The pandemic accelerated the need to adapt to a remote workforce. Plus, due to layoffs and reduced work hours, many workers have turned to freelance to earn more income. Through freelancing, workers can have flexible hours and choose their clients and projects as they wish. And the practical way they can find work is by listing and finding clients on freelance websites. It’s safe to say there are more than 20 freelance websites, with millions of freelancers finding work. But which are the best freelance websites to find both clients and freelancers?
Starting at $5/hr or per job, you can hire freelancers on Fiverr in a snap. With over 3 million active buyers, you can find freelancers of different skill sets.
But if you don’t want to look around and spend time going through hundreds of pages to find the right freelancer, you can register to Fiverr Business. Success managers will help you find vetted freelancers while you focus on what matters to your business. Currently, it’s free for your first year.
But if you’re a freelancer, you don’t have to worry about paying to sign up. You can immediately get started and “sell” your services. Make sure that you have a portfolio ready so that freelance seekers can hire you in an instant. That’s why many consider this as one of the best freelance websites.
Here are some services to buy and sell on the site:
- Graphics and design
- Writing and translation
- Digital marketing
- Video, animation, music, and audio
- Programming
- Business
- Lifestyle
- Data
Pros:
- Fiverr Pro available for new and existing sellers to become vetted
- Platform transparency
- Convenience in finding work and hiring freelancers
Cons:
- Copyright from outputs are not guaranteed
- Fiverr gets 20% of freelancers’ earnings
YunoJuno is a specialized, UK-based freelance marketplace. Initially, the marketplace was limited to freelancers and businesses in the UK. However, they have since expanded their freelance website to cater to any business around the globe.
If you plan on using YunoJuno, you don’t have to go through freelancer profiles since they will present you with an ideal list of freelancers upon signing up. Plus, YunoJuno will also take care of invoicing and timesheets while you focus on running your business. Not to mention, you’ll also have a list of your favorite freelancers if you need to rehire them on a future project.
Freelancers from these disciplines can create an account on the website:
- Client service (e.g., account managers and directors, business directories)
- Creatives (e.g., copywriters, creative strategist, art director)
- Designers
- Developers
- Film
- Marketing, Social media, & PR
- Project management
- Quality assurance
- Research
Pros
- Clients can book talent from other countries
- Clients can access history with previous freelancers and connect with them again
Cons
- It takes 14 days for the freelancer to receive payment
If you need designs for your company, don’t look any further with DesignCrowd. It’s a freelance crowdsourcing website where you can start a “contest” and receive 20+ designs from designers all over the world.
It’s slightly affordable than its competitor, 99Designs. There are over 900,000+ freelancers ready to submit their designs to your project. Aside from looking at a freelancer on the site, you can make a bid on projects you can buy from designers on the site. Plus, you’re free to choose freelancers from other countries, making it easier for you to talk to a designer in your own country.
To note, here’s what freelancers can sell on the site:
- Graphic design
- Logo
- Web & app design
- Print design
- Merchandise
- Illustration
- Marketing & advertising designs
Pros
- Clients can get more options when it comes to design (up to 100 designs)
- Money-back guarantee if the client isn’t satisfied with work
- Fees start at $99; much cheaper than main competitors
Cons:
- Freelancers that don’t win the contest or have a high placement will not receive a fee for participating
- There’s no guarantee for the quality of submissions
At first glance, you may think Dribbble is only a design portfolio site and design community. However, it has since expanded so that freelance designers can find work on the site.
You’re not required to sign up since some designers post their email on the cover photo of their portfolio page. However, those with a high demand for freelance designers should sign up and reap the benefits of Dribbble as a design marketplace.
