Websites to hire freelancers make it easy to find just-in-time workers (or “gig workers”) who can complete important assignments—from small tasks, like creating a logo, to long-term projects, like building a mobile app. The best websites to hire freelancers should be affordable for small businesses and offer features to help you find, hire, pay, and manage freelancers.
To find the best freelance websites to hire gig workers, we evaluated 10 solutions and narrowed the list down to our top four recommendations.
- Upwork: Best overall website to hire freelancers
- Freelancer.com: Best for hiring freelancers from countries outside of the US
- Fiverr: Best for low-cost freelance projects
- Toptal: Best for finding highly qualified, vetted freelance professionals
I applied my over five years of experience evaluating payroll and HR software with my 10 years of experience in human resources to these recommendations. I considered ten popular websites to hire freelancers and narrowed the list down to the best options for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). I looked at several factors to finalize my recommendations, prioritizing pricing, ease of use, and functionality.
See my full methodology below
Top Freelance Websites Compared
Our Score (our of 5) | Initial | Client Transaction Fees | Starting Project Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.38 | 5% | $3/hour; $5/project | |
 | 4.20 | $0 | ||
 | 3.59 | $0 | 5.5% + an additional $3 for projects under $100 | $5 |
 | 3.54 | $500 deposit, refundable | Call for a quote | Unstated |
Upwork: Best Overall Website to Hire Freelancers
Pros
- Advanced mobile app
- Built-in time tracking tools
- Job Success Ratings for freelancers provided
- Free talent sourcing
Cons
- Limited dispute resolution
- Advanced features (such as dedicated hiring support) available only with Upwork Enterprise
- Not all freelancers are vetted
Overview
Who should use it:
Upwork is great for any small business—it’s an easy-to-use website that provides freelancers of all types. It currently has more than 12 million registered freelancers and over 5 million clients. Like most websites to hire freelancers, you can post a project or search for a freelancer with advanced search tools.
Why we like it:
Registering on Upwork as an employer is free, and you pay freelancers based on rates you negotiate when you post a job. Once a job is completed, Upwork charges business clients a 5% transaction fee on each invoice. This is higher than Freelancer.com but includes advanced tools (such as advanced freelancer search and multiple report options) that previously required a monthly subscription.
For larger businesses wanting to manage a regular freelance workforce, Upwork Enterprise offers dedicated hiring support, a company-specific pool of freelancers, compliance support, program managers, and even the option to use Upwork Payroll.
- Free to register and post a job
- Contract initiation fee: Up to $14.95
- Plus an additional fee of up to $9.95 for each new project catalog and marketplace contract
- Transaction fee: 5% of the project cost
- Eligible clients in the US who pay with a checking account may get a discounted fee of 3% (check Upwork’s website to see if the discount can apply to you)
- Starting project cost: $3/hour or $5/project
- Enterprise Plan: Call for a quote
You have three ways to find talent in Upwork. (Source: Upwork)
- Freelancer/project tracking: Upwork offers multiple payment methods, advanced reporting, coworker permissions, and even activity codes for tracking multiple freelancers and projects.
- Recruiting and payroll services: For an additional fee, you can let Upwork handle payroll and hire freelancers. None of the others on our list offer this, although Fiverr has Enterprise-level plans for specific tools, where it works with the freelancers and promises deliverables.
- Payment milestones: Like with most websites to hire freelancers on our list, your funds are held in an escrow account. Upwork also lets you set milestones and release funds as they are met.
- Mobile app: Upwork’s mobile app lets you send and receive documents and stay in touch with your freelancer using text chat or video. Freelancers can use the mobile app to track their time with Upwork’s Work Diary and to document milestone completion for your approval.
- 24/7 customer support: Unlike the other freelance websites we reviewed, Upwork’s support team can be contacted 24/7 by phone, live chat, and email. It also has an online community where you can get advice and tips from other Upwork users.
- Dispute management: Disputes are handled in two ways based on how your work is set up:
- For hourly work: You can dispute the hours worked but not the quality of the work; however, you can terminate the contract if their work isn’t satisfactory.
- For fixed-price projects: You can only dispute money in the escrow account for project milestones that have not yet been approved.
Upwork reviews on online third-party review sites (like G2) are mostly positive. Users like that it provides them access to a wide pool of remote candidates they can hire to work on short- and long-term projects. Upwork app reviewers also appreciate the easy access to talents while they’re on the go. However, several users complained of app glitches and issues using its chat feature. A few reviewers added that its candidate search tool needs to be improved to allow more filter options.
