23 Best Freelance Sites to Get Work and Earn Passive Income

With over 12 million registered freelancers and 5 million registered clients, Upwork is one of the largest platforms for finding remote freelance work. It connects businesses in over 180 countries with independent talent in fields like web development, mobile app development, IT, design, writing, admin work and more.

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‎Upwork for Freelancers

Developer: Upwork Global Inc.

Price: Free⁺

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Upwork for Freelancers

Developer: Upwork Global Inc.

Price: Free

Key Features

• Large variety of freelance job opportunities across many categories.
• Advanced search and filters make it easy to quickly find the right freelance jobs.
• Profile and portfolio help freelancers showcase work and skills.
• Time tracking and payment processing handles invoicing and payouts.
• Feedback and ratings help identify top talent.

Pros

• Huge selection of well-paying freelance jobs due to large network effects.
• Good source of steady workflow and passive income.
• Useful tools for managing freelance business operations.
• Opportunities across many fields beyond just creative and tech.

Cons

• Very competitive as it attracts freelancers from across the globe.
• 20% fee on the first $500 on each job can eat into earnings.

Who Should Use It?

Upwork is a particularly good fit for freelancers interested in full-time freelance work as their rates can offset Upwork’s fees. The variety of jobs also allows dabbling into new freelance opportunities.

Fiverr connects businesses with freelancers offering services, called “gigs,” starting at $5. It’s one of the most popular platforms with over 50 service categories and 8 million active buyers. The marketplace is better suited for small repetitive tasks vs complex projects.

Key Features

• Gig pricing starts at $5 but can be offered at premium tiers too.
• Seller levels (New, Level 1, Level 2, Top Rated) give indications of experience.
• Buyer requests keep sellers engaged with guaranteed work.
• Fiverr Payments facilitates purchases and payouts.

Pros

• Low barrier to getting started as a seller due to low base pricing.
• Wide variety of services helpful for trying out new side gigs.
• Opportunity to upsell and charge more by climbing seller levels.
• Useful for small businesses looking to outsource repetitive tasks.

Cons

• Gig pricing means sellers need high volumes to earn substantial income.
• Buyers may question quality control for such low-cost services.

Who Should Use It?

Fiverr is best suited for new freelancers looking to build initial experience and freelancing students working on improving their craft.

Toptal takes an exclusive approach to its freelance talent network. Only the top 3% of applicants make it through their screening process. This positions Toptal as the premium network for on-demand engineering, design, finance and project management talent.

Key Features

• Heavy vetting and screening results in exceptionally talented freelancers.
• Full-time opportunities and remote teams available in addition to traditional freelance.
• 48 hour turnaround in matching with clients.
• No-risk trial period on engagements.

Pros

• Higher pay due to talent exclusivity and no middlemen.
• Prestigious opportunities from leading Fortune 500 brands.
• Talent pool limited to experienced mid/senior-level experts.
• Guidance from in-house talent specialists.

Cons

• Much smaller network compared to Fiverr and Upwork.
• Very thorough (and tedious) hiring process even for established experts.

Who Should Use It?

The highly selective nature of Toptal makes it ideal for seasoned freelancers who have honed their craft and want to work with leading companies.

As the name suggests, PeoplePerHour connects businesses with freelancers available for hire at an hourly rate. It positions itself as more affordable and faster than agencies. With 25,000 new freelance sign ups a week, it offers a huge talent pool.

Key Features

• 77 freelance job categories from web design and development to finance.
• Buyer requests allow posting jobs for freelancers to bid on.
• Timesheets and payments are managed through their platform.

Pros

• Wide variety of skilled freelancers creates competition and lower hourly rates.
• Additional credibility through profile and skill verifications.
• Extra exposure and job opportunities by getting “featured” on the platform.

Cons

• Can be an uneven playing field for new freelancers competing with established players.
• Some report inconsistent quality in talents.

Who Should Use It?

The expansive freelancer pool and hourly work focus makes PeoplePerHour a good option for large businesses with ongoing needs across different disciplines.

