Upwork is one of the most well-known freelancing markets on the internet, and there are several reasons to utilize it. It focuses on marketing and software development and lists freelancers in every imaginable vocation and every major sector. Upwork checks and reviews freelancers, ensuring that you're engaging a genuine professional. You may even look at a freelancer's previous work before making an offer. Articles and tools are also available to assist freelancers obtain employment and advance their careers.

Freelancers can apply for a job when a firm posts a project, allowing companies to identify the best match for the work. Upwork offers a wide range of short- and long-term contracts, and text and video communications make it simple for freelancers and employers to communicate.

Upwork's Talent Scout function connects clients with high-quality freelancers, and freelancers may join for free. Upwork does, as is customary, deduct fees from each task, although the cost is reduced if you work on larger projects. Because of its scale, Upwork should not be overlooked by freelancers or employers.

• Best For: Web & mobile development
• Number of Users: 17 million

Guru is one of the largest freelancing marketplaces on the internet, with over two million freelancers and 800,000 employers, so you'll be able to locate expertise in a wide range of industries. Guru has freelancers in a variety of professions, including programming and development, design, writing, sales, marketing, and management. You may also discover freelancers in the legal, engineering, and education fields.

The site's massive database includes freelancer verification, so you know you're employing a real individual. For both freelancers and employers, the procedure is dependable and trustworthy due to secure payments and affordable costs.

Freelancers' feedback scores are also available on the site, so you can evaluate how well they do before contacting them. You may employ workers on a fixed price contract, an hourly rate, a task-based rate, or a recurring cost, giving everyone involved a lot of freedom. You can also manage projects from the site's built-in dashboard.

As a freelancer or employer, you may join Guru for free, but the site collects a charge from both parties on every paid invoice. Premium memberships on the site are also worthwhile: if you're a freelancer, you can receive more bids, pay cheaper costs, enhance your rating, and send highlighted quotations; if you're an employer, you can get lower fees, unlimited job posts, and access to top freelancers with paid employer accounts.

• Best For: Web & mobile development
• Number of Users: 3 million

Toptal doesn't have the largest work or user database, but that's the point: this site exclusively includes top-tier freelancers. That's why Toptal is trusted by organizations like Microsoft, Bridgestone, and Salesforce to uncover top talent.

To guarantee that only the finest applicants are accessible, Toptal employs a thorough screening procedure that includes language and personality assessments, skills tests, live screening, and test projects. Only 3% of Toptal's freelance applications are chosen for projects, according to the company, and each job is hand-picked by industry specialists.

This is a high barrier to entry, but it implies that freelancers will be able to find lucrative tasks and businesses will be able to locate high-quality employees. Also keep in mind that Toptal exclusively hires developers, designers, financial professionals, and product and project managers.

Because of the narrow job titles and high barrier to entry, there will be many scenarios where Toptal isn't appropriate. This is the place to start if you're a world-class freelancer or need to locate world-class talent.

• Best For: Web & mobile development
• Number of Users: 26 million

Freelancer.com is one of the most user-friendly freelancing markets online, which is why firms like Amazon, IBM, and Google use it. It's also one of the largest freelance sites, with a global pool of fifty million individuals with experience in over 1800 different specialties, according to the firm.

You may browse people's portfolios and rapidly publish an ad if you're an employer, and Freelancer.com claims that 80% of its projects receive a bid from a freelancer within sixty seconds. Because of its scale, this site is excellent for both large and small projects, and you may seek help from the site's recruiting and project management professionals if you need it.

This website also has modules for developing ideas and learning about many topics, making for a fantastic all-around experience.

Employers may post any size project on the site with any type of payment option, and you only pay when you're happy with the work. The site's live chat and dedicated app make it simple to manage your project, and freelancers may use the app to communicate with managers and receive job posting notifications.

Because to its large user base, simple job posting, and mobile app, Freelancer.com is an excellent and adaptable alternative for both freelancers and employers.

• Best For: General freelance needs
• Number of Users: 30 million

99designs focuses on design, as the name implies. This is the place to go if you need logos, branding, book covers, or websites, and it's a site you should utilize if you're a freelancer in any of those creative professions.

On 99designs, employers may utilize two alternative techniques to uncover talent. You may publish a project and solicit bids from freelancers using the usual freelance marketing strategy, or you can pay 99designs to find you the right designer - excellent if you know exactly what you need.

