20+ Best Freelance Websites for Finding Online Work in 2025

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Freelancing can be both liberating and nerve-racking. You can set your own prices and hours and choose which projects to devote your time to. But you may never feel you have the security of a full-time employee.

Many freelancers feel they’re always chasing the next opportunity, splitting their time between securing work and actually doing it.

Many websites are available to help freelancers find projects. While they’re not all the same, and some are meant only for workers with specific skills, the right website can help you spend less time looking for work so you can spend more time on task. In this article, we’ll highlight top freelance websites to help you kick-start your career.

1. Upwork

Upwork is a remote work marketplace that connects businesses with skilled independent professionals from around the world. Whether you’re an accounting expert, developer, web designer, copywriter, customer service worker, or any other type of skilled freelance professional, you’ll find projects that match your skill set on Upwork.

As a freelancer, you can get started by going to upwork.com and clicking the “Sign Up” button to create your Upwork profile. Enhance your profile by adding a work portfolio, introduction video, educational background, certifications, licenses, and more to showcase your skills, abilities, personality, and experience.

Pros:

• Upwork attracts clients from around the world, offering freelancers a variety of projects at competitive hourly rates.
• The most popular freelancing professions (including writers, designers, developers, and marketers) can earn from $30 to $50 per hour.
• The platform offers payment protection on both hourly and fixed-price projects to make sure you get paid for the work you do‍
• Uma™, Upwork’s Mindful AI, is built into your everyday workflow. All freelancers have access to Uma. Get help writing your proposals so you can win more jobs and earn more. ‍
• Upgrade to Freelancer Plus for full access to Uma to help you brainstorm, review, analyze, write, code, and more for your projects on Upwork.
• Freelancers can get paid in a variety of ways, such as PayPal or direct transfer.

Cons:

Upwork’s talent marketplace can be competitive. New freelancers may find it challenging at first as they find their feet and build up their portfolios.

Costs:

Signing up for Upwork is free. Its freelancer service fee is a variable fee ranging from 0-15% on new contracts—with some exceptions, including Enterprise and Direct Contracts (formerly BYO).

For independent professionals looking for more, Upwork’s Freelancer Plus plan can be beneficial. For $20 a month, freelancers receive perks such as extra Connects (100 total, per month), a customized profile URL, and full access to Uma. Think of Uma as a powerful work companion to help you get work done faster than ever for your projects on Upwork.

Interested in seeing how Upwork can help propel your freelance career forward? Sign up today.

2. Toptal

‍Toptal helps a variety of highly qualified freelancers find work. Professionals specializing in software development, project management, and business consulting can particularly benefit from this site. However, note that Toptal has a rigorous five-step selection process for identifying the best workers in any field.

The intense hiring process begins with an English test and project assessment. Only the top 3% of freelancers are accepted on the platform. Those who make it through can apply for job posts from well-known businesses like Airbnb. Freelancers who fail the test have to wait several months before taking it again.

Pros:

• The site has premium job posts from well-known businesses.
• Only top-tier professionals can get through the site’s screening process.
• The platform has free tools for time-tracking, invoicing, and receiving payments.

Cons:

• Freelancers have to go through an intensive and exclusive screening procedure to use Toptal. Very few freelancers make the cut.
• Toptal is great for businesses looking to complete large-scale projects, like developing and maintaining huge software applications. Freelancers who perform smaller tasks like updating landing pages may have difficulty finding work on the site.

Costs:

Toptal doesn’t take any fees from freelancers, but companies can easily spend over $200 per hour to hire freelancers on the site.

3. Fiverr

Fiverr helps digital freelancers find people looking for their services. There are many project listings on Fiverr, including content creation, video production, app design, and almost any other type of project you can imagine.

Fiverr has a very simple model: Sellers (freelancers) can create free profiles listing the gigs (services) they offer without sending bids or pitching prospects. Buyers (businesses) can simply purchase the services that work best for them.

Pros:

• Fiverr has a large selection of service categories.
• Registration is free for freelancers.
• The platform offers online courses to help freelancers learn skills.

