Being a freelancer is a combination of liberation and anxiety. You have the freedom to determine your prices and working hours, as well as decide which projects to prioritize. However, the sense of stability that comes with being a full-time employee is absent. Many freelancers constantly find themselves in pursuit of new opportunities and dividing their time between obtaining work and completing it.
There are numerous websites available to assist freelancers in finding projects. Although not all of them are equal and some are exclusively designed for freelancers with specific skills, the appropriate website can reduce the amount of time spent searching for work, allowing more time for tasks.
Best freelance sites
1. Upwork
Upwork is an online platform that links clients with talented independent workers worldwide for remote work.
Whether you possess expertise in accounting, development, web design, writing, customer service, or any other specialized field, you will discover suitable job opportunities on Upwork. By utilizing Upwork, small businesses and clients have the ability to post job openings and await applications from competent freelancers. Alternatively, they can opt to hire workers who excel in specific tasks through the use of the Project Catalog.
In the meantime, freelancers have the opportunity to set up a profile and incorporate a video introduction that highlights their abilities, character, and background. Subsequently, they can either await clients to find them or actively engage with job postings.
Here are a few advantages of utilizing 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 may be certain aspects of Upwork that might not appeal to everyone.
- 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 offers a basic plan for freelancers free of charge, however, there is a Freelancer Plus plan available for $14.99 per month, which provides additional benefits such as a personalized URL and a monthly allowance of 80 Connects.
2. Toptal
Toptal is a platform that assists a range of exceptionally skilled freelancers in locating employment opportunities. This site is especially advantageous for professionals with expertise in software development, project management, and business consulting. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Toptal employs a demanding five-step selection process to identify the top workers in all industries.
The rigorous process commences with an English test and project evaluation. Only the platform accepts the top 3% of freelancers. Afterward, these individuals proceed to apply for job listings from renowned companies such as Airbnb. Freelancers who are unsuccessful in the test must wait for several months before having another opportunity to take it.
There are a few advantages to using Toptal, such as:
- 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.
There are several drawbacks associated with 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.
Freelancers on Toptal are not charged any fees, however, companies have the potential to spend more than $200 per hour when hiring a freelancer from the platform.
3. Fiverr
Fiverr simplifies the process for digital freelancers to connect with individuals in need of their services. The platform offers a variety of project listings, covering content creation, video production, app design, and virtually any other project imaginable.
Fiverr operates on a straightforward model in which freelancers, known as sellers, can freely create profiles featuring the services they offer, without the need to bid or pitch potential clients. Similarly, businesses, referred to as buyers, can conveniently purchase the services that suit their needs.
There are several advantages to using Fiverr, including:
- Fiverr has a large selection of service categories.
- Registration is free for freelancers.
- The platform offers online courses to help freelancers learn skills.
There are several drawbacks to utilizing Fiverr, such as:
- Fiverr charges freelancers a large fee on commissions.
- It can take some time for freelancers to get paid.
Upon completion of a gig, Fiverr deducts 20% from the seller’s commission. Additionally, sellers may have to wait a few weeks before they can withdraw their payments from the platform.
4. Designhill
Designhill is a platform that links businesses in need of services such as website design, logo creation, and catalog design with freelance artists and designers. The site not only provides a wide range of design opportunities but also proves beneficial for freelancers looking to improve their business management skills.
The platform possesses resources which enable freelancers to establish their own stores for clients worldwide. Additionally, it offers management tools geared towards assessing profits, producing business cards, and crafting digital marketing materials.
Designhill offers several advantages, including:
- Designhill lets you create a free online store.
- The site has a reliable live chat support team.
- There are no service fees for freelancers.
There are several disadvantages associated with using Designhill.
- 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.
Freelancers are able to use Designhill for free.
5. Jooble
Jooble collects job vacancy listings from over 140,000 sources worldwide, which include corporate websites, online job boards, freelancing platforms, social networks, and classifieds.
One advantage of using Jooble is that it streamlines the process of finding freelance opportunities by centralizing the search for jobs. By selecting a specific city on the homepage, you can limit your job search to that area within your country.
To find freelance jobs on Jooble, you can simply enter the desired job keyword into Jooble’s search engine without the need to create an account.
To find your preferred job match, you can apply various filters like salary range, work experience, and post date. Jooble, being an aggregator, will redirect you to the source of the job vacancy once you select a search result. You can then obtain additional details about the job and learn how to apply for it.
6. Freelancer.com
With a wide range of expertise, Freelancer.com allows professionals and companies from all over the world to collaborate on various projects, making it easy for clients to find experts of any kind.
You have the option to sign up as either a freelancer or a business owner. If you choose to sign up as a freelancer, you will need to complete a brief registration form.
By providing detailed information, including your skills, educational background, and work experience, freelancers can benefit from various contests, such as visual or design work, in addition to projects. Participating in these contests allows freelancers to not only earn money but also receive reviews on their profiles.
Upon completion of a job, every freelancer will be granted complete payment. Nevertheless, for contests and fixed projects, the platform deducts 10% from your overall earnings. Similar to other freelance platforms, you have the option to withdraw funds using PayPal or wire transfer.
7. Flexjobs
Flexjobs is a website dedicated to providing various job opportunities that are flexible and remote, such as freelance, part-time, and full-time jobs. The available job categories cover a wide range, including education and training, as well as journalism and writing roles.
Flexjobs guarantees that every job listed on their website is authentic by verifying and screening all openings, effectively eliminating bogus opportunities and fraudulent companies. Distinguishing itself from other online job boards, this platform abstains from displaying any advertisements on its webpage.
In order to uncover freelance jobs, individuals must first register for a subscription. There are four different plans offered, with prices commencing at $6.95 per week.
Each subscription includes limitless access to the job listings, as well as a personalized work portfolio, career guidance, and complimentary skills evaluation. Payment for subscriptions can be made using a prepaid card or PayPal. If the service does not meet your satisfaction, you are entitled to a complete refund within 30 days.
8. SimplyHired
The purpose of SimplyHired is to provide a platform for companies to post job opportunities without any charges. It additionally gathers job offers from various sources on the internet and displays them on a single page. The website has an uncluttered user interface, enabling users to effortlessly navigate through job listings based on different categories.
To discover particular freelance jobs in various fields such as finance and marketing, all you need to do is enter relevant keywords in the search box.
In order to obtain more accurate results, you should specify your city, state, or ZIP code. Additionally, job seekers have the option to visit company pages for more details such as an overview of the company’s salary, a comprehensive list of benefits provided, and genuine employee reviews.
Although it is possible for individuals to browse through SimplyHired without creating a profile, they can gain access to several job tools, including a salary estimator and resume builder, by signing up for an account.
9. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a highly popular platform that serves as both a job site facilitating job searches across different fields and a social networking platform designed for professionals to connect and engage with each other.
Simply sign up and create a profile to get started. Include as much information as possible, such as your skills, education, and work experience. A comprehensive LinkedIn profile can open up more job opportunities.
By creating a new post, you can increase the visibility of your profile. This can be especially advantageous for freelancers, such as writers, who can showcase their skills and attach their portfolio. As a result, potential employers may come across your profile and extend job opportunities to you.
When browsing LinkedIn job postings, you can also effectively discover freelance opportunities. To locate the freelance job you desire, be sure to utilize relevant keywords and sort the outcomes by the most recent.
