Freelance work is a smart choice, as over 75% of companies seek freelancers for their skills. Connecting with these businesses and showcasing your expertise is the key to landing your first job.
While finding the right freelance opportunities can be tough, especially with just a portfolio, freelance websites make the process easier.
In this article, discover the best freelance websites to help you start your career and how to leverage them.
Steps To Use a Freelance Website to Start Your Career
Starting a career as a freelancer can be overwhelming, especially when you're new to the scene.
Freelance websites offer a structured way to connect with clients and showcase skills. Here's a clear guide to help you use freelance platforms to jump-start your career.
1. Choose the Right Freelance Website
Research popular freelance platforms that fit your niche. Some websites are tailored for specific industries, so pick one that aligns with your expertise.
2. Create a Professional Profile
Your profile is your first impression. Include the following:
- A clear, professional photo
- A compelling headline
- A detailed description of your skills and experience
- Work samples or a portfolio
3. Set a Competitive Rate
As a beginner, set a reasonable rate that reflects your skills and the market demand. You can adjust your rate as you gain experience.
4. Apply for Jobs
Look for jobs that match your skills. Send tailored proposals highlighting why you're the best fit for each project. Be clear, concise, and direct in your communication.
5. Build Your Reputation
Start small with easier tasks to build a good reputation. Focus on delivering quality work on time to earn positive reviews.
6. Keep Learning and Improving
To stay competitive, continuously upgrade your skills. Take advantage of any learning resources the freelance website offers.
Top Freelance Websites to Land Work
Starting a freelance career involves a key decision: build your website or register on a freelance platform.
If joining a freelance site is the better choice, this list will guide the way.
Here are the top freelance websites to check out:
1. Fiverr
Fiverr connects freelancers with clients seeking digital services like website design, content writing, and voice-overs. It's one of the most popular freelancer platforms worldwide, especially among students.
On Fiverr, freelancers are called sellers, and their services are listed as "gigs." Clients, referred to as buyers, browse these gigs to make purchases.
- Freelancing Type: Digital marketing, web development, social media management
- Pros: Diverse service categories, free registration, online learning resources
- Cons: High commission fees, delayed payment process
Freelancers can join for free, list gigs, and set prices without needing to bid. Buyers simply browse and purchase. When a gig is bought, Fiverr holds the payment and charges a commission fee. Freelancers receive 80% of the gig price.
Depending on their seller level, it can take up to 14 days to withdraw earnings. Payment options include PayPal, wire transfer, and debit card. With 3.42 million active buyers, Fiverr provides access to a global marketplace.
Fiverr's SSL certification protects payments and personal information, ensuring secure billing. Customer support is available 24/7 for assistance.
2. Toptal
Toptal connects top-tier freelancers with major companies. It’s ideal for highly qualified professionals in fields like software development, financial consulting, and interim management.
- Freelancing Type: Software development, financial consulting, interim management
- Pros: Access to top companies, free invoicing and payments
- Cons: Rigorous screening, large-scale projects only
Toptal’s rigorous application process ensures only the top 3% of freelancers are accepted. This process includes five steps, such as an English evaluation and project assessment. Freelancers who pass gain access to job postings from top clients like Motorola and Airbnb.
If the application is unsuccessful, it may take months before you can reapply.
Toptal provides freelancers with a dedicated service for time tracking and invoicing called TopTracker. Payments are processed through Payoneer, PayPal, or direct bank transfer, ensuring easy access to earnings.
3. Jooble
Jooble is a job search engine aggregating freelance job postings from over 140,000 sources worldwide, including corporate sites, online boards, freelancing platforms, and classifieds.
- Freelancing Type: Writing, graphic design, data entry
- Pros: Centralized job discovery, email alerts, no signup required
- Cons: No direct application – must apply through the job source
Jooble simplifies the process of finding freelance work by centralizing listings across multiple platforms. You can search for jobs by region, specifying a city to find local opportunities.
To search for jobs, you do not need to create an account. Simply enter a keyword, apply filters like salary, experience level, and post date, and browse the results.
Jooble redirects you to the job source, where you can view full details and apply directly. To stay updated, you can sign up for email alerts that notify you when new opportunities match your search criteria.
4. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com connects freelancers with clients worldwide for a wide variety of projects.
- Freelancing Type: Content translation, web development, social media marketing
- Pros: Progress tracker, live chat, 24/7 customer support
- Cons: Complex interface, spam applicants, fake clients
Freelancer.com allows freelancers to sign up and create a profile showcasing their skills, education, and experience. In addition to project listings, there are contests where freelancers can compete for jobs like visual design, helping build their portfolios and gain reviews.
Freelancers receive full payment after completing a job, with a 10% commission fee taken for contests and fixed-price projects. Payments can be withdrawn via PayPal or wire transfer.