As one of the largest marketplaces, Freelancer has over 50 million registered users and 5,000 available job categories. The platform works on a bidding system with freelancers submitting proposals for buyer’s posted projects.

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‎Freelancer - Hire & Find Jobs

Developer: Freelancer.com

Price: Free

Key Features

• Immense range of jobs and services with thousands of active projects.
• Location filters help find freelancers in specific countries.
• Dashboard organizes ongoing projects, past collaborators, payments etc.
• Mobile apps on iOS and Android for on the go access.

Pros

• Tremendous opportunity to be exposed to new types of freelance work.
• Contests allow competing against other freelancers for lucrative projects.
• Milestone payments help stagger larger projects for cash flow.

Cons

• Difficult for new freelancers to stand out from massive competition.
• More suited for one-off gigs vs ongoing relationships.

Who Should Use It?

The extensive variety along with the bidding model makes Freelancer a compelling marketplace for independent freelancers looking to pick up assorted projects.

Guru has over 3 million independent freelancers and 800,000 employees using its platform. It offers tools tailored towards businesses, agencies, small businesses and individuals to hire pre-screened talent. Guru also has built-in time tracking, invoicing and payment processing.

Key Features

• Custom matching algorithms help identify best freelancers for job.
• Range of contract types – hourly, recurring, fixed cost and more.
• Virtual Assistant service for on-demand recruiting.
• iPad app available in addition to website and mobile apps.

Pros

• Established company with 18+ years in the space.
• Specialized solutions for larger corporate clients.
• Low 8% service fee and no signup fees for freelancers.
• Valuable metrics on freelancer success rates.

Cons

• Lack of profile customization compared to competition.
• Limited niche categories compared to massive variety on Fiverr.

Who Should Use It?

Guru’s enterprise focus along with flexible payment models make it great for large businesses that need to manage lots of contractors.

With over 1,050,000 freelance designers, 99designs has tapped into the huge demand for crowd-sourced graphic design work. It pioneered the idea of design contests where multiple freelancers submit concepts to buyer’s briefs in hopes of winning prize money.

Key Features

• Contests, 1-to-1 projects and subscriptions for recurring design needs.
• Over 70 design categories including logos, branding, websites, app UI, fashion etc.
• Designer search

Pros

• Exposure to many styles by seeing different designer submissions.
• Money back guarantee provides refund if not fully satisfied.
• Chance to build portfolio by participating in contests.

Cons

• Lower pay for designers given many participate but only 1 wins.
• Contests favor buyer needs over designer creative expression.

Who Should Use It?

99designs is best for visual creative freelancers who don’t mind spec work and can use the contests to continue building their design skills.

FlexJobs is one of the leading platforms for professionals looking for remote, flexible and freelance job opportunities. They thoroughly vet and screen employers to list quality flexible job postings across 50 categories.

Key Features

• Curated remote, part-time and flexible job listings.
• Employer details like benefits, work hours, team size etc.
• Customized job search alerts.
• Resume reviews, career coaching and other premium services.

Pros

• Ideal for work from home professionals like parents and caregivers.
• Higher quality legitimate job listings.
• Annual membership provides unlimited access.
• Additional job search resources and tips.

Cons

• Paid membership required to fully use platform.
• Smaller niche focus means lesser job options.

Who Should Use It?

FlexJobs is perfect for those specifically looking for the flexibility of telecommuting and virtual freelance gigs.

With over 15 million monthly users, Behance is the leading platform for creatives across industries like advertising, fashion, design, architecture etc to share and discover creative work. It operates as a community and portfolio site rather than a marketplace.

Key Features

• Portfolios, projects, collaborators and recognitions can all be showcased.
• Deep and specific fields of studies make it easy to narrow down.
• Advanced search to find creatives and agencies.
• Built-in chat for contacting and networking.

Pros

• Terrific exposure opportunity for freelancers to get discovered.
• See what type of work is getting noticed and appreciated.
• Connect with fellow freelancers for collaborations and inspiration.
• Completely free to build and maintain portfolio.

