I get this question often, “What’s the best freelance platform to start with?”
Well, I’ll say it depends. Because if you’re a seasoned freelancer, the type of marketplaces you want to hop into is different from those that beginners set their eye on.
For example, I started on several platforms, but focused on Upwork after deciding it has the most opportunities. My decision paid off, as I eventually built my writing career on it and made $100K+ in the process. But if you want potentially less challenging marketplaces, Guru and Tasquistos might be more suitable.
Either way, read on and learn what each freelancing platform offers before signing up.
Upwork
Upwork is a popular freelance platform with around 12 million freelancers and 5 million clients as of 2023. It’s flexible, allowing freelancers to pick up short-term gigs or long-term contracts. There are opportunities for professionals in all fields, including tech and creative works.
Also worth mentioning is its bidding system, which allows freelancers to submit proposals highlighting their experience, rates, and timeframes. While this may assist those that price competitively, it may also be rough for beginners who are still building their reputation. Upwork also offers payment protection that guarantees freelancers will be paid for work they have finished.
Here is a guide to getting your first job at Upwork.
Pros:
- Extensive range of job categories and opportunities.
- Secure payment protection system for freelancers.
- Allows long-term client relationships and repeat work opportunities.
Cons:
- Highly competitive, making it tough to stand out as a new freelancer.
- Time-consuming proposal process for bidding on jobs.
Services you can offer:
- Web development and software engineering.
- Writing, editing, and translation services.
- Graphic design and multimedia.
- Sales, marketing, and customer support.
- Administrative, legal, and consulting services.
Fiverr
Fiverr has become one of the top freelance platforms, offering over 3 million gigs in 300+ categories. It began with $5 services but now you can find projects with all sorts of pricing.
Freelancers charge their own rates, which vary with the project’s complexity. Often, they’ll start with $5 as a baseline, and higher prices with premium service add-ons. This versatility appeals to professionals of all industries.
Fiverr is different from bidding platforms, as it is gig-based: freelancers post their services, and clients buy them outright. This is a time-saver, but it also means you’re thrown into a super competitive space with little control on what you can do to land a gig.
Pros:
- No need to bid on jobs; clients come directly to freelancers.
- Freelancers can set up multiple gigs at different price points.
- Great for creative professionals such as designers, writers, and video editors.
Cons:
- Fiverr takes a 20% commission on earnings, which is higher compared to some other platforms.
- High competition, especially in popular service categories.
- Clients often expect lower prices due to the platform’s original $5 gig model.
Services you can offer
- Graphic design, logo creation, and branding.
- Video editing and animation.
- Writing and content creation.
- Digital marketing and SEO.
- Programming and tech support.
PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a UK-based freelance platform, very popular within Europe but has global reach. It now has over 3 million freelancers with accounts to provide services in various industries as of 2023.
You can bid on projects based on hourly or fixed project rates, which is precisely what distinguishes PeoplePerHour. This versatility is advantageous for both freelancers and clients, especially in the context of short-term or specialized work.
The platform also has project management tools built-in, so you can communicate, track progress, and process payments all in one place.
Similar to Fiverr, freelancers have the capability to create offers for potential clients with service packages. Yet, competition can be fierce, particularly for in-demand fields like UX design, writing, and marketing.
Pros:
- Flexibility to charge by the hour or offer fixed-price packages.
- Includes project management tools to streamline communication and work tracking.
- Well-established in Europe but also serves a global audience.
Cons:
- Higher service fees (up to 20%) for new freelancers, which decrease with ongoing work.
- Fewer opportunities for long-term projects compared to platforms like Upwork.
- High competition in popular categories like design and content creation.
Services you can offer
- Web development and software engineering.
- Writing, editing, and translation services.
- Graphic design and multimedia production.
- Marketing, SEO, and sales support.
- Virtual assistant and administrative services.
Freelancer
As of 2023, Freelancer is one of the biggest freelance marketplaces in the world, boasting over 60 million registered users. It links freelance and clients of all types, from tech to design, writing, and marketing.
One of Freelancer’s primary features is its bidding system, allowing freelancers to submit a proposal or participate in contests to display their skills and compete to win projects without focusing solely on price.
Although this system allows for flexibility, it also paves the way for fierce competition for even entry-level projects. New freelancers can leverage the platform to build up a portfolio and gain experience; however, established professionals can find themselves in competition without the means to set themselves apart beyond lowering their rates.
Pros:
- Huge client base, offering a wide variety of opportunities.
- Enrolling in contests can be a great way to win work and build your portfolio.
- Ideal for both short-term and long-term projects across different industries.
Cons:
- Service fees of 10-20% on completed projects can reduce earnings.
- Highly competitive bidding process, which can make landing jobs difficult for new freelancers.
- Requires time and effort to establish a reputation and win higher-paying projects.
Services you can offer
- Web and mobile app development.
- Writing, editing, and translation services.
- Graphic design and creative services.
- Marketing and social media management.
- Engineering and architecture projects.
Guru
Guru is a long-established freelance platform, with over 3 million registered members, and a wide range of job categories. Guru, unlike many other platforms, encourages long-term client relationships.
Its WorkRooms feature allows freelancers to collaborate more efficiently by bringing projects, tracking progress, and the management of payments into one place. It is therefore a great option for professionals looking for continuous work with regular clients.
Guru is also a flexible platform that lets freelancers charge hourly, per task, or per project. Service fees start at 9%, making it even more affordable than some big freelancer sites.
While Guru has a smaller user base than Upwork or Freelancer, there may be fewer opportunities overall, particularly for new users.
Pros:
- Lower service fees compared to many other platforms, starting at 9%.
