Freelance Writing vs Copywriting: Which Pays More Per Hour?

If you enjoy writing and want to turn that skill into an income, two career paths are likely to appear at the top of your list: freelance writing and copywriting.

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Freelance writing is a broad category that can include articles, blog posts, newsletters, ebooks, reports, website content, and other forms of written communication. Copywriting, by contrast, is specifically focused on persuading readers to take an action—buying a product, booking a service, signing up for an email list, requesting a quote, or engaging with a brand.

Both careers can be flexible and remote-friendly, and both can become financially rewarding. But they require different skills, attract different clients, and suit different personalities.

So which one should you choose?

The answer depends on your interests, strengths, income goals, and willingness to learn marketing.

Freelance Writing vs. Copywriting at a Glance

What Is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing means providing writing services to clients on an independent basis rather than working as a permanent employee.

A freelance writer might write a 2,000-word technology article for a website on Monday, a newsletter for a small business on Wednesday, and a downloadable industry guide the following week.

The work is diverse because “freelance writer” is an umbrella term.

Common freelance writing specialties include:

• Blog and article writing
• SEO content
• Technical writing
• Ghostwriting
• Newsletter writing
• Business writing
• Travel writing
• Health and wellness content
• Financial writing
• Case studies
• White papers
• Ebook writing
• Website content
• Thought-leadership articles

The major objective is usually to communicate information effectively. A client might hire you because they need someone who can research a complicated subject and turn it into an article that an ordinary reader can understand.

The advantages of freelance writing

The biggest advantage is flexibility. You can specialize in subjects you genuinely enjoy, work with several clients, and gradually build a niche. A writer who becomes knowledgeable about technology, finance, healthcare, or SaaS, for example, can potentially charge more than a generalist because specialist knowledge adds value.

There is also significant demand for written content. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that writers and authors had a median annual wage of $72,270 in May 2024, with employment projected to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034 and approximately 13,400 openings expected annually over that period. These figures cover the broader writers-and-authors occupation rather than freelance writers alone, so they should not be interpreted as a guaranteed freelance income.

Content demand is also changing rather than simply disappearing. Deloitte Digital reported in 2025 that business demand for content had increased 93% since 2023, while 90% of surveyed marketing leaders said content marketing was more important than it had been in 2023.

That creates opportunities for writers who can produce useful, original, audience-focused content rather than simply generating generic text.

What Is Copywriting?

Copywriting is writing designed to influence behavior. A copywriter doesn’t merely ask, “How can I explain this?”

They ask:

“How can I communicate this in a way that makes the reader want to act?”

That action might be:

• Buying a product
• Clicking an advertisement
• Signing up for a newsletter
• Booking a consultation
• Downloading an app
• Requesting a demonstration
• Donating to an organization
• Starting a free trial

Copywriting appears almost everywhere in marketing. Examples include:

• Facebook and Instagram advertisements
• Google advertisements
• Landing pages
• Sales pages
• Email campaigns
• Product descriptions
• Website homepages
• Brochures
• Video scripts
• Direct-mail campaigns
• App-store descriptions
• Brand taglines
• Promotional campaigns

Imagine a company selling project-management software. A freelance writer might produce an article titled “10 Ways to Improve Team Productivity.”

A copywriter might write the landing page encouraging visitors to start a free trial of the company’s software.

Both involve writing. But the desired outcome is different.

The Most Important Difference: Purpose

The simplest way to distinguish the two careers is this:

Freelance writing primarily communicates information. Copywriting primarily drives action.

That doesn’t mean freelance writing never persuades or copywriting never informs. The distinction is about the primary purpose.

Which One Pays More?

This is one of the most difficult questions to answer because freelance income isn’t determined by job title alone. A specialist freelance writer can earn considerably more than an inexperienced copywriter, while an elite copywriter can earn far more than a generalist content writer.

Read Also: 7 Creative Ways to find Freelance Writing Gigs

Your niche, experience, portfolio, clients, location, ability to sell yourself, and pricing model all matter.

For a useful benchmark, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for writers and authors shows a 2024 median annual wage of $72,270. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $133,680. Again, this is occupational wage data rather than a freelance-copywriter salary survey, so it should be treated as broad market context rather than a freelance rate card.

For Nigeria, salary sources similarly show substantial variation. Paylab’s survey places 80% of Nigerian copywriters between approximately ₦142,000 and ₦392,000 gross per month, while Glassdoor’s Nigeria data shows a median total pay estimate of about ₦158,000 per month. These figures are based on different methodologies and should be treated as indicative rather than guaranteed freelance earnings.

The more important lesson is that freelancing isn’t automatically low-paid.

The market rewards specialization and business value.

A writer who charges $50 for an article is selling writing.

A copywriter who charges $2,000 to develop a sales page that helps a company generate substantial additional revenue is selling a business outcome.

That difference can dramatically affect earning potential.

Why Copywriting Can Have a Higher Income Ceiling

Copywriting is closely connected to revenue. Suppose an e-commerce company spends $10,000 on advertising and its sales page converts poorly. A copywriter rewrites the page and significantly improves its conversion rate.

The writing may have taken only a few days.

But the economic value of the improvement could be much greater than the number of hours spent writing. That’s why experienced copywriters can price projects based on value rather than simply word count.

