Top 5 Freelance Websites: for Beginners and Professionals

Andrew Andreev

Author at ApiX-Drive

Reading time: ~9 min

Fiverr

• Fiverr offers work to professionals with different specializations, including graphics and design, digital marketing, texts and translations, video production and animation, music and audio, logo creation, programming and technology, data processing, photography, business and lifestyle. In addition, end-to-end projects are available here.
• The platform supports customer projects and freelance services only with a fixed budget. There is no option to set an hourly rate.
  
• In 2020, the service was equipped with the Logo Maker tool, which uses AI technologies for automated logo development.
  
• Starting in 2022, the platform has a rule requiring freelancers to notify their country's tax authorities of their Fiverr income if it exceeds $600 in a year.
  
• Freelancers provide their services to customers in the form of so-called gigs. When designing gigs, you can add text descriptions, images, videos and tags. It is possible to create separate gigs for service packages.
  
• After registering on Fiverr, freelancers receive New Seller status, which gives them the right to place up to 7 different gigs on their profile. After 60 days of active visits to the service and the high-quality completion of 10 orders with a total budget of $400 or more, the specialist receives a Level One badge. It allows users to add up to 10 gigs and raise prices for services. After 120 days of activity on the platform and completing 50+ orders worth $2000 or more, the freelancer receives a Level Two badge. With it, you can publish up to 15 gigs and again increase the cost of your services. In addition, it provides a faster ranking of gigs.
  

Upwork

• When publishing projects on Upwork, customers indicate a description of the task and the estimated budget. Freelancers submit their applications, competing for orders. The client can post a private project, inviting selected freelancers to respond to it.
• After selecting contractors, the client sends them a contract indicating the amount of work in hours, the hourly rate, and the deadline for completing the task.
  
• Upwork provides employees with tools for time tracking, generating invoices, protecting against non-payment for a project, and so on.
  
• The directory of freelancers on Upwork includes categories such as development and IT, AI technologies, design and creativity, sales and marketing, texts and translations, administration and user support, finance and accounting, engineering and architecture.
  
• The platform provides a catalog of ready-made projects from various fields with the possibility of purchasing them, as well as paid expert consultations.
  
• The service allows employers to carefully select a contractor with the necessary qualifications and work experience. When reviewing candidates, they can look at resumes, portfolios, credentials, and reviews from other clients.
• The platform supports projects with hourly and fixed fees. In the first case, the contractor can track working hours manually or automatically using the Work Diary tool built into the Upwork desktop application. In the second case, the employer designates project stages (checkpoints), upon completion of which the contractor receives payment for them.
  

Toptal

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• The service is aimed at software developers and other IT specialists, designers, financial experts, project managers and product managers. It is not suitable for text writers, translators, photographers or a number of other specialties.
• Before being added to the Toptal directory, freelancers undergo a complex multi-level verification of their skills and qualifications, as a result of which only 3% of applications are approved.
  
• The platform's general requirements for employees include 2–3 years of experience in their specialty, impeccable communication skills, and the ability to quickly complete tasks. During the screening process, applicants are tested for their expertise, professionalism and communication skills.
  
• Freelancer services here are more expensive compared to other services. Their average rate is $80 per hour of work.
  
• Toptal cannot be called one of the best freelance websites for beginners, but professionals can find here many interesting, high-paying projects from large companies and promising startups.
  
• Toptal Projects allows you to hire a ready-made team of specialists from different industries to perform specific tasks. A personal manager helps to assemble the ideal team in accordance with the goals and wishes of the customer, as well as considering the specifics of the project.
  
• Using the platform’s resources, you can hire not only remote workers but also office workers.
  
• Before starting their search, employers must complete a questionnaire. This will allow the service to select the most relevant candidates for them. They can also conduct interviews with applicants via Skype.
  

Guru

• The Guru freelance directory offers many specializations: programming and development, texts and translations, design and art, administration, sales and marketing, engineering and architecture, business and finance, education and training, and legal services.
• The service verifies freelancers, publishes ratings and reviews of their work, as well as transaction data. This helps employers find a suitable specialist.
  
• A wide range of payment and withdrawal methods are offered, as well as SafePay payment protection.
  
• The exchange supports several formats of cooperation between freelancers and employers. The latter can create projects with a fixed budget, choose hourly payment for individual tasks, or make regular payments (weekly, monthly, or quarterly).
  
• Guru's own blog contains exclusive insights, current news and other important information for freelancers and their clients.
  
• The service allows not only employers to rate performers and write reviews about them, but also vice versa.
  
• The platform has a useful WorkRoom tool. This is a collaborative space where employers can interact with one or more specialists, delegate tasks to them, distribute roles, and track working hours and payments.
  
• The service makes it possible to conclude short-term and long-term contracts. In addition, it has a user-friendly interface and a built-in time-tracking function. On the other hand, users note the lack of support via online chat.
  

99designs

• The list of services available in the catalog includes the creation of logos, business cards, websites, and mobile applications, brand books, packaging, book covers, clothing, accessories and so on.
• Before starting a search for specialists, the employers must fill out a short brief indicating the wishes and features of their project, the desired style, specifications and other nuances.
  
• After registration, customers gain access to a directory of freelancers, where they can select suitable candidates based on their skill level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), prices, portfolio of work and other criteria.
  
• 99designs interface is available in different languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Japanese and more.
  
• If the customers have not found a suitable specialist or want to consider different options, they can launch a competition for all users of the platform or among selected categories. Designers will send their concepts, from which you can choose what you need.
  
• After approval of the result, the customer transfers the fee for the work to the freelancer and receives the source code and full copyright for the product. The files are saved in an account on the platform, so they are available for downloading without restrictions.
  

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