Best Tools for Freelance Writers to Get More Clients

Freelance writing is a highly competitive field where talent alone doesn't guarantee success. To stand out and consistently attract better clients, writers need the right tools to manage projects, polish content, optimize for SEO, and showcase their skills professionally. The right software and platforms save valuable time, improve your output quality, and make you appear more credible and reliable to clients.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler, a platform that helps freelancers and professionals get hired through their work samples. In this article, I’ll walk you through the most essential freelance writing tools for 2025. But beyond mastering your writing, the key is presenting your work smartly. Your portfolio isn’t just a collection of projects, it's your proof of skill, your credibility, and your shortcut to trust.

Project and Client Management Tools for Freelance Writers

Keeping multiple projects, deadlines, and clients organized is crucial for freelance success. These management tools help writers stay on track, deliver on schedule, and maintain smooth communication with clients, major factors that lead to more client referrals and steady work.

Trello

Trello is a highly visual task management app that uses boards and cards to break down projects into manageable steps. It helps you track the entire workflow from assignment to submission in a simple, drag-and-drop interface.

• Create custom boards for each client or writing phase (e.g., research, drafting, editing).
• Add due dates, attachments, checklists, and labels to cards for clarity.
• Access integrations with Slack, Google Drive, and Calendar for seamless collaboration.
• Use Butler automation to schedule routine updates and notifications.
• The Affordable Business Class plan adds unlimited integrations and priority support.

Pricing:

• The free plan includes unlimited boards, cards, and up to 10 team boards.
• Business Class: $10 per user/month (billed annually).

Why it matters: Trello’s visual style and automation reduce project chaos, improve task tracking, and ensure you meet every deadline a major trust factor for clients.

Asana

Asana is a comprehensive work management tool supporting detailed task assignment, deadline tracking, and project timeline visualization, suitable for freelancers collaborating with clients or editors.

• Offers varied views: list, board, calendar, and timeline (Gantt chart).
• Enables task dependencies so you can prioritize critical path tasks.
• Supports comments and attachments in tasks to centralize communication.
• Automate routine tasks for improved efficiency.

Pricing:

• Free for teams up to 15 users with basic task management.
• Premium plan at $13.49 per user/month (billed annually) includes timelines, dashboards, and custom fields.

Why it matters: Enables freelancers to coordinate complex projects smoothly and keeps clients in the loop, enhancing professionalism.

HoneyBook

HoneyBook combines client relationship management with contracts, invoicing, and payment handling, all in one place. Ideal for freelance writers managing multiple clients and payment cycles.

• Create and send professional proposals and contracts easily.
• Automate payment reminders and accept credit cards or bank transfers securely.
• Streamline project workflows with automated emails and task lists.
• Mobile app for managing your freelance business on the go.

Pricing:

• Plans start at $39 per month after a 7-day free trial.

Why it matters: HoneyBook saves you from juggling multiple apps for contract management, invoicing, and payments, letting you focus more on writing and client satisfaction.

ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform integrating task management, document editing, goals, and time tracking in one interface. Perfect for freelancers handling various tasks and clients.

• Extensive customization of task statuses, views, and workflows.
• Native docs, wikis, and note-taking features for content planning.
• Time tracking built-in to monitor how long tasks or projects take.
• Integrations with most major tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Zoom.

Pricing:

• Free plan with unlimited users and tasks but limited storage.
• Unlimited plan at $5 per user/month (billed annually) offers advanced features, unlimited storage, and integrations.

Why it matters: Helps writers keep detailed organization across all projects while keeping track of time, increasing efficiency and profitability.

Google Workspace

Google Workspace includes essentials such as Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Calendar, widely used for real-time collaboration and file sharing with clients.

• Edit documents simultaneously with clients and receive instant feedback.
• Store files securely in the cloud with easy access across devices.
• Schedule meetings with integrated Google Calendar and Meet.
• Built-in security and data protection features.

Pricing:

• Business Starter plan for $6 per user/month includes 30GB storage per user.

Why it matters: Industry-standard for collaboration, making interactions with clients smooth and professional.

Writing and Editing Tools for Error-Free and Engaging Content

Producing flawless, clear, and engaging writing is crucial for client retention and building a professional reputation. These sophisticated editing tools catch mistakes and enhance your writing quality before submission.

Grammarly

Grammarly is a powerful AI-based writing assistant that helps freelance writers produce professional, error-free content across multiple platforms.

• Real-time grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style suggestions.
• Tone detection to ensure your writing matches the intended voice.
• Plagiarism checker to maintain originality.
• Vocabulary enhancement and conciseness suggestions.
• Browser extension support and Microsoft Office integration.

Pricing:

• Free basic grammar checker available.
• Premium plan at $30/month or $12/month billed annually.

Why it matters: Grammarly enhances writing quality and consistency, reducing client revisions and building trust through professional deliverables.

Hemingway Editor

Hemingway Editor improves readability by highlighting complex sentences, passive voice, and excessive adverbs that can make writing dull or confusing.

• Showcases readability grade level for easier content understanding.
• Highlights lengthy sentences and common errors for revision.
• Encourages active voice and concise phrasing.
• Desktop app available for offline use with export options.

Pricing:

• Free web version.
• Desktop app available for a one-time fee of $19.99.

Why it matters: Helps writers simplify and clarify their content, making articles more engaging and easier for readers, boosting client satisfaction.

ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid combines grammar checking with detailed style reports, pacing suggestions, and sentence variety analysis, great for freelance writers who want deep edits.

