I learned about iWriter while researching websites for freelance writers. Some Youtubers were claiming that it was possible to make a couple hundred a day on iWriter. It seemed too good to be true, but even so, I wanted in on it. But first, I had to do some research to be sure that it wasn’t a scam.
I watched a bunch of testimonial videos. I read through a lot of different message boards and websites. One that stood out to me as being specific, honest, and well-rounded was a review by Kari on Tough Nickel.
What I learned before diving in was that iWriter seemed legit. I concluded I’d have to put in a bit of time and effort, but money was there and it was waiting for me to earn it just by writing. Sounded simple enough.
It’s free to apply for a writer position on iWriter. The application form discloses that iWriter will respond with a decision in 5–7 business days. The writer application is short; just gathers some general information and then asks you to fill in two short prompts. The prompts are pretty general (i.e. tell us about yourself and why you want to write for iWriter…)
iWriter has a quick and easy application process. Compared to a site like Upwork, an approval was much easier to obtain on iWriter. Once you’re accepted onto the platform, the site will ask for your photo ID, your SSN, and your email address for payouts via PayPal.
I know that entering your social security number onto an unfamiliar site is sketchy. To my knowledge, you don’t need to provide your SSN unless you’re making enough to claim taxes. Also, I haven’t heard of any horrific, horror stories about iWriter being scammy or untrustworthy. (If you have, let me know!)
Payment for projects on iWriter is grouped into categories based on your experience, or your star ranking. There are four categories, from lowest to highest: standard (one star), premium (two stars), elite (three stars), and elite plus (four stars).
I created my account a few months ago, in May of 2022, and the website has since changed its ranking system. For whatever reason, I was grandfathered in at premium rank. iWriter describes the premium rank tier talent as ‘solid writers with budget-friendly pricing.’ Eye roll. I’m not sure how much the writers on elite and elite plus are making, but what I’ve heard is that there are barely any orders to choose from.
Clients can leave a tip if they’re happy with your work. They can also leave reviews and rankings and they can leave you special requests, which pay out a bit higher for repeat clientele.
Once you’ve completed thirty articles and earned a 4.6 star ranking or higher, you can move up in the tier system. Since I haven’t actually achieved this yet, I’ll update if I move up any higher than premium rank.
I’m going to keep this section brief and then maybe expand on my concerns about iWriter in a future post. For now, here are my biggest problems with iWriter:
- The website (both desktop and mobile versions) is a bit glitchy. Asks me for my PayPal info repetitively when it’s already in the system. However, this is only a minor inconvenience and hasn’t interfered with payment.
- Horror stories of accounts being randomly deactivated. I have not encountered this myself.
- It’s basically a gamble on income more than a guarantee.
- There’s a chance work is being rejected, and then used and not paid for.
- It can be disheartening when articles are rejected or orders are deleted after you submit.
- Cancelling too many orders may result in your account being shadow banned or deactivated.
- Not many orders to choose from / not much variety.
The biggest problem about writing for iWriter is that it feels like a game of chance. Each client’s approval rating is clearly provided, so it’s in your best interest to pick clients with high approval percentages. I haven’t worked for Upwork or Fiverr so I can’t compare the experience, but I’m curious if anyone out there has anything to add.
Essentially, iWriter has been reliable when it comes to payment. Why it’s impossible to make hundreds of dollars a day is because there are more writers than there are incoming orders.
There is no get-rich-quick scheme here. There’s a lot of research involved, and the words-written-to-dollars-earned ratio is on the extremely low end.
Most orders on the premium writer tier pay out between $3.90 and $12. These orders can be anywhere from 500 words to 3,000 words total. Clients provide instructions about what they want, how they want it written, and how important search engine optimization (SEO) and keyword density is to the piece. Depending on how quickly you write (and research) is what defines how much you earn on iWriter.
Importantly, not only do you spend time researching and writing, but in the end, your article either gets approved or rejected. Money either goes into your account, or the entire project disappears into the abyss. (Not really — it’s forever in your archive.)
The amount of research involved arguably will take up most of your time writing for iWriter. Some clients provide articles they want rewritten, or articles for inspiration, but some can be very vague with what they expect. Sometimes they’ll flat out tell you to research scientific topics, health-related things, or pop culture, seasonal home décor, or fashion trends. There is a timer on each client order, so it’s important to work quickly and not let the clock run out.
Utilizing keyword density and SEO is important for most of the projects on iWriter. There is a message feature that allows for clients and writers to communicate. Clients will disclose in their order write-up how much keyword repetition they expect from the article. Following instructions closely is imperative for success and high ratings.
Mostly, I would describe iWriter as gambling more than I would describe it as freelance writing. There’s a chance that your article will not be purchased, and at the end of the day, there’s no guarantee that rejected — stolen — copy isn’t being screenshotted and used.
Since May, I’ve sold four articles to four different clients. Two out of four of them involved a good deal of research. The shortest article was 500 words and paid out at $3.90. The longest article was 2,000 words and paid out at $21.45.
Payment is weekly through PayPal. If you don’t have one, you’ll have to make an account in order to receive your payment.
There is a minimum payout amount of $20 USD. That means if you don’t earn at least twenty dollars a week, you will not get paid that week. Funds stay in your account until the $20 minimum is earned.
I earned $35.49 over the last three months on iWriter. Out of that $35.49, $7.48 of it is in limbo until I hit the twenty dollar minimum.
Also: You don’t have to enter your SSN; you’ll still get paid without it being entered in your settings.
Is iWriter worth the trouble? Are freelance writers better off hunting for clients on Upwork and Fiverr? As for earning a couple hundred a day — not likely, especially on iWriter’s premium tier.
I find it fun to check order listings on iWriter once a day to see if there’s anything interesting. Of course, it’s way more exciting when there are orders for categories that are more — your niche.
If you’re looking for reliable, full-time employment, writing for iWriter is not really worth your time. If you’re desperate and you have extra time and internet connection, it can generate some pocket change. If you’re a fast researcher and writer and handle rejection well, then iWriter is for you.
