Freelance sites are not just for freelancers anymore.
They’re for anyone looking to break free from the 9-to-5 grind. (A new normal if you will).
Facts
According to Upwork Financial Reports the company earned a total revenue of $689.1 million for full year 2023 with a 10-15% expected annual growth.
So, I’ve put together a list of the best freelancing websites just like Upwork.
Let’s take a look.
1. Toptal (Best for Top-Tier Talent)
Toptal is kinda exclusive, only 3% of applicants make the cut.
That only helps keep the quality bar high.
Which means more money for the freelancers.
But if you think you’ve got the chops, (and make it past make it past the rigorous 5-step application and screening procedure) … Toptal can connect you with the big dogs like Google, Microsoft, Shopify, Airbnb, and more.
How is the recruitment process and hourly wages?
The recruiting process is one-on-one, with candidates examined and approved personally at each stage.
Surprisingly (and unsurprisingly), the majority of Toptal’s talent is based outside of the United States.
Depending on who you ask … anywhere between $100 – $200 per hour on average.
If you think this is out of your league, don’t sweat it.
There are other options …
2. Upwork (Best for Dependable Long-Term Freelancers)
Upwork, tested and reviewed by many.
… with seemingly less-than-impressive results.
So, why is it still ranking high on your list?
Project catalog, Payment protection, and BYOT model.
And don’t forget the new addition of the AI Talent Category.
Tip: If you’re a client on Upwork, There’s this feature called “Work Diary” that allows you to track the time your freelancer spends on the task, take screenshots of their work, and view their activity level.
Average Upwork earnings range between $25-$80/hr
But it might be one with the most competition!
3. AngelList Talent *now Wellfound (Best for Startups)
Wellfound is a website built for startups.
So essentially there is no middleman, you connect directly with the startups.
They use an AI recruiter called RecruiterCloud, so there is no human bias in terms of who sees your profile.
It’s perfect for you especially if you’re into the tech industry.
The job board allows you to set up a profile, link your LinkedIn, and specify your preferences.
Wellfound hides any employer that doesn’t hire in the country that the user has selected.
So keep that in mind …
4. LinkedIn (Recommended)
LinkedIn is honestly a hidden gem.
At its core, it’s more of a search engine than a social media.
I’ve personally used LinkedIn to land two jobs.
I’ve also hired via LinkedIn…
The trick to getting a freelance job on LinkedIn to make as many meaningful connections as you can.
What do you mean?
Engage with companies and their employees.
Build Trust. Follow them, like, share, and comment on their updates and job posts.
Or even better, Connect with recruiters on LinkedIn and send them a message with a referral or introduction request.
You’ll double your interview chances.
It also has a special place for talent on Linkedin Talent Solutions.
5. We Work Remotely (Best for remote-Only Talent)
We Work Remotely curates only work that can be completed remotely.
It’s simple and straightforward.
Jobs are posted every several hours, and the site is quite busy.
Businesses spend $200 to publish a single position for 30 days.
The website receives over 235K visits each month.
6. Fiverr (Best to find fair Prices)
Fiverr started as a $5 gig platform.
But it’s way bigger now.
I thought Fiverr was the cheapest …
No, it just looks that way because…
Freelancers typically charge low prices for modest tasks to attract clients and serve as a sample proof of work for larger and better tasks.
If you’re hiring, Fiverr saves you from resume hell and interview nightmares.
You can directly contact the freelancer even before ordering a Gig.
… which provides a streamlined method for you to interact with the details of the project and if it’s possible to proceed with a gig.
The freelancers vary in quality, you’ll find a lot of freelancers from Pakistan/India with cheap prices.
But you can of course filter by country if you’re looking for something else.
7. Freelancer.com (Best for Project Management and Collabs)
Freelancer.com claims that 80% of its positions receive an offer in sixty seconds or less!
Now that’s a bold statement.
It’s also one of the largest freelance-focused websites – the company also claims to have a global pool of fifty million freelancers who have mastery of over 1800 distinct skills.
Freelancer.com also offers a ton of features like project management tools, time tracking, and milestone payments.
8. Mayple (Best for Marketing and Advertising)
Mayple is a specialized platform that’s great for marketers and companies looking to boost their brand.
If you’re an SEO Specialist, Cold Email Expert or even an influencer, this is the freelance site for you.
Companies like Wix, Microsoft, and Amazon have reportedly used it for marketing, so it’s legit.
Their pricing is straightforward, with a dynamic pricing structure based on the client’s monthly budget.
9. Behance and 99designs (Best for Design Talent)
Behance is like the fancy art school of freelance websites.
You create a portfolio and show off your design work.
Behance has millions of visitors every month and is the best place to get design gigs IMO.
99designs, is another unique platform that offers a different approach to hiring freelance designers.
You literally enter a design contest. And the winner gets the payment!
It’s good for the clients since they’re getting a lot of choices.
But it might be time-consuming for the designers.
10. Codeable (Best to find WordPress Devs)
Codeable is a premium WordPress outsourcing platform based in Denmark.
The vetting procedure is quite extensive, including written and live exams, a Skype interview, and even a trial period.
And they only concentrate on WordPress Developers.
This contrasts with generic freelance services like Upwork and Fiverr where freelancers are continuously pressured to cut their pricing in order to compete with others.
When it comes to pricing, developers will estimate an average cost depending on the number of hours it will take them, multiplied by their hourly rate.
The sum of these individual estimations is divided by the number of developers that provided estimates. This prevents a “race to the bottom” and maintains a high standard of quality.
The client will be required to generate a work scope, as soon as you arrive at Codeable. The time it takes to do this and receive a response from a Codeable contractor is often under a day.
