Career Planning Finding a Job Best Websites for Freelance Jobs Extensive job listings make Freelancer the best overall website for freelancers By Emily Polner Emily Polner Formerly a retail and e-commerce expert for Rebecca Minkoff, Emily now uses her expertise in small business marketing, technology, and entrepreneurship to create compelling content for small businesses, freelancers, and consultants. learn about our editorial policies Updated on December 22, 2023 Fact checked by Matthew Klammer We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. An essential part of freelancing is finding work, so many workers turn to websites for freelancers to search for jobs and clients. Sites connect workers with potential clients and provide platforms for communication, payments, and more. In exchange, most sites either take a percentage of workers' earnings or charge a flat fee for using the site. The best websites for freelancers have vetting processes that instill confidence in workers and employers by weeding out scam artists or other undesirable profiles. Some serve a broad range of industries while others might specialize in one or a few areas of freelance work. Top sites typically allow freelancers to build profiles that include examples of their previous work. Best Websites for Freelancers in 2024 Best Overall: Freelancer Runner-Up, Best Overall: Upwork Best for Local Jobs: Craigslist Best for Remote Jobs: FlexJobs Best for Beginners: Fiverr Best for Non-Digital Jobs: Taskrabbit Best for Creatives: Working Not Working Best for Writing Jobs: Freelance Writing Jobs Best for Experienced Freelancers: Guru Best Websites for Freelance Jobs View All Best Websites for Freelance Jobs Our Top Picks Freelancer Upwork Craigslist FlexJobs Fiverr Taskrabbit Working Not Working Freelance Writing Jobs Guru See More (6) Final Verdict Compare Job Sites FAQs Methodology Best Overall : Freelancer Freelancer Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: Based on earningsIndustries: NumerousProfile Features: Verification Why We Chose It We chose Freelancer as the best overall because it has the largest number of opportunities available, is open to everyone, and has no upfront costs when creating an account. Pros & Cons Pros Free to look for work Platform to communicate and get paid Wide range of jobs to apply for Cons Service fees can be high Free members only get 6 bids per month Overview Founded in 2009, Freelancer is currently the largest online marketplace for freelance work, connecting over 66 million employers and freelancers from over 247 countries. It’s completely free to create a Freelancer account and complete your profile. Once your profile is filled out, you’re free to search and pitch yourself for any opportunities. On Freelancer, you can search and apply to local and remote jobs in dozens of fields, such as accounting, architecture, design, human resources, content writing, social media marketing, sales, software development, and more. Even though Freelancer is free initially, the site does take a percentage of your earnings once a client accepts your proposal. The fee structure is as follows: Fixed-price projects: 10% fee or $5, whichever is moreHourly projects: Flat 10% feeServices: 20% feeAccount inactive for six months or more: $14 per monthEmployer referral: No fee for any work you book with that client Throughout each project, freelancers can communicate with clients through the platform and track hours, send invoices, and receive payments. Runner-Up, Best Overall : Upwork Upwork Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: Based on earningsIndustries: NumerousProfile Features: Resume, work samples Why We Chose It Although Upwork tends to have higher-quality gigs than Freelancer, we chose it as our runner-up because it lists fewer opportunities and is more difficult to get started with. Pros & Cons Pros Large selection of professional industries to choose from Easy-to-use platform with a dashboard to keep jobs organized Easy to get paid Cons High fees, up to 20% of earnings Highly competitive, especially for beginners Many low-paying jobs Overview Initially founded as Elance in 1998, Upwork allows you to create a free profile you can populate with your rates, work samples, resume, case studies, and personal statement to get started. Unlike Freelancer, Upwork needs to approve your profile to join the platform before you can start applying for projects. Upwork caters to dozens of industries, including but not limited to consulting, customer service, engineering, marketing, IT, translation, and web development. If Upwork determines that your skillset does not meet its standards or the market is too saturated, your application to join may be rejected. If approved, you can search Upwork for relevant projects and start bidding. After you book a client through Upwork, you’ll use the platform to communicate with them, send invoices, track billable hours, and get paid. Like Freelancer, Upwork has no up-front costs but takes a percentage of your earnings once you successfully book a client. Upwork’s fee structure is as follows up until May 3, 2023 (though in some situations other fees can apply): 20% for the first $500 billed to a client10% for lifetime billings with a client between $500.01 and $10,0005% for lifetime billings with a client that exceed $10,000 Beginning May 3, 2023, service fees will be set to 10% for all new contracts regardless of contract value, and the sliding-scale service fees will be eliminated. Upwork notes that contracts with a 20% freelancer service fee at the time of this change will move to 10% on their next invoice. Contracts that qualify for the 5% freelancer service fee will remain at 5% through the end of 2023. Best for Local Jobs : Craigslist Craigslist Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: N/AIndustries: NumerousProfile Features: N/A Why We Chose It We chose Craigslist as our top choice for local jobs because it lists dozens of freelance gigs in your local area that you may not find on other freelance job sites. Pros & 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 Overview Craigslist was founded in 1995 as an email