Cons:

• Fiverr charges freelancers a large fee on commissions.
• It can take some time for freelancers to get paid.

Costs:

After a seller finishes a gig, Fiverr takes 20% of their commission. It can take a few weeks for a seller to be able to withdraw payments from the site as well.

4. Designhill

Designhill connects freelance artists and designers with businesses looking for things like website, logo, and catalog design. In addition to offering a large list of design opportunities, the site is helpful for freelancers learning to manage their businesses.

Designhill has resources that allow freelancers to open their own stores to clients all over the globe. Its management tools can also help freelancers measure profits, make business cards, and create digital marketing materials.

Pros:

• Designhill lets you create a free online store.
• The site has a reliable live chat support team.
• There are no service fees for freelancers.

Cons:

• Designhill is exclusive to designers.
• It has a seven-day window for clients to request changes to logo designs, which might delay acceptance and payment.

Costs:

Designhill is free to use for freelancers.

5. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social networking site for professionals and is one of the most reputable career resources around. You can create a profile on the site to showcase your experience, education, work history, past projects, and skills to large and small businesses looking for new talent.

You can also create and share posts to give companies a glimpse into who you are and what interests you. LinkedIn has a huge list of freelance and full-time opportunities.

Unlike most of the platforms we’re discussing, LinkedIn isn’t a dedicated job board for freelancers, but it features a range of opportunities for independent professionals. Freelance graphic designers, developers, copywriters, and more can look for work using LinkedIn.

Pros:

• LinkedIn helps you network with professionals from a wide variety of industries.
• The site can expose you to the most current news and trends about your industry.

Cons:

• Because so many professionals use LinkedIn, standing out can be difficult.
• Maintaining a current and professional LinkedIn page requires continuous updates.

Costs:

Freelancers can use basic LinkedIn features for free. For $39.99 a month, a Premium account offers learning courses, allows users to track employers who view their profile, and increases the number of connections users can make.

6. SimplyHired

SimplyHired features a wide range of freelance jobs, though it isn’t specifically for freelancers. The site has an easy-to-use interface that helps job seekers find opportunities from all over the web. Some job fields featured on the site include finance, SEO, marketing, and administration.

Applicants can customize job searches based on factors like their preferred industry, location, and interests. SimplyHired also lets you view company pay scales and reviews written by former or current workers.

Pros:

• The site will send you email alerts when new jobs that meet your experience and criteria become available.
• It also has resources you can use to help your professional development.

Cons:

• Businesses can post jobs on the site for free. Scammers may use the site to create fake job openings and contact you.
• It can be hard to get noticed on a large site like SimplyHired.

Costs:

Freelancers can apply for jobs and create profiles on SimplyHired for free.

7. Dribbble

Dribbble is mainly for designers, artists, and marketing professionals. Creative professionals can make portfolios of their past work on the site to increase their odds of landing contracts.

The Dribbble platform is great for creatives to showcase their work. It caters to people looking for full-time employment as well as freelancers. However, freelancers have to sign up for the Pro plan to access contract job lists.

Pros:

• The site has a large network of employers and professionals from around the world.
• It has an assortment of portfolios from inspiring artists and creators.

Cons:

• Freelance jobs are only offered to users with a Pro account.
• You have to apply for a designer account on Dribbble.
• Beginning designers may have difficulty getting accepted to use the site.

Costs:

A Dribbble Pro account costs $8 a month (billed annually) for freelancers. Pro members also get a boost in the search results for hiring managers.

8. Guru

Guru caters to freelancers worldwide who are experts in things like programming, graphic design, and project management.

The site makes it simple for freelancers to create profiles, advertise their skills, peruse job listings, and send bids to potential clients. The service will propose job opportunities that match your work experience, skills, and preferences. Guru features both long- and short-term projects that you can apply for.

Pros:

• The site has SafePay protection to make sure you’re compensated for your work in a timely manner.
• Guru customizes job listings based on specifications.