- The WorkRoom feature streamlines collaboration with clients.
- Flexible pricing models allow for hourly, task-based, or project-based fees.
Cons:
- Fewer job listings compared to larger platforms like Upwork and Freelancer.
- Can take time to build a reputation and secure long-term contracts.
- Some freelancers report difficulty finding high-paying projects, especially when starting out.
Services you can offer
- Web development and programming.
- Graphic design and multimedia.
- Writing, editing, and translation services.
- Marketing and business consulting.
- Administrative support and virtual assistance.
FlexJobs
FlexJobs is one of the top platforms for telecommuting and flexible jobs. Unlike most freelance sites, it is membership based, with plans starting at $24.95 monthly as of 2023.
Freelancers willing to pay get access to job listings that are hand-screened, giving them a significant reduction in scams and low-quality job postings. It is especially enticing to those who prefer remote work to conventional office jobs. It also provides career coaching, resume reviews and webinars to help freelancers navigate skills and job search strategies.
That said, while FlexJobs is known for its remote work opportunities, the number of jobs designed specifically for freelancers may be less than some of the larger, more general job-hunting platforms.
Pros:
- Hand-screened job postings ensure quality and reduce the risk of scams.
- Focuses on flexible, remote job opportunities.
- Offers additional resources such as career coaching and resume reviews for subscribers.
Cons:
- Requires a paid subscription to access job listings (starting at $24.95 per month).
- Smaller pool of freelance-specific opportunities compared to larger platforms like Upwork or Freelancer.
- Not ideal for those seeking traditional in-office work.
Services you can offer
- Writing and editing.
- Marketing and social media management.
- Customer support.
- Virtual assistant services.
- Web development and software engineering.
Truelancer
Truelancer is a worldwide platform for freelancers to get hired. It’s trusted by clients who want work done quickly and at reasonable prices. And while it’s hugely popular in places like India, it has job opportunities across the globe.
Truelancer is another great option for freelancers, with more of a focus on getting started with their careers, doing smaller, short-term projects, and having a more user-friendly interface.
Its lowest service fees, starting at 10%, is one of its strongest points to offer freelancers the chance to keep more of their income than on other platforms.
On the downside, since Truelancer is popular in parts of the world where living costs are lower, freelancers may find lower-paying projects than the bigger global platforms. That said, it can be a great way to build a portfolio and gain experience, especially in web development, graphic design, and content creation.
Pros:
- Affordable service fees (starting at 10%).
- Global platform with a focus on quick, affordable projects.
- Great for freelancers seeking smaller, short-term jobs to build a portfolio.
Cons:
- Lower-paying opportunities compared to larger platforms.
- Limited high-end projects, making it harder to secure long-term or high-paying work.
- Competition can be tough in certain categories due to lower pricing expectations.
Services you can offer
- Web and mobile app development.
- Graphic design and multimedia.
- Writing and content creation.
- Digital marketing and SEO.
- Virtual assistant and administrative support.
Tasquistos
Tasquistos is a newer freelance platform that connects freelancers to clients who need various types of services. There’s no auctioning process as you find on bigger platforms — freelancers simply look through available tasks and select what fits their skills and interests.
Although it has yet to attract high-paying clients like Upwork or Fiverr, Tasquistos is a quick way of making some cash or getting some portfolio under your belt. But because it is a relatively new platform, there may be fewer jobs available than you would see with established freelance sites.
Pros:
- Ideal for getting started.
- Freelancers send proposals
- Simple and user-friendly interface, making it easy to start working immediately.
Cons:
- Fewer job opportunities compared to larger, established platforms.
- Micro-tasks often come with lower pay, limiting income potential.
- Not ideal for freelancers seeking long-term projects or high-paying work.
Services you can offer
- Data entry and simple administrative tasks.
- Basic graphic design jobs.
- Content creation and editing.
- Social media management.
- Translation and transcription tasks.
ServiceScape
ServiceScape is another niche freelance site that finds clients for professionals in the areas of writing, editing, translation, and graphic design. It is specialized — unlike more general freelance sites, it’s about higher-quality work and long-term client relationships.
ServiceScape is ideal for freelancers who focus heavily within these fields and are looking for more serious projects. If you’re already covered on the more traditional gig-based sites, ServiceScape is worth a shot.
Unlike a bid-based site, freelancers build elaborate profiles to showcase their talents, and clients find their match amongst profiles. This arrangement makes it attractive for those looking for continuous relationships with clients who appreciate quality.
One big downside is its hefty service fee—freelancers give away 50% of their earnings per project. This high cut can deeply affect profitability unless the projects are highly paying.
Pros:
- Ideal for freelancers specializing in writing, editing, translation, and graphic design.
- Focuses on building long-term client relationships.
- Great for professionals looking for serious projects rather than quick gigs.
Cons
- Extremely high service fee (50%), which can reduce earnings considerably.
- Limited job categories beyond writing, editing, translation, and design.
- Competition can be tough due to the niche focus on high-quality services.
Services you can offer
ServiceScape supports a limited range of services in the following categories:
- Writing (content creation, academic writing, copywriting).
- Editing and proofreading.
- Translation services.
- Graphic design and illustration.
Conclusion
All freelance platforms have their pros and cons; the best one for you is going to depend on your skillset, experience, and needs.
Designers can find creative gigs on Fiverr where they can promote their portfolio. ServiceScape and Upwork offer long-term options for writers and editors, while tech specialists can try their luck on Freelancer or Upwork.
You can find your perfect match by exploring multiple platforms. The trick is to find one that’s suited to your work style, provides good offers, and links you to clients who respect your input.