Cons

• More suited for pure online presence vs active job searching.
• Can get overly competitive if too many people upload similar caliber work.

Who Should Use It?

Behance helps freelancers in visual fields like design, photography, animation etc get discovered and showcase talents.

With over 800 million members, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. In addition to traditional job listings, LinkedIn also indicates when members are available for freelance consulting work.

Key Features

• ProFinder helps connect with vetted freelancers in minutes.
• Search by freelance skills, availability, rates and more.
• Freelancers can list services available for short term projects.
• Easy to connect and message prospects.

Pros

• Established trust and familiarity using existing network connections.
• BYOD – Bring Your Own Demand by tapping into your network.
• Showcase portfolio and experience through comprehensive profile.
• Promoted posts to increase visibility for freelancing services.

Cons

• Still more known for full-time corporate roles vs freelance gigs.
• Maximum of 3 skills listed for freelance work.

Who Should Use It?

LinkedIn is a natural fit for corporate professionals looking to make the shift into freelance consulting, leveraging their insider network.

Dribbble operates like an exclusive club for digital designers, creatives and illustrators to share and comment on each other’s visual work. The invite-only community creates a coveted environment for independent freelancers and agencies to gain exposure.

Key Features

• Upload visuals like logos, illustrations, UI designs, animations etc.
• Like, comment and follow favorite freelancer profiles.
• Search by location and specific freelance skills.
• Weekly podcasts and twice yearly conferences on design topics.

Pros

• Fantastic for networking opportunities and idea exchange.
• Gaining followers helps build personal brand and leads.
• Feedback from seasoned freelancers helps benchmark abilities.
• Agencies use platform to scout for freelance talent.

Cons

• Very limited membership requires getting invited by existing members.
• Purpose is more community than job board so inconsistent for leads.

Who Should Use It?

The exclusive community makes Dribbble perfect for freelancers in graphic design, UX and other visual creative fields looking to elevate their craft.

TaskRabbit provides instant access to local people for everyday home services such as furniture assembly, maintenance work, moving help, and much more. Although not a traditional freelance platform, it does allow skilled individuals to earn money on their own schedule.

Key Features

• Browse profiles of local Taskers with reviews and ratings.
• Quickly book and pay for services needed done ASAP.
• Request quotes for larger tasks requiring more time.
• Manage preferences and favourite Taskers.

Pros

• Flexible way to earn money doing small local gigs and tasks.
• No long term commitment required. Set own availability.
• Work in familiar neighbourhoods close to home.
• Low competition as tasks are location specific.

Cons

• Inconsistent workflow depending on demand in city.
• Task pricing limits ability to earn high pay.
• Need own transportation for most tasks.

Who Should Use It?

TaskRabbit best serves enterprising individuals looking for supplemental income from quick local gigs requiring minimal long-term time commitment.

DesignCrowd operates on a crowdsourcing model where freelance designers submit entries for buyer contests and competitions across graphic design, print, website, product design and more. The buyers choose a winner who receives the full amount for the project.

Key Features

• Over 100 design categories and options for custom contests.
• Contests starting at $199 all the way up to $25,000.
• Confidentiality agreements to protect design ideas.
• Platinum Account perks like discounts for agencies.

Pros

• Excellent way for new freelancers to build portfolio.
• Opportunity to work on interesting design projects and get discovered.
• Chance to compete for high value contests.

Cons

• Lower chances of winning given number of designers bidding.
• Need to be extremely fast and responsive to win contests.

Who Should Use It?

The competitive crowdsourced model makes DesignCrowd suitable for visual creative freelancers focused on building skills, portfolio and exposure.

Aquent is a staffing and recruiting agency that places marketing, creative and technology professionals into freelance, contract and permanent job roles across Fortune 500 companies. In addition to traditional placement services, their platform also allows direct hiring from their pool of over 500,000 freelancers.

Key Features

• Custom recruiting and staffing services.
• Job board with freelance and contract roles.
• Time tracking, invoicing and payment processing.
• Marketing training courses and content.

