Freelance Platforms

The 5 at a glance

Our 5 picks, ranked

1. Rank 1

   Fiverr

   Hire a freelancer for almost anything, with clear prices upfront.

   Best forQuick, fixed-price jobs, and freelancers who want to sell their services

   What it does

   Fiverr is a marketplace where freelancers sell their work as ready-made packages, such as logos, videos, writing and programming. You browse offers, compare prices and order.

   Strengths

   • Huge range of services in one place
   • Fixed-price packages make costs clear
   • Reviews and ratings help you choose
   • Easy for freelancers to set up a profile

   Good to know: Service fees apply to both buyers and sellers, and quality varies, so check reviews and portfolios before you order.

2. Rank 2

   Upwork

   A big marketplace for long-term freelance work and hiring.

   Best forOngoing projects and businesses hiring skilled remote talent

   What it does

   Upwork connects clients and freelancers for projects of any size. You can post a job and receive proposals, or search profiles and invite people directly.

   Strengths

   • Large pool of freelancers in many fields
   • Hourly and fixed-price contracts
   • Payment protection tools for both sides
   • Good for ongoing, long-term work

   Good to know: Freelancers pay service fees and clients may pay a marketplace fee, so check the current fee rules before you start.

3. Rank 3

   99designs

   Design contests where many designers compete for your project.

   Best forLogos, branding and packaging when you want lots of ideas to choose from

   What it does

   With 99designs you describe the design you need and receive concepts from many designers. You pick a favorite and work with that designer to finish it. You can also hire one designer directly.

   Strengths

   • See many ideas from different designers
   • Fixed-price contest packages
   • Full ownership of the final design
   • A satisfaction guarantee on contests

   Good to know: It costs more than casual marketplaces, and refund options narrow as a contest moves forward.

4. Rank 4

   Freelancer.com

   A global marketplace where freelancers bid on your project.

   Best forClients who like comparing bids, and freelancers looking for projects

   What it does

   Freelancer.com lets you post a project and receive bids from freelancers around the world. It also offers contests, so you can collect ideas for logos and other creative work.

   Strengths

   • Global talent pool across many skills
   • Compare bids to find the right price
   • Contests for creative work
   • Milestone payments help protect your budget

   Good to know: With so many bidders, take time to review profiles and past work before you choose.

5. Rank 5

   Toptal

   Hand-vetted freelancers for projects that really matter.

   Best forBusinesses that need experienced developers, designers or finance experts

   What it does

   Toptal screens freelancers before they join and matches you with talent for your project, so you spend less time sorting through applications.

   Strengths

   • Talent is screened before joining
   • Matching service saves hiring time
   • Strong for developers, designers and finance experts
   • A trial period lets you test a match first

   Good to know: It is aimed at businesses, and rates are higher than on open marketplaces, so it is not for tiny budgets.