• Detailed reports covering grammar, style, structure, and readability.
• Integrations for Google Docs, MS Word, Scrivener, and Chrome.
• Suggestions for eliminating clichés, redundancies, and inconsistent tone.
• Writing style improvements focused on genre and audience.

Pricing:

• Monthly plan for $20/month.
• Annual plan at $79/year.

Why it matters: Provides in-depth editing insights, helping writers refine their unique voice and style, which appeals to high-end clients.

Scrivener

Scrivener is built for managing complex writing projects like ebooks, research-heavy articles, and long-form content. It organizes notes, research, drafts, and outlines in one workspace.

• Corkboard for visual organization of ideas.
• Split-screen mode to work on two parts simultaneously.
• Compile feature to export manuscripts in various formats including PDF, Word, and ebook formats.
• Integrated research storage alongside writing drafts.

Pricing:

• One-time purchase $49 for Mac or Windows.

Why it matters: Ideal for writers juggling multiple drafts or big projects, keeping everything organized and easily accessible.

SEO and Content Optimization Tools to Boost Client Visibility

Writing content that ranks on search engines is a huge demand from clients, especially those investing in digital marketing strategies. Writers who understand SEO stand out and command better rates.

Surfer SEO

Surfer SEO guides writers in real-time to optimize content using data from ranking competitors, ensuring keyword density, structure, and length align with search engine algorithms.

• Keyword analysis and search intent alignment tools.
• Content editor with on-page SEO recommendations.
• SERP analyzer to understand competitor content strategy.
• Content planner for entire content clusters and topical authority.

Pricing:

• Basic plan starts at $59/month, suitable for freelancers focusing on SEO content.

Why it matters: Offers actionable guidance to create SEO-friendly content that attracts organic traffic, ensuring your clients’ investments have lasting value.

Clearscope

Clearscope provides keyword relevancy scores and content recommendations to optimize articles for target audiences and improve search rankings.

• Content grade based on competitive keyword analysis.
• Related keyword and phrase suggestions for semantic SEO.
• Integrates with Google Docs and WordPress for smooth optimization workflow.

Pricing:

• Starts at around $170/month (contact sales for precise pricing), ideal for agencies or high-volume writers.

Why it matters: Helps freelance writers deliver content that outperforms competitors in search engines, increasing client satisfaction and retention.

Ahrefs Keywords Explorer

Ahrefs is widely known for backlink research, but its Keywords Explorer tool helps writers analyze keyword difficulty and search intent to select topics that rank.

• Keyword volume, difficulty score, and click metrics.
• SERP overview with ranking pages and featured snippets.
• Keyword suggestions and related questions for content ideas.

Pricing:

• Lite plan at $99/month for essential SEO research tools.

Why it matters: Enables writers to pitch relevant, data-backed topics that align with client marketing goals, increasing chances of project approval.

Yoast SEO

Popular with WordPress users, Yoast SEO is a plugin that guides on-page SEO best practices including metadata, readability, and schema markup.

• Real-time snippet preview for SEO titles and meta descriptions.
• Readability analysis with sentence length and transition words.
• Automatic XML sitemap generation and social integration settings.

Pricing:

• Free version available.
• Premium plugin $99/year per website with advanced features and support.

Why it matters: Enables freelance writers managing client blogs to optimize content directly within WordPress, improving search visibility easily.

AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic generates commonly searched questions and topic ideas related to keywords, helping writers create content that answers real user queries.

• Visual keyword cloud and data-driven question lists.
• Content idea generator based on searcher intent.
• Downloadable results for easy organization.

Pricing:

• Free version available with limited searches.
• Pro plan $99/month with unlimited searches and saved data.

Why it matters: Provides insight into user needs, helping freelance writers pitch and write client content that drives engagement and organic traffic.

Showcase Your Work Smartly with Fueler

Fueler helps freelance writers create portfolios that highlight real work samples and case studies in a clean, professional format. With Fueler, you can present writing assignments, project reports, and client testimonials in one place, making it easier for potential clients to see your caliber and trust your expertise before hiring. This portfolio-centric approach is especially powerful in 2025’s competitive marketplace.

Final Thoughts

The right set of tools can transform your freelance writing career by improving your efficiency, enhancing writing quality, boosting SEO results, and showcasing your work professionally. Whether you’re managing multiple clients, refining content for impact, optimizing for search engines, or marketing yourself effectively, leveraging these tools is vital to getting more and better-paying clients in 2025. Start using them today to build your freelancer brand and grow your client base confidently.

FAQs

1. What is the best free project management tool for freelance writers?

Trello’s free plan offers powerful visual task management suited to individual freelancers managing multiple projects.

2. Which grammar tool provides the best value for freelance writers?

Grammarly Premium offers a comprehensive suite of writing improvements at $12/month (billed annually), making it affordable and feature-rich.

3. Can freelance writers optimize SEO without expensive tools?

Yes, free tools like Google Search Console and AnswerThePublic help writers learn and apply SEO basics effectively before upgrading to paid solutions.

4. Is Fueler useful for freelance writers building a portfolio?

Absolutely, Fueler offers a clean, easy-to-build portfolio platform that enhances client trust and helps secure better freelance jobs.

5. How often should freelance writers update their tools and portfolios?

Regular updates every 3–6 months ensure you stay current with technology and showcase your latest and best work to clients.

What is Fueler Portfolio?

Fueler is a career portfolio platform that helps companies find the best talents for their organization based on their proof of work.

You can create your portfolio on Fueler, thousands of freelancers around the world use Fueler to create their professional-looking portfolios and become financially independent. Discover inspiration for your portfolio

Sign up for free on Fueler or get in touch to learn more.