Cons:

• Fake businesses might approach you on the site looking to scam you.
• The website’s interface isn’t very user-friendly, making its huge library of job posts difficult to navigate.

Costs:

A Guru basic membership is free for freelancers. However, based on your membership type, the site takes a fee of between 5% and 9% for completed freelance invoices. Paid plans can cost as much as $50 a month and give freelancers access to a variety of tools to expand their businesses.

9. Freelancer.com

As the name suggests, Freelancer is a job site exclusively for freelancers. The site is a great space for professionals like web developers, social media experts, and marketing specialists to find work.

The site also features contests for things like design work that can help freelancers earn extra cash, add to their portfolios, and build a positive reputation on the site.

Pros:

• The site has a progress tracker that shows your growth as a freelancer.
• 24/7 customer support and live chat help you navigate the site.

Cons:

• The interface is less intuitive than many other sites.
• You’ll need to watch out for scam businesses that may contact you.

Costs:

Freelancer is free to use for freelancers. However, the site takes 10% of your earnings for fixed projects and contests or $5.00, whichever is greater, and 10% for hourly projects.

10. Flexjobs

Flexjobs is a subscription service that connects job seekers with flexible work. This includes freelance jobs, part-time and full-time seasonal work, jobs with alternative schedules, and temporary work.

The Flexjobs site caters to an assortment of professionals with skills like content marketing, copywriting, content writing, administration, data entry, and transcription. Flexjobs verifies that every job on the site is trustworthy and comes from a reliable source. You also won’t find any ads.

Pros:

• Every job post on the site is guaranteed to be legitimate.
• The site offers a helpful, reliable customer support team.
• The site offers things like skills testing and career advice to help catapult your career.

Cons:

• The site is more expensive for freelancers than many other options.
• Some job opportunities listed aren’t exclusive to the job site. You might even be able to find some of them on free sites.

Costs:

Flexjobs is a subscription site, so you’ll have to sign up for a paid account to use it. FlexJobs starts at $2.95 for a 14-day trial.

11. 99designs

Freelancers can find work designing websites, logos, clothing, and a variety of other products on the 99designs job site. It lets you create a profile that showcases your experience and past work to gain the attention of high-quality potential clients.

99designs will evaluate your work and give you a designer level. Higher-level designers are more likely to get seen and hired by businesses. When you search for jobs on the site, you can narrow your search to specific industries and project types.

Pros:

• The site is tailored to skilled designers.
• You’ll have access to a design community that can be helpful and inspiring.
• 99designs offers payment security.

Cons:

• Beginners with less designer experience may find it hard to get noticed and secure work.
• The site charges high service fees relative to other job sites.

Costs:

When you start with a new client using 99designs, the platform charges $100. Based on your designer level, you’ll also pay a fee from 5% to 15% of your commissions.

12. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour helps businesses find qualified and diverse freelance talent in areas like design, digital marketing, technology and programming, business, and music and audio.

Freelancers looking for work can sign up on PeoplePerHour, create a profile highlighting their skills, and submit their application. Once accepted, they can start applying for projects.

Pros:

• You can negotiate rates with clients.
• The platform provides a project stream tool to help freelancers and clients collaborate effectively.
• Clients can deposit funds into an escrow account, ensuring you get paid for your work.

Cons:

• You have to compete with many freelancers for work, which limits competitive pricing.
• The platform charges high freelancer fees compared to other options.

Costs:

PeoplePerHour charges a 20% service fee for projects less than £250 (about $300), 7.5% fee for projects from £250 to £5,000 (about $6,200), and 3.5% above £5,000.

13. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is a different type of freelancer website. Instead of offering opportunities to professionals, it helps people who can complete everyday tasks find consumers who need same-day services.

Typical TaskRabbit jobs include household maintenance, simple chores, or product delivery. Freelancers on the site set their own hourly rates and build profiles listing their services.

Pros:

• You can customize your hourly rate.
• The site doesn’t charge a service fee.

Cons:

• The site isn’t available in all areas, especially in rural locations.
• Skilled professionals might want to seek work elsewhere for better pay.