newsletter. Today, Craigslist serves 700 cities in over 70 countries and remains one of the most visited sites in the U.S. Craigslist lists jobs and gigs across dozens of categories, including but not limited to finance, marketing, general labor, domestic work, IT, education, writing and editing, and more. To apply to a job posting, simply respond to the listing with a courteous, professional email, or follow the instructions to apply through an external site, if applicable. You can certainly find amazing clients and opportunities on Craigslist, but be wary of fraudulent listings while searching. You can actually search for work outside of your immediate area by visiting other cities’ Craigslist pages. You may be able to find work outside your local area if the employer is willing to work with remote candidates. Best for Remote Jobs : FlexJobs FlexJobs Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: Starts at $9.95/weekIndustries: NumerousProfile Features: Visible only to employers you choose Why We Chose It We chose FlexJobs as the best site for remote freelance jobs because of its commitment to researching and vetting every listing to ensure members have access to the best possible opportunities. Pros & 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 Overview FlexJobs was created in 2007 to respond to the lack of a centralized place to find legitimate work-from-home opportunities. Since then, it has grown to become the largest site for hand-screened remote jobs. FlexJobs uses the proceeds from its membership fees to fund its extensive vetting process. As a result, its members have access to a scam-free, up-to-date database of freelance opportunities across over 50 industries. Members also get exclusive discounts and deals on products and services like Intuit QuickBooks, Dell laptops, and career coaching. FlexJobs charges $9.95 for a one-week membership, $24.95 for a one-month membership, and $39.85 for a three-month term. Users also can opt to pay $59.95 for a full year. Best for Beginners : Fiverr Fiverr Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: 20% of earningsIndustries: Skews toward creative, design fieldsProfile Features: Video introductions Why We Chose It We chose Fiverr as the best platform for beginners because its reputation for offering low-cost gigs makes it suitable for freelancers looking to build their portfolios. Pros & 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 Overview Founded in 2010, Fiverr gets its name because many of its sellers offer services for as little as $5 and the platform has handled over 50 million total transactions to date. In fact, one gig is sold every four seconds. Fiverr skews heavily toward creative and design fields, but some sellers offer project management, legal, career counseling, relationship coaching, IT services, and more. To get started as a Fiverr seller, create a free profile highlighting your areas of expertise and then add the services or “gigs” you’re offering to potential clients. As a seller, you can add up to seven unique packages to the Gig section of your profile. You can also send custom offers to potential clients. Fiverr charges a service fee of 5.5% on every sale made (including tips). For purchases under $50, there is an additional $2 small order fee applied. Best for Non-Digital Jobs : Taskrabbit Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: $25 orientation feeIndustries: Focus on in-person workProfile Features: Background and ID checks Why We Chose It We chose Taskrabbit as the best site for non-digital jobs since it specifically caters to those with non-digital skills. Pros & Cons Pros Can be paid via PayPal Jobs pay relatively well Cons Most gigs are in-person Extensive application process Overview Not every freelance job requires a laptop. Since 2008, Taskrabbit has been connecting people with freelancers who help out with odd jobs like shopping, plumbing, assembling furniture, moving, and more. To book jobs through Taskrabbit, you must create a profile and list all of the task categories you feel comfortable completing, along with your rate. After you’ve completed your profile, you need to pass background and ID checks. Once your background check has cleared, you also have to attend an onboarding orientation session, which costs $25. As a “Tasker,” you can choose which tasks you’re interested in completing, and once you complete the task, you can submit an invoice to your client directly through the platform. Like Upwork and Fiverr, your Taskrabbit clients can leave you ratings and reviews based on your performance. If you plan to use Taskrabbit to find gigs regularly, positive reviews can help boost your visibility on the platform and land you repeat clients. Best for Creatives : Working Not Working Working Not Working Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: N/AIndustries: Focus on creative fieldsProfile Features: Resume, portfolio Why We Chose It We chose Working Not Working (WNW) as the best site for finding creative freelance jobs because of its high-quality listings and freelance-friendly features. Pros & Cons Pros Made for creatives Display your resume Free for job seekers Cons Beginners may have a hard time being hired Overview WNW was founded in 2011 to connect creative talent to the most innovative companies, including Apple, Google, Airbnb, Facebook, and Nike. WNW doubles as a resume site and job board. To apply for jobs and display your portfolio and work history, you’ll need to complete a detailed profile highlighting your past work experiences and links to any external portfolios. Once complete, you’ll be able to apply for jobs on the “All Jobs” tab. When you “favorite” a job by clicking the star icon, the employer listed can see that you’re interested in working for their company. Like LinkedIn, companies actively recruiting through the WNW can also send you a message directly if they feel your profile matches their needs. WNW is completely free for freelancers; they don’t charge any membership fees or take commissions for work found through their platform. Best for Writing Jobs : Freelance Writing Jobs Freelance Writing Gigs Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: