In today’s digital age, freelancing has become a popular career path. Thanks to remote work and the internet, people can now work from anywhere in the world. There is fierce rivalry for work as a result of the rise in the number of freelancers. Freelancers have the option to select their own clientele, projects, and workload.
Due to the increased workload caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, businesses are increasingly hiring freelancers. Consequently, there is more freelance employment than ever available, ranging from jobs as grocery shoppers to those as web engineers.
To find work that matches your skills and experience, you need to use the right freelance websites.
In this article, we look at the 16 most popular freelance websites of 2023.
16 Best Freelance Websites to Find Work:
1. Fiverr
2. Upwork
3. LinkedIn
4. Guru
5. Toptal
6. Jooble
7. Freelancer.com
8. Flexjobs
9. SimplyHired
10. Behance
11. 99designs
12. Dribbble
13. People Per Hour
14. ServiceScape
15. DesignHill
16. TaskRabbit
Two Major Options for Starting a Freelance Career:
There are two major routes you might take to launch a freelancing profession.
Making Your Own Website to Do Freelance Work:
You have the choice to build your own website to launch a freelance job by purchasing web hosting and a domain name. By doing this, you’ll be able to build your brand identity and provide your services online.
Platform-based Freelancing:
Making an account on one of the numerous freelance platforms is another choice when beginning a freelance profession. You can engage with clients on these channels and promote your services. If choosing this is your top choice, the list that follows will be useful.
Let’s talk about the 16 most popular freelance websites of 2023.
1- Fiverr:
A well-known online marketplace called Fiverr links independent contractors with people who need their services. The platform provides a range of freelancing services, including writing, graphic design, and programming.
The freelance website provides a simple way for freelancers and business owners to communicate. Gigs are referred to as gigs on the website, while business owners are referred to as buyers.
Instead of bidding on gigs, sellers can register for free, post their gigs, and set their own prices.
Buyers can essentially peruse different classifications while making buys.
The innovation quickly charges the buyer’s record and holds the assets at whatever point they buy a gig. Subsequent to deducting a commission, the system will then move the freelancers to 80% of the mentioned amount.
Pulling out cash from your account can require as long as 14 days, contingent upon your seller level. Payment withdrawal techniques incorporate utilizing a debit card, PayPal, or WISE transfers, among others.
With 3.42 million active buyers, Fiverr proposes a vast expanse of potential exchanges. There are just project-based costs, which you get to pick, as opposed to hourly charges.
With an SSL testament that gets charging and individual data, buyers are guaranteed secure installments. There is also a customer service department that is available around the clock and eager to help.
Pros of Fiverr:
• Freelancers offering a wide range of services.
• Easy-to-use platform.
• Competitive pricing.
• Secure payment system.
• Direct communication with freelancers.
Cons of Fiverr:
• Varying quality.
• Inexperienced freelancers.
• Fiverr commission leads to higher costs.
• Saturated platform.
• Limited dispute resolution.
2- Upwork:
A popular online platform that connects businesses and freelancers from around the world, Upwork, is one of the most popular freelancer marketplaces. It is one of the biggest and most reputable platforms in the gig economy, with more than 12 million freelancers and 5 million clients.
Web development, graphic design, writing and editing, marketing, and administrative support are just a few of the many services that Upwork provides.
Clients can post job advertisements and browse profiles to locate the best freelancer for their project, and freelancers can establish profiles to highlight their abilities and expertise.
Get started as a freelancer by creating a profile on Upwork. It should contain information about you, your area of expertise, and your previous employment. When you apply for jobs or pitch a project, keep in mind that clients will review your profile to determine whether you are qualified.
In Upwork’s sliding scale, your compensation decreases as your hours’ increase. As you receive more money, the commission fee, which starts at 20% for the first bill of $500, gradually decreases.
There are only a few withdrawal options, including direct deposit, PayPal, and wise transfer.
Pros of Upwork:
- Global marketplace.
- Flexible work arrangements.
- Secure payment system.
- Project management tools.
- Low fees.
Cons of Upwork:
- Intense competition.
- Upwork fees can be high for some freelancers.
- Limited communication.
- Lack of strict vetting process for freelancers.
- Payment delays.
3- Linkedin:
With LinkedIn, you can find opportunities across various industries, making it one of the most popular employment sites. Using it, businesspeople can communicate and connect with one another on social networking sites.