As of this writing, Upwork received the following scores on popular review sites:
- G2: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 1,700 reviews
- App Store: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 29,000 reviews
- Google Play: 4.1 out of 5 based on more than 7,000 reviews
Freelancer.com: Best Website to Hire International Freelancers
Pros
- Talent available around the world
- Premium job ad placement
- Ability to post “contests”
- Milestone payment options
Cons
- No phone support
- Limited dispute resolution
- Problems with logins and message functions in the mobile apps
Overview
Who should use it:
Freelancer.com is best for businesses wanting access to the broadest number of global freelancers. It attracts gig workers from all over the world—representing over 245 countries. You may also be able to negotiate lower hourly rates with workers in less robust economic environments where your dollar goes farther.
Why we like it:
With over 21 million gig workers on the website, Freelancer.com is the largest of the freelance job websites we reviewed. You can use it to post a job in one of three formats, including a contest format, which is unique to Freelancer.com.
It also offers the most pay-for options of those on our list. For example, for additional fees, you can feature your job to attract freelancers and more quality bids, or you can hire a recruiter who will vet your project and recommend freelancers. Freelancer.com can even handle the full administration of your project through its Technical Co-pilot program, where you get a project manager who oversees your idea—from design to freelancer coordination and final approval.
However, it lacks live phone support. Its add-on tools also make it an expensive option, depending on the number of services you get. For reasonable pricing and support via phone, chat, and email, consider Upwork.
- Free to post a job
- Transaction fee:
- Fixed-priced projects: 3% of project cost or $3 (whichever is greater)
- Hourly projects: 3% on each payment made to the freelancer
- Starting project cost: Unstated, but Freelancer.com takes a minimum of $5 per project from freelancers, so they must bid more than that to make a profit.
Add-ons (check Freelancer.com’s website to view all of its rates)
- Featured: $9.99
- Boosts your job post to attract higher-quality bids
- Urgent: $9.99
- Your job post is marked as urgent; you also receive a faster response from freelancers to get your project started within 24 hours
- Recruiter: $11.99
- A Freelancer.com agent will clarify the project details with you and invite/recommend freelance workers to bid based on your project requirements
- Private: $29.99
- Ideal for confidential projects; this hides project details from search engines and users who are not logged in
- Technical Co-pilot program: $40 per hour
- Access to project management services and project managers
Freelancer.com lets you hire based on a project or find a qualified freelancer manually. (Source: Freelancer.com)
- Multiple hiring options: Freelancer.com features three kinds of gig-worker hiring options:
- Projects, such as building a website or translating a document.
- Contests, like creating a logo or designing graphics for a package label, which allow you to see how a freelancer completes a small assignment before you commit to hiring them for a larger assignment.
- Local jobs, such as handing out flyers, running local errands, or deliveries.
- Prehiring worker test: In addition to the standard evaluation features found on the best freelancing websites, Freelancer.com allows you to test your prospective workers before hiring them. This is a great way to make sure their skills match their bids and profiles.
- Payment milestones: Similar to Upwork and Fiverr, Freelancer.com offers an escrow service, called Milestone Payments, where it holds client funds until either a project is done or a dispute resolution has been decided. However, unlike Fiverr, you can pay out in installments as milestones are reached.
- Time tracking: Its built-in time-tracking tool lets you monitor freelancer work hours and pay accordingly. If you set up a weekly billing cycle, Freelancer.com will automatically pay the correct amount each week.
- Mobile app: Like Upwork, Freelancer.com has mobile apps for iOS and Android that can be used to organize projects and communicate with your contract worker via text chat.
Freelancer.com reviewers like that it provides them access to remote workers they can hire. Some find its platform easy to use, although a few Freelancer.com app reviewers said that its app doesn’t run as fast and as smoothly as the desktop version. There are also several reports of scammers—both on the client and worker sides—with cases of fraudulent or missing payments.
As of this writing, Freelancer.com received the following scores on popular review sites:
- G2: 3.7 out of 5 based on over 90 reviews
- App Store: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 3,000 reviews
- Google Play: 3.7 out of 5 based on more than 66,000 reviews
Fiverr: Best for Low-cost Freelance Projects
Pros
- Fees reduced for lower-priced jobs
- Ability to hire for any job type
- Lowest starting price range for gigs
- User reviews of freelancers included
Cons
- Requires advance payment of orders
- No live phone or chat support
- Freelancers are not vetted in Marketplace
Overview
Who should use it:
With Fiverr, most projects or “gigs” start as low as $5, while some have reduced fees for services under a certain price point. This makes Fiverr an ideal option for businesses with low-cost work that needs to be done quickly.
Why we like it:
Fiverr is a great website to hire freelancers and gig workers for things like proofreading your employee handbook, creating giveaway packages for a trade show, adding music to your company video, running a package across town, building a presentation, or doing a little market research. Aside from low-cost gigs, you can hire for a large project (like website development) for as much as $15,000. And, if you need vetted freelancers for digital projects, Fiverr offers Fiverr Business Solutions plans, which include access to a curated catalog of top freelancers.
