While you can easily find hundreds of websites that will pay you to write, only a handful of them pays more than $500 per article.
Such websites are established and only publish the best content from reputable writers. Oftentimes they require experienced writers with impressive writing portfolios.
This is not to say that websites that pay $500+ per article cannot publish pieces from new writers without an impressive portfolio to speak on their behalf.
It all boils down to the uniqueness of your topic idea and the quality of your writing. Do not hold back if you have a good idea worth $500+.
Magazines and websites that pay $500+ per article
That said, below are the best websites that pay writers at least $500 per approved article submission.
1: Honey Badger
Pay: $500
Are you an advanced Ruby, PHP, or Python developer who can create in-depth blog posts or tutorials? Honey Badger pays writers $500 for an article of about 2,000 words long. You should have a PayPal account when sending your pitch.
Submission Guidelines: Honey Badger.
2: The Open Notebook
Pay: $1,000-$1350
The Open Notebook is a non-profit organization that helps health, science, and environmental journalists with tools and resources to sharpen their skills.
They pay $1,000 for interviews (1,500-2,000 words) and $1,350 for reported features (1,500-2,000 words).
Submission Guidelines: The Open Notebook.
3: Early American Life
Pay: $500
Early American Life covers multiple topics centered around America from its founding through the mid-1800s. They pay for guest articles on topics such as travel, crafts, history, antiques, architecture, and decoration.
Submission Guidelines: Early American Life.
4: Scout Life Magazine
Pay: $500-$1,500
Boy’s Life covers a variety of topics geared towards boy scouts aged 6 to 17. It also has several sister magazines you can pitch to. The pay range between $500 and $1,500
Submission Guidelines: Scout Life.
5: The Sun
Pay: $100-$2,000
The Sun is a reader-supported publication that accepts guest contributions on thought-provoking pieces about culture, politics, and current issues.
Submission Guidelines: The Sun.
6: Meredith
Pay: Varies
Meredith’s FamilyFun magazine targets families with kids between the ages of 3 and 12. It publishes pieces on different topics including food, crafts, games, holiday destinations, travel, educational projects, simple DIYs, and parties among others.
It pays $1.25 per word for features 850-3,000 words long, $750 for the idea of the month (600 words), and $1.25 per word for explorative pieces.
Submission Guidelines: Meredith.
7: The Boundary Water Journal
Pay: $200-$500
The Boundary Waters Journal is a quarterly magazine that publishes pieces on topics such as nature, recreation, and conservation.
It publishes informative and entertaining pieces. Subjects you can pitch about include wilderness canoe trip tips, how and where to fish, camping activities & advice, hiking trips, and wildlife profiles among others.
Submission Guidelines: The Boundary Waters Journal.
8: LiisBeth
Pay: $250-$2,000
LiisBeth is an online magazine that publishes pieces by feminist writers about feminism, innovation, enterprise, and critiques of systems and policies that contribute to inequality.
They describe themselves as “trans-inclusive and intersectional feminists” and prioritize submissions from womxn, trans, queer-identified writers, journalists, and community voices.
Submission Guidelines: LiisBeth.
9: The Contemporary Sportsman
Pay: $450-$700
The Contemporary Sportsman is a quarterly online magazine that publishes feature stories about fly fishing and wing shooting. They only accept creative and imaginative pieces and not predictable stories.
Submission Guidelines: The Contemporary Sportsman.
10: Maine Boats
Pay: $250-$500
The Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Magazine is a magazine about the coast of Maine that focuses mainly on boating. It pays $250 for short pieces (800-1,000 words) and between $400-$500 for long feature stories (between 2,500-3,500 words).
Submission Guidelines: Maine Boats.
11: Hidden Compass
Pay: $500-$800
This is an online publication that publishes original, compelling, and true stories that blend travel and discovery with science, art, and history. The Hidden Compass pays between $500 for the usual stories and $800 for photo features. Each story should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words.
Submission Guidelines: Hidden Compass.
12. Atlas Obscura
Pay: $300-$600
Atlas Obscura is another travel publication that pays writers up to $600 for submissions. Submissions are divided into two entries – the “Places” section for pieces about places and the “Stories” section for unique and surprising stories about travel adventures.
Submission Guidelines: Atlas Obscura.
13. Cruising World
Pay: Up to $1,000
As the name suggests, Cruising World accepts submissions on cruising-related topics. The publication accepts three types of submissions – short news or general interest stories (500-600 words), feature articles (2,000-2,500 words), and non-feature articles (1,200-1,500 words). Cruising World pays $25 to $200 for short, newsworthy submissions, $300 to $1,000 for technical non-feature stories, and $800 to $1,000 for feature articles.
