Freelance Writing vs Copywriting: What’s the Difference and Which Pays More?

Freelance Writing Jobs Versus Copywriting Jobs…

Imagine you walk into a bustling writers’ cafe. On one side is Freelance Writer Fran furiously typing a blog post about sustainable travel. 

On the other side is Copywriter Cole, polishing a landing page that’s supposed to get visitors to click the big red button and buy a product. Both have giant coffee mugs, both are staring at screens, but their goals are wildly different.

Freelance writers and copywriters both use words like they’re Jedi using lightsabers, but they’re slicing through different targets. 

To understand who earns what, and why some writers smile more at tax time, let’s break it down like two players choosing classes in a role playing game. Fran and Cole have different skill trees, different missions, and yes… different loot tables.

What Freelance Writing Really Is

Freelance writing is the broad umbrella under which lots of writing jobs live. You can be writing blog posts about vintage fashion, ghostwriting essays for experts, penning technical manuals, or creating content that helps SEO (which means search engines like Google think your post is relevant). This is normally done on a contract basis and you’re generally not a full-time employee in a corporation/company.

If you’ve ever written something just because someone needs words, you’ve dipped your quill into the freelance writing pond.

A big chunk of freelance writing gigs pay by the word or by the project. Many early freelance writers charge around $0.03 to $0.10 per word when they’re just starting out… so a 1,000 word blog at 5 cents a word gets you about $50 before taxes. 

The more experienced can bump this up to $0.20 per word or more… and some niches like tech or healthcare pay better than others. Rough surveys say almost half of freelance writers charge between $0.05 and $0.10 per word. Only a tiny fraction, maybe 3 percent, push above $0.20 per word.

Translated into yearly income, the averages vary wildly. Some freelance writers make in the lower $40,000s annually, especially if they’re charging by the word or working a mix of small jobs. 

Other folks who specialize in certain content niches or build loyal clients can earn much more. 

The broad point is simple: freelance writing can be a great way to get started, build experience, and prove that you can write without anyone looking over your shoulder. 

So, What Is Copywriting Then?

Now let’s slide over to Cole’s corner of the cafe. Copywriting is that art of persuasion with words. Instead of simply telling a story, copywriters aim to make readers take action, whether that action is clicking a link, buying a product, or signing up for a newsletter. 

Imagine the difference between reading a travel blog (that’s Fran) and reading the words on a shiny new gadget’s product page that gets you to smash “Add to Cart” (that’s Cole). The end goal is conversion, not just information.

Because copywriting is about selling stuff or driving specific behavior, companies often pay more for skilled copywriters. 

Entry level copywriters in staff positions might earn $45,000 to $60,000 a year, while experienced ones in-house or with agency gigs can be in the $85,000 or higher range. Freelancers can often charge $35 to $150 per hour if they’re solid at this craft. 

But if we lean into the freelance market specifically, the upside can be spectacular for those who market themselves well, build strong reputations, and specialize in high value niches like finance, tech, or direct response copywriting. Some pros command well over $200 an hour or more than $1 per word for highly specialized pieces. 

So, Who Makes More?

There is no single answer, because freelance writing and copywriting overlap like those venn diagrams you saw in school. Many freelance writers also do copywriting, and many copywriters write freelance content. But if we look purely at pay potential, most data suggests that:

• Copywriters tend to earn more on average than general freelance writers because they’re writing to sell, and companies are willing to pay for results. 
• Freelance writers have lower starting rates but can still make solid income, especially in specialized niches like law, healthcare, or technical content. 
• Freelancers who mix both skills tend to do even better, because they can grab a blog job, then upsell a client on an email campaign or landing page copy.
• Experience matters heavily in both fields, much like it matters in any good RPG… you get better at bigger monsters and better loot. 

To put numbers on it, if a freelance content writer is earning $40,000 or $50,000 a year focusing on blogs and articles, a freelance copywriter with the right niche and portfolio can be pulling $70,000 or $80,000 a year or more. Add specialization and strong marketing, and six figure years aren’t unheard of for copywriters. (SEOEngine.ai)

The Story of Two Writers

Picture Freelance Writer Fran in January. She lands a handful of blog jobs that pay her decent rates, and somehow she even juggles a ghostwriting gig that will pay her a nice chunk at the end of February. She pays rent, she buys groceries, she splurges on oat milk in her coffee.

Meanwhile, Copywriter Cole does some email campaigns for a SaaS company in February that earns him a juicy project fee. He works fewer hours but those hours are highly focused on results driven copy that gets the company more paying users, so they happily hand over premium pay.

Fran and Cole both pay rent. Cole just does it with slightly more bacon on the plate. But Fran has a larger net of potential clients and less pressure to nail conversions every time. The tradeoff then becomes one of personal style as much as money.

Which One Is Right For You?

Pick freelance writing if you love research, storytelling, digging into topics you enjoy, and creating long form content that readers find informative or entertaining. 

These gigs are everywhere, and job boards like Listiller have fresh writing and editing openings popping up throughout the day, so you can build momentum and income without feeling like you’re trapped on a treadmill.

Pick copywriting if you like psychology, persuasion, crafting punchy lines that get people to act, and you don’t mind if your work is judged by conversions or sales metrics. This path can pay more once you reach a certain skill level, and companies will happily pay for proven results.

If you feel adventurous you can do both, flipping between writing a how to guide and writing a conversion email. Great writers often wear both hats and use their flexibility to earn more than they would going down just one path.

Freelance writing and copywriting are like cousins in the same word loving family. Both involve writing, both let you work from anywhere with a laptop and an internet connection. Both pay money that can fund your life, your coffee habit, and maybe some travel too. 

Copywriting usually pays more in direct response contexts, but freelance writing has breadth and diversity that make it a fun and sustainable career.

The real trick isn’t just knowing the difference, it’s marketing yourself well, continually improving your craft, and chasing clients who value what you bring to the table. 

Whether you see yourself as Fran or Cole, the key is to get out there, build samples, and chase opportunities. 

And as always, if you need a place to find writing and editing gigs that update regularly, check out Listiller.