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

A lot of freelancers feel like they’re always chasing the next opportunity, splitting their time between securing work and finishing it.

Many websites are out there to help freelancers find projects. While they’re not all created equal, 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.

Table of Contents: Best Freelance Sites

• Upwork
• Toptal
• Fiverr
• Designhill
• LinkedIn
• SimplyHired
• Dribbble
• Guru
• Freelancer.com
• Flexjobs
• 99designs
• PeoplePerHour
• TaskRabbit
• ServiceScape
• Behance
• We Work Remotely
• AngelList Talent
• DesignCrowd
• Codeable
• SolidGigs
• Choosing the right freelance website

Upwork

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Upwork is a remote work platform that connects clients with skilled independent workers from around the world. Whether you’re an accounting expert, developer, web designer, writer, customer service worker, or any other type of specialist, you’ll find jobs that meet your needs on Upwork.

With Upwork, small businesses or clients can post jobs and wait for skilled freelancers to apply. Or they can hire workers who specialize in particular tasks using the Project Catalog.

Meanwhile, freelancers can create a profile and even add an introduction video that showcases their skills, personality, and experience. Then, they can wait to be discovered by clients or respond to job posts directly.

Here are some of the benefits of using Upwork:

• The site features reputable clients looking to pay freelancers competitive rates.
• There’s payment protection for clients and freelancers on hourly and fixed-price projects.
• Freelancers can get paid in a variety of ways, such as PayPal or direct transfer.

However, there are some aspects of Upwork that not everyone may like.

• Upwork aims to find the best workers from all over the world to fill clients’ open positions. Vetting workers from a worldwide freelance talent pool can make for a long and selective hiring process.
• Upwork has a relatively high service fee (20% of your first $500 bill). However, the fee works on a sliding scale—the more money you make on the platform, the less you’ll pay (percentage-wise) in fees.

Upwork has a free basic plan for freelancers, but the Freelancer Plus plan is $14.99 a month and includes perks like a customized URL and 80 Connects per month.

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

Toptal

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Toptal helps a variety of highly qualified freelancers find work. Professionals who specialize in things like 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 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 then apply for job posts from well-known businesses like Airbnb. Freelancers who fail the test have to wait several months before taking it again.

Some benefits of using Toptal include:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using Toptal:

• Freelancers must endure 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.

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

Fiverr

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Fiverr makes it simple for digital freelancers to find people looking for their services. There are many project listings on Fiverr, from content creation and video production to app design to 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.

Some benefits of using Fiverr include:

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

Some disadvantages to using Fiverr include:

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

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.

Designhill

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Designhill connects freelance artists and designers with businesses seeking 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 business.

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

Some benefits of using Designhill include:

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

Some disadvantages of using Designhill include:

• Designhill is exclusive to designers.
• It has a seven-day window for clients to request changes to logo designs, which can result in extra work from picky clients.

Designhill is free to use for freelancers.

LinkedIn

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

You can also create and share posts to give companies a glimpse into who you are and your interests. 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 site for freelancers, but it does feature a range of opportunities for independent professionals. Freelance graphic designers, developers, and copywriters, and more can all look for work using LinkedIn.

Some benefits of using LinkedIn include:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using LinkedIn are:

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

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

SimplyHired

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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, 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 see reviews written by former or current workers.

Benefits of using SimplyHired include:

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

Some disadvantages of using SimplyHired include:

• 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.

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

Dribbble

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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.

Dribbble is a great platform 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.

Some benefits of using Dribbble include:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using Dribbble are:

• Freelance jobs are only offered to users with a Pro account.
• You have to apply for a designer account on Dribbble.
• It can be hard for beginning designers to use the site.

For freelancers, a Dribbble Pro account can cost from $5 to $15 a month. Pro members also get a boost in the search results for hiring managers.

Guru

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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.

Here are some benefits of using Guru:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using Guru include:

• 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.

A Guru basic membership is free for freelancers. However, the site does take a 9% fee 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.

Freelancer.com

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As the name suggests, Freelancer.com is a job site exclusively for freelancers. The site is a great place where professionals like web developers, social media experts, and marketing specialists can 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 up a positive reputation on the site.

Some benefits of using Freelancer.com include:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using Freelancer.com include:

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

Freelancer.com is free to use for freelancers. However, the site takes 10% of your earnings for fixed projects and contests and 20% for services.

Flexjobs

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

Flexjobs caters to an assortment of professionals with skills like content marketing, copywriting, administration, 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.

Some benefits of using Flexjobs include:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using Flexjobs include:

• The sight 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.

Flexjobs is a subscription site, so you’ll have to sign up for a paid account to use it. Accounts start at $9.95 per week but can go down to $1.35 per week if you register for a whole year. You’ll get a 30-day guarantee when you sign up. You can get a refund for any reason during that time.