Costs:

When you freelance on TaskRabbit, the site will perform a background check and analyze your application. Once approved, you’ll have to pay $25 to start picking up gigs on the site. After that, the site won’t charge any service fees.

14. ServiceScape

ServiceScape is for freelancers specializing in writing-related disciplines, like editing, translation, and ghostwriting. It helps workers create and present freelance writing samples to a large database of potential clients.

On ServiceScape, businesses contact writers—not the other way around. Writers don’t bid on jobs or send proposals, so writers who use ServiceScape will want to have outstanding profiles that attract clients.

Pros:

• The pricing structure for writing jobs can be customized.
• The site lets you work on your own schedule.
• The platform facilitates great communication between freelancers and recruiters.

Cons:

• The platform charges a fee of half your commission for every project.
• The site caters to a very limited selection of professionals.
• The site doesn’t accept U.S. taxpayers living outside the country or non-U.S. taxpayers living in the country.

Costs:

When you accept a job on ServiceScape, you’ll have to pay the platform 50% of your rate when you finish the project.

15. Behance

Behance combines a job site with a social media site for creatives. Professionals including artists, photographers, animators, and digital designers can create and share portfolios with a huge audience. The site helps them get discovered by clients from around the world.

You can follow other professionals like you would on Facebook or Instagram. The more posts appear on your feed, the more likely you’ll come across a great business opportunity. Freelancers also get job notices that fit their skills and abilities.

Pros:

• The site helps freelancers reach and network with a global audience.
• Freelancers can create, share, and view personal content.

Cons:

• Behance has around 10 million members, so competing for jobs on the site can be difficult.
• Behance doesn’t accept images larger than 50MB. The site recommends that images stay 10MB or smaller to prevent long loading times for viewers.

Costs:

Behance is free to use and allows creators to upload as many projects as they want.

16. We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely is a marketplace for remote jobs. It caters to people searching for full-time or part-time remote positions, but it also has opportunities for freelancers. Around three million people use the site to find jobs each month.

Some of the top job categories on the site include design, programming, and management. The website has positions from several reputable companies like Google and Amazon.

Unlike other job sites, We Work Remotely doesn’t make freelancers create profiles to apply for jobs.

Pros:

• The site features high-quality job posts from well-known businesses.
• The site charges businesses a high fee to post on the site. This filters out most businesses that offer substandard job opportunities.

Cons:

• The site’s layout is more cluttered and difficult to use than some other job sites.
• There are limited filtering options for job searches.

Costs:

We Work Remotely charges businesses $299 per month to post a job opening on their site. Freelancers can search and apply for jobs on the site for free.

17. Wellfound 

Wellfound connects freelancers and other job seekers with positions at startup companies. Working at a startup gives freelancers a chance to help make a bigger impact than they might working for an established business.

Applying for positions with Wellfound is simple. You can apply to thousands of growing startups with only a single application. You can also create a profile on the site to showcase your skill set and wait for new companies to contact you.

Pros:

• Independent professionals have the opportunity to make a huge difference in a startup company.
• The site makes it very easy to apply for positions.
• Wellfound lets you see information about a job you’re applying for, such as your likely salary and the company’s investors.

Cons:

• Many entry-level jobs listed on the site require a good deal of experience.
• Wellfound caters to startups, so if that’s not what you’re looking for, you’ll need to go somewhere else.

Costs:

Freelancers can find jobs on Wellfound for free.

18. DesignCrowd

‍DesignCrowd gives freelance digital artists the ability to showcase their talents. Using DesignCrowd’s freelance marketplace, clients can view the work of thousands of creatives to hire the best artists to complete one-on-one projects.

The DesignCrowd model focuses heavily on contests. When a client starts a contest, freelance designers send work based on the client’s specifications. The client chooses their favorite from all the submissions, and the winning designer receives the contest reward. Sometimes, DesignCrowd even offers participation rewards.

