If you’ve ever published a post on dev.to or spent time reading the wide range of insightful articles shared by the community, you might’ve wondered: Can I actually make money from writing on dev.to?
Let’s explore the possibilities of earning through dev.to—directly and indirectly.
1. 💰 Does dev.to Pay Writers Directly?
Short answer: No, dev.to does not pay contributors directly.
dev.to is a free, open community for developers to share ideas, tutorials, and insights. Anyone can write and publish articles. However, unlike Medium's Partner Program, dev.to doesn’t pay you based on views, reads, or engagement.
But don’t stop reading yet—there are ways to earn money through dev.to.
2. 🔁 Indirect Ways to Earn Money from dev.to
Although dev.to doesn’t have a built-in monetization program, it offers strong indirect monetization potential for developers, writers, and creators:
✅ a. Promote Your Products or Services
Are you a freelance developer, course creator, or indie hacker? You can write valuable posts and include links to:
Your paid courses or ebooks
Your freelance services
A SaaS product or app you built
Patreon, Gumroad, or BuyMeACoffee links
Example: “Want a full guide? Check out my premium course on JavaScript performance!”
✅ b. Build an Audience & Reputation
dev.to is one of the most developer-friendly platforms on the internet. Writing quality content can help you:
Grow your developer brand
Get job offers or freelance clients
Attract subscribers to your blog, newsletter, or YouTube channel
Think of dev.to as your personal tech resume—the better your content, the more opportunities come your way.
✅ c. Sponsored Posts and Brand Partnerships
If you’ve built a decent following on dev.to, some brands might reach out to:
Sponsor your content
Collaborate on tutorials
Pay for product reviews or shoutouts
Even if dev.to doesn’t support native sponsorships, your dev.to profile can be a magnet for external partnerships.
✅ d. Drive Traffic to Your Website or Blog
Publishing on dev.to can bring valuable traffic to your main site (like a blog, portfolio, or shop). You can link back to articles hosted elsewhere or guide readers to your monetized platforms.
Make sure to add "canonical URLs" if cross-posting to keep SEO healthy.
3. 🛠 Tips to Maximize Your Earning Potential
If you want to treat dev.to as a launchpad for monetization, here are a few smart tips:
Focus on value-first content: Tutorials, deep dives, and real dev problems
Use CTAs wisely: "Like this post? Support me on ___"
Engage with the community: Comment, collaborate, and stay visible
Be consistent: Build a content habit—once a week or twice a month is great
4. ⚠️ What Not to Do
Avoid spammy self-promo in every post
Don’t treat dev.to as an ad board—people come here to learn
Don’t copy-paste low-effort content; it can hurt your credibility
Final Thoughts 💡
You can’t earn money from dev.to—but you can definitely earn money because of dev.to.
Whether it's by attracting clients, building a loyal audience, or selling your services/products, the platform gives you a stage to grow your presence in the dev world.
So if you're thinking about starting, go for it. Write that article. Share your knowledge. You never know where it might lead.
✍️ Have you earned anything through dev.to?
Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how you're using this awesome platform!
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