N/AIndustries: Writing, editingProfile Features: N/A Why We Chose It We picked FWJ as the best place to find freelance writing jobs because, like FlexJobs, its moderators thoughtfully sift through hundreds of opportunities and update the site daily with quality listings. Pros & Cons Pros Free to use Updated daily Cons Some job listings may be outdated Overview What started as a blog and portfolio site for writer Deb Ng eventually became Freelance Writing Jobs (FWJ), an aggregator that curates the best freelance writing jobs across the web. FWJ is more of a traditional job website in that you don’t need to create proposals or bid on opportunities. Simply browse through the job board or run a search based on job title, location, or category. FWJ posts content writing, grant writing, copywriting, editing, and essay writing jobs across all industries and is completely free to use. Best for Experienced Freelancers : Guru Guru Sign Up Now Key Specs Fees: $0–$49.95/monthIndustries: NumerousProfile Features: Direct messages, ranking boost Why We Chose It We chose Guru as the best site for experienced freelancers because it specifically caters to experienced professionals rather than entry-level job seekers. Pros & Cons Pros Good for professionals Good for consultants Collaborate with other freelancers Cons Must pay for premium services Overview Guru was founded in 1998 to connect companies with quality freelancers. Today, Guru serves 800,000 employers, has paid $250 million to freelancers across the globe, and boasts an impressive 99% client satisfaction rate. Guru caters to freelancers in nine main areas: administrative and secretarial, business and finance, engineering and architecture, design, sales and marketing, programming, writing and translation, education and training, and legal. After you’ve completed your profile on Guru, you can browse through job listings to find clients who are likely to be a good fit. When you find a listing that matches your interest and skill set, you can submit a quote for it. You can also work on projects with other freelancers through Guru’s virtual WorkRooms feature. Like many other freelance job sites we reviewed, freelancers use Guru’s platform to communicate with clients, draft contracts, send invoices, and get paid. It’s free to make a profile on Guru, but the platform sells tiered membership packages to help boost your rankings in search, send messages to clients before bidding on a project, and up the number of jobs you can bid for. Guru’s paid plans are as follows: Plan Monthly Fee Per-Invoice Fee Bids Per Month Basic Free 9% 10 Basic+ $11.95 9% 50 Professional $12.95 7% 50 Business $33.95 6% 50 Executive $49.95 5% 50 Final Verdict With millions of freelance jobs from countries around the world, Freelancer is our top pick for finding freelance jobs. It's easily accessible, has no upfront costs, and provides a handy platform for communicating with clients and getting paid. Compare the Best Websites for Freelance Jobs Provider Fees Industries Profile Features Freelancer Best Overall Based on earnings Numerous Verification Upwork Runner-Up, Best Overall 10% service fee Numerous Resume, work samples Craigslist Best for Local Jobs N/A Numerous N/A FlexJobs Best for Remote Jobs Starts at $9.95/week Numerous Visible only to employers you choose Fiverr Best for Beginners 5.5% service fee Skews toward creative, design fields Video introductions Taskrabbit Best for Non-Di ital Jobs $25 orientation fee Focus on in-person work Background and ID checks Working Not Working Best for Creatives N/A Focus on creative fields Resume, portfolio Freelance Writing Jobs Best for Writing Jobs N/A Writing, editing N/A Guru Best for Experienced Freelancers $0–$49.95/month Numerous Direct messages, ranking boost Frequently Asked Questions How Much Do Job Listing Websites Cost? Some websites are completely free to use, but others charge subscription fees or take a percentage of your earnings when you book a job. Fees can range anywhere from 5% to 20%, and subscription costs range from $11.95 per month to $49.95 per month. Is It Risky to Be a Freelancer? You will need to be able to tolerate some risk and financial unpredictability when working as a freelancer, especially if you want to make a living doing so. To manage this risk, consider starting freelance work on the side to supplement your regular work. But know that even established freelancers have ups and down. How Do I Get My First Freelance Job? Be willing to start small if you don't already have a portfolio of relevant work you can show to potential clients. Those hiring freelancers typically favor experience. Sites like Fiverr, which we chose as best for beginners, cater to those just getting started with freelance work, and they can be a good way to get established. What Is the Easiest Freelance Work? This is entirely subjective and dependent upon the skills and interests of the person doing the work. To be successful as a freelancer, it's best to find work you enjoy and are good at doing. For example, if you love designing websites, finding freelance jobs designing or updating sites for businesses might seem "easy" to you. Methodology We looked at nearly two dozen different freelance sites before picking the top options. We chose these sites based on the quality of their listings, industries catered to, number of opportunities listed, costs and fees, and more. Copyright TommL/Vetts/Getty Images Article Sources Crunchbase. "Freelancer Technology." Freelancer. "About." Freelancer. "Freelancer Fees and Charges." Freelancer. "What Are Dormant Fees?" Crunchbase. "Elance." Upwork. "Freelancer Service Fees." Britannica. "Craigslist." Business Insider. "11 Mind-Blowing Facts About Craigslist." FlexJobs. "About." FlexJobs. "Remote Jobs." Fiverr. "Fiverr: Growth Over the Last 10 Years." Fiverr. "Start Selling on Fiverr." Fiverr. "Levels." Fiverr. "What Is a Service Fee?" Business Insider. "Founder Q&A: Make a Boatload of Money Doing Your Neighbor's Chores on TaskRabbit." TaskRabbit. "Become a Tasker." Crunchbase. "Working Not Working." Crunchbase. "Guru." Guru. "Homepage." 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