Pros:

• It gives beginning designers a chance to improve their skills and get their projects viewed by businesses.
• The site helps designers build or add to their portfolios.

Cons:

• The site isn’t ideal for experienced designers who already have extensive portfolios.
• Freelancers who lose design contests likely won’t get paid.
• The site charges a large percentage of freelancer gains.

Costs:
DesignCrowd doesn’t charge freelancers to register on the site. However, it charges a 15% commission on all of their earnings.

19. Codeable

‍Codeable helps freelance WordPress developers find work. One of the great things about Codeable is that it uses a special algorithm to make sure freelancers get compensated fairly for their work.

When a client requests estimates for a project, the algorithm sorts out underpriced and overpriced submissions so the client receives only one estimate. This prevents freelancers from undercutting each other to get more work or overcharging clients.

Pros:

• Codeable guarantees hourly rates of at least $80 to $120 an hour for development projects.
• The site has programs to help freelancers grow their careers.

Cons:

• Codeable only accepts high-quality developers. The site has a long and difficult vetting process. After a 45-day trial period, a developer’s performance is intensely scrutinized by the company.
• The site doesn’t give freelancers the ability to set their own prices.

Costs:

If selected to be a Codeable expert, you can expect to pay the company 17.5% of your commissions.

20. SolidGigs

The SolidGigs platform helps programmers, freelance writers, and a variety of other types of freelancers find the best opportunities available. When you sign up with SolidGigs, the platform combs over freelance opportunities from a huge list of sources and delivers you the top 1% of gigs over email.

SolidGigs sends job posts from only reputable clients that match your experience, skills, and preferences, so you don’t have to waste time pinpointing the right jobs.

Pros:

• The site can save freelancers time.
• The platform has training resources to help you learn how to pitch to clients and charge appropriate rates.
• Freelancers get to choose from premium opportunities.

Cons:

• Subscription to the site isn’t free.
• The site only connects you with job opportunities. It doesn’t offer a platform for applying to gigs or receiving payment.

Costs:

A subscription to SolidGigs costs $49 a month (or $31 a month if you sign up for a year-long membership).

21. Jooble

‍Jooble collects a list of vacancies in different states and countries and displays it in a centralized place—grouped based on location. This helps job seekers identify open positions in their desired locations to submit applications for. The company’s mission is to enhance the employment process, making it smooth for both applicants and employers.

Since its launch in 2006, the company has expanded to provide job insights in about 67 countries. It collects job vacancies from more than 140,000 resources, including social media networks and corporate websites, daily.

Pros:

• Jooble provides free access to hundreds of vacancies in a centralized place.
• You can filter or search existing vacancies based on location.
• You can create a CV or resume directly in Jooble.

Cons:

• Clicking on a vacancy opens a separate page, meaning your browser can quickly get cluttered with tabs.
• You may need to sign up to submit job applications, which adds an extra step to the application process.
• You may find spam or ads on the site.

Cost:

Jooble is free to use.

22. Aquent

Aquent connects businesses with the right talent and technology. It specializes in project management, specialty recruitment, and creative strategy. The company works with experienced agents to identify qualified personnel to fit in various opportunities. Aquent also includes a wide range of jobs, allowing individuals to find suitable work to grow their skills while earning extra income.

Pros:

• You can collaborate with agents to find matching job opportunities.
• There’s access to a wide range of job postings.
• Aquent Gymnasium is available to help enhance your design, development, and marketing skills.
• Talent are typically hired as employees, with eligibility for benefits.

‍Cons:

• The agent-based recruitment system may be slow in certain situations compared to more automated matching.
• Most of the listed jobs require a good deal of experience, which means those just starting out to find work may not find success on the site.

Cost:

Employers using Aquent’s placement service have to pay a placement fee of as much as 25% of the selected individual’s annual salary once a full-time role is filled.