99designs

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99designs is a job site where freelancers can find work designing websites, logos, clothing, and a variety of other products. 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’ll be able to narrow your search to specific industries and project types.

Some benefits of using 99designs include:

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

Some disadvantages of using 99designs are:

• It can be hard for beginners with lower designer levels to get noticed and secure work.
• The site charges high service fees relative to other job sites.

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

PeoplePerHour

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PeoplePerHour connects businesses with freelancers by giving recruiters free access to profiles and portfolios of freelancers. PeoplePerHour doesn’t cater to any particular industry, but has a pool of freelancers skilled in everything from programming and design to business and legal services.

While the site lets freelancers create an account and profile for free, new accounts have to be approved by the site administrators. Once a profile is made, it’s added to the pool that recruiters can browse for qualifications, work history, and portfolios. At the same time, freelancers can browse for work by project.

Some benefits of using PeoplePerHour include:

• The site has tools that can help you do things like create automated invoices.
• There are job listings based on your location.
• Payments made on the site are secure.

A few disadvantages of using PeoplePerHour include:

• There are a limited number of bids you can make each month.
• New accounts need to be reviewed by moderators, so it may take some time to get started on the platform.
• There’s no guarantee that a new account will be approved.

Freelancers on PeoplePerHour are charged a service fee per client. The service fee is 20% of the freelancer’s commission if the client pays $350 or less for the service. After $350, the more a service costs, the lower the fee’s percentage.

TaskRabbit

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

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

Some benefits of using TaskRabbit include:

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

Some disadvantages to using TaskRabbit are:

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

When you freelance on TaskRabbit, the site will perform a background check and analyze your application. Once you’re 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.

ServiceScape

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ServiceScape is for freelancers who specialize in disciplines related to writing, 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, either, so writers who use ServiceScape will want to have outstanding profiles.

Some of the benefits of using ServiceScape include:

• There’s a customizable pricing structure.
• The site lets you work on your own schedule.
• The platform facilitates great communication between freelancers and recruiters.

Some disadvantages of using ServiceScape are:

• The platform charges a fee of half your commission for every project.
• The site caters to a very limited selection of professionals.

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

Behance

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Behance combines a job site with a social media site for creatives. Professionals like 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 the way you would on a site like Facebook or Instagram. The more posts show up 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.

Some benefits of using Behance include:

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

Some disadvantages of using Behance include:

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

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

We Work Remotely

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We Work Remotely is a marketplace for remote jobs. It mainly caters to people searching for full-time or part-time remote positions, but also has opportunities for freelancers. Around 3 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.

Some benefits of using We Work Remotely include:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using We Work Remotely are:

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

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.

AngelList Talent

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AngelList Talent 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 AngelList Talent 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 skills and wait for new companies to get in touch with you.

Some benefits of using AngelList Talent include:

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

Some disadvantages of using AngelList Talent are:

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

Freelancers can find jobs on AngelList Talent for free.

DesignCrowd

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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.

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

Some benefits of using DesignCrowd include:

• 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.

Some disadvantages of using DesignCrowd are:

• 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.

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

Codeable

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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 only receives one estimate. This prevents freelancers from undercutting each other to get more work or overcharging clients.

Some benefits of using Codeable include:

• Codeable guarantees hourly rates of at least $70 to $120 an hour for development projects.
• The site has programs to help freelancers grow their careers.

Some disadvantages of using Codeable are:

• 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.

If you’re selected to be a Codeable expert, you can expect to pay the company 10% of your commissions.

SolidGigs

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SolidGigs helps programmers, freelance writers, and a variety of other types of freelancers find the best opportunities available. When you sign up to freelance 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 only sends job posts from reputable clients that match your experience, skills, and preferences perfectly, so you don’t have to waste time pinpointing the right jobs.

Some benefits of using SolidGigs include:

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

Some disadvantages of using SolidGigs are:

• 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.

A subscription to SolidGigs costs $35 a month (or $21 a month if you sign up for a year-long membership).

Choosing the right freelance website

With so many freelance websites out there, it can be difficult to choose the best one for your needs. There are some important factors to consider when choosing which sites to devote your time to.

• Quality and quantity of job offers. While you should use a platform with plenty of opportunities in your field, more job opportunities doesn’t always mean better job opportunities. 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 seeking your abilities. For example, if you’re a financial consultant, you’d likely want to use a service like Toptal.

• Ideal clients. Think about your ideal clients. Look for startup freelance jobs on a site like AngelList Talent 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 directly into your account through 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 30% of your commissions, while a site like Codeable will only take 10%.

• Website or app usability. Some freelance job sites and 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.

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 it easy to build rewarding relationships—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 opportunities for you. See how Upwork can connect you with clients from all over the world who need your expertise.