Any freelance designer with expertise in these design fields can post their portfolio on the site:
- Animation
- Branding
- Mobile
- Illustration
- Print
- Typography
- Product design
- Web design
Pros:
- Clients don’t need to sign up since some designers would post their email
- Designers can leave feedback to other designers— the more feedback and likes they receive, they might earn a place on the Popular page
Cons:
- Can be pricey for one-time projects
Maybe you’ve heard the horror stories of freelancers not fulfilling their work or running away. Another thing to note could be freelancers submitting low-quality work at a low price.
TopTal is one of the best freelance websites that address these issues. TopTal will do the work for you as they help you find freelancers within 48 hours. To start, answer their quiz, and they’ll match you with freelancers to accomplish your projects.
With that said, the vetting process can discourage most freelancers from applying. However, it ensures that freelancers are part of the world’s top 3% of workers. Freelancers aiming to get jobs on Toptal can apply to any of these categories:
- Developers
- Designers
- Finance experts
- Project managers
- Product managers
Pros:
- Those who are interested in hiring a Toptal freelancer can work with them within 48 hours
- Toptal offers a two-week trial to see if the Toptal freelancer is a good fit for the company
Cons:
- It can be tough for any freelancer to pass the screening process
One alternative to DesignCrowd is 99Designs. They have similar approaches in finding freelancers and getting designs.
But, their advantage is you can receive quality designs from mid to high-level designers, but it can be pricey if you want to ensure that only mid or high-level designers can submit their work. But if you don’t want to spend too much on design contests, you can search for freelancers available for immediate work on their marketplace.
Meanwhile, if you’re a freelancer, you can instantly apply to 99Designs, but a “Designer Success Team” will determine your level on the site. You can render design services such as logo design, website design, merchandise, marketing and advertising, and more.
Pros:
- There’s a fast turnaround for design contests
- Money-back guarantee for clients
- Clients can receive quality designs based on tiers
Cons:
- Tiered system can become expensive for small businesses in a hurry to get new designs; it may not guarantee quality despite the higher tier and designer skill level
- Designers may drop down to skill level depending on the level of work they produce
- Designers may be rejected, but 99Designs can only allow reapplication one more time
If you need expert talents for your project, Upwork is considered one of the best freelance websites. You can find more than 200 million projects up for sale. That may be overwhelming, but you can be sure that a wide range of services is available for your business needs.
The easiest way to hire freelancers is to search for them on the site. However, if you want to get vetted workers on your team, you can use the Talent Scout feature and let Upwork recruit workers for you. Or you can browse on the Project Catalog and buy projects instantly.
Meanwhile, freelancers consider Upwork as another opportunity to find clients for work. You can start by creating your profile. Or you can send a proposal and bag a new project to earn income.
Pros:
- Reviews are available to see how well the freelancer performed
- The platform guarantees safety in payment
- Service fees for freelancers depend on how much they earned
Cons:
- Clients may not guarantee the credibility and legitimacy of the worker they plan on hiring
- Freelancers may have challenges getting their money faster when using Upwork’s payment service
A job search site like SimplyHired will help you find full-time or part-time workers. But freelancers are also on the platform, ready to take on any project.
To start, publish your job posting, and you’ll have freelancers swarming to apply to your job posting. And if you’re not sure how to write a job posting, they give you tips on how to write one. You can also boost your posting by paying a small fee, so that more freelancers can find you.
If you’re a freelancer, you can create an account for free and decide if you want to apply to full-time or part-time jobs.
Pros:
- It’s free to post a job on the site
- Job listing will also appear in Indeed
- Freelancers can directly apply to their potential client’s site
Cons:
- Freelancers will not be able to “sell” their services
You’ve probably read about entrepreneurs hiring virtual assistants or workers in the Philippines. Those who want to replicate the success of these entrepreneurs can use Onlinejobs.ph. It’s one of the best freelance websites to hire Philippines-based workers.
It’s easy to find freelancers. You can search for resumes or post a job listing. However, Onlinejobs.ph does offer a paid recruiting service, but it’s when you’re unavailable to do so. You can pay $500 and tell them your intent on why you need their recruiting service.
