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Best Places to Find Freelance Work Online

Upwork is the best site to find freelance work

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Freelance work is a form of self-employment, where an individual takes on contract work for a company or client. Often referred to as “contractors,” freelancers are not employees of any individual company and may work independently for several companies or clients at one time.  Freelance work offers more flexible work arrangements, including remote work, and can help business owners control their schedule, workload, and income.

Finding a quality freelance site to book contract work requires understanding what types of jobs are available, the types of clients using the platform, how freelancers get paid, and the fees involved. The best freelance sites offer simple-to-use tools, quick payment, transparent pricing, and security for both the buyer and seller.

Best Places to Find Freelance Work Online of 2024

Best Places to Find Freelance Work Online
Best Places to Find Freelance Work Online

Best Overall : Upwork


Upwork

Upwork

  • Fees: 10%
  • No. of Payment Methods: 7
  • No. of Industries: 10
Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Over $2 billion in revenue earned in 2020 by freelancers

  • Large selection of professional industries to choose from

  • Easy-to-use platform with a dashboard to keep jobs organized

  • Easy to get paid

Cons
  • Highly competitive, especially for beginners

  • Many low-paying jobs

Why We Chose It

Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces around, with freelancers bringing in over $2 billion in revenue in 2020 alone. Upwork started in 2015 as the merger between freelance marketplaces Elance and O-Desk. With millions of freelancers and clients on the website, Upwork is the largest freelance marketplace in the world.

Upwork has freelance jobs for almost every industry, including finance, IT, design and creative, sales and marketing, writing, translation services, and more. Upwork works with some of the top companies in the world including Microsoft, Airbnb, and GoDaddy.

Upwork offers many types of jobs such as one-time, fixed-payment projects, hourly projects, and ongoing engagements. Billing and payments are handled on your Upwork dashboard, making it easy to get paid. Upwork also offers payment protection, with hours logged in your dashboard for hourly work, and fixed-fee jobs paid within 14 days if the client does not approve or request an update on work submitted.

To get started with Upwork, you'll sign up for a free account, fill out your profile, upload a resume and some samples of your work, and start browsing for jobs. You can quickly apply for jobs within the platform and track them through your dashboard.

Upwork makes it easy to find work but it may be difficult for beginners to land their first gig. With a large number of freelancers competing, standing out may be a challenge, especially if you don’t have prior experience and are still building out your portfolio.

Upwork charges 10% fees. The fees are taken directly from the money earned and are based on lifetime earnings from the particular client.

Despite the higher fees, Upwork makes it easy to get started and has a huge selection of jobs to choose from. It’s the one-stop-shop of freelance jobs sites, with access to almost every type of freelance gig imaginable.

Best for Graphic Design : 99designs


99designs

99designs

  • Fees: Up to $100 client introductory fee, 5%–15% platform fee, payment fees may apply
  • No. of Payment Methods: 2
  • No. of Industries: 8
Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Easy-to-use platform for submitting designs

  • Client contests and 1:1 work available

  • Lower fees for higher-quality designers

Cons
  • May not get paid when submitting to a contest

  • Payment only available through PayPal or Payoneer

Overview

99designs is a competition-based freelance design marketplace where clients create an online design contest, allowing freelance designers to submit a design for review. Submissions are reviewed by the 99designs client who is holding the design contest, and after the contest has ended, the client picks a winner and awards the designer with payment for the design. 99designs offers 1:1 client design work as well, matching clients with more complex projects with designers.

99designs is best-suited for graphic and web designers that have experience building websites, logos, clothing, and other marketing designs. Contest-based designs are a quick way to compete for a job, but may not get you paid. 

Working 1:1 with a client guarantees payment, but may come with a few hefty fees, specifically a client introductory fee of up to $100 and up to a 15% platform fee taken from your project revenue. Fees are taken directly from the revenue earned and are based on your design tier on a sliding scale:

  • Entry: 15% platform fee
  • Mid: 10% platform fee
  • Top: 5% platform fee

99designs offers payment protection by collecting payment for any projects before the contest or 1:1 work has started. The payments are held in escrow and funds are released to the designer after project work is completed. If the client becomes unresponsive after work is complete, the designer can request payment, and will automatically receive project funds after a five-day waiting period if the client does not respond.

Billing and payments are handled on your 99designs dashboard, but payments are only available through PayPal and Payoneer. These platforms will take additional fees from your earnings.

To get started with 99designs, you can sign up for a free designer account, fill out your profile, upload a resume and some samples of your work, and start browsing for jobs. You can choose to enter a design contest or look for 1:1 client work as well.

Best for IT : FlexJobs


FlexJobs

FlexJobs

  • Fees: $24.95/month–$59.95/year
  • No. of Payment Methods: Varies
  • No. of Industries: 50+
Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Quickly find freelance jobs with powerful search engine

  • Multiple types of IT jobs available

  • Jobs are highly-vetted

Cons
  • Monthly fee even if you don’t find a job

  • No payment guarantee

  • Must negotiate rates

Why We Chose It

FlexJobs is an online job board for remote workers with a steady stream of freelance IT work available in multiple industries. Founded in 2007 to help workers find better work-from-home jobs, it has grown into one of the top marketplaces for remote work.