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Choosing the right freelance website

With so many options, choosing the best website for your freelancing needs can be difficult. Some important factors to consider when choosing which sites to devote your time to include:

• Quality and quantity of job offers. While you should use a platform with plenty of opportunities in your field, more job opportunities don’t always mean better job opportunities and quality work. The best sites have tools to help you narrow down your job search to only high-quality, relevant opportunities.
• Local jobs vs. global jobs. Some freelancers need to or like to work near their clients. However, if you’re open to working remotely, you might be able to find better opportunities worldwide.
• Industry specializations. Some job sites specialize in specific industries. Try to find a job site where clients are looking for your abilities. For example, if you’re a financial consultant, Toptal might serve your needs well.
• Ideal clients. Think about your ideal clients. Look for startup freelance jobs on a site like Wellfound if you want to make a big impact at a new company. Use a site like We Work Remotely if you want to work with huge name brands.
• Trust and safety. Job post scams are common. You can use resources like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or Consumer Reports to research company reputations.
• Customer support. A freelance platform with a reliable customer support team can help you get the most out of the job site and its resources.
• Payment methods. Decide how you want to get paid. You might want your payments deposited into your account through a direct transfer, or you may want to receive payment through a secure platform that uses strong encryption like PayPal or Payoneer.
• Terms and conditions. Pay close attention to the terms before registering with any job site so you know what you’re getting into. Quality freelance sites have terms that protect both clients and freelancers.
• Service fees. Make sure you know what you’ll pay to use a job site. Fees can vary greatly from site to site. For example, Fiverr will take 20% of your commissions, while a site like Upwork will only take 10%.
• Website or app usability. Some freelance job sites and mobile apps are more complex to use than others. A job site with an intuitive design can help limit the time you spend searching for opportunities.

Building a sustainable freelance career

Achieving long-term success in freelancing requires more than landing gigs—it involves continuous learning, strong personal branding, and proactive networking. Freelancers who strategically invest in their careers can create steady work opportunities and build lasting relationships with clients.

Prioritize continuous skill development

Freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal favor professionals who stay ahead of industry trends. Expanding your skill set through online courses, certifications, and hands-on experience keeps you competitive in high-demand fields like web development, digital marketing, and content creation. Regularly updating your profile with new expertise ensures you remain visible to potential clients seeking high-quality freelancers.

Build a strong personal brand

Your freelance profile is more than just a resume—it’s your digital storefront. Crafting a compelling bio, showcasing your portfolio, and maintaining a consistent tone across freelance websites, LinkedIn, and personal websites helps you stand out. Freelancers who establish themselves as experts in their niche are more likely to attract long-term, high-paying clients.

Leverage networking for growth

Freelancers who actively engage with online communities, industry groups, and social media platforms increase their visibility and opportunities for referrals. Platforms like PeoplePerHour, Behance, and LinkedIn enable freelancers to connect with businesses and expand their client base. Engaging with peers, participating in discussions, and sharing expertise fosters credibility and can lead to repeat work.

Focus on client relationships

A sustainable freelance career thrives on repeat business. Providing high-quality work, clear communication, and excellent customer service increases client retention. Freelancers who nurture strong relationships with satisfied clients often receive referrals, positive reviews, and long-term contracts, reducing the need to constantly seek new projects.

By continuously refining your skills, branding yourself effectively, networking within industry circles, and prioritizing client satisfaction, you can build a stable and thriving freelance business that supports long-term professional growth.

Start your freelance career on the best platform for you

If you want to work for yourself or have a passion you want to turn into a career, freelancing might be for you. Keep in mind that freelancing can be tough—there’s no guaranteed paycheck, and you’re responsible for your own success or failure.

Fortunately, there are resources to help you along the way, including Upwork, the world’s leading work marketplace. We offer opportunities for every stage of your freelance career, and you can control when, where, and how you work. And no matter your industry, we make building rewarding relationships easy—giving your freelance business the best opportunity to thrive.

Whether you’re a software developer, digital artist, business consultant, recruiter, or another type of independent professional, Upwork has freelance work for you. See how Upwork can connect you with clients who need your expertise from all over the world.

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Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation. 

Prices and fees are current at the time of writing and may change over time based on each service’s offerings.