The best countries to hire remote freelance writers

In an increasingly connected, digital world, geographic boundaries are no longer a limit for businesses looking to tap into a diverse, global talent pool. And when it comes to hiring freelance writers, looking around the globe gives you the chance to harness a wealth of expertise outside of your own country's borders.

There are many reasons to hire international freelance writers: more competitive costs due to global variations in the cost of living and pay rates, round-the-clock productivity thanks to time zone differences, and unique and diverse perspectives that foreign writers can bring to the table. By embracing the global freelance writing market, companies can become more versatile and culturally rich—all while embracing the new normal of remote work in the digital era.

But what are the best countries for hiring freelance writers? Where should global businesses begin their search, and how can they connect with the most qualified writers for their needs? Whether you're looking for content writers, SEO experts, technical writers, or social media wordsmiths, the nine countries listed below each offer a diverse and talented workforce that can meet your needs.

But first, how to connect with highly skilled freelance writers in foreign countries. Let's get started.

How to find remote freelance writers around the world

No matter where in the world you look to hire freelance writers, connecting with the most talented freelancers can be a challenge. It's particularly important to vet freelance writers so you can ensure they're able to deliver high-quality content, nail your company's brand voice, and meet deadlines.

Here are some tips for finding the best freelance writers around the world:

• Determine your needs. Do you need a full-time or part-time writer? Are you looking for content writing, like insightful blog posts and articles, or copywriting, like persuasive, sales-driven website copy? Knowing exactly what you need will help you narrow your search—especially if you can find local hiring resources specific to the type of writer you're looking for.

• Explore freelance websites and writing job boards. Global marketplaces like Upwork, Freelancer, and ProBlogger can be good places to start, and they offer job postings for all levels of expertise, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Just look out for content mills—while they can offer volume, they're often not the best source for high-quality, specialized writing.

• Utilize LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be a powerful tool to find freelance writers. You can post a job listing or directly search for writers in your industry.

• Request writing samples. Regardless of where you find your writer, always ask for writing samples. This gives you an insight into their style, quality, and versatility.

• Pay attention to reviews and ratings. On freelance websites, reviews and ratings from previous clients can provide valuable insight into a writer's reliability and skill level.

• Partner with co-working spaces. Co-working spaces, especially in cities known for their creative industries, are often filled with freelancers. Virtual co-working spaces, which have gained popularity since the pandemic, can also be a good resource.

• Tap into translator networks. If you're producing content in multiple languages, consider tapping into networks of professional translators. They not only understand language nuances but also cultural context, which is crucial for localized content.

Remember, hiring freelance writers from around the world isn’t just about filling a role—it's about finding a partner who will help convey your brand story compellingly and effectively. With that in mind, let's look at the nine best countries for hiring freelance writers.

The top 9 best countries to hire freelance writers

1. India

India is home to the second fastest-growing freelance market in the world, with more than 15 million freelancers currently in the country. Freelancers are expected to make up 50% of the nation's workforce by 2025. Indian workers are also incredibly active on freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork—14.6% of Upwork's global revenue was generated by freelancers with Indian billing addresses in 2020.

Because of that growth (and a constant demand for freelance writers), many young people in India are embracing freelance careers—60% of Indian freelancers are under 30 years old. And because much of the demand for freelance writers comes from North American companies, Indians are embracing learning English in order to hone their craft. India may now be the world's second-largest English-speaking country—some estimates put the rate of English speakers over 10%.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: INR 515.34/hour or USD $6.29/hour
• Time zones: IST, UTC+5:30
• Official languages: Hindi, English

2. South Korea

In South Korea, webtoons (digital comics) and web novels, which are released one chapter at a time on digital platforms, are extremely popular. Many content creators who have honed their skills with online writing realized they can build a career by pivoting to new jobs and freelance gigs in graphic design and writing services.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean freelance platform kmong exploded in popularity, doubling its user base compared to 2019. While kmong is used primarily by Korean businesses to hire Korean freelancers, the country's workers have found success securing international gigs, too—and English and other international languages are more commonly spoken among students and younger Koreans who largely make up the country's freelance workforce.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: KRW 27,108.83/hour or USD $21.13/hour
• Time zones: KST, UTC+9
• Official languages: Korean

3. Portugal

According to Eurostat, 13.4% of people in Portugal are self-employed—higher than the average in the European Union as a whole.