On the other hand, Philippine freelancers can sign up on the site free of charge. And if you want a higher chance of getting hired, you need to provide proof that will increase your ID trust score.
Pros:
- They have their time tracking system and payment, which clients can use free of charge
- The platform has three posting plans (free and paid), allowing you to post and contact more freelancers on the paid options
- Don’t take a commission when businesses hire and work with freelancers
Cons:
- They don’t do rigorous screening to ensure the legitimacy and credibility of the freelancer
Freelancer is another generalized freelance marketplace. Many consider this one of the best freelance websites because it integrates chatting and payments in one platform. In addition, it will allow you to monitor your freelancer’s progress and send their payment through the Milestone Payments system once they complete their projects. Plus, they have a mobile app where you can manage your projects with ease.
On the other hand, Freelancer allows freelancers to make a bid on projects. You can make six free bids per month. Or, if you’re a freelance designer on the platform, you can join contests as well. You can even feature your submission for a small fee.
Pros:
- Has their payments and chatting system allowing clients to communicate and pay freelancers
- Offers corporations and big companies the Enterprise option, helping them find the Top 1% of freelancers on the site
Cons:
- Fees can be confusing for users
Here’s another well-known freelance marketplace. PeoplePerHour has over 3 million freelancers from all over the world. The best way to find a freelancer on this site is to post your project, and their AI will match you with freelancers ideal to complete the project. As an alternative, you can also browse their “Offers” page, where freelancers sell projects based on your project needs.
Meanwhile, if you’re a freelancer, you can land projects based on your skills and experiences. However, you can also bid for projects while waiting to get matched. You get 15 bids per month, but you can buy more to sell more gigs.
Here are some services that freelancers can offer on the site:
- Technology
- Design
- Writing
- Marketing
- Business
Pros:
- Has a built-in payment system and dedicated project stream for clients to get updates
- Posting project for buyers is free of charge
Cons:
- Freelancers should pay to get more bids per month
- Many complain over lack of support regarding fees
As one of the oldest freelance platforms, Guru has shown that it still has staying power despite its competition.
Their advantage over other platforms is you can generate purchase orders and invoices in hiring a freelancer. Plus, you can use their SafePay system, allowing you to pay freelancers. Their all-in-one platform allows you to organize your projects, monitoring, and payments.
If you want to hire a freelancer in hours, you can post a listing and get bids and proposals from freelancers ready to work on your project.
If you’re a freelancer, you can subscribe to a paid membership to give you more chances to find work. Like Freelancer, you can bid on a project you want or post their projects to get hired instantly. It also has the edge over Freelancer and Peopleperhour, allowing individual freelancers or freelancer teams to land more gigs. Plus, you can choose among four payment types on how you want to get paid:
- Fixed
- Hourly
- Recurring
- Task-based
Those in the following fields can sign up and sell these services:
- Writing
- Programming
- Business
- Marketing
- Design
- Legal
- Education
- Engineering
Pros:
- Buyers are free to post and get quotes
- WorkRooms allow employers to manage projects and freelancers
- Freelancers have more options to get payment
Cons:
- Freelancers may need to subscribe to a higher tier to get more bids
Benefits of Hiring a Freelancer
You get more out of freelancers than hiring full-time workers. But what makes freelancers the top choice?
More Affordable
Freelancer rates can be lower than those who want to work full time. After all, you can find freelancers for $5/hr or per job. They won’t break the bank, and you can save more money for other operational expenses.
Short-Term Commitment
Some of your projects can be accomplished for short amounts of time. This might render your full-time worker without having to do work for most of their tenure. A freelancer can address this challenge and help you fulfill projects anytime you need something done.
Flexibility
The advantage of most freelancers is they can work anytime. They can be online when you’re available and could work during your off time.
Demerits of Hiring a Freelancer
While hiring freelancers won’t blow a hole in your budget, hiring a freelancer does come with risks. Here are the disadvantages of finding and hiring a freelancer.