The response usually includes further discussions before a quote is issued. If you’re a business using WordPress for your website it’s an obvious go-to, which is why it is on this list.
11. Flexjobs (Best for Flexible Arrangements)
FlexJobs is a job search website that specializes in providing telecommuting, flexible schedules, part-time, and freelance job opportunities.
They hand-screen and curate every job listing on the website, ensuring that all job opportunities are legitimate and high-quality, as opposed to many other job search websites which are not able to verify the authenticity of every job listing.
FlexJobs does not focus solely on freelance jobs, but its emphasis on flexible working implies that it has a large number of them listed. The organization disseminates data on the patterns and benefits of remote work adaptability indefinitely. According to a 2015 study conducted by FlexJobs, 76 percent of workers chose to work remotely when they needed to be useful while dealing with significant tasks.
12. GitHub and Stack Overflow (Best for hiring Devs)
Hiring developers on GitHub can be a great way to find talented individuals who are actively working on and contributing to open-source projects. Since GitHub is primarily used by developers to share and collaborate on code, it’s a good way to find developers who are already experienced with the technologies and tools you’re looking for. Additionally, by looking at a developer’s contributions to open-source projects, you can get a sense of their coding style, problem-solving skills, and ability to work on a team.
Stack Overflow all the while can also be a great way to find talented individuals. Stack Overflow is a community-driven website for developers where they can ask and answer questions related to programming. This can help you find developers who are passionate about coding and eager to learn and improve their skills. Additionally, Stack Overflow has a jobs section where employers can post job listings and developers can search for job opportunities. This can be a good way to find developers who are actively looking for new job opportunities. The platform also offers a feature called “Work with us” which allows companies to showcase their culture, perks, and benefits that they offer which makes it easy for developers to understand if the company culture aligns with their values and if they’ll fit in.
13. Linkedin Sales Navigator (Best to find Sales Reps)
Now, this is one you probably haven’t heard of before. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a powerful tool within LinkedIn that allows companies to find and connect with potential sales reps. It offers advanced search filters and Boolean search options, so you can narrow down your search to find the most relevant candidates. It also has a feature called “Recruiter Lite” that allows companies to post job listings and search for potential candidates. This can be a great way to find sales reps who are already active on LinkedIn and have built a professional network and reputation.
One of the key benefits of using LinkedIn Sales Navigator is the ability to see a candidate’s professional network and connections, which can give you a sense of their level of experience and the types of companies they’ve worked with in the past. Additionally, you can see a candidate’s activity on LinkedIn, such as the groups they’re a member of, the content they’re sharing and the conversations they’re having.
14. Upcounsel (Best to hire related to Legal)
UpCounsel is a platform that connects businesses with top-rated legal freelancers. It offers a wide range of legal services, from drafting contracts and agreements to providing legal advice and representation. The platform pre-screens and approves all of its lawyers to ensure that they meet the highest professional standards, and have the necessary experience and qualifications to handle the specific needs of a client.
One of the main advantages of using UpCounsel is the ability to find and hire legal freelancers quickly and easily. You can search for legal freelancers based on their area of expertise, location, and hourly rate, and can also see reviews and ratings from other clients who have worked with them. Additionally, UpCounsel has built-in messaging. You can also access a pool of pre-vetted lawyers who are already familiar with your type of business, which can make the process of finding legal representation faster and more effective.
What to look for when hiring freelancers?
When hiring freelancers, there are a few key things to look for to ensure that you find the right person for the job. Some things to consider include:
- Experience and qualifications: Look for freelancers who have relevant experience and qualifications in the field you’re hiring for. This will help ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to do the job.
- Portfolio and work samples: Ask for a portfolio or work samples to see the freelancer’s past work and get a sense of their style and quality.
- Communication and availability: Make sure that the freelancer is responsive, easy to communicate with, and will be available when you need them.
- Reviews and references: Check for reviews and references from past clients to see how the freelancer has performed on previous projects and if they have a good reputation.
- Legal and financial aspects: Be sure to check their legal status, if they have a legal entity or not, and if they have a proper invoicing system.
To make the process easy and organized, it is always better to establish clear guidelines and expectations, set a schedule and deadlines, and have regular check-ins to track progress and provide feedback. Additionally, using tools such as project management software and online collaboration platforms can help you stay on top of your projects and keep all of your work with freelancers organized and in one place.
Why shouldn’t I just hire in-house?
The cost of an in-house employee is that of benefits, office space, and other overhead expenses. But the cost of a freelancer? Merely the cost of their skill.
Hiring in-house and hiring online freelancers both have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, hiring in-house employees can provide a sense of stability and control over the work environment. However, it also comes with added expenses such as benefits, office space, and other overhead costs. On the other hand, hiring freelancers can be a cost-effective solution as you only pay for the skills and expertise needed for specific projects.
Moreover, freelancers mean access to a global talent pool, connecting you with skilled professionals from all over the world that you might not have access to otherwise. They also offer flexibility, allowing you to scale your business quickly by hiring as many or as few freelancers as needed. Another benefit of hiring freelancers is that it allows you to focus on your core business while they take care of the rest. You can outsource non-core or administrative tasks, giving you more time and resources to grow your business.
•••
Some key points to consider when choosing a freelance website:
- The niched, the better
- Know the pricing structure
- Site reputation and user feedback
- Quality is key
- Oh, and also competition is key
That’s it – the rundown of the best freelance websites to find and hire skilled professionals for your business needs. Hiring freelancers don’t have to be a daunting task. Most of these websites only require you to create an account and post a job listing. However, the platforms on this list will provide you with access to a vast pool of talent, making it easier for you to find the perfect match for your project and business needs.