Create an account and get started by signing up. Make sure you include as much information as possible, such as your qualifications, credentials, and employment history. Having a comprehensive LinkedIn profile may lead to more job opportunities.
Adding a new post to your profile can increase its visibility. For example, if you are a freelance writer, consider posting an overview of your area of expertise along with a link to your portfolio. You may be contacted with an offer by prospective employers after your profile is found.
Looking through LinkedIn job listings is a wonderful way to find freelancing opportunities. Make sure to use relevant keywords and sort the results by newest in order to find the freelance job you’re looking for.
LinkedIn Pros:
- Professional Networking
- Job Search
- Personal Branding
- Industry Insights
LinkedIn Cons:
- Time-Consuming
- Oversaturation
- Spam
- Privacy Concerns
4- Guru.com
Guru.com is an online freelance marketplace that links companies with skilled freelancers Professionals with a variety of expertise, including programmers, graphic designers, and product managers, can be hired by businesses.
It’s easy to peruse work ads on our freelance site and send client quotes. Make a profile for yourself as a freelancer by joining first. The system will propose occupations in view of your range of skills and work history.
Freelancers can give a foreordained cost to every task and can offer lengthy or transient undertakings. You can pull out your cash utilizing various techniques, including PayPal and wise transfers. More importantly, the website uses SafePay protection to guarantee that freelancers are paid on time.
An essential enrollment is given without charge to every freelancer who registers on this site. Paid participation levels, notwithstanding, accompany more abilities to assist your profile with standing out from all around the world. No matter how big or small the project, organizations can find the right people with Guru.com.
Pros:
- Wide range of services
- A large pool of freelancers
- Competitive Pricing
- Escrow payment system
- Good customer support
Cons:
- High fees
- Limited project management tools
- Limited search capabilities
- Varying quality of freelancers
- Competition from other platforms
5- Toptal
Using Toptal, you can find highly skilled freelance industry experts and connect with companies. There are thousands of freelancers on Toptal, from web developers to designers to product managers and finance consultants.
Toptal’s screening process for freelancers includes five steps, from a comprehensive English evaluation to a project assessment. Only the top 3% of candidates make it onto the platform through this process.
Once you have completed all the steps, you will have access to job postings from top clients and companies, such as Motorola and Airbnb. If you fail the test, your application process may be put on hold for a few months.
Invoicing and time tracking are handled by Toptal’s TopTracker service. Freelancers will receive payments via Payoneer, Paypal, or direct local bank transfers with this service.
Toptal Pros:
- High-quality talent.
- Easy to use platform.
- Flexible hiring options.
- Dedicated project management.
- A two-week satisfaction guarantee.
Toptal Cons:
- High costs.
- The limited talent pool for highly specialized needs.
- Limited services outside of software development.
- No direct access to freelancers.
- Potential language barriers for non-English speakers.
6- Jooble
Jobble aggregates job vacancies from 140,000+ sources worldwide, including corporate websites, online job boards, freelancing platforms, social networks, and classifieds.
It offers the advantage of eliminating the need to check multiple job boards and freelance platforms since it centralizes the process of finding freelance work. It is possible to find jobs only within a particular region with Jooble. If you select a specific city in your country on the homepage, you will be able to see jobs specific to that area.
It doesn’t require you to create an account to search for freelance jobs. Using Jooble’s search engine, you can simply enter the keyword for the job you are seeking.
A search result on Jooble will redirect you to the source of the job vacancy since it is an aggregator. The job description and application instructions are available there. Get notified whenever Jooble finds a new job for the keyword you’re interested in by signing up for its email alerts.
Pros:
- Comprehensive search results.
- It is easy to use
- Job alerts.
- International job opportunities.
- Free service.
Cons:
- Duplicate listings.
- Restricted company information.
- No direct application options.
- Limited customer support.
- Quality of listings.
7- Freelancer.com
The freelance website Freelancer.com brings together professionals and companies from around the world to work on various projects. It is easy for clients to find an expert of any type due to the wide range of expertise available.
As a freelancer or business owner, you can register with us. You must fill out a short registration form to become a freelancer. You should include an overview of your skills, your educational background, and your work experience.
There are numerous contests for design or visual work in addition to projects. By participating in these contests, freelancers can earn money and get reviews on their profiles.
Once a freelancer completes a job, they will receive full payment. Contests and fixed projects, however, require you to pay 10% of the total earnings. If you want to withdraw money, you can do so using PayPal or wire transfer, as is the case with most freelance sites.
