There is no shortage of marketplaces and platforms open to freelance writers today. Not surprising, given that it’s an industry every business needs from time to time.
Yet writing has experienced plenty of disruption during the 2020s. Meaning creatives need to know the best freelance writing platforms to join. While nDash has much to offer an experienced writer, Draft.co from Contentfly may have caught your attention.
Freelancers need to value their time – so which writing marketplace is best to write for?
About Draft.co and Contentfly at a glance
Based in Canada, Draft.co was known as Contentfly until mid-2022, when the shift to the Draft name took hold. Contentfly remains the parent company’s name, which has also recently created the Maker.ai AI writing platform.
Nowadays, Contentfly is leaning hard on promoting Maker.ai, although Draft.co remains active. Draft.co specializes in connecting companies and marketing agencies with freelance writers of every skill level.
About nDash at a glance
As you’re likely aware, nDash is a freelance writing platform designed to connect marketers and organizations with top freelance writing talent. A big differentiator for nDash is that it has been designed for experienced writers, so a
good portfolio is key.
However, nDash also features resources to help freelance writers to brush up on pitching and self-promotion skills. The platform features companies openly seeking writing talent. Much the same as Draft.co, it gives writers a chance to pitch leading organizations their ideas directly.
Registering as a Writer with nDash vs. Draft.co
The great news is that both Draft.co and nDash were established by experienced writers and marketers who wanted to do things differently, helping freelance writers connect with leading brands and businesses.
This means that both platforms get you up and running fast. Freelance writers from almost anywhere in the world can join nDash or Draft.co, as long as they have the required skills with the written word and can accept payments in their territory.
Freelance writers joining nDash do so based on proven portfolios and active Stripe accounts. The team quickly evaluates new writers’ credentials and will onboard freelance writers as fast as possible.
Writers joining Draft.co do so via a test article, but the good news is that this is a paid assignment. Onboarding is similarly quick in many cases, although it can take around a week owing to how Contentfly handles payments.
How to Get Paid Freelance Writing for nDash vs. Draft.co
We all love writing, but we all love keeping the lights on too! Understanding if you get paid more writing for Draft.co or nDash is a big part of choosing which platform to join. Both nDash and Draft.co pay directly to bank accounts in USD.
Draft.co pays writers weekly using the Trolley payment system directly to almost any global bank account. Draft.co writers are paid US$0.05 per word in almost all cases, although rarely premium or ‘urgent’ assignments command higher rates.
That makes US$50.00 per 1,000 words. If you don’t mind taking on large volumes of work, it can soon add up – although keep in mind Draft.co charges clients US$0.10 per word. In other words, a business pays Draft.co US$100.00 for 1,000 words, gives US$50.00 to the writer and takes the other US$50.00 as a fee.
Meanwhile, nDash has partnered with Stripe and pays you immediately when a client approves your work. Freelance writers are encouraged to set their own rates, manage their content pipelines and deadlines, and be educated on pitching best practices.
nDash charges a maximum of 25% per article as a fee and bakes that cost directly into your offering to a client – you never need to think about it as a writer. You can also take advantage of the nDash referral program to onboard new clients – and take a cut of their spend on the marketplace.
How much work can freelance writers get on nDash vs. Draft.co?
Consistent workflow is literally a writer’s bread and butter. Both Draft.co and nDash are popular platforms, although you will see differences in their workflows.
Draft.co relies on a steady stream of clients buying words and content, which means that – by the team’s own admission – work can tend to peak and trough. Draft.co remains popular, but there is also some confusion following the launch of Maker.ai as to what the business model going forward will be. The monetized AI writing tool is marketed both to Draft.co writers and to clients.
Draft.co invited its writers, inc
luding the author of this article, to the beta of Maker.ai – yet does not accept AI content in its own submissions. The site also reserves the right to restrict your access to new work at any time.
Meanwhile, nDash is more about building a rapport with enterprise-level clients. Freelance writers can apply to open assignments but also pitch brands content ideas directly and see blog posts from them that help shape how best to make an approach.
Should you write for nDash vs. Draft.co?
Freelance writers just beginning their careers can get a lot of great exposure and work experience on a platform such as Draft.co. Payments are reliable, the support team is solid, and the platform has a well-established track record.
Yet experienced writers, or those seeking a reliable way to secure leading clientele, will likely find more value in nDash – both in workflow and in the rates they can command.
Whatever stage of your growth journey, just remember – we’re always here to help good writers get great!
About the Author
Tony White is a freelance writer with over fifteen years of experience in various B2B and B2C niches. Check out his profile to learn more about how he can support your content creation efforts: Tony White.
