Are you a freelancer looking for the best freelance websites on the internet? Well, freelancing can be an excellent way to turn your hobby or talent into money. However, it's a truly daunting task to find the right platforms dedicated to helping talented professionals like yourself get projects that you love or are good at.
According to Freelancing in America, the number of freelancers in the US is expected to exceed 65 million in 2021 and reach 90 million by 2028. With 1.1 billion people freelancing across the globe, remote working is getting incredibly popular, thanks to the pandemic. That figure explains why the number of people jostling for freelance openings is growing day by day.
Like freelancer.com, many freelancing platforms are a one-stop-shop, offering a wide talent pool. The process is easy: Businesses post jobs and wait for top freelancers across the globe to make bids. The employers then compare and select bidders. Payment is made once clients are satisfied with the work.
You need to be careful when searching for freelance jobs as there are many fraud schemes and scams on these platforms. In this guide, we've amassed a list of the best freelance websites on the internet. Each of these platforms has its own approach to hiring freelancers and remote staff. Read on to see which freelance website is best for your needs.
1. 99Designs
Are you a creative graphic or web designer? Well, this is the right marketplace for you. The platform accommodates a huge range of design categories including logo design, branded merchandise, full brand redesign, website design, and product packages, among others.
The advantage of using 99Designs is that it has proven expertise in design and clients know exactly what services they're looking for - which makes the recruitment process run smoothly for both clients and designers.
This freelancing platform is ideal for both experienced and inexperienced designers. As a freelancer, you get paid depending on your trade skills and what you're worth.
2. WriterAccess
Do you love writing and want to make money on the side out of it? Well, WriterAccess might be the platform you're looking for.
What's more, the platform offers many tools to freelancers to make their work easier and get more work done efficiently. These writing and blogging tools include content planner, keyword optimization, content analytics, and more.
If you're an experienced writer or a new writer looking to get your feet wet, you'll get all kinds of writing jobs on this freelance writing platform.
3. Valilly
Formerly known as Crowded, Valilly is talent acquisition, talent intelligence, and human resource software that leverages external and internal databases to help employers find top talent that meets their job requirements.
This software platform is a top HR recruiting website that helps IT professionals find suitable clients looking for services ranging from project management, graphic design, web design, CSS, software engineering, social media, and open-source software, among others. The company has its headquarters in New York, NY, and is specially designed for the software industry.
The advantage of using Valilly as a freelancer is that they match you up with potential clients who are likely to pay the rates you deserve depending on your skills and experience.
4. Hubstaff Talent
This software company provides a platform for freelancers to find gigs and remote jobs from startups, agencies, e-commerce businesses, and software companies, among others. The company boasts over 4,600 different types of skill sets.
The downside of working on Hubstaff Talent as a freelancer is that most jobs seem to pay low.
5. Narrato.io
Like WriterAccess, this freelance website is a great place for freelancers who want to get hired for remote writing jobs including copywriting, SEO-friendly articles, content writing, case studies, web copy, tech papers, presentation, social media, copy editing, proofreading, etc.
The downside of working on Narrato.io as a freelancer is that clients will only pay for the work done if they're satisfied. Also, you may have to do as many revisions as the client asks for until the content meets the requirements.
6. Nexxt
This platform caters to small, medium, and large-sized companies who are looking for freelancers that suit their business needs. Freelancing jobs are categorized according to career focus, diversity focus, local focus, and global focus.
This makes it easy for you to choose a job that aligns with your career path.
7. Upwork
Upwork is one of the oldest and biggest global outsourcing marketplaces where employers or businesses post their projects expecting freelancers to bid for the work. After the bidding process, the most qualified freelancers get the offer. To increase your chances of being hired as a freelancer, you need to create a decent profile and optimize it to showcase your talents.
Let's explore how Upwork and Freelancer.com work:
Even though Upwork and Freelancer.com are the largest freelancing marketplaces, competition is very high among freelancers. It is a race to the bottom. No matter how talented you are - you may end up undercutting yourself in a bidding war. Sometimes, getting paid next to nothing.
The downside of working on these platforms as a freelancer is that the bidding process seems to favor the clients rather than the talented professionals. Freelancers are also charged a 20% service fee on all payments and another 2.75% as a processing fee - for just a single job - quite a huge chunk of freelancer's earnings.
8. Fiverr
Fiverr is also one of the top global marketplaces, however most of the clients there are only interested in simple projects like small HTML requirements, a résumé re-written, simple business design, product description, email marketing campaign, proofreading, blog post, or an explainer video - all from $5. Some gigs can be as high as $500 but the base service is $5, hence the name Fiverr.
If you're a top-tier professional or a developer or designer looking for clients who need full website design, then you may want to look for a better platform. Fiverr is ideal for amateurs and entry-level freelancers. Most of the clients who order on Fiverr want something done quickly and at a very low price. As a result, more skilled specialists are forced to charge lower rates to match those of inexperienced freelancers.
The downside of working on Fiverr as a freelancer is that you won't be able to charge your due fees and you'll have to put up with low-cost work. To make matters worse, Fiverr will take a 20% commission for every gig you deliver.
Ready to Try?
Whether you're a blogger, writer, designer, developer, video editor, engineer, marketer, or any other professional, investing in a freelance platform that has the right tools to support your career development is a smart move.
Online freelance platforms are a surefire way to help you set a solid start for your freelance career, assist you in getting your first clients, and even earn their trust - which could lead to long-term work and a fatter wallet.
Your profile and cover letters should not only be exciting and creative but also showcase your skills and personal brand. Working as a freelancer will give you more flexibility in choosing projects you want to work on - and the freedom to choose when and where to do them.