Freelance writing can also become highly profitable, especially in specialized fields. However, writers who are paid primarily by the word can encounter an income ceiling because producing more income often requires producing more words.

This is one reason many successful freelance writers eventually move toward:

• Specialized niches
• Retainer contracts
• Strategy
• Consulting
• Ghostwriting
• Content management
• Copywriting
• Higher-value B2B content

The valuable writer of the future is unlikely to be the person who merely types fastest. Instead, valuable writers will increasingly combine writing with:

• Research
• Subject-matter expertise
• Original thinking
• Audience understanding
• Brand voice
• Marketing strategy
• Editing
• Fact-checking
• Data interpretation
• AI-assisted workflows

This applies to both freelance writing and copywriting.

Which Career Is Easier to Start?

For most beginners, freelance writing is probably the easier entry point. You can create three or four strong samples and start pitching businesses, publications, agencies, and website owners.

You don’t necessarily need a sophisticated understanding of marketing funnels or conversion optimization to produce a useful article.

Copywriting can be more demanding at the beginning because clients aren’t simply paying for attractive sentences. They want results.

A business owner may reasonably ask:

• Will this landing page generate more leads?
• Will this email increase sales?
• Can this advertisement improve click-through rates?
• Do you understand our customers?
• Can you write compelling offers?

Those questions require more than writing ability.

However, this difficulty can become an advantage. Once you understand marketing and demonstrate results, you can differentiate yourself from writers who compete primarily on price.

Which One Is Better for Remote Work?

Both are excellent candidates for remote work. Freelance writers can work with clients across countries and time zones. Copywriters can do the same, particularly when working with digital businesses, agencies, SaaS companies, ecommerce brands, and online service providers.

The bigger issue isn’t whether the work is remote. It’s whether you can consistently find and retain clients.

Freelancing requires business skills that many new writers underestimate:

• Prospecting
• Networking
• Pitching
• Negotiation
• Pricing
• Invoicing
• Client communication
• Project management
• Building a personal brand

Being an excellent writer does not automatically make you an excellent freelancer.

Freelance Writing vs. Copywriting: Which Should You Choose?

Use this decision framework.

Choose freelance writing if you:

• Enjoy researching subjects.
• Like explaining complicated ideas.
• Prefer educational or informational content.
• Want to specialize in a particular industry.
• Enjoy long-form writing.
• Want to start with relatively straightforward writing services.
• Are interested in journalism, blogging, technical writing, or content marketing.

Choose copywriting if you:

• Enjoy psychology and persuasion.
• Like marketing and business.
• Want your writing connected to measurable outcomes.
• Enjoy experimenting with headlines and offers.
• Are comfortable studying customers.
• Want to work in advertising, ecommerce, SaaS, or digital marketing.
• Are interested in building a potentially high-value commercial skill.

The Best Option May Be Both

You don’t necessarily have to choose one forever. In fact, combining the two can make you more valuable.

Imagine a writer who can:

1. Research a topic.
2. Write a high-quality SEO article.
3. Turn that article into an email newsletter.
4. Write social media posts promoting it.
5. Create a landing page for the company’s product.
6. Write the sales emails that convert visitors into customers.

That person isn’t simply a writer. They’re becoming a content and conversion specialist.

The combination is particularly powerful because businesses increasingly need content across multiple channels. CMI’s research found that B2B marketers reported content contributing to brand awareness (87%), demand or leads (74%), and sales or revenue (49%).

Finally

So, freelance writing vs. copywriting—which should you choose?

If you love research, education, storytelling, and explaining ideas, freelance writing is an excellent starting point.

If you love marketing, psychology, persuasion, and measurable business results, copywriting may be the better long-term choice.

For beginners who aren’t sure, freelance writing provides a relatively accessible entry point. You can then learn SEO, content marketing, sales psychology, and copywriting as you gain experience.

Ultimately, the most valuable freelancer isn’t necessarily the person who chooses the “right” label.

It’s the person who can solve a client’s problem.

A writer who produces an informative article solves one problem.

A copywriter who helps a company increase sales solves another.

The strongest professionals learn to do both—and, more importantly, learn why the writing exists, who it is for, and what the client needs it to accomplish.

That is the difference between simply being someone who can write and becoming a writer businesses are willing to pay well for.

FAQ

What is the difference between freelance writing and copywriting?

Freelance writing primarily focuses on informing, educating, or entertaining readers through content such as blog posts, articles, newsletters, and guides. Copywriting focuses on persuasion and encouraging readers to take an action, such as making a purchase, signing up, or requesting a service.

Which pays more, freelance writing or copywriting?

Copywriting can have a higher income ceiling because it is directly connected to business outcomes such as sales and lead generation. However, experienced freelance writers can also earn substantial incomes, particularly when they specialize in high-value niches such as technology, finance, or technical writing.

Is freelance writing or copywriting easier for beginners?

Freelance writing is generally easier to start because beginners can build a portfolio with articles, blog posts, and other informational content. Copywriting requires additional knowledge of marketing, customer psychology, persuasion, and conversion, making the initial learning curve somewhat steeper.

Can you be both a freelance writer and a copywriter?

Yes. Combining both skills can make you more valuable to clients. A writer who can create informative content as well as persuasive landing pages, emails, advertisements, and product copy can offer a broader range of services and potentially access higher-value projects.

Source: linkedin.com