You can create your own work-from-home business as a freelancer. Freelancing is a great way to build flexibility into your schedule. But without clients, you won’t make any money. While you can go out and drum up your own opportunities through marketing, I know many people prefer to stick to freelance job sites.
Freelance job sites are platforms that typically work in one of two ways. On some, freelancers post their services, and the clients browse their portfolios and connect with people they think would be a good fit. Other freelance job sites feature gigs posted by clients. Then the freelancers browse through what’s open and apply for gigs that caught their interest.
Either way, freelance job sites can be a good way for you to find work. Your experience from these sites can help you improve. You will have the opportunity to work with a variety of clients and learn how to meet deadlines. As you work on projects, you can sharpen your skills and build your portfolio.
But not all freelance job sites are worth your time. Some are definitely stronger than others. To help you cut through the long list of possibilities, here are 10 top freelance job sites. While there is no perfect freelance job site, these ones often receive good reviews and are the ones I’ve seen freelancers have success with.
Ready to find some clients? Check out these freelance job sites.
1. Freelancer.com
With several hundred job categories, Freelancer.com has a ton of potential gigs for you to shift though. Some projects are a fixed price, and others have an hourly rate.
After you complete your profile, you can browse jobs and create a bid for any that interest you. Your pitch is delivered to the client, who will read through them all and select a candidate.
There are Milestone Payments to help prevent scams or fraud. This means that the project is broken into several pieces and you get paid for each part upon successful completion.
To learn more about Freelancer.com, here is a post with an insider interview, with great tips to help you win more bids: How to Win More Jobs on Freelance Websites
2. FlexJobs
Did you know that you can find freelance opportunities on FlexJobs along with remote and other flexible positions? While you do have to pay a small fee for access, these gigs have been carefully curated for you. You will save time since you won’t be sifting through scams or opportunities that are really for full-time employment and not freelance work.
There are also skills testing available to help you determine your strengths. If you aren’t sure if you’re really qualified in one area or another, go ahead and take the test. Then at least you will know and have confidence when you’re applying.
To learn more about why I always recommend FlexJobs to freelancers looking for work, you can click the link below to read my full review:
FlexJobs Review: Is FlexJobs Legit or Should You DIY Your Job Search?
3. Hubstaff Talent
Hubstaff created an innovative time tracking software for freelancers. But, they also have a free platform to help connect clients with freelancers.
Before you create a portfolio on Hubstaff Talent, you can search for jobs. You can browse by skill (like SEO or Logo Design), or by type of job (full-time, hourly contract, fixed price.) When you’re browsing, you can sort by date posted, pay rate, budget, and experience level to help you find the best gigs for your talents.
4. DesignHill
Founded in 2014, DesignHill helps design talents get hired. If you’re a designer, there are four different ways to earn money with this freelance job site. You can participate in design contests, provide predefined graphic design services on your own terms, work with clients one on one, or sell high-quality templates for logos.
But before you can work with clients, you will need to submit a design portfolio. Then the portfolio needs to be approved by the team. Upon approval, you will be eligible to begin participating in contents and selling services.
5. Codeable
Are you a WordPress expert hoping to put your skills to work as a freelancer? Codeable is a WordPress exclusive freelancer platform. That means they only have gigs related to WordPress. As a premium platform, clients understand that great work comes at a price. With Codeable, the guaranteed minimum rate is $70-120/hour.
To ensure quality, WordPress freelancers must apply to Codeable. You need to have an impressive portfolio, know WordPress inside and out, and be strong in PHP, jQuery, and HTML. Once accepted, you can be matched with clients who need your skillset and focus on getting your job done on-time.
6. Skyword
Do you understand the importance of storytelling in marketing? Are you a creative freelancer looking to partner with top brands? Skyword is looking for creative storytellers! Since their launch, they’ve paid $30 million to freelancers and worked with over 400 major brands. With over 14 languages represented in the Skyword Talent Pool, foreign creatives are welcome.
When you apply to freelance with Skyword, you will need to complete an application and provide recent samples. You can join as a writer, videographer, photographer, or designer. You must have a Twitter account in order to apply.
7. Toptal
If you’re a freelancer with at least a couple years of experience under your belt, you can apply to join the Toptal Network of Top Freelancers. Once you’ve been accepted, Toptal’s model is to find the perfect freelance match for their clients.
Because they pre-screen their clients and their freelancers, the quality at Toptal is generally pretty high. There is a rigorous application process to go through, and they advertise that they have the top 3% of freelancers on their platform.
8. 99Designs
Another freelance job site dedicated to freelance designers, 99Designs allows clients to select two different methods for their designs. They can hire designers with the skills and talent they’re looking for directly. Or, they can start a contest to gather a variety of ideas and then select the winner.
As a designer with 99Designs, you can create your profile and apply for opportunities that will allow you to showcase your skills. There are currently three designer levels (Top Level, Mid Level, and Entry Level). After your designs are reviewed by the Design Curation team, you will be assigned a level. The level you are at determines the fees you pay and the opportunities you can apply for.
9. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour thoroughly reviews all freelancer applications to ensure only the best ones make the cut. Once approved, you need to build a great profile. Share your career experience, detail your skills, and let your story shine through your portfolio. Your profile is how clients find you, so make sure you don’t just throw it together.
Using proprietary AI, PeoplePerHour matches freelancers to projects based on skill and ability. Once you’re matched, you craft a proposal and send it off to the client. If they select you, you get the work. You are allowed 15 proposals each month for free. If you want to send more, you will need to purchase credits.
10. PubLoft
Are you a freelance writer looking for work? PubLoft can help you find and manage clients, so you can focus on writing. There’s an extensive vetting process to find out your skill level in multiple areas including grammar, creativity, and attention to detail. After being accepted to the PubLoft Writer Network, you can start applying for jobs.
They pay $150 for each post, and you get paid via PayPal every other Friday. Many of their clients are tech startups, but you can find gigs in a variety of industries.
Now, these aren’t the only legit freelance job sites out there. There are so many. So, if you don’t see the perfect fit here, don’t get discouraged. But if you do apply – best of luck. I can’t wait to hear about how these sites helped you grow your freelance business!