Pros

• Pre-vetted talent pool results in higher caliber professionals.
• Agency support with compliance, payroll, benefits, etc.
• Contracts provide steady guaranteed income.
• Access coveted opportunities at top brands.

Cons

• Usually need to go through rigorous screening and interviews.
• Recruiting services and access fees reduce take home pay.

Who Should Use It?

Aquent is geared towards mid-senior level creative marketing professionals adept at interviewing and looking for contract roles with large companies.

Indeed is the most popular job search site, used by over 250 million job seekers each month. In addition to traditional job listings, employers can also post short-term contracts, freelance and consulting opportunities.

Key Features

• Advanced keyword search filters like telecommuting, contract, internship etc.
• Location filters for city specific freelance gigs.
• Freelancers can promote themselves via resumes and profiles.
• Tools to manage prospects and share listings.

Pros

• High visibility due to massive job seeker traffic.
• Reputable household name lends credibility and trust.
• Option to limit searches to reputed companies only.
• Useful insights on employers through reviews.

Cons

• Need to sift through lots of irrelevant full-time results.
• Posting jobs not as streamlined as niche freelance platforms.

Who Should Use It?

Indeed is a familiar starting point for passive job seekers already using the platform to explore freelance opportunities relevant to their skill sets and locations.

AngelList is an online platform where startups can hire talented engineers, designers and executives. It also has a small but high quality selection of freelance and contract roles at fast-growing startups.

Key Features

• Browse contract jobs at startups by location and profession.
• Follow startups to get notified of new openings.
• Startup profiles provide insights on founders, size, funding etc.
• Apply privately with just LinkedIn, PDF resume or AngelList profile.

Pros

• Gain experience with groundbreaking innovations and technologies.
• Flexible way to explore startup ecosystem and culture.
• Beneficial for career growth being surrounded by smart driven professionals.
• Additional income and learning without long term commitment.

Cons

• Highly competitive given applicant attraction to big name startups.
• Contract roles still limited compared to full-time startup jobs listed.

Who Should Use It?

AngelList is ideal for freelance technologists and designers that love startups and want flexible gigs that provide exposure to new innovations.

Mediabistro specializes in freelance opportunities focused on media and publishing professionals. It covers fields of journalism, content, design, PR, education, advertising and more. In addition to job listings, it also offers useful industry newsletters, courses and events.

Key Features

• Curated job listings for media and publishing niches.
• Recruiter accounts for hiring talent on the platform.
• Job alerts sent via email.
• Salary data helps negotiate appropriate rates.

Pros

• Terrific source of writing, editing, design and other media/publishing focused work.
• Network and connect with industry professionals and peers.
• Build niche subject matter expertise through their training courses.
• Site reputation establishes credibility.

Cons

• Requires paid membership to access key job search features.
• Small exclusive focus limits options compared to general freelance sites.

Who Should Use It?

The niche media and publishing focus make Mediabistro perfect for experienced journalists, editors, designers, educators and other publishing professionals.

Authentic Jobs is an independent job board for designers, developers and other creative technologists. It has a good blend of full-time and freelance contract opportunities at agencies, startups and technology companies.

Key Features

• Clean and simple job search focused purely on creative/dev roles.
• Location filters to find regional contract work.
• Custom alerts for relevant new postings.
• Recommendations based on saved job searches.

Pros

• Less distracting than mainstream job boards.
• Transparent company profiles provide helpful context.
• Remote and freelance filters with lots of reputed tech companies.
• Minimal applicant tracking yields higher response rates.

Cons

• Freelance and contract opportunities still more limited than full-time.
• Basic search lacks robust filters of Indeed and LinkedIn.

Who Should Use It?

The simplistic focus on creative technology roles makes Authentic Jobs a go-to for freelance developers, designers and digital marketers.

SimplyHired offers extensive job search experience with over 20 advanced search options including filters for contract, part-time and telecommuting. It lists jobs posted directly by employers and also aggregates from over 100 other top job boards.

