If you are looking for freelancing websites to earn some extra money, read on ahead to find out the 11 best sites to find freelance work.
Freelancing is getting extremely popular these days as more and more people are moving toward it to earn additional cash. It offers freedom to a freelancer, and it is preferred by many as it relieves them of horrors of a nine to five job that some people find hard to follow. According to a survey conducted in 2015 by Upwork and the Freelancer’s Union, the number of freelancers adds up to about 53.7 million in the United States alone. That figure amounts to approximately one-third of the entire workforce of the nation. The survey also mentioned that sixty percent of the people who left their jobs to freelance on a regular basis earned more than they did previously. Furthermore, seventy-three percent of freelancers were of the view that technology had made it more effective for them to find reasonable work.
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That being said, with so many people migrating towards freelancing to fulfill their needs, several websites have cropped up on the internet to facilitate these people. However, how can one know which of these websites are reliable? After all the amenities provided by technology, it is still quite a hassle to settle on a website that you will be content with. You have to ensure that you procure a job suitable for your skills, you need to be confident that you will receive your payment on time and you must be satisfied with your client. To help you with all this, we have compiled the following list, which we did by taking suggestions from websites like Business, Entrepreneur and Huffington Post. We ranked the freelancing sites by scoring them in accordance with their ranks on each of these websites. For example, if a site was ranked first on a list, we gave it a score of one. After that, we added the scores of all the freelancing sites according to each list and came up with the following ranking, the lowest score meaning the best website for you to make a few bucks. If you are a teacher looking to do that, you can also check out our article on 11 good paying part time jobs for teachers.
Now, let’s check these best sites to find freelance work!
11. GetACoder
As the name suggests, this website is mostly for freelancers who are experts at coding. Nonetheless, designers and writers also have more than a few jobs to choose from. People with these three skill sets are required to start up a small business, and small businesses are exactly what this website supports. GetACoder caters to jobs which are at a relatively smaller scale than jobs at other sites mentioned in this list. So, if you do not think you will be able to commit to a job that will span more than merely one or two months, join GetACoder and avoid long and large scale projects.
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10. Freelance Writing Gigs
Freelance Writing Gigs is absolutely perfect for someone who is in any way associated with writing. You can be a traditional writer, an editor, a publisher or even a proofreader, there will definitely be something for you on this website. In fact, such is the dedication of this website towards the skill of writing that it contains a separate page called Resources for Writers, where people new to the world of freelance writing have been provided with business tips, job hunting tips, writing tips and practical freelance writing resources. This helps fresh freelancers develop their talents which they use on the jobs they get on the very website that assisted them.
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9. College Recruiter
Targeting college students and newly graduated people, College Recruiter is just the place to go if you are struggling through college because of your finances and wish to earn some money on the side. However, shortage of cash is not the only reason college students opt for freelancing. This site offers many opportunities that can in the future facilitate young minds to obtain good employment. In fact, with the right amount of experience and skill, they can also turn freelancing into a career. All they need is a jump start which this website effectively provides.
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8. studioD Talent Network
A product of Demand Media which is an American content company operating websites like eHow and LIVESTRONG, studioD Talent Network is famous for its creative freelancers: photographers, writers, film makers, film editors, photo editors, etc. Anyone looking to boost their knack for creativity should join this website. It is not only helpful but also extremely unique because of the fact that the freelancers here work together as a team to create work that is no less than professional quality. studioD Talent Network, previously named Demand Media Studios, was recently rebranded and is also great for clients who are specifically looking for imaginativeness and originality in their work.
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7. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a website designed mostly for freelancers who might be useful for developing or maintaining a web project. The skill sets required for this include web design, web development, social media marketing, SEO specialization, etc. Although there have been complaints of high fees charged by this website, it has also had great reviews about how it is quite helpful in developing and growing a client base which would otherwise have been exceptionally difficult. Therefore, it is a place for freelancers that is definitely worth a mention on our list of 11 best sites to find freelance work.
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6. Guru
Guru is an easy to use and efficient website. Freelancers interested in any genre of work can register themselves and get to work as soon as they would like, once they are hired by a client of course. Guru also does its best to help its workers in the management of their work, with something called a Guru Work Room. Not only that but it provides a facility called a job matching on a daily basis. This unique element on the website ensures that you do not let any jobs pass you by that Guru thinks are suitable for the type of work you perform.
5. 99designs
99designs has a lot of features that other websites on this list might not have. First of all, the website has been launched especially for designers, so clients may ask for any sort of design for their websites, corporate logos or similar projects. Secondly, the process that this website has adopted is quite different from other freelancing websites. A client first posts his or her design requirements and specifications. The contest is then launched by the client in which freelancers submit their designs according to the post. After seven days, the client picks his or her favorite design upon which “prize money” is handed out to the winner. Therefore, on 99designs, freelancers are not hired traditionally and then assigned work. Rather, the work is completed after which the best performer is rewarded for his talents.
4. Craigslist
Craigslist is the only website on this list that is not entirely dedicated to facilitating freelancers. It is a place for buying and selling of innumerable products but these days it is also becoming increasingly popular for freelancers on the lookout for work. It is a very straightforward process to search for a suitable job in the classifieds and the reason that this website is so high on our list is that you can find all kinds of job postings here. One can find a high-level managerial job or a simple short freelancing gig.
3. Freelancer
The biggest problem that new freelancers usually face is the difficulty in attaining jobs when put up against experienced people with amazing feedbacks. Freelancer has somewhat solved that issue. What it does is holds contests for freelancers to compete in, and winning these helps a new participant make a reputation for himself. Clients are suitably impressed by the winners making it easier for them to be offered future jobs.
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2. Upwork
Arguably the most popular website on this list, Upwork is the result of a merger of Odesk and Elance, two of the leading freelancing websites in the past. Upward hosts a huge amount of clients and even a larger number of contractors. It is an all rounded website as it offers jobs in every topic imaginable, which are conveniently organised in various subcategories making it easy for workers to find what they are looking for. The drawback to Upwork also lies in its huge size. Since there are many applicants for one job, the outcome is usually low bids and fierce competition.
1. Toptal
Toptal is number one on our list of 11 best sites to find freelance work, mostly because it is almost completely risk-free. Only very experienced, highly skilled and exceptionally technical freelancers can register themselves on this website as it has a strict screening test that is required to be passed. Toptal advertises itself by inviting clients to “hire the top 3% of freelancers”. It has an impressive list of first-rate clients that pay well once they find freelancers that suit their specifications. It may not be perfect for someone who is inexperienced but the high quality offered by both clients and contractors is admirable.