Disappearing Act
You can’t guarantee that your freelancers would be available all the time. Unfortunately, some business owners have reported that their freelancers would disappear out of nowhere, even on the best freelance websites. That’s why it’s important to interview your freelancer and get some references from them.
Late Submissions or Fulfillments
Full-time freelancers can’t rely on one client. With that said, some freelancers may have other gigs or work part-time for another company. Due to the workload, freelancers may not accomplish the work you requested or ordered from them.
Time Consuming
Finding and hiring a freelancer can become time-consuming on your end. Even if you find the top freelancers in the best freelance websites, you’ll have to sift through hundreds of profiles. Sure they could be worth finding since some might charge lower than average freelancers. But, you may end up saving time (and even money) when you choose a design service.
Tips on Hiring the Best-Fit Freelancer
Before hiring a freelancer, you need to know what type of freelancer you need to accomplish a project. Plus, make sure that you also set a budget. This way, you can narrow down your choices and decide where and which freelancer to hire. Here are other tips to follow in hiring workers on the best freelance websites.
Prepare a Detailed Brief
Some freelance marketplaces rely on having a job board posted on the site. This will allow freelancers to view available jobs and see if they’re up for the challenge. And if you want freelancers to take on your work, you need a detailed brief that specifies all the information about your project. For example, you don’t want to say, “I want a logo for my company,” and submit the project.
Lay out all the details of the project. You want to make sure that you’re specific and clear with what you want fulfilled. If you’re looking for a logo designer, you want to say things like:
- Color
- Font
- Example logos to inspire yours
This will help the freelancer conceptualize the design and ask you any other questions to fulfill your project.
Go to Relevant or Specialized Freelancer Websites
Once you’ve identified what type of project you need, the next best step is finding your freelancer. Fiverr and Upwork are two of the best freelancer websites where millions of freelancers are listed. For example, if you need freelance designers, you can find them on freelance websites like 99Designs and Dribbble. This will narrow down your search and make it easier for you to find freelancers based on your project requirements.
Conduct a Series of Interviews
While most sites will allow freelancers to post their portfolio and previous work, you may not guarantee it’s theirs. And interviews can help you further assess if they’re the right fit. During the interview and hiring process, ask them for their recent work. Or let them do a trial run. They may not have updated their portfolio, or they’re not the real deal.
Do A Test Run or Assignment
Interviews may not be enough. After all, you’re only talking to your freelancer, and you want to make sure if they say who they are. A trial run or assignment can give you a sense of what they can do and if they will be up to the task. Make sure that your instructions are clear and that you have a deadline.
What about those who don’t pass? You can pay them for the service they rendered.
Plus, the trial runs or assignments will help you create a shortlist of candidates and see which one will become the ideal fit for your project.
Tips on Finding Work as a Freelancer
If you’re new to freelancing, you might think it could be difficult to land work or find a job. But with an increased demand for freelancers, you have a chance to land your first gig soon enough. Aside from signing up on the best freelance websites, here are other known ways to find work.
Visit Career or Job Sections
Freelancers don’t only rely on listing their profiles and portfolios on the best freelance websites. In some instances, you have to do the hard work and find the client yourself. Luckily, most sites would have their Careers or Jobs pages. Who knows, you might end up working for a big corporation or doing your dream job. For example, you can look for city-specific jobs like New York or Berlin tech jobs.
Send a Cold Email
It can be daunting to send a cold email to a prospective employer, but it’s one way to find work aside from being listed on the best freelance websites. You’ve probably heard the stories of getting rejected or being ignored, but it’s better than waiting around if you want to land a gig soon.
Networking
One way to land new more projects is to talk to other freelancers. You can join Facebook groups or go to LinkedIn. You can also send a message to your past employer. Ask them if anyone in their network needs help. If you work outside of your home, you can introduce yourself to people in a coworking space. Who knows, when the time comes, they might need your skills one day.
