Though seemingly similar, these services are much different from one another, not only in available jobs but also your membership structure. Pricing can include whatever charges and finder’s fees come with using a third-party provider of this nature. Accessibility and job quality can also vary based on the freelance website you choose. To help, we have compiled the five best freelance websites to find work. This is how they compare. There are two plans that you can choose from. The Basic Freelancer plan is standard, or you can opt for the Freelancer Plus at a monthly subscription rate of $14.99 per month. With the Freelancer Plus, you receive a total of 80 Connects per month, plus a customized profile URL, confidential earnings reporting, and competitor insights when bidding on a job. Regardless of your plan, payment is pretty simple. Jobs pay via project milestones at a fixed price agreed upon in the future, or you can choose to accept jobs that pay on an hourly basis. Upwork takes a service fee from all earnings, but the amount varies depending on your total billings. Pros
Many job opportunitiesOften immediate hiringSimple payment system
Cons
Must pay service fees Limited job applications Smaller budgets for some jobs
For freelancers, there are over 200 different categories with gig work and ongoing projects. It services a host of different professionals, such as graphic designers, developers, writers, musicians, social media marketers, and voiceover artists. To help out, there is also 24/7 customer support. Joining Fiverr could not be easier. It is free to join, so there is no need to pay for a subscription, and there are no fees to advertise your services, either. The service simply takes 20% of each transaction. Pros
Free membershipFree to advertise services 24/7 customer support
Cons
High fees off each product Orders automatically accepted Buyers can cancel projects
Similar to Upwork, projects are either hourly or fixed-price. Payments are secured by the Milestone Payments System, so you do not have to worry about whether a client can pay. Payments are also available in 39 currencies, and there is 24/7 customer support if you have any issues. Freelancer takes a 10% fee for projects and contests and 20% off services. Pros
Access to global events Available recruiter support 24/7 customer support
Cons
May pay in other currencies High fees Watch out for spammers
However, you have to apply and be approved before you can officially join. After approval, recruiters and industry experts help filter the applicant pool and pair freelancers with jobs. Hiring usually happens within 48 hours. Toptal is available in 158 countries with 16,000 clients served. It counts Airbnb, Bridgestone, and Fortune 500 companies among its clients. Pros
Flexibility in freelancer pricing No project fees for freelancers Wide global reach
Cons
Must pass screening processNo open job searches Recruiter-reliant job opportunities
There are several plans to choose from, including a basic plan that is free for all users. For additional features, you can then upgrade to a series of plans based on your goals:
Premium Career: $29.99/mo.Premium Business: $47.99/mo.Sales Navigator Professional: $74.99/mo.Recruiter Lite: $119.99/mo.
Paid plans include everything from unlimited messaging to advanced job features like its exclusive Sales Navigator to help you grow leads. LinkedIn offers a free one-month trial for all paid subscriptions, so you can test out a service before committing with your credit card. Pros
Generous free planAffordable networking Extended sales and job search features
Cons
Pricey paid plansLimited messaging under the free plan Profile inactivity can be common
These are some factors to consider when choosing the best freelance website to find work:
Fees and penalties: The amount that a platform charges is important to consider when choosing a freelance site for work. Many sites charge fees and penalties that can quickly cut into your earnings if you are not careful.Payment: Just as it is important to consider what you are paid, it is also important to look into how you are paid. Some services may pay right away, while others may pay in milestones or require a waiting period.Ease of use: Accessibility is important in a job website because you are likely to spend a lot of time on the platform. You want to be able to navigate the site with ease so it does not detract from your productivity.Membership requirements: Every service has its own membership requirements. While some sites help brand-new freelancers get started, a la Freelancer, others like Toptal have strict requirements and search for more experienced workers.Customer support: If you hit a snag while racing to meet a deadline, you may need customer support to help out. That is why you should consider what types of customer support are available through your chosen site to help out during the hours you need it most.Terms and conditions: Finally, do not forget to consider the terms and conditions for using the service at all. All services will have their terms and conditions available for review, and you want to be sure that you agree to these terms before you accept any jobs and complete any work on the platform.
We also looked at what clients have used the platform with success, as this can inspire confidence to see large corporations like Facebook and Google successfully hire freelancers and complete projects. Finally, we looked to see what membership and eligibility requirements apply for freelancers and the kind of customer support freelancers can expect to receive. Based on these factors and more, these are the best job websites for freelancers in 2021.
