Freelancers enjoy complete control over their work, and today we’re here to guide you through the best freelance websites currently available. So, if you’re one of the newbie freelancers, this is your ultimate stop to find the best freelance website.
Did you know that in 2020 36% of the workforce in the US was made up of freelance?
Yes! And today, the number is only increasing, with a staggering 10 million more individuals expected to freelance.
But the percentage is not as surprising when you look into the overall structure of freelancing, and to understand this, let’s move on to our next section. Don’t worry; we’ll get to our top pick of freelance sites in a bit. So, keep reading on.
What are freelance websites?
Freelance websites can be considered an online or a digital workplace where individuals work and earn money for themselves instead of a company.
This opens up a huge market for freelancers to search for various jobs ranging from web developers to grocery shoppers and more.
Through freelance websites, individuals or freelancers practically get to enjoy the freedom of managing and choosing their projects, clients, and workload as they desire.
So, if you’re at the beginner level in freelancing, freelancing websites are an excellent way to make an income online.
Top freelancer website for freelancers
To help make the right choice, we have discussed below best freelance website for freelancers.
1. Upwork
Upwork is a freelancing platform that offers a wide selection of jobs ranging from software development and web design to account and customer service.
It connects clients and freelancers globally with various ways to connect. Clients can either post a job or purchase a predefined service through the project catalog.
Freelancers can also access the Upwork job board and offer up their service. As a freelancer, you can start with Upwork by creating a profile through their website.
Upwork comes with excellent payment protection, budget-based projects, and credible clients but tends to lean towards a lengthy selection process and high service fee. However, the platform does feature a sliding scale which means you pay lesser and lesser the more you work.
2. Freelancer
Freelancer is another popular freelance website that professionals and companies use globally to collaborate on different projects. Its services include web development, content translation, social media marketing, etc.
Individuals can either signup as a business owner or a freelancer. The latter includes providing detailed information such as educational background, work experience, and skills.
Along with the offered projects, Freelancer also provides many contests like design or visual work, which freelancers can benefit from by earning money and profile reviews.
Freelancer comes with many benefits, including 24/7 customer support, live chat, and a progress tracker. However, some may find the platform’s interface a bit complex.
3. Fiverr
Fiverr connects freelancers and business owners in search of digital projects such as content writing, website design, and voiceovers. In terms of interaction, the platform offers a streamlined method with freelancers as “sellers” and the business owners as “buyers”, while the services are called “gigs”.
As soon as buyers purchase a service or “gig”, their accounts are charged automatically, and the money is put on hold. The Fiverr system then takes a 20% commission fee and transfers the rest to the freelancer.
Despite the long payment process and high commission charge, Fiverr is one of the best freelance websites when it comes to offering a diverse category along with online courses and free registration.
4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is not a new name when it comes to connecting people for jobs. Freelancers and clients alike can simply sign up to create a user profile and then include a diverse list of information, including skills, education, work experience, etc.
Freelance writers can create posts describing their expertise and attach a work profile. LinkedIn also provides job postings to offer more freelance opportunities. The platform is known for its cost-effective and efficient network opportunities.
5. Toptal
Toptal is another competitive freelance website comprised of top companies and qualified freelance experts. The platform connects clients with a wide selection of freelancers ranging from web designers to web developers and more.
As a freelancer, you can apply to Toptal in five steps, including a project assessment and an English evaluation. Unfortunately, this screening process ensures a Toptal spot only to the top 3%.
However, the advantage to passing the screening process is that freelancers gain access to job listings from big names such as Airbnb and Motorola.
6. PeoplePerHour
As per its name, PeoplePerHour is also a freelance platform that allows businesses to look for professional freelancers and hire them by the hour. The freelancers come from various industries like marketing, journalism, and public relations.
Meanwhile, freelancers can create a free account and set up a profile. Like many freelancing sites, this one also charges freelancers a 20% service fee for each client. Fortunately, PeoplePerHour’s fee does decrease the more you work.
7. Guru
Guru is a freelancing platform that connects companies and freelancers on a global scale. Companies can hire Guru Professionals for different skills like graphic designing, programming, etc.
Freelancers can also place bids for either short or long-term projects and set a fixed price for the project. The platform also allows multiple withdrawal methods like wire transfer and PayPal to receive project earnings. The site also ensures timely and secure payments.
What to look for in the Best Freelancer Sites
Here are a few factors to weigh in when looking for the best freelancer sites –
- Ease of Use: This is a factor that can highly benefit those new to the world of freelancing. The usability factor is often highlighted by features such as search & filtering along with records of previous communications (among others).
- Platform Cost: Tons of platforms are known to charge ongoing fees and markup contractor rates, so make sure to look out for those.
- Freelancer Quality & Quantity: The freelance marketplace is vast, so it’s essential to look out for big names like Freelancer, Fiverr, etc., to increase the chance of conducting better business.
- Specializations: While many freelance platforms offer many job specialities, it’s good to go for those that cater to a specific setting. For instance, Toptal is popular for high-end coders.