FlexJobs offers access to traditional full-time jobs but with a few clicks, you can quickly filter to search only for freelance jobs. While FlexJobs covers a huge variety of job categories (including finance, design, writing, and more), it has several hundred job listings specifically for freelance work in computer and IT jobs. FlexJobs prides itself on its vetting process, only listing highly-qualified jobs to avoid low-paying gigs and scams. In fact, FlexJobs spends over 200 hours a day vetting jobs, researching companies, and ensuring that scammy jobs do not show up in its listings.

FlexJobs is more of a job search website than a freelance marketplace platform so the cost to users is structured differently. Instead of charging a per-job fee like most freelance marketplaces, FlexJobs charges a subscription fee for access to job listings. The subscription options are as follows:

  • One-week trial: $9.95
  • One month: $24.95
  • Three months: $39.95
  • One year: $59.95

Since FlexJobs does not manage the freelance job for you, payment details are all negotiated directly with the client, including the total amount to be paid and payment method.

If you are an IT professional looking for freelance remote work, you can sign up for a FlexJobs account and begin building your profile and applying for jobs right away.

Best for Writers : Freelance Writing Gigs


Freelance Writing Gigs

Freelance Writing Gigs

  • Fees: None
  • No. of Payment Methods: Varies
  • No. of Industries: Varies
Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Browse and apply for jobs without paying a fee

  • Writing jobs in a wide variety of industries

  • Daily curated selections of quality jobs

Cons
  • Small selection of jobs to choose from

  • Very limited search filters available

Why We Chose It

Freelance Writing Gigs started as a blog for writer Deb Ng and expanded to include a writing job board. Job posters pay a fee to list their jobs, but freelance writers can browse and apply to the jobs for free. Writing gigs include blogging, copywriting, editing, and other writing tasks.

Freelance Writing Gigs vets the jobs posted and keeps the quality of the listings high by requiring jobs to meet certain criteria. However, this means there are very few to select from. There will generally be fewer jobs here than the other sites on our list. They also have a daily list of curated jobs to help you find the best new options. The website includes helpful content about building a freelance writing career, including how to land jobs, build a portfolio, and raise your rates.

Since Freelance Writing Jobs does not manage the freelance job for you, payment details are all negotiated directly with the client including the total amount to be paid and payment method.

Best for Low Fees : Craigslist


Craigslist

Craigslist

  • Fees: None
  • No. of Payment Methods: Varies
  • No. of Industries: 30+
Pros and Cons
Pros
  • One of the largest job boards in the world

  • No job fees

  • Highly-local jobs available

Cons
  • Be wary of scams

  • No freelancer protections offered

  • Filters to your local area only, need to search other areas for more remote work opportunities

Why We Chose It

Craigslist was founded in 1995 and has grown into one of the largest online marketplaces in the world. While many know it for buying and selling items, Craigslist has a large job board where users can find remote work and freelance jobs. There are no fees to browse Craigslist for jobs and apply for them.

Craigslist is available in over 70 countries and has jobs posted in over 30 industries. As one of the most visited websites in the U.S, Craigslist boasts high visibility for job postings. Craigslist is designed to show users hyper-local job listings and freelancers can quickly browse a large range of freelance jobs in their local area.

Craigslist charges clients to post job ads but does not charge anything for browsing. However, job postings are not well-vetted, and Craigslist is known for scams so make sure you do your research before agreeing to work with a client or sending any personal information.

Craigslist does not require any kind of membership. Remember, Craigslist is hyper-local and will automatically show you jobs in your area. If you want to cast a wider net for remote work, you will need to browse other cities for freelance remote work.

Best for Beginners : Fiverr


Fiverr

Fiverr

  • Fees: 20% per transaction
  • No. of Payment Methods: 3
  • No. of Industries: 8
Pros and Cons
Pros
  • No sign-up or monthly fees

  • Slick website and mobile app

  • Freelancers can charge different prices and offer different service packages

  • Withdraw through PayPal

Cons
  • High fees for sellers (20%)

  • Lower-paying gigs

  • 14-day holding period on payments

Why We Chose It

Fiverr was founded in 2010 as a place for freelancers to sell their services for as little as $5. It has grown into a huge online marketplace that boasts over 50 million transactions, with a job bought every four seconds.

Fiverr is a great platform for beginners to build a portfolio of work. Signing up is simple, and freelancers can quickly build a profile and add portfolio work to impress future clients. You can post your “gigs,” which are the services you offer, with several price points for each. Fiverr also boasts the ability to create service packages, bundling your individual services together for a higher price point, increasing your revenue potential. 

Fiverr handles all payments but takes a sizable 20% cut of all your earnings. This is on the higher side of freelance platforms, but for beginners, it may be worth it for the visibility that Fiverr offers. Fiverr also offers basic payment protection, refunding any payments that were subjected to chargeback fraud.

