1. Upwork

Upwork lets you set up portfolios and apply for remote jobs. To apply for gigs, you’ll need Connects, which acts as Upwork’s proposal currency.

Pros:
Flexible short-term and long-term projects
Choose from hourly and fixed-price projects

Cons:
10% service fee and an instant connection fee for direct offers
Tough competition due to the large number of freelancers
Each job requires multiple Connects, which freelancers need to purchase if they run out of their monthly allocation of 10 Connects

Unique features:
Work Diary to track billable time for hourly jobs
The Upwork Chat Pro feature improves communication between freelancers and clients using AI

What freelancers are saying:
“Upwork made getting started so easy that if it wasn’t for Upwork, I probably wouldn’t have given freelancing a try. And my wife and I wouldn’t have been able to move out of Serbia.” — Mateja M., Designer

2. Workcroft

Workcroft is a freelancing platform that connects clients with skilled freelancers for various projects. It offers a user-friendly interface, secure payments, and a diverse range of job categories, making it easy for professionals to find work and businesses to hire talent efficiently.

Pros:
Easy & Secure – User-friendly interface, secure payments, and verified users ensure a smooth experience.
Diverse & Flexible – Wide range of job categories with flexible work options for freelancers.
Reliable & Transparent – Built-in communication, review system, and global reach for trust and efficiency.

Cons:
Project Reliability – Some projects may lack clear requirements or commitment from clients.
Limited Immediate Support – Response time for dispute resolution or customer support may vary.

Unique Feature:
AI-Powered Matching – Smart algorithm connects freelancers with the best-suited projects.
Interactive Collaboration Tools – Built-in messaging, file sharing, and task management for seamless workflow.
Skill-Based Earnings Growth – Personalized recommendations to help freelancers upskill and earn more.

What freelancers are saying:
Workcroft has been a game-changer for me! The AI-powered job matching helps me find the right projects quickly, and the secure payment system ensures I get paid on time. It’s a reliable platform for freelancers looking for steady work.

3. Toptal

Toptal connects you with businesses across different fields. Its vetting process gives you a competitive edge, but only seasoned professionals are accepted, which may limit your chances of landing gigs.

Pros:
Access to high-quality projects
Opportunity for long-term relationships with clients

Cons:
Limited flexibility due to long-term projects
Difficult to get accepted due to strict screening
High competition from elite professionals on the platform

Unique Features:
Focus on building lasting relationships with clients
Trusted for high-stakes projects, giving you credibility as a freelancer

What freelancers are saying:
“Working for Toptal has been a career booster. After a year and some months of being part of the Toptal community, I feel that I can take any project in any language or technology. Toptal gives you the tools to face any challenge, technical or not.” — Nicolas Mengual, PHP Developer

4. Fiverr

Fiverr is a freelancing platform where you create gigs on your own terms. Clients browse and reach out to you directly, but you can’t apply for jobs yourself.

Pros:
Easy-to-use platform with a straightforward gig system
Flexibility to offer upsells and create custom packages
Freedom to set prices and work on quick, small projects

Cons:
20% service fee reduces overall earnings
Focus on affordability may lead to lower pay rates
Established freelancers often dominate the search results

Unique features:
Freelancer levels based on performance and customer feedback
Gig-based model designed for quick transactions and fast deliverables
Ideal for those seeking projects with clearly defined scopes

5. Designhill

Designhill lets you join design contests, work on one-to-one projects, and offer custom services. You can also sell your artwork through its PrintShop feature.

Pros:
Access to multiple design ideas through contests
Specialized freelance platform reduces competition
Opportunity to connect with other designers

Cons:
Designers are only paid if their design wins the contest
Potential for unpaid work when participating in contests

Unique Features:
Submit contest-based entries for multiple creative opportunities
Choose between crowdsourcing or direct hire projects

What freelancers are saying:
“I can pick and choose what kind of logos or design projects I wanna work on and it allows me to be creative.” — Carlon Young, Designer

6. We Work Remotely

We Work Remotely is a job board focused solely on remote jobs. You can browse listings and apply for free, making it easy and accessible for anyone seeking remote work.

Pros:
High-quality list of remote job offers
Simple and easy-to-use platform

Cons:
No automatic matching for jobseekers
No options to set working terms for freelancers

Unique features:
Direct job listings from employers without middlemen

7. Behance

Behance lets you showcase your work, connect with other creatives, and find job opportunities all in one place. With advanced analytics, you can see who’s viewing your portfolio and use those insights to fine-tune it for your audience.

Pros:
Broad reach and integration with Adobe’s creative tools
Ideal for building a personal brand and showcasing creative work
Community-driven, with chances for feedback and collaboration

Cons:
It’s competitive, making it hard to stand out
Freelancers need to upload new work regularly to stay visible

Unique features:
Built-in tools for easy project discovery
Connect directly with potential clients worldwide

What freelancers are saying:
“Best thing about Behance is that it has a clean and professional way for showcasing my portfolio. Also it has amazing creative work across various fields which helps in finding inspiration for my work.” — Siddhant P., UI/UX Designer

8. SimplyHired

SimplyHired is a job search engine that gathers job listings from company sites, job boards, and staffing agencies across various industries, including freelance work. Its salary estimator helps you find fair pay ranges for specific roles and locations.

Pros:
Aggregates many job listings in one place
Easy-to-use interface with many job categories

Cons:
Often redirects users to third-party sites to apply
No personalized job-matching feature

Unique features:
Comprehensive collection of job listings, serving as a one-stop shop for job seekers
Ideal for both freelancers and contract work

What freelancers are saying:
“Awesome site. Finding my job here was really simple. I would highly recommend it to others.” — John P., Remote worker

9. Dribbble

Dribbble is a platform for designers in UI/UX, graphic design, and illustration. It works as both a portfolio site and a job board, helping you connect with potential clients and employers.

Pros:
Specialized for design professionals
Encourages community interaction with feedback and engagement
Focused audience of design professionals and businesses

Cons:
Premium features like job visibility require a paid subscription
Very competitive, making it tough to stand out without a strong portfolio

Unique features:
Opportunities to network with a focused design community

What freelancers are saying:

“Dribbble helps me a lot to find creative design ideas for my Graphic Design projects. It also helps me to create my personal portfolio to showcase my daily design work.” — Nayem Nawaf, Designer

10. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour connects you with businesses needing short-term help from digital marketers, designers, and web developers. You can send 15 proposals each month for free, but sending more requires buying extra credits.

Pros:
Flexible payment options to fit your work style
Secure payments through the platform’s escrow system
“Hourlies” feature for quick, predefined tasks

Cons:
High service fee (up to 20%)
Steep competition for projects

Unique features:
Built-in project stream for easy communication and payment tracking
Diverse job categories for both new and experienced freelancers

What freelancers are saying:
“I love how easy it is to communicate with buyers, the invoicing process, and the fact that my money is usually protected. The UX is simple and easy to navigate, and there are a good number of options for finding jobs and selling your work. Payment is incredibly fast, and I can have it in my PayPal account the same day.” — Adrienne H., Freelancer