With so many freelancing platforms out there, it can be hard to navigate landing on the best one for you.
Freelancing platforms can serve as valuable tools to grow your career, whether you’re still in the stages of figuring out how to start freelancing or already an expert at your craft.
How can the right platform help you?
Simply put, the best freelance websites for beginners and experts provide a seamless and straightforward process to connect you to valuable job opportunities and clients.
Of course, there are positives and negatives to consider for any given site, depending on your specific freelancing needs and preferences. So, to make it easy for you, we’ve selected 5 of the best freelance websites with clear information on each, including the pros and cons.
Ready to find the top freelance jobs online? Let’s dive in.
1- TopTal
TopTal is a freelance marketplace that prides itself on connecting its top 3% of freelancers in the field with clients from around the world.
Creating your own account on TopTal is the most difficult task because TopTal does not allow any service provider to work on its platform. In order to work at the top, you have to be so skilled in your work that you have to be in the top 3% of the people in the country.
Once your profile is approved to work, you realize that you may have the opportunity to work with some of the world’s top brands, such as Airbnb and Shopify.
Another great advantage that makes TopTal stand out in the freelancing marketplace is that TopTal never charges a fee from the earnings of freelancers.
Pros:
- More earning opportunities
- There is no fee for freelancers.
- Great opportunities for people who specialize in their work.
Cons:
- Strict screening process
- Total is directly involved in all phases of your project.
2- Upwork
Upwork is a huge freelancing platform with over 3 million projects posted annually, making it a great place for a freelancer to find work.
You can also view different types of projects on Upwork. You can choose to work on Upwork with short and long-term contracts as well as fixed or hourly work.
Pros:
- Payment security
- Prevents clients from asking for free work.
- Gives equal opportunities to new and skilled freelancers
Cons:
- The highest service fee
- Connect requires sending suggestions.
- It takes time to build your reputation.
3- Fiverr
Fiverr is a very popular freelancing website that allows you to work in most fields.
You can offer on Firewall not only the capabilities that other platforms allow, but also services that can’t be provided anywhere else. At the end of 2021, Fiverr has 3.42 million clients, proving that Fiverr is one of the largest freelancing platforms.
Pros:
- Easy to understand website and mobile app
- Offering your service in different packages
- Certificate Courses
Cons:
- Long wait for payment approval
- Too high a service fee
4- Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another large freelancing marketplace that can provide you with a wide range of opportunities.
Freelancers can browse their extensive job boards and bid for work. And, once hired, you can easily chat live with clients and track your progress.
One added benefit of Freelancer.com is the opportunity to compete in contests to earn extra money and reviews to help your profile stand out.
As far as fees go, the platform takes a 10% fee on projects and contest winnings.
Pros:
- Team of advisors to help you get hired
- 24/7 customer support
- Contests for increased earnings
Cons:
- Fake/spam clients and jobs
- Complex interface
5- Guru
Guru is another popular freelancing marketplace that boasts 800,000 clients worldwide with a 99% customer satisfaction rate. Many different types of freelancers are welcome on Guru, too, like programmers, designers, writers, and more.
One unique benefit to Guru is the ability to collaborate and add members to your freelancing team with a progress tracking feature.
Their free membership allows you to send out ten bids per month with a 9% service fee taken from your payout. However, free members are prevented from chatting about jobs with clients ahead of time.
As for their paid membership, it starts at $11.95 per month, with the service fees sliding down from there. Paid members can actually jump the line in front of their competition by getting their ranking boosted and having their quotes stand out to clients.
Pros:
- 24/7 support
- Lower fees
- User-friendly website
Cons:
- Premium monthly members are boosted ahead of free members
- High competition