While the platform offers many opportunities, be aware of its complex interface and occasional spam or fake job listings. The platform’s progress tracker and live chat support help manage communication and job updates.
5. Upwork
Upwork connects freelancers and clients worldwide across a broad range of industries.
- Freelancing Type: Brand marketing, programming, website design
- Pros: Payment protection, credible clients, budget-based projects
- Cons: Lengthy selection process, high service fees
Upwork offers various categories, including web design, software development, customer service, and accounting. Clients can post jobs or purchase predefined services, while freelancers can bid on projects or offer their services directly.
To get started, create a detailed profile highlighting your expertise and experience. Clients review profiles to determine qualifications when considering job proposals or project pitches.
Upwork uses a sliding commission scale. The service fee is 20% for the first $500 billed to a client, but it decreases as you earn more with that client.
Freelancers can withdraw earnings via direct transfer, PayPal, or wire transfer. Upwork’s payment protection ensures freelancers are paid for completed work, providing an added layer of security.
6. FlexJobs
FlexJobs specializes in flexible and remote job opportunities, including freelance, part-time, and full-time positions.
- Freelancing Type: Writing, content marketing, transcription
- Pros: Scam-free, 30-day money-back guarantee, reliable support
- Cons: Some premium jobs are available outside the platform
FlexJobs focuses on providing verified, legitimate job listings. It screens all opportunities to ensure they are genuine, reducing the risk of scams. The platform is ad-free, offering a clean, focused job search experience.
Users must subscribe to one of four plans to access freelance jobs, starting at $6.95 per week. Each plan grants unlimited access to job listings, a personalized portfolio, career advice, and free skills testing.
FlexJobs accepts payments via prepaid card or PayPal. If users are unsatisfied, they can take advantage of the 30-day satisfaction guarantee for a full refund.
7. SimplyHired
SimplyHired is a job board aggregating freelance job listings from across the internet, offering many opportunities.
- Freelancing Type: Human resources, finance, data entry
- Pros: Email alerts, helpful guides, free job tools
- Cons: Spam from unreliable third-party websites
SimplyHired allows companies to post job opportunities for free while aggregating listings from various sources. Its clean, user-friendly interface makes it easy to browse jobs by category and location.
Freelancers can search for specific jobs by entering relevant keywords or by filtering results by city, state, or ZIP code. Company pages provide salary overviews, benefits, and employee reviews.
While browsing SimplyHired doesn't require an account, signing up unlocks useful tools like a salary estimator and resume builder to enhance your job search.
8. Guru
Guru connects freelancers and clients worldwide, offering various opportunities across various industries.
- Freelancing Type: Marketing, programming, administration
- Pros: Secure payment, customized job listings, free membership
- Cons: Potential fake clients
Freelancers can sign up for free, create a profile, and receive customized job recommendations based on their skills and experience. Guru allows freelancers to bid on both short- and long-term projects, setting fixed prices for each.
The platform offers several withdrawal methods, including PayPal and wire transfer. Guru ensures timely payments with SafePay protection, providing security for both freelancers and clients.
While the basic membership is free, paid plans offer additional tools to enhance visibility and improve your profile's chances of standing out to clients.
9. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a leading platform for job seekers and professionals, offering both job listings and networking opportunities.
- Freelancing Type: Copywriting, translation, graphic design
- Pros: Networking opportunities, recent updates, cost-effective
- Cons: Spam content from malicious users
LinkedIn is more than just a job site; it’s a social platform for professionals to connect. Signing up and creating a detailed profile with your skills, education, and experience can increase visibility to potential employers.
Posting regular updates, like sharing your work portfolio or highlighting expertise, can attract attention from hiring managers. Freelance opportunities often appear in LinkedIn job postings. Use relevant keywords and filter results by date to find the latest freelance jobs.
While LinkedIn is free, users may encounter spam content from malicious users, so it's important to vet connections and job offers carefully.
10. Behance
Behance is a social network for creative professionals to showcase their work and connect with potential employers.
- Freelancing Type: Illustration, photography, web design
- Pros: Large audience, networking opportunities, personalized content
- Cons: Competitive environment, limited image file size
Behance is ideal for creative freelancers looking to showcase their portfolios, including graphic designers, web designers, and photographers. Users can sign up for an account, create a profile, and upload their work, ranging from animations to illustrations and web designs.
The platform's social aspect allows users to follow profiles, increasing exposure to job opportunities. Behance also offers personalized job recommendations based on your skills and portfolio, making finding freelance projects that align with your expertise easier.
However, Behance can be competitive, and the platform limits the size of image files, affecting how work is presented.
Conclusion
Freelancers often face challenges when starting out. One key hurdle is choosing the right freelance websites. Once the right platform is found and strong ratings are built, attracting clients becomes easier.
As a beginner, it's important not to focus solely on creating profiles across multiple websites. Work smart. Apply the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) to make your profile stand out. Continuously improve skills to increase your chances of success.
