You need content to rank. You don't have time to write it yourself. The obvious solution is hiring someone — but the SEO content writing market is confusing.
Freelancers range from $50 to $500 per article. Agencies charge $1,000 to $5,000 monthly. AI tools cost $20 to $500. Some produce great work; others produce expensive garbage.
This guide breaks down every option: what they actually cost, what you actually get, and which makes sense for your situation.
Quick comparison: All your options
| Option | Cost per Article | Time Required | Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancers | $50-500 | High (management) | Variable | Specialized expertise |
| Agencies | $150-400 | Low | Consistent | Hands-off management |
| AI Tools | $5-25 | Medium (review) | Improving rapidly | Volume at low cost |
| Hybrid | $50-150 | Medium | High | Best of both worlds |
The right choice depends on your budget, volume needs, and how much time you have for management.
Option 1: Freelance writers
Individual writers you hire directly, typically through platforms like Upwork, Contently, or direct outreach.
Pricing
| Level | Price per Article | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | $50-100 | Basic SEO awareness, may need heavy editing |
| Mid-level | $150-300 | Solid SEO skills, industry knowledge |
| Expert-level | $400-800 | Deep expertise, original insights, minimal editing |
Pros and cons
Pros:
+ Flexible — scale up or down easily
+ Can find niche expertise
+ Direct relationship
+ Often more affordable than agencies
Cons:
× Quality varies dramatically
× Finding good writers takes time
× Management overhead
× Reliability issues (life happens to freelancers)
Best for: Businesses who can invest time in finding and managing writers, need specialized expertise, or have variable content needs.
Option 2: Content agencies
Companies that produce content at scale, typically offering packages or retainers.
Pricing
| Tier | Monthly Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic agencies | $500-1,500 | 4-8 articles, basic SEO |
| Mid-tier agencies | $2,000-5,000 | 8-15 articles, strategy included |
| Premium agencies | $5,000-15,000 | Custom scope, dedicated team |
Pros and cons
Pros:
+ Managed service — less work for you
+ Professional processes
+ Scalable
+ Backup writers if one doesn't work out
Cons:
× Expensive
× Less direct control
× Can feel impersonal
× Quality still varies by agency
Best for: Businesses with $2k+ monthly content budgets who want hands-off management and predictable output.
Related articles:
- Content Automation Guide — Implementing automation in your workflow
- SEO Automation Software Compared — Detailed tool breakdowns
Option 3: AI content tools
Software that generates content automatically, ranging from simple AI writers to full SEO automation platforms.
Pricing
| Tool Type | Monthly Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic AI writers | $20-50 | ChatGPT Plus, Jasper |
| SEO content tools | $50-150 | Copy.ai, Writesonic |
| Full automation | $39-500 | Soro, similar platforms |
Pros and cons
Pros:
+ Dramatically lower cost per article
+ Scales infinitely
+ No management overhead
+ Available 24/7
+ Improving rapidly
Cons:
× Requires quality oversight
× Generic output without customization
× May need editing for brand voice
× Some tools produce poor SEO content
Best for: Businesses that need volume, have limited budgets, or want to supplement other content sources.
Option 4: Hybrid approaches
Combinations that leverage multiple options:
AI + Editor: Generate with AI, hire editor to polish
Agency + AI: Agency manages AI-generated content
Freelancer for key pieces + AI for volume: Human writes flagship content, automation handles supporting content
Best for: Often the most practical approach for growing businesses.
