Contena is a site that claims you can earn a decent amount of cash by working as one of their freelance writers. So, if you are a writer or just like writing, you might find this site interesting.
But the question is, is it legit or just a scam?
This is an important piece of information you need to know before you decide to join a site, and this is one of the many points this Contena review will address.
I have personally tested the site, so I can share everything I’ve learned about it with you. That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect from it before you even sign up. Then, you can decide if this site is truly worth joining or not.
What is Contena, and what does it offer?
Contena is a freelance writing site that will allow you to earn by doing writing jobs. It is indeed a legit site since you will really get paid for working on the said jobs.
But the question is, is it worth it?
Well, the first step to answering this question is to understand how the site works, and the best way to do that is to examine the earning opportunities it offers. So, here’s how to earn from Contena.
Option 1 – Writing jobs
Once you become a freelance writer for Contena (I will discuss later how you can apply for the position), you can gain access to all the writing jobs it offers.
Simply log in to the member dashboard and click the “Jobs” link on the left side of the dashboard to see all the available jobs it currently offers.
If you see a job you are interested in, you can click the “Contract” button to see the full details, including how much the job will pay you. If you are willing to work on the job, you just have to apply for it. Then, all you have to do is wait for confirmation that your application is accepted.
You will receive a notification via email if your application is accepted, and it usually doesn’t take more than a couple of days to hear back from them. Once your application is accepted, all you have to do is do what the job is asking you to do.
Then, once you’ve submitted your article, your work will be reviewed. It usually doesn’t take more than a couple of days to finish reviewing your work. When it is approved, the payment for your services will be released. Later on, I will discuss how you can get paid.
Option 2 – Writing submissions
Another way to earn from Contena is to submit your own articles. Contena monitors hundreds of websites and companies that are currently paying for content submissions.
The process for this opportunity is quite the opposite of the writing jobs. Instead of going through an application process and following the instructions provided, you can instead submit a pitch for the article you are supposed to write. So, in a way, you are more in control of what you want to write.
Just go to the submissions section, and you will see all the submissions you can choose from. Then, just click the “Submit Pitch” button and send your pitch. They will notify you via email if your pitch is accepted.
Once your pitch is accepted, all you have to do is write the article and submit it before the deadline. Then, they will review your work, and once it is approved, you’ll receive the payment.
The main difference with this opportunity, aside from the process, is the payment you will receive. Most of the articles you need to write will have a fixed pay, unlike the writing jobs where the pay will be a bit more flexible.
Recommended: Check Out the Best Freelance Sites to Earn
How do you get paid?
For every job you complete or article you submit, you will be paid a certain amount. However, be aware that the payment will go into escrow first. So, don’t expect to receive the payment right away after you complete the job.
If you don’t know how this process works, the payment will be put into escrow until both parties (you and the employer) agree that the job has been completed. This is to prevent any disputes with the payment.
This is a very useful feature because it minimizes disputes. Once both parties agree, the payment will be released from escrow, and it will be credited to your account. It usually doesn’t take more than a couple of days for the escrow period to be finished.
But how exactly will you receive the payment? Well, the good thing about Contena is that you can choose how to get paid.
You can use PayPal, Skrill, or other payment gateways as long as you set it up with Contena. You can also choose to get paid via direct bank transfer, which is a very convenient payment option.
You also don’t need to reach a payout threshold to withdraw your earnings. Once the compensation is released from escrow, it will be deposited to you via the payment method you’ve chosen.
Overall, the payment system of Contena is relatively straightforward, and I like the fact that you can choose the payment method. It makes for a more seamless withdrawal.
If you are interested in more sites that offer a convenient payment method, I would recommend you check out the top sites that pay via PayPal.
How much money can you make?
The amount you can earn from a freelance writing site like Contena will mostly depend on how many articles you can write. As for how well it pays, most of the jobs it offers pay a competitive rate.
You can usually earn around $20 to $200 for a writing job or submission. But, you do have to note that earning from this site will take a bit of time and a lot of effort because Contena is very particular about the quality of work they accept.
