Last Update: 22 Oct, 2020
Online freelance websites and marketplaces are changing the way we work. We can work from anywhere, choose how much we want to work and at what time we want to work. We don’t have to worry about waking up early to get ready for the job or even taking a long holiday with our family. We are your own bosses!
As the freelance culture grew famous during the last decade, hundreds of websites have been launched that provide great service to freelance workers and outsourcers. I did some research on the web and found the following 10 best freelance websites that are really changing the freelance landscape of the world and have already established themselves as mega sources of freelancing and outsourcing.
10 Best Freelance Websites
1. Toptal
A newer player in the freelance game, Toptal is great for experienced software developers. Their screening process is pretty intense – only accepting the top 3% of developers – so it’s not as easy to get up and running on a project as with some of the other sites listed here.
If you are able to get through the screening rounds, though, it’s a pretty great setup. The service pays really well, higher rates than all the other sites listed here. They can set you up with a range of projects from short- to long-term, and will match you with projects that fit specifically to you and your skillset.
If you are looking for a highly qualified developer for your startup or any other high quality project, I strongly recommend you hire your developer from Toptal.
Note : This is a the most Premium freelancer network that I’ve found on the web. Guys there are highly talented and are usually paid much higher than other sites.
Hire a Developer | Apply as a Developer
2. Upwork
Upwork has become the world’s biggest marketplace now coming out of merger between oDesk.com and Elance.com and is my personal favorite. oDesk and Elance, the world’s two biggest freelance websites joined hands and merged to form Upwork.com in middle of 2015 forming a big competitor for Freelance.com. But even after so much noise around people opposing this decision of theirs, I personally think it is still the same amazing place for finding jobs and hiring freelancers.
When I started my freelance career I did it with these sites and now I feel good that I have one website and one portfolio. Upwork provides very high quality service and the fees that they take for projects is also small. The most important thing that I love about Upwork is their support team. It never happened that they were not able to respond to my queries and problems.
3. Freelancer
It is one of the oldest player out there. After the launch in year 2003, it has now grown into world’s biggest outsourcing destination. It has recently acquired the two big giants in the freelancing marketplace: vWorker and Scriptlance and now become bigger than ever.
If you are looking for a place to start, then Freelancer is the best place for you. Its easy to sign up as a freelancer or employer and start earning or hiring. I always recommend newbies and even the professional freelancers who have worked on other freelance sites to join Freelancer.com.
4. Fiverr
It is the world’s largest marketplace for small services. The most interesting part is you can create gigs for as low as $5. It can prove to be a money making system for you even if you don’t know the coding or design stuff. Just have a look at the gigs others are creating and see if you can do that too. If you can do something very usual that people may be willing to pay $5 for then you can make significant amount of money here.
5. Guru
Since 2001, this platform enables freelancers to showcase their skills and services and to find appropriate jobs. Freelancers and employers both create their profiles on the site and enter into a job contract after reviewing each other’s professional reputation. A freelancer manages his/her activities through Work Room and payments are made following SafePay system.
Freelancers, looking for good pay jobs in designing, writing, IT, marketing, administration, and other fields, sign up here.
6. PeoplePerHour
This site brings together people who are either seeking or offering services relating to writing, web development, designing, social media, business development etc. It is a UK-based company, which follows a system, pretty similar to other freelancing sites. On this site, you will find both online as well as on-site freelancing gigs. Jobs are either fixed price or hourly type.
7. iFreelance
If you offer services in accounting, administration, marketing, designing, programming, and writing or in any other related categories, you can join iFreelance to find prospects. Simply create your profile, advertising the services that you offer. Alternatively, you can bid on the projects that are suitable to your skills.
Joining iFreelance is not free. You must purchase one of its paid membership plans. Personally, I don’t think it is a drawback since it compensates by not deducting any fee from your earnings.
8. 99Designs
This site includes only designing gigs in the form of contests. A client puts forward his/her design brief. Freelance designers work on that. Only the approved design wins the prize money.
In my opinion, this site offers immense opportunities to aspiring designers. Even if you don’t win a contest, the designs you make will be a great addition to your portfolio.
Be it logo design or book design, join 99Design if you have skills in any type of design work.
9. SimplyHired
It is difficult to beat SimplyHired when it comes to the variety of freelancing jobs. From personal care to high tech, from administrative to construction, this is the marketplace for online and offline freelance jobs. The site lists jobs from 24 different countries. Besides job listing, the site includes other useful resources like company directory, success stories and career development tips.
10. Craigslist
Many don’t know that Craigslist is also a marketplace for freelancing gigs. Due to its location-specific listing feature, it is possible to find on-site freelancing jobs through Craigslist. A freelancer can use the site free of cost and browse jobs in nearby major cities.
Now you can go and check out which of the following freelance website suits you the best. There are a lot of other sites also but these are the top players out there.