How to evaluate services
Quality indicators
For freelancers:
- Portfolio with ranking examples
- Understanding of your industry
- Clear process for research and optimization
- Communication responsiveness
- Revision policies
For agencies:
- Case studies with traffic results
- Named writers (not anonymous content farms)
- SEO expertise demonstrated
- Clear reporting
- Account management included
For AI tools:
- Brand voice customization
- SEO optimization features
- Publishing integrations
- Training data quality
- Ongoing updates for algorithm changes
Red flags
Universal red flags:
- × Guaranteed rankings (nobody can guarantee this)
- × Suspiciously low prices with big promises
- × No examples or case studies
- × Vague about their process
- × No clear revision policy
Freelancer red flags:
- × No portfolio
- × Won't do a test article
- × Can't explain SEO basics
- × Misses deadlines during hiring process
Agency red flags:
- × Won't tell you who writes the content
- × Overpromises volume at low prices
- × No SEO strategy, just writing
- × Long contracts with no exit clause
AI tool red flags:
- × No brand customization options
- × Only markets on volume, not quality
- × No human oversight features
- × Outdated training data
Pricing reality check
Let's compare the true cost of 20 quality SEO articles per month:
Freelancer route
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Finding writers | 10 hours initially |
| Managing writers | 5 hours/month |
| Cost per article | $200 average |
| Monthly spend | $4,000 articles + $150 management time |
| Total | ~$4,150/month |
Agency route
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Onboarding | Minimal |
| Management | 2-3 hours/month |
| Monthly retainer | $3,000-5,000 for 20 articles |
| Total | $3,000-5,000/month |
AI automation route
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Setup | 2-3 hours initially |
| Review time | 5-8 hours/month |
| Tool cost | $200-500/month |
| Total | $350-740/month (including review time at $30/hr) |
Hybrid route
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| AI generates drafts | $100-200/month |
| Editor polishes | $50/article = $1,000/month |
| Management | 3 hours/month |
| Total | ~$1,200/month |
The cost difference is significant. The quality gap has narrowed dramatically as AI tools have improved.
Get content at scale without the management overhead
Soro handles the entire content pipeline — keyword research, writing, optimization, and publishing — at a fraction of traditional costs.
Matching solutions to needs
You need expert-level, highly technical content
Best option: Expert freelancers or specialized agency
Why: AI struggles with deep technical expertise. You need human specialists who understand your field.
Budget: $300-500 per article minimum
You need high volume for SEO growth
Best option: AI automation (Soro or similar)
Why: Cost per article is too high with humans at volume. Quality AI tools produce SEO-optimized content that ranks.
Budget: $200-500/month for substantial output
You need consistent, managed content program
Best option: Agency or hybrid (AI + editor)
Why: Predictable output without management burden. Agency handles everything; hybrid saves money with similar reliability.
Budget: $2,000-5,000/month (agency) or $1,000-2,000/month (hybrid)
You have almost no budget
Best option: DIY with AI assistance
Why: ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) + your editing time is the lowest cost path to content.
Budget: $20-50/month + your time
You need mix of flagship and supporting content
Best option: Freelancer for key pieces + AI for volume
Why: Human expertise where it matters most, automation where volume matters more than uniqueness.
Budget: $500-1,000/month for flagship pieces + $100-300/month for AI volume
How to get started
Hiring freelancers
- Write a clear brief — Topic, keywords, length, tone, examples of content you like
- Post on platforms — Upwork, Contently, LinkedIn, industry job boards
- Request relevant samples — In your industry or style
- Run a paid test — One article at your standard rate
- Evaluate and iterate — Give feedback, see if they adapt
Hiring an agency
- Define your needs — Volume, topics, budget, timeline
- Research options — Ask for referrals, check reviews, review portfolios
- Request proposals — Get detailed pricing and process explanations
- Check references — Talk to current clients
- Start with a trial — Many agencies offer 30-60 day trials
Implementing AI tools
- Choose appropriate tool — Match features to needs
- Configure brand voice — Provide samples, set guidelines
- Run test content — Generate and review before publishing
- Establish review process — How will you quality-check output?
- Scale gradually — Increase volume as quality proves consistent
The future of SEO content writing
The market is shifting. Here's where it's heading:
AI quality is approaching human quality for most content types. The gap that justified premium human rates is narrowing.
Hybrid models are becoming standard. Pure manual writing is increasingly cost-prohibitive; pure AI is still too generic for many uses.
SEO expertise is table stakes. Content without optimization doesn't perform. Every serious option includes SEO.
Automation is winning on volume. Businesses competing on content quantity are using automation. Fighting that with manual production is bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Human creativity still matters for thought leadership, unique perspectives, and brand-defining content. This is where human writers will increasingly focus.
What to do: The smart money is on using AI for most content volume while investing human resources in the content that truly requires human judgment, expertise, and creativity.
Related reading:
- SEO Automation Software — Detailed tool comparisons
- Content Automation Guide — Implementing automation in your workflow
- How to Do SEO Yourself — DIY approach when budget is tight