You have the freedom and flexibility to earn money according to your own terms when you freelance. It’s a terrific way to supplement your income, pay your bills while you’re between jobs, or even realize your aspirations of becoming your own boss.
If freelancing is new to you, you might be wondering how to get started. And where might I obtain work as a freelancer? Here are the 5 Best Freelance Websites
5 best freelance websites to find work in 2022
1. Upwork
One of the most well-known freelance marketplaces, Upwork is trusted by major corporations like Nasdaq and Microsoft, and for good reason. On this website, you can find freelance positions in a range of fields, such as writing, sales, marketing, engineering, development, design, and other creative fields.
Upwork works as a go-between between you and the client, ensuring that you get paid and that any conflicts are settled amicably. (But that also means they charge a service fee!)
Pros
- The task isn’t completely on you because you have a profile that clients can use to find you and invite you to make proposals for jobs.
- You always get paid for your work because clients pay through Upwork; there is no need to chase down invoices or wait for overdue payments.
- Being one of the biggest and most well-known freelance websites, it offers thousands of freelance job opportunities, with fresh postings appearing frequently.
- It’s a terrific place for novices to locate their first jobs because there are positions available for every skill level and pay range.
Cons
- Given that Upwork is one of the most well-known platforms for freelancers, there is a lot of competition for available positions.
- Every job you wish to apply for requires you to prepare a proposal, which can take a lot of time.
- To build up your reviews and ratings on the platform if you are new to it, you might need to accept a few lesser, less desirable projects.
- You won’t keep all the money you earn on the website because of their hefty service cost.
- You must buy additional credits if you want to send new proposals after reaching your cap for doing so.
Best For: People who are just getting started freelancing or multi-passionate freelancers who want to find jobs in multiple industries.
2. Fiverr
Compared to some of the other freelance websites on this list, Fiverr operates a little differently. You don’t search through job postings and make offers on Fiverr. Instead, you set up a free account and list your “gigs” (or different kinds of projects) along with their costs. In order to find the freelancer they’re seeking, buyers go through many categories.
Pros
- You can register for no cost and begin posting your gigs..
- You decide the prices, ensuring that you are fairly compensated for your labor.
- There are diverse categories available for freelance work.
- Many individuals will notice what you have to offer on Fiverr because it is a very popular website.
- There are many different types of freelance jobs accessible.
- You don’t need to spend any time creating unique proposals.
Cons
- There is a 20% commission fee, which is pretty substantial.
- The time it takes to receive payment for work you’ve completed can be up to 14.
- Due to the low pay of many gigs on Fiverr, you can find yourself competing on price.
Best For Beginners and those who don’t have time to create a bunch of proposals and want the clients to come to them!
3. Toptal
Another significant and well-known freelance marketplace is Toptal, where professionals in the fields of business, design, and technology may locate top-notch employment opportunities with well-known companies and start-ups. Toptal exclusively showcases large projects with firms who are prepared to pay top talent, in contrast to other freelance sites where you must wade through a large number of low-earning or unpleasant work to find one that suits you.
Pros
- You won’t find any low-paying assignments on Toptal because all of the projects are from elite businesses.
- Through the platform, Toptal provides free invoicing and payments.
- It’s one of the few websites that provide project manager and product manager listings.
- They only hire the best 3% of freelancers, so if you’re hired, you won’t be up against as many applicants for the same positions.
- You won’t have to sift through any postings because the Toptal team will pair you with tasks that best match your expertise, interests, and skill set.
Cons
- Less than 3% of applicants are accepted due to the lengthy and thorough screening process.
- Toptal only provides large, sophisticated projects, which isn’t the best option for people who have regular clientele or who wish to take on sporadic minor jobs.
- Since they only hire experienced personnel, there are no prospects for those who are more recent to the sector.
Best For: Freelancers who are the best in their fields and want to work with some of the world’s leading companies.
4. Freelancer
Another freelance website that connects businesses and independent contractors from various industries for project collaboration is Freelancer.com. Filling out a registration form and providing more information about your qualifications, education, and experience is all that is required to sign up. The ability to take part in contests where freelancers can win money as well as profile reviews is one distinctive feature of this network.
Pros
- Jobs are available on Freelancer.com in a variety of languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and more.
- On this platform, you can apply for jobs in industries like manufacturing and logistics that aren’t available on other freelance websites.
- On this platform, you can apply for jobs in industries like manufacturing and logistics that aren’t available on other freelance websites.
- No matter when you’re working, the platform provides 24/7 support, so you never have to get stuck.
- A progress tracker on Freelancer.com makes it simple to check how projects are progressing.
Cons
- The UI on Freelancer.com is complicated and could be challenging to use.
- As a result of the platform’s lack of job posting or freelancer vetting, there are spam applications and phoney clients.
- For contests and set projects, they deduct 10% of your overall revenue.
Best For: Freelancers who are looking for opportunities in languages other than English.
5. Guru
Similarly to Upwork, Guru operates. You may quickly search for employment in a variety of fields, including programming, design, writing, administration, sales, law, and education. After that, you provide a price for the job, and if it’s accepted, you’re hired! Communication with clients and receiving payments are made simple by the platform’s management of projects and payments.
Pros
- For freelancers, they have a wide range of areas, including programming, engineering, architecture, and law.
- Payment options include PayPal and wire transfers, among others.
- The SafePay function makes sure that freelancers are paid fairly and promptly.
- Guru recommends jobs for you based on your experience and skill set.
- There are many work prospects with 800,000 clients worldwide.
Cons
- You must purchase a membership if you want to use all of the options and enhance your profile.
- Free members can’t get in touch with prospective customers to go over a work before submitting a quote.
- Some users have reported phoney jobs, clients who alter the specifications of the task after receiving a quote, or customers who only agree to pay by check.
Best For: People who want to add an additional platform to their list of freelance job options (but maybe not those who are looking for a primary platform).