Pros:
- Wide range of projects
- Global reach
- User friendly
- Secure payments
- Feedback system
Cons:
- Competition
- Fees
- Low rates
- Communication issues
- Disputes
8- Flexjobs
A website by the name of Flexjobs specializes in remote and flexible career opportunities, such as freelance, part-time, and full-time jobs. In addition to writing and media jobs, instruction and training are also available.
Flexjobs confirms the legitimacy of each job placed on the website. All job listings are verified and screened, and phony businesses and frauds are excluded. This freelance website does not feature any advertisements on its page, unlike other online job boards.
Users who want to look for freelance work must subscribe. Each of the four choices costs $6.95 per week. Free talent assessments, a personalized work portfolio, unlimited access to job listings, and career counseling are all included with each subscription.
You can also pay for your subscription using PayPal or a prepaid card. The first 30 days of the service are your time to request a full refund if you are not satisfied.
Pros:
- Verified job postings
- Flexible job opportunities
- Intuitive
- Tailored job recommendations
- Money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Membership fee
- Limited job listings
- Industry-specific focus
- high competition
- No guarantees
9- SimplyHired
SimplyHired’s job board allows companies to post job openings for free. Additionally, it compiles job listings from across the internet onto a single page. Users can browse jobs by category with ease thanks to the website’s straightforward user interface.
Several industries, including marketing and finance, offer freelancing opportunities. Simply enter relevant keywords in the search box to find a specific job. You will get more targeted results if you enter your city, state, or ZIP code.
A company’s website provides job seekers with a pay overview, a list of benefits provided, and employee reviews.
Pros:
- Large database of job listings
- Advanced search options
- Resume Builder
- Company reviews
- Mobile app
Cons:
- Duplicate job listings
- Low-quality job listings
- Limited job alerts
- No guarantee of job placement
- Limited company information
10- Behance
Unlike the other freelance websites on this list, Behance is a social network for artists. The platform allows users from all over the world to create portfolios and share their original works, which may include animations, illustrations, websites, and graphic designs.
If you are a freelance graphic designer, web designer, or animator, Behance offers a platform for finding potential employers. Getting started is as simple as setting up a profile and creating an account.
With a networking site like this, you’ll see more posts as you follow more people. There are more freelance opportunities available there.
A job list is also available on Behance. A customized job suggestion will be given to every freelancer in view of their ranges of skills and category, simplifying it to find freelance work that accommodates their subject matter.
Pros:
- Exposure to a large community.
- Professional portfolio building.
- Collaboration opportunities.
- Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Detailed analytics on project performance.
Cons:
- High competition.
- Limited customization options.
- Lack of protection.
- Display of ads on the platform
- The user interface may be confusing.
11- 99Designs
Independent designers can find a lot of work at 99designs. Designed specifically for designers and companies to collaborate, it is a freelance platform. From designing clothing and goods to designing logos and book covers, there are many design tasks available.
You will be asked to create a profile and provide your employment history when you sign up. Once the curation team has reviewed your submission, your designer level will be determined. As you rise in your level, your visibility on the platform increases.
99designs makes it easy to find freelance jobs in your field. Industries, fashion trends, and design categories can all be used to search for occupations.
You will be charged a platform fee of 5% to 15% and an introduction fee of $100 for each new client you work with on 99designs. Freelancers receive a payment within three business days via PayPal or Payoneer; those with higher profiles receive payment even sooner.
Pros:
- Wide range of design services offered
- Large designer community
- Ability to run design contests for multiple designs to choose from
- Flexible pricing options
- Work one-on-one with a designer
Cons:
- Limited control over the design process
- Design contests may result in a large number of low-quality designs
- Risk of plagiarized or copied designs
- 99designs takes a commission on all projects
- Communication with designers may be limited
12- Dribbble
For creative talents, it’s one of the most popular platforms for connecting, collaborating, and meeting. Artists and designers use this website to promote their brands and build portfolios.
You can increase your chances of getting hired if you create a work portfolio on the website. You can do this by creating an account and uploading your designs.
Alternatively, you can open the job board on your browser to find employment opportunities. The website offers a variety of jobs, including UX/UI design and content creation. Freelancer job lists, however, are only available to premium subscribers.
Depending on the plan you choose, Dribbble premium can cost anywhere from $5 to $15 per month. Profiles can be updated with videos and multi-shot images when the pro version is purchased. Additionally, premium accounts will receive priority placement on hiring search results.
