USD a word for stories on the modern American West.
16. Hoof Beats
Hoof Beats is 70 percent freelance written, so submit your ideas and photos on Standardbreds, harness racing, etc. to editor Kim French at french@ustrotting.com. They pay upwards of $500 USD for features.
17. New York Magazine
Pulitzer Prize winning New York Magazine is one of the better online magazines that pays and publishes freelancers! You can pitch your articles to editorialsubmissions@nymag.com. Average pay is around $0.70 USD a word.
18. The NY Times Magazine Online
Check out this interview with Paul Tullis on how to become a contributor for the digital version of the New York Times Magazine. You can find editor Isabel Wilkinson on X (Twitter). The pay is reportedly $0.50 USD a word.
19. Harper’s Magazine
The oldest general-interest magazine of its kind, Harpers accepts both nonfiction and fiction submissions. You can pitch to editor Rachel Poser via email. The average pay is reported at $0.70 a word.
Online magazines that pay for stories and essays
20. Longreads
Longreads publishes personal essays and narratives, longform journalism, features, investigative projects, and even book excerpts. There are various editors to pitch to, so check the guidelines for names and contact information. They pay an average of $0.23 USD a word for articles.
21. The Sun
Send daring personal essays, fiction, and poetry to this ad-free magazine. Yes, you read that right—you might be able to get paid to write poetry by The Sun Magazine. The Sun has various sections, and they outline pay rates on their submission page. They’ll pay as much as $2,000 USD for longform essays.
22. The American Scholar
The American Scholar is the magazine of the Phi Beta Kappa Society accepts nonfiction submissions from new and established writers. You can pitch editor Robert Wilson via email or through the link on Submittable (submission guidelines are also here). Wilson says they pay more than $100 USD per article.
23. Boston Globe Mag
New freelance writers can contribute to the Perspectives and Connections columns of the Boston Globe Magazine. You can find editor Veronica Chao on X (Twitter). Pay is reported around $0.78 USD a word.
24. Buzzfeed News
Pitch longform personal essays and cultural criticism that wows to BuzzFeed Reader. You can email your pitch to reader.pitches@buzzfeed.com. Pay is around $0.50 USD a word.
25. Grist
Grist covers climate change and environmental justice. They’re interested in exclusive and timely pitches and welcome ideas for shorter-form news and analysis. Pay starts at $0.80 USD per word.
Technology magazines
26. Wired Magazine
Wired’s online content includes science, culture, gear, politics, and security. You can find editor Michael Calore on LinkedIn. Send pitches to submit@wired.com. The average pay for digital content is $0.50 USD a word.
27. Popular Mechanics
Explain how things work for Popular Mechanics readers. Pay has been reported as high as $0.40 USD a word.
Business news
28. The Atlantic
The Atlantic is interested in pitches that address areas they haven’t adequately covered, especially in the education space. You can email your pitch to editor Don Peck. Pay has been as high as $0.56 USD a word.
29. Vox
Vox publishes provocative personal narratives with an interesting slant on modern life in their First Person section. Follow the guidelines to pitch. Reported pay is $0.50 USD a word.
30. Time Magazine
Time Magazine has a 96-year history and over 100 million readers worldwide. On average, digital content pays $0.22 USD a word.
31. Forbes
Pitching to Forbes will take time and connections. But it can be done! Once you get in, they pay more than $100 USD per digital piece.
32. Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy is looking for unique angles on issues in politics, culture, and world events that challenges readers. Do some original reporting, then pitch editor James Palmer via email or use the Submittable form. Average pay is $0.33 USD a word.
33. Fortune
Have connections to a business exec or company that needs no introduction? If so, pitch Fortune digital editor Andrew Nusca by email. Fortune pays between $0.35 USD and $0.67 USD a word.
Travel
34. Afar
Love to immerse yourself in foreign lands? Join Afar’s cadre of creative ambassadors. Read about one of them, Matt Gross, who expounds on his love/hate relationship with travel writing here. Pay is around $0.50 USD a word.
35. Hemispheres
Hemispheres is an in-flight magazine for United Airlines geared toward the affluent traveler.
“We’re writing about our favorite places in our favorite cities, some of which are making the best of hard times and continuing to bring joy into our homes.” —Nicholas DeRenzo, executive editor
The magazine accepts freelance pitches for captivating features as well as compelling content for their Navigator and Diversions sections. You can pitch to Editor Nicholas DeRenzo by email. Pay averages around $1 USD per word.
36. Travel + Leisure
This article on how to become a travel writer is a must-read. When you’re ready to pitch Travel + Leisure, you can find editor-in-chief Deanne Kaczerski on Twitter. They pay $0.50 USD a word.
Miscellaneous
37. Runner’s World
An avid backtracker, adventure runner, or ultramarathoner? Write about all things running for Runner’s World. They pay $1 USD per word for content that runs in both print and online and accept digital submissions by email at rwedit@rodale.com.
38. The Development Set
Financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Development Set publishes stories on global health and social impact. You can reach out to editor Sarika Bansal on Twitter.
39. AARP Bulletin
Serving Americans age 50+, AARP Bulletin publishes news and policy-driven content that matters to seniors. Pay is reported to be $2 USD per word and can be pitched by email to bulletin@aarp.org.
Make pitching editors at online magazines that pay a regular part of your schedule
Here are a few tips for pitching to help you find freelance writing work.
- Study the online magazine
- Pay attention to headlines, formatting, style and voice
- Get familiar with the audience and the types of articles the magazine publishes
- Then pitch the editor (it’s that simple)
When you’re done, pitch another story idea. Do this consistently. You’ll get better and start landing more assignments. And don’t forget to check out our tips for proper freelancer invoicing so you get paid for the work you do!
This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.
Kathie Bullard Harris is a freelance health and wellness writer living in the Southern United States. When she isn’t writing copy, she’s working on her forever-in-progress first novel.