Key Features

• aggregator model provides lots of freelance opportunities.
• Localized searches for city specific projects.
• Salary lookup provides pay rate transparency.
• Job alerts sent to email or mobile app.

Pros

• Existing partnerships expand available job options.
• Useful filters help narrow options and highlight freelance roles.
• Salary comparisons provides context on pay expectations.
• Option to browse via map view.

Cons

• Impersonal given aggregator model.
• Duplicate listings possible given pull from multiple sites.

Who Should Use It?

The expansive aggregator model and search filters make SimplyHired a handy starting point for exploring freelance opportunities adjacent to your experience.

Designhill operates on a competitive bidding model where freelance designers compete on price for graphic design contests from business buyers. Designers submit concepts and prize money is only awarded to the chosen winner.

Key Features

• Guaranteed contests starting at just $199.
• Prize amounts range from $199 to $1500.
• Over 100 design categories and options for custom contests.

Pros

• Excellent way for new designers to build portfolio.
• Decent prize money for short turnaround projects.
• Chance to compete for projects across wide variety of industries.

Cons

• Lower chances of winning given number of designers bidding.
• Cumbersome withdrawal process for contest winnings.

Who Should Use It?

The competitive pricing model makes Designhill best for newer graphic design freelancers focused on building skills through contest-based projects.

Servicescape helps businesses hire finance, engineering, IT, HR, marketing and other high-skill contractors on demand. The network effect creates lots of well-paying freelance opportunities for independent consultants across multiple disciplines.

Key Features

• Contracts typically range from 1 week to 1 year projects.
• Select hourly or project based fixed fee pricing.
• Tools for time tracking, invoicing, expenses etc.

Pros

• Recruiters assist with matching to best roles.
• Lots of big brand clients provide great experience.
• No cost to signup and search opportunities.
• Process encourages fair market pricing.

Cons

• Very selective screening and skills testing.
• Must qualify as an independent contractor vs employee.

Who Should Use It?

The high caliber opportunities make Servicescape suitable for experienced mid-senior level consultants pursuing high-paying contract roles with big companies.

SolidGigs is a freelance job site specializing in gigs paying at least $100 USD. Listings cover over 100 business and creative categories ranging from data entry and research to web development and graphic design.

Key Features

• Minimum $100 USD pay helps filter out lower paying gigs.
• Direct contact with clients vs bidding for jobs.
• Skills quizzes assess abilities.
• Dashboard neatly organizes open applications.

Pros

• Higher paid gigs respect freelancer’s time and skills.
• Quick and easy initial questions to submit applications.
• Useful freelancing resources and tips available.
• Avoid tedious proposal bidding process.

Cons

• Highly competitive given pay draws lots of interest.
• Much smaller niche site compared to massive platforms.

Who Should Use It?

The qualified higher pay for both creative and business roles make SolidGigs worthwhile for intermediate level independent freelancers in any field.

Writer Access is a freelance platform focused on content creators, journalists and writers. It lists over 1,000 writing projects a month across diverse industries with high-paying writing assignments.

Key Features

• Access to steady writing contracts from leading brands.
• Includes both one-time and ongoing projects.
• Tools to track assignments, bill clients and process payments.
• Events and community forums to connect with peers.

Pros

• Specialized high-quality writing opportunities.
• Platform built specifically for managing writing projects.
• Helps increase rates by validating writing abilities.
• Structured process respects writer’s time.

Cons

• Requires writing-specific portfolio and rigorous onboarding.
• Less ad hoc flexibility compared to general freelance platforms.

Who Should Use It?

The tailored writing focus makes Writer Access a perfect fit for professional freelance writers looking for respectable high-paying assignments.

Conclusion

The freelance revolution continues to accelerate as skilled independent solopreneurs reject traditional jobs. Although the array of platforms can seem overwhelming, this guide provides a framework on the different options, so you can choose the best ones aligned with your skills, career goals and interests.

Whether you are a newbie just starting out or an experienced expert, the curated freelance sites here can help unlock new income streams, stimulate your passions and provide the flexibility we all crave in the future of work. Don’t just dream it, go out there and do it!