Copywriter Hourly Rate Calculator

Factor in research, voice development, conversion copywriting, SEO, and editing tools (Grammarly, Surfer, Hemingway).

Copywriting Pricing After the AI Disruption

The bottom of the copywriting market has collapsed under generative AI. $0.05/word blog content is now effectively automated, and freelancers competing in that pricing tier have no defensible moat. The flipside is that the upper end of the market — conversion copy, brand voice development, long-form editorial, and senior SaaS positioning — has actually strengthened, because clients now value verifiable human judgement at a premium.

Senior copywriters today price on outcomes: a winning landing page, a homepage that converts, a launch sequence that ships revenue. That outcome positioning is what supports $150–$300/hr senior conversion copywriting and $5K–$25K project fees for landing-page work.

How to Use This Rate Calculator

  1. Move up-market from per-word pricing. Project-based conversion work and brand voice engagements defend rate; per-word blog work does not.
  2. Include research and tooling overhead. Grammarly, Surfer, screenshot tools, paid research libraries, and Loom for client walkthroughs.
  3. Reserve discovery and revision time. Voice interviews and revision rounds are the work; bill them clearly, don't bundle for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do freelance copywriters charge?

Rates typically range from $50–$250/hr. Senior conversion copywriters and brand voice strategists bill $150–$300/hr or $5K–$25K per landing-page project.

Per-word, hourly, or project?

Per-word is a race to zero; hourly is fine for retainers; project-based pricing is best for landing pages, sales pages, and launches.

Has AI killed copywriting rates?

It has gutted the bottom of the market while strengthening the top — conversion, brand voice, and senior editorial work command higher rates than three years ago.

Related Calculators