To get started with Fiverr, you can sign up for a free account, fill out your profile, upload a resume, and provide some work samples. You can then put together a list of gigs for clients to choose from and start booking freelance work.

Final Verdict

Building a book of business as a freelancer can feel overwhelming, but these online platforms help you get organized and advertise your services to paying clients. Upwork is our top provider, with a huge network of clients and freelance jobs in a wide variety of industries. And the more work you book with a client, the lower the platform fees. 

Sites like Craigslist, Freelance Writing Gigs, and FlexJobs give freelancers access to direct job listings, avoiding the costly project fees and allowing for direct access to your clients. This may be a desirable route if you want to develop a long-term business relationship with a client and book larger projects over time. And if you simply want to get started with a few freelance projects, you can dip your toes in with a 99designs contest, or create a basic Fiverr gig quickly.

No matter what type of freelance gig you are looking for, always make sure to compare platforms and their fees to build a business that fits your financial and lifestyle goals.

Compare the Best Places to Find Freelance Work Online

Company Fees  Payment Methods (#)  Industries (#)  Worker Payment Protection 
Upwork
Best Overall
10%, based on lifetime billings per client 7 12 Yes
99designs
Best for Graphic Design 
Up to $100 client introductory fee, 5%–15% platform fee, payment fees may apply  Yes 
FlexJobs
Best for IT 
$24.95/month, $59.95/year, other options available too  Varies  50+ No
Freelance Writing Gigs
Best for Writers 
None  Varies  Varies  No 
Craigslist
Best for Low Fees 
None  Varies  30+  No 
Fiverr
Best for Beginners 
20%  3 8 Yes 

Guide for Choosing the Best Places to Find Freelance Work Online

Can Freelance Websites Help Me Build My Career?

Freelance websites are a great starting point for any freelance career. Most freelancers start off providing their services on the side, and these platforms help do the heavy lifting of marketing, displaying your skills, and finding paying clients. 

However, once you have an established portfolio of paying client work, you may want to navigate away from the high-fee freelance sites and look to build your own roster of clients.

Comparing Websites to Find Freelance Work

When looking for freelance work there are dozens of places to choose from. Even with our curated list of top sites, there are several important factors to consider when comparing freelance sites:

  • Fees: The fees charged can have a big impact on your bottom line. Make sure to understand how the fees will impact your revenue, and if the pay rate is worth the fees you are charged.
  • Industries: Some sites cover a wide range of industries, but others are more niche. Consider what industry you are focused on and whether the platform you are considering has quality gigs available in that niche.
  • Ease of use: You want to use a platform that makes it simple to set up your profile, build a portfolio, and promote your services. Look for services like auto-matching of gigs as well as the ability to promote yourself within the platform to find better jobs.
  • Worker protection: Job scams are real. Finding a high-quality freelance platform can help save you the headache of working for a non-paying client and protect your compensation. Many platforms charge clients upfront and hold your payment in escrow to protect both the client and freelancer.

As always, do your due diligence before committing to any paying gigs on a freelance platform.

Applying for Your First Gig Through Freelance Websites

Getting started freelancing can be the hardest part. It’s best to start by building a professional-looking profile on your chosen platform, uploading details and samples of any recent work, and promoting yourself on social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn. 

Booking your first gig may be difficult as many of the platforms are based on user rating systems, so look for a low-cost, simple gig to start building your reputation quickly. As you gain skills and endorsements, you can offer higher-quality services and raise your prices over time to build your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Find Well-Paying Gigs Using Freelance Websites?

While many popular freelance sites (such as Fiverr) offer low-paying jobs to clients, there are many opportunities to find higher-paying gigs. The key is to build your portfolio, get quality user reviews, and raise your prices over time.

If you are a highly skilled freelancer, you can also filter out lower-paying gigs on most platforms and find $1,000+ jobs to apply for. You may need references to get the highest-paying gigs, but that comes with time and a record of delivering excellent results to clients.

What Are the Costs Involved With Online Freelance Work?

While some freelance sites are free to use, others are full-service platforms that charge from 5% to 20% of your earnings from the site. Others charge a monthly fee, ranging from about $5 to $60 per month.

Is Online Freelance Work Worth It for Extra Income?

Freelance sites can help you quickly earn some extra income on the side and build a portfolio of work that you can use to find higher-paying jobs. If your goal is to simply earn extra money while maintaining a day job, these platforms make it simple to find paying clients. If your goal is to become a full-time freelancer, these platforms offer a great starting point but you may be better served by finding higher-paying clients to work with directly.

Methodology

We reviewed 22 freelance work websites to find the top platforms for freelance gigs. We chose our top sites based on the quality of the platform, its reputation, the number of industries supported, the number of gigs available, fees, and more. We reviewed a selection of sites that cater to a wide range of freelancer skills and jobs, with varying pay ranges and requirements.

While some of the selections don't charge a fee, we also included sites that charge a platform or monthly fee, and therefore offer higher-quality gigs for freelancers to choose from.

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