That’s why you have to be a very good writer to earn from this site. You also have to take into consideration that there will be times when you won’t get paid at all. That’s just the nature of freelancing. There will be times when your work won’t be accepted.
When this happens, you’ll just have to push through and continue working on other jobs. But overall, I would say the site does have decent earning potential because they pay a good amount for every writing job or article you submit.
Can you use it on mobile?
Contena doesn’t have a mobile app you can download, and based on the earning opportunities the site offers, you will really need to use a laptop or desktop if you want to earn from this site. That being said, the site is mobile-friendly, so you can still log in to the member dashboard and view the contents conveniently.
This can come in quite handy if you are not doing anything and you are away from your computer. You can just use your mobile device, log in to the site, and look for jobs you can work on.
Who can join Contena?
Contena is available more or less worldwide. However, you do have to be aware that this site is a paid subscription site. That means, if you want to become a Contena freelance writer, you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription.
It has various subscription plans you can go for but the most cost-efficient option, in my opinion, is its one-year subscription. This is worth $497, which is a very steep price for a freelance writing site.
This is the main drawback of the site. That’s why even though the site pays quite well, the upfront cost will also be very high. It does have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee you can avail of in case you are not happy with being a member.
To apply as a writer, you’ll have to answer a 5-minute survey. Once you complete the survey, you’ll have to wait for confirmation on whether your application is accepted. Keep in mind that the site does have a waiting list.
That’s because they work with many of the members individually and want to ensure the best experience possible, so they limit the number of writers they accept. So, don’t be surprised if it takes a long time for them to get back to you.
I do have to inform you that once you become a member of Contena, you can join their Contena academy to gain access to their resources that will help you earn more from the site. That, in my opinion, is the best thing you can get out of the monthly subscription.
Can you get support?
Once you become a member of Contena, you can enlist the help of one of their coaches to help you with the ins and outs of working as one of their freelance writers. And if you have any questions about the site, you can also just get in touch with their support team.
You can email them at support@contena.co for any questions. You can also check out their support page, which is not very useful, in my opinion, because it only discusses a few basic topics.
Overall, I would say the site does offer a decent support system in place for its writers since they offer a convenient way for you to get in touch with their support team. I also like the fact that you can avail of the services of one of their coaches to help you become a good freelance writer.
Final Verdict
Contena is a legit freelance writing site that will allow you to earn by taking on writing jobs. It has a couple of good features, but it also has a few drawbacks you need to consider.
Let me conclude this review with a summary of its pros and cons to give you an overview of what the site has to offer. Then, you can decide if you should go for it or not.
Pros:
- Available more or less worldwide
- Offers convenient payment methods
- Pays a decent amount
Cons:
- Requires a monthly subscription
- Doesn’t offer guaranteed earnings
In my opinion, Contena is not a bad freelance writing site. However, the fact that you’d have to pay a monthly fee to gain access to the earning opportunities is really not ideal – especially for people who are just starting as a freelance writer.
It will be hard to recoup the fees you need to pay since it doesn’t offer any guaranteed earnings. Sure, you can earn a decent amount from the jobs, but you have to keep in mind that to earn, you have to land the job first. And that’s easier said than done.
There are plenty of other sites where you don’t have to pay to get access to the earning opportunities they offer. Those are the ideal options, especially if you are just starting as a freelancer.
For a list of these sites, you can check out the best freelancing sites you can join. These sites will allow you to work on writing jobs and other freelance jobs without paying a monthly subscription.
Now, if you want to learn how to build a business online and write for yourself, I recommend you check out the simplest and safest way to build your own online business instead.
If you have any comments, questions, or have any experiences with Contena yourself, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
I applied to join Contena about a week ago. My application is still pending and they still haven’t gotten back to me.
I wonder why it’s taking so long. Is this wait period normal?
It might be because you have not been approved. Or it might just be that they are a bit delayed. You need to contact their support to find out for sure.