And while Portuguese natives can make great international hires, Portugal is also a country where you can tap into a diverse talent pool of global freelancers—the country has become a popular destination for foreign workers seeking a laid-back lifestyle and low cost of living while they do freelance work. As of 2022, Portugal was home to more than 714,000 foreign citizens, meaning foreigners now make up about 7% of the country's population. Many of them moved to Portugal to work remotely—and many are seeking new clients and writing opportunities.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: EUR 16.45/hour or USD $17.98/hour
• Time zones: AZOT, UTC-1; WET, UTC+0; AZOST, UTC+0; WEST, UTC+1
• Official languages: Portuguese

4. Poland

Poland is home to a growing freelance population, especially in IT—but freelance writing is becoming more common as a side gig or career path for wordsmiths living in Poland. One of the reasons freelance work is becoming more common is the easy, affordable access to high-speed internet in Poland—currently, 93% of Polish households have internet, and the country is working to build infrastructure that will bring affordable fiber internet to 100% of the country. Poland also offers low living costs, which are attractive to workers looking to start a writing career in Europe without high costs.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: PLN 55.44/hour or USD $13.63/hour
• Time zones: CET, UTC+1; CEST, UTC+2
• Official languages: Polish

5. Spain

According to Payoneer, Spain is one of the world's fastest-growing freelance countries in terms of revenue growth, with 66% year-over-year growth in 2020. Some of that growth can be attributed to foreign workers moving to Spain—approximately 2.4 million foreign workers (many entrepreneurs running startups and small businesses) were living in Spain in 2021. 

But Spanish writers are a great choice for global businesses for a few different reasons. First, freelancers from Spain are often very well-educated. Educational institutions in Spain are some of the best in the world, and around 63% of people in Spain ages 25-64 have completed upper secondary or tertiary education. 

Another important consideration is that Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the world. Writers who can produce quality content in Spanish are highly sought after by many global businesses, and Spain is a great place for outsourcing Spanish content creation.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: EUR 20.81/hour or USD $22.74/hour
• Time zones: WET, UTC+0; CET, UTC+1; WEST, UTC+1; CEST, UTC+2
• Official languages: Spanish

6. Brazil

In Brazil, the gig economy has been growing steadily for years—more than 25 million people in Brazil identified as self-employed in 2022. Many people in Brazil choose to freelance because of economic uncertainty in their home country—some abandoned their local job search in the last few years as Brazilian companies shut down or laid off workers. That's a big part of the reason why 83% of Brazilian freelancers say they're looking for potential clients in other countries, including many who are seeking freelance writing jobs across international borders.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: BRL 53.10/hour or USD $11.13/hour
• Time zones: ACT, UTC-5; AMT, UTC-4; BRT, UTC-3; FNT, UTC-2
• Official languages: Portuguese

7. Philippines

A staggering 60% of the world's freelance market calls the Philippines home, and it's no wonder why—the low cost of living means Filipino freelancers can find ample job opportunities that provide them with a living wage. The freelance industry in the Philippines is enjoying steady growth—Upwork reports that in 2020, workers based in the Philippines generated over 10% of its total platform revenue. 

The Philippines is a particularly popular place for North American countries to find freelancers for writing gigs because it's the third-largest English-speaking country in the world, with over 95% of the adult population proficient in English. Because international freelancing can be so lucrative, many Filipino workers specifically learn skills (like English proficiency) that will help them land freelance roles with global companies.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: PHP 293.16/hour or USD $5.26/hour
• Time zones: PHT, UTC+8
• Official languages: Filipino, English

8. Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has consistently ranked well on Expat Insider's list of best places to start a freelance career. But while the country is home to many foreigners and digital nomads who work in online writing and other freelance roles, many native Czechs are also successful freelancers. Around 15% of the country's population is self-employed, and nearly half of people who live in the Czech Republic speak a foreign language, making it easier for many to seek out international clients.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: CZK 311.33/hour or USD $14.34/hour
• Time zones: CET, UTC+1; CEST, UTC+2
• Official languages: Czech

9. Ukraine

Ukraine is already a well-known hub for freelance tech workers, especially those in the IT industry. But Ukraine is also home to many people skilled in digital marketing—which often means they have the writing skills to launch careers in freelance content marketing and other writing fields.

As a result, Ukraine is seeing steady growth in its freelance population—and demand for freelancers is keeping pace, increasing by 30% from 2021 to 2022.

• Average hourly pay for freelance writers: UAH 214.53/hour or USD $5.81/hour
• Time zones: EET, UTC+2; EEST, UTC+3
• Official languages: Ukrainian

*Note: Salary data is gathered from salaryexpert.com. Exact values vary depending on updated currency exchange rates, seniority levels, and geographical location within each country. 

Rippling makes it easy to hire freelance writers around the globe

No matter where your employees and contractors live, Ripplings streamlines their entire lifecycle—from onboarding to offboarding—globally, and all in one place.

Rippling supports your global workforce right out of the box. All you have to do is click "hire," and Rippling handles the rest:

• Setting up localized employment or contractor agreements.
• Paying employees and contractors around the world—without waiting on bank transfers or currency conversions.
• Keeping you compliant with local labor and employment laws surrounding overtime, leave, termination requirements, and more.

Ready to see how Rippling EOR can help manage your entire global workforce, all in one place?