Freelance creatives may join for free, participate in contests to get employment, and designers are vetted before joining the site to ensure their credibility. There are over ninety separate design categories on the site as well, ensuring that you may find employment in any sector.

99designs, like most other sites, charges fees when you finish a task, and there are additional fees when designers start working with new clients, so this isn't the cheapest option. However, whether you're a creative or need to locate one, 99designs is well worth the money if you want to assure high-quality work in a collaborative and supportive atmosphere.

• Best For: Design and branding
• Number of Users: 1.2 million

This site is used by over three million people and one million companies for everything from SEO and web development to content writing, voiceovers, and marketing. People Per Hour is the place to go if you need someone for a task, no matter how esoteric.

Employers may post any little or large job on our site, and freelancer ratings and evaluations allow you to choose people who are more likely to provide high-quality work.

Freelancers can seek for certification, which will increase their trustworthiness in the eyes of employers, and you can invest time creating a unique profile to make yourself stand out. In the same way, freelancers may publish ads to attract employers. The site employs a proprietary AI technology to link freelancers with possible assignments based on their skills and expertise.

Project Streams on this platform allow freelancers and employers to collaborate, allowing for quick communication, asset sharing, and project management. You may also create invoices from here, and make secure payments fast and effortlessly. People Per Hour's costs are also among the lowest in the business, making this a good-value option.

• Best For: General freelance needs
• Number of Users: 1.5 million

While most people think of Craigslist as a place to buy and sell used items, it actually has a lot more to offer. Freelancers may also discover work advertisements, whether online or in person, negotiate their rates, and even get some great clientele. Because of people's preconceptions and the fact that Craigslist is mostly utilized for things, there is less competition there.

Poor site design, no guarantee of what the vendor or buyer will do next, not knowing who's on the other side of the screen, and other issues are among its disadvantages. However, the benefits include the fact that practically anything can be sold on the platform, it's quick and easy to use, and you can make an account and offer your business in a matter of minutes.

You might also look for local employment and see if there are any that would allow you to work from home. Anything is doable with a little study and a willingness to bargain.

• Best For: General freelance needs
• Number of Users: 60 million

LinkedIn is a famous employment site that makes it simple to locate jobs in a variety of areas. It's also a professional social networking site where people can connect and engage.

To get started, simply sign up and establish a profile. Include as much information about your abilities, education, and job experience as feasible. More work prospects may arise as a result of a detailed LinkedIn profile.

Adding a new post to your profile might also help you gain more attention. Create a post outlining your skills and attaching your work portfolio if you're a freelance writer, for example. Employers may come across your profile and make you an offer.

It's also a good idea to go through LinkedIn job advertising for freelancing jobs. Use similar keywords and arrange the results from the most recent to locate your ideal freelancing work.

• Best For: Long-term freelance jobs
• Number of Users: 433 million

Fiverr is a marketplace that links freelancers with businesses in need of digital services such as website design, content writing, and voice-overs. This freelance website makes it easy for freelancers and company owners to communicate with one another. Note that freelancers are referred to as sellers on the website, while their services are referred to as gigs, and company owners are referred to as buyers.

Sellers may sign up for free, post their gigs, and establish their own rates instead of putting out bids. Meanwhile, customers may shop by browsing through several categories. When a customer buys a gig, the system charges their account and puts the money on hold for them. After deducting a commission fee, the system will send freelancers 80 percent of the proposed amount.

Withdrawing money might take up to 14 days, depending on each freelancer's seller level. Payments can be made via a debit card, PayPal, or wire transfer, among other methods.

• Best For: Design and creative jobs
• Number of Users: 20 million

Behance is a social network for creative skills, unlike the other freelancing sites on the list. This website is used by people all around the globe to create portfolios and share their creative work, which includes anything from animations and illustrations to web and graphic design.

Behance is a great site to get noticed by possible employers whether you're a freelance graphic designer, web designer, or animator. Begin by creating an account and filling up your profile.

Because it's a social media platform, the more profiles you follow, the more posts will display in your feed. It allows you to find additional freelance employment options. Behance also has a job board. Every freelancer will receive a tailored job suggestion based on their skill sets and category, making it simpler to locate freelance work that is a good fit for them.

• Best For: Design and branding
• Number of Users: 10 million