Submission Guidelines: Cruising World.
14. Seattle Magazine
Pay: Up to $1,000
Seattle Magazine is an online publication that accepts submissions on multiple topics including travel, food, culture, lifestyle, and relationship although they emphasize that you pitch regional travel stories. The focus of your pitch story should be Seattle city and surrounding regions.
Submission Guidelines: Seattle Magazine.
15. Sport Fishing Mag
Pay: $200-$1,500
Sport Fishing Mag focuses on saltwater fishing around North America and releases nine publications every year (monthly between January and June and bimonthly between July-December). Your sport fishing idea should be new, fresh, different, and covered in detail. You can also opt to focus on an old idea but from a fresh and unique angle.
Submission Guidelines: Sport Fishing Mag.
16. Sight and Sound
Pay: £120-£500
Sight and Sound welcome pitches about film stories including news reports, features, reviews, and video essays. They have a magazine as well as a web version. According to their writer guidelines, they encourage writers of all experience levels and backgrounds, including Black, Asian, and minority ethnic writers. Writers with disabilities and those in the LGBTIQ+ community are also encouraged to pitch.
Submission Guidelines: Sight and Sound.
17. Smart Business Trends
Pay: $200-$500
Smart Business Trends publishes content on the latest trends in online marketing, including email marketing, Amazon FBA, and affiliate marketing. They publish long-form content of at least 1,000 words, including tutorials, guides, and comprehensive product reviews.
Submission Guidelines: Smart Business Trends.
18. Refit Guide
Pay: $300-$1,000
Refit Guide is the go-to website for boat owners (or those planning to purchase a boat) to get information about the best techniques and gear to improve their boats. The pay depends on article length and complexity, and you can earn as high as $1,000 if your article is approved for publishing.
Submission Guidelines: Refit Guide.
19. Reef to Rainforest
Pay: Up to $600
Can you create in-depth, authoritative, cutting-edge, and trustworthy information on aquatic topics such as aquarium fishes, invertebrates, aquatic plants, aquaculture, aquarium technology, and more? You can contribute to CORAL, a leading marine aquarium magazine, or AMAZONAS, a leading freshwater-only aquarium magazine. The two magazines are published six times a year.
Submission Guidelines: Reef to Rainforest.
20. Honolulu Magazine
Pay: $100-$1,800
Honolulu Mag publishes Honolulu-related content such as trending news and features. Topics you can pitch on include personality profiles, sports, history, culture, politics, and lifestyle trends. Please note that this is not a travel magazine and that any pitch must be about something related to Hawai‘i.Submission Guidelines: Honolulu Magazine.
21. SOURCE
Pay: $200-$500
If you’re a developer or designer building new apps, designing interactive app features, or doing any other coding-related job, you can document your progress and findings in written form and get paid in return. That’s where SOURCE comes in to lend a helping hand by paying you up to $500 per approved submission.
Submission Guidelines: SOURCE.
22. CopyHackers
Pay: $300-$1,000
CopyHackers is a top website for copywriters and freelancers. You can submit pitches on more than twenty topics including freelance copywriting techniques, conversion copywriting, A/B testing, UX vs UI vs Copy, startup lifestyle, copywriting and freelancing tools, copywriting and freelancing hacks, marketing, and growth hacks.
Submission Guidelines: CopyHackers.
23. Codeless
Pay: Up to $500+
Codeless accepts guest writers for content on topics such as SaaS, B2B, e-commerce, fintech, and project management content. You can be a part-time or full-time contributor. Some writers also work under contracts and can earn at least $5K a month for a start.
Submission Guidelines: Codeless.
24. WellBeing
Pay: AU$150-AU$1,700
WellBeing is a famous website that pays writers more than $500 per article. There are many topics you can pitch ideas on including natural health, spirituality, natural therapies, fitness, environment, wholefood cooking, animal care, natural beauty, travel, and real-life experiences among others. WellBeing pays AU$600-$700 for long feature articles (about 2,000 words), AU$750 for travel articles, AU$1,700 for special reports, and AU$150 for real-life experiences (800-1,000 words).
Submission Guidelines: WellBeing.
25. Gastro Obscura
Pay: $300-$600
If you love food and drinks and can create awesome content then consider sending a pitch to Gastro Obscura. Their main focus is on little-known food gems and trends in the industry. Do not pitch ideas about restaurant reviews or interviews with famous chiefs because your efforts will be in vain.
Submission Guidelines: Gastro Obscura.
Final thoughts
There are many websites and magazines that pay $500+ per submission. Take your time to go through the submission guidelines of the ones we’ve highlighted to see if you can send a pitch and get paid for your contribution.
