Finding work on freelance websites is relatively easy; you need the right skills and adopt a positive and active attitude. Through the Internet, freelancers can enter many exchanges and markets.
Most companies have made this need a great opportunity. To do this, they have developed different websites to connect both parties. This way, they consolidate clients and earn regular income through online skills. So, if you are looking for freelance work, read on to find out more details.
Why use freelance websites?
Freelance websites allow contact between freelancers, companies, and potential clients. Generally speaking, there are two types of platforms:
- Supply and demand based. They offer a list of profiles and projects where companies want to hire freelancers. In this case, you can send your presentation, the job proposal, and the prices.
- Niche-based. Freelancers create their profiles to advertise their services and look for hires. Clients do their search according to the type of service they require. They decide whether to accept them based on the information they offer in their presentation.
Unlike regular job portals, these platforms are not limited to a paid opportunity. Many of these pages have a full service that allows direct payments through the platform.
In addition, most of these websites have a chat that facilitates instant messaging with clients. They also have the added quality of reviews so clients can discuss their experience.
Discover five freelance websites
We’ve outlined the most popular freelance platforms today to simplify your work. This way, you’ll be able to discover proven tools that will help you stand out in the world of independent professionals.
Upwork
It is a site that enjoys international popularity to find freelancing work. Its data reflects millions of users and millions of projects published each year. Therefore, if you are looking for potential clients and projects and want to gain professional experience as a freelancer, Upwork is your best ally!
On the other hand, it has job offers in almost all areas, including marketing, writing, finance, design, and more.
Also, if you have more specific skills, such as a product description writer, you will have a project waiting for you on Upwork. With multiple sub-niches, getting jobs that fit your skills and talents is easy.
| Positive aspects | Negative aspects |
| Clients tend to pay higher prices for projects on Upwork than other sites. Plus, it’s easier to get paid through the same platform. It is recognized, so there is traffic from big, imposing brands. The hiring process is fast, meaning you can start the project you’re interested in the next day and without so many prior protocols. You set the price per project, and you can even negotiate with the client; this is a particularity of Upwork. Although the website is in English, numerous projects are offered in Spanish. The design and interface are intuitive, comfortable, and easy to chat with. | Commissions are high, so there is a lot of competition. Being a well-known platform, it is saturated. A token system is required to submit proposals or apply for jobs. Prices are set in US dollars only. Clients may take a while to approve submitted projects, so payment may also be delayed. The entire interface and help desk are in English. |
Now, why use Upwork? The answer is simple. It is free to sign up and offers plenty of opportunities for beginners. Even though there are many competing freelancers, those who persist reap more significant benefits.
Toptal
Another ideal site for independents, with good reason, is Toptal, a service from “Top Talent.” It is a platform that offers exclusivity within the digital field. Here, the freelancer must meet specific parameters to be part of the platform and advertise their services.
Only well-prepared workers can access it, encouraging a reduced work environment with efficient professionals. In this order, some have developed projects for recognized companies such as Facebook and Google.
It is a platform whose objective is to hire freelancers in defined niches. Thus, it only has five work sectors: product management, project management, design, developers, and finance.
| Positive aspects | Negative aspects |
| Access to exclusive and well-paid projects. No extra fees for work. | Limited job sectors. To enjoy the platform’s features, you must undergo the exhaustive issuance process. |
In this sense, Toptal understands that freelancers deserve to be paid for their work. That’s why they focus on securing well-paid projects. As a result, they attract well-recognized brands and capital to pay freelancers, so everyone wins.
Unlike other freelance sites, Toptal doesn’t charge additional percentages. Instead of keeping 20% of your pay, they add their share to the amount you charge the client. That means if you charge $1,000 per hour, the platform will charge $1,200, with the clients paying the extra amount.
Workana
It refers to the platform for freelancers of Argentine origin, which has also spread throughout Latin America. In this way, finding work in Spanish has become the ideal page. So far, it has over a million registered freelancers and almost a million posted projects.
Although the services it offers Workana The jobs are just as diverse as on other websites; the most common projects are related to marketing, design, programming, and multimedia.
The hiring process is similar to Upwork. Clients post their job offers, and the freelancer responds to them. From that moment on, the contractors will have access to the applicants’ profiles and can interact with them in real-time.
| Positive aspects | Negative aspects |
| Their main offer is in the Hispanic market, although they also offer projects in English. They have “Escrow,” meaning clients pay in advance, protecting freelancers. Intuitive and easy-to-use interface allowing you to link to your LinkedIn account. It enables the use of various local currencies. | The price of each membership is set in US dollars and not in other local currencies. The contracting process could be faster, and payment conditions could be more precise. |
Despite the above, Workana is one of the best places for those looking for job opportunities in Spanish. It is one of the few Spanish platforms not absorbed by international competition.
Fiverr
Another marketplace for independent workers is Fiverr. This platform has over 5 million clients and nearly a million users. Like other portals, it offers marketing, design, writing, translation, and many other services.
Registration is completely free, but users advertise their services on this website. To do this, they create their publications (gigs), whose format is based on a template that details service, rate, skills, delivery time, and other qualities.
| Positive aspects | Negative aspects |
| Freelancers offer their services without applying. It provides a special section for the “community” with a blog, podcast, events, forums, and more. It offers several free courses to complement your skills and professional advice to attract clients. Intuitive and easy-to-use design and interface. | There is a lot of emphasis on the $5 fee per project, which does not guarantee quality. The importance lies in the buyer and not in the freelancers. There is a lot of competition between freelancers, and commissions are very high. Delivery times are 48 hours or less, which often creates stress, affecting the quality of the work. Most resources are in English. |
As you can see, Fiverr is the ideal site for freelancers who don’t fit into a single category. For example, in the case of social media marketing, you’ll have all kinds of services and different specialties available. It’s possible to create a subcategory according to your passion, making it a unique platform for freelancers.
Freelancer
Finally, we would like to highlight Freelancer, a site with more than 60 million registered independent workers in more than 250 countries. While everyone can register for free, memberships that grant extra benefits can be purchased.
For hiring, Freelancer offers two methodologies. The first one consists of a job offer from the client, just like on platforms like Workana and Upwork.
The second modality is called speculative work. It consists of a “contest” where clients post their projects to be developed by several freelancers. However, in this contract, only the best work receives payment.
| Positive aspects | Negative aspects |
| Great diversity of work and projects. It is ideal for Hispanics since there are projects in Spanish and other languages of interest. International projects. Low commissions. Intuitive and easy-to-use interface. | New users need more visibility compared to older users. To stand out from the crowd, you have to pay membership fees. There are many posts like ads and spam. The articles available in the help section are only in English. |
To date, users prefer this platform for its international opportunities. Payments are available in over 39 currencies, and 24/7 support is available.
Find the perfect job on the best freelance websites
As mentioned above, countless platforms exist where you can find freelance work. Each offers features and benefits, so check them out to find the one that best suits your needs. Whether you’re a freelancer just starting on this journey or an established professional, you can use any of the sites on this list to your advantage.