Pros:
- Exposure.
- Feedback
- Inspiration
- Community
Cones:
- Competition
- Limited exposure.
- Membership fees.
- Lack of context.
13- People Per Hour
By hiring professional freelancers by the hour or by project, People Per Hour helps businesses find talented individuals. In different industries, such as public relations, marketing, and journalism, there are millions of freelancers.
Start setting up your profile for free by creating an account. All applications will be reviewed by the moderators before they are approved. In addition to browsing jobs in multiple categories, freelancers can apply for jobs once they have been approved.
It is possible for freelancers to submit offers and set their prices when working on a project. Their dashboard allows them to easily generate an invoice once they’ve finished.
People Per Hour charge freelancers a service fee per client, like most freelancing sites. For earnings of $350, there is a 20% service fee charged by the freelance website. The fee will decrease with increased work, which is a good thing.
Pros:
- Large marketplace
- Payment protection
- Ratings and reviews
- Skill testing
Cones:
- Fees
- Competition
- Quality control
- Payment delays.
14- ServiceScape
Featuring freelance writing, editorial, and translation jobs, ServiceScape is an online job board specializing in freelance writing. A growing client database helps freelancers build profiles and promote their services.
ServiceScape differentiates itself from other platforms by its hiring process. Freelancers simply wait for work offers from clients instead of bidding or sending proposals. In this regard, it’s crucial to have a profile that stands out from the crowd.
With ServiceScape, employers and freelancers can easily connect. Conference calls can be scheduled and messages can be sent between the two parties.
Every month, ServiceScape distributes income via PayPal, check, and Gusto. It is possible for freelancers to set up custom pricing structures, such as project-based or hourly rates. The platform, however, charges a 50% commission for every completed project.
Pros:
- Wide range of services
- Secure payment system
- Ratings and reviews
- Quality control
Cones:
- Limited client base
- Limited communication
- Competition
- Fees
15- DesignHill
Businesses can source quality design from professional designers and artists on DesignHill. In addition to logos, websites, and brochures, there are many other types of design jobs available.
When you register for an account, you will be able to access a variety of freelance design jobs and various design contests. In addition to establishing client relationships, you will also be able to grow your work portfolio. With the help of tools such as profit calculators and business cards, freelancers can create their own stores and start selling globally.
Clients are only charged service fees by DesignHill. From design jobs, contests, and store sales, freelancers will receive the total amount in their DesignHill accounts.
Payoneer and PayPal are supported for withdrawals from the website.
Pros:
- Quality designs
- Customizable projects
- Affordable pricing
- Money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Limited revisions
- Limited designer pool
- Charges a commission
- Limited communication
16- TaskRabbit
Try TaskRabbit if you want to earn money by doing grocery shopping or assembling furniture. Clients can hire TaskRabbit for help with a variety of daily tasks using freelancers on the same day.
TaskRabbit offers simple errands, such as household chores, lighting installation, and delivery, instead of professional work. You can start by creating an account, selecting your area and category, and setting your hourly rate.
Every application will be reviewed and background checked by the TaskRabbit team. A registration fee of $25 will be charged once a freelancer’s profile is approved. Once the mobile app is installed, they can begin discovering jobs and managing their work.
A freelancer typically sends an invoice for the hours worked after completing a task. Payments will then be made directly to the bank account registered by the client. Freelancers will receive their full rate from TaskRabbit since it only charges service fees from clients.
Pros:
- Convenience
- Flexibility
- Customer support
- Payment protection
Cons:
- TaskRabbit charges a commission
- Limited availability
- Competition
- Quality control
What We Looked For When Choosing Top Freelance Websites?
The following factors helped us determine whether each freelance website on our list is reliable and trustworthy:
Terms and Conditions:
Choosing freelance sites that have well-documented terms and conditions protects both freelancers and employers.
Customer Support:
A customer support team is provided on every freelance site to assist users in resolving any disputes.
Payment and withdrawal methods:
Various payment methods, including bank transfers and electronic payments, are available to local and global freelancers on freelance websites.
Remember to double-check everything before applying for a job since scams are always possible.
Conclusion:
We’ve compiled the top freelancing websites to find work and make money online for 2023. The process of finding freelance work does not have to be difficult. Signing up for an account and creating a profile are all that are required to use most sites. However, make sure you check each freelance website’s terms of service before you sign up. It is important to consider the payment method, withdrawal method, and service fee when choosing a payment system.