Fiverr also charges a client transaction fee, and while it’s nearly double the rate that Freelancer.com charges (5.5% vs 3% of the project cost), it’s still less expensive than Freelancer.com. This is due to the provider collecting a minimum of $5 per project from its freelancers, which makes them charge more for their services as they would with Fiverr. For less complicated service fee computations, you may consider Toptal as it claims that it only collects a $500 deposit, which you can use to pay for freelancer projects.
- Free to register and post a job
- Transaction fee: 5.5% of the project cost
- Additional $3 for jobs or projects under $100
- Starting project cost: $5; note that orders must be paid in advance
- Fiverr Business Solutions: Call for a quote
- Includes three plans (Fiverr Pro, Fiverr Certified, and Fiverr Enterprise)
Fiverr has a huge variety of gigs and extensive tools to find exactly what you need. (Source: Fiverr)
- Wide range of freelancer services: Almost any kind of service you want can be found on Fiverr, from online music lessons to resume writing. No other freelance website offers such variety. On the business side, you can find almost anything you might need, be it website design, photography, voiceovers, data entry, and more.
- Search and ratings tools: Its interface makes it easy to find someone who can do the work you need at your price point. Fiverr uses an eBay-style rating system, which includes a numeric and star rating of each freelancer along with the number of clients they’ve served. Simply search for the kind of work you want done, and then view the list of freelancers who claim to have expertise in that area.
- Freelancer/project tracking: Fiverr offers tools that let you track your freelancers, manage active orders, view completed projects, and manage your billing preferences. Like Upwork, this makes tracking your projects easy.
- Escrow payments: Fiverr has an escrow account option, like the other freelance websites on our list. Once a buyer makes a payment (which can be done using PayPal), the money goes into an escrow account until work is completed. Note that on Fiverr, orders must be paid for in advance.
- Mobile app: Like Upwork and Freelancer, you can get the Fiverr mobile app for iOS and Android to help you stay in touch with your freelance worker using messaging tools.
- Dispute management: Fiverr handles disputes as cancellation requests, which can be done if a project is late or if it is unsatisfactory. You get a refund to your Fiverr account and the opportunity to hire someone else.
Fiverr reviewers like that they have access to a user-friendly platform with freelancers offering different types of services, allowing them to find one that fits their specific needs. Others said that it has a secure system for processing payments and a support team that’s generally responsive.
However, some wished for a more comprehensive chat feature and additional customization options. Fiverr app users also complained of app notifications not working at times, as well as other glitches, such as slow loading pages.
As of this writing, Fiverr received the following scores on popular review sites:
- G2: 4.3 out of 5 based on nearly 430 reviews
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 based on more than 450 reviews
- App Store: 4.9 out of 5 based on over 500,000 reviews
- Google Play: 4.2 out of 5 based on more than 4,000 reviews
Toptal: Best for Vetted Freelance Professionals
Pros
- Highly vetted, qualified freelancers
- Money-back guarantee
- Worldwide freelancers, but vetted to speak fluent English
- Option for freelancers to relocate
Cons
- Not good for quick, inexpensive work
- Fees not transparent
- Hourly wages only
Overview
Who should use it:
Toptal is on our list of best free job posting sites because it offers vetted professionals. It screens all its freelancers thoroughly, choosing only the top 3% for inclusion on its site. Thus, you’re assured of highly qualified freelancers who do high-end work.
Why we like it:
Toptal specializes in startups, but it also serves small businesses and Fortune 500 companies. Unlike others on our list (except, perhaps, Upwork), Toptal grants you access to C-suite professionals who can work part-time or in temporary positions.
While its help section shows that it collects a $500 deposit, it does not mention any processing fees. However, Toptal has to make money somewhere. Some user reviews from popular review sites (like G2) mention that Toptal added their fees to the freelancer rates but didn’t disclose the percentage added to the fee. To ensure you remain on budget, be sure to talk with your talent representative about service fees when looking to hire.
- $500 deposit (applied to contract)
- Fees folded into freelance contract
- 2-week trial with money-back guarantee
- Starting project cost is unstated; call Toptal for a quote
Toptal leads you through a questionnaire to determine your needs and match you to a freelancer. (Source: Toptal)
- Candidate screening: Toptal has an in-depth screening process that considers the freelancers’ language skills and personality, technical know-how, problem-solving, experience, and creativity. To test their capabilities, they are given sample projects that take one to three weeks to complete. As a result, only the top 3% of candidates make it to Toptal’s freelance pool.
- Highly-professional talent marketplace: Unlike Fiverr, which has people willing to do everything from web design to singing telegrams, Toptal focuses on high-level professionals in their field. You can find engineers, designers, finance experts—including freelance Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)—project managers, and more.
- Talent search services: While the other freelance websites on our list start with project posting or manual talent search, Toptal does the searching for you. You begin with an in-depth questionnaire about your company and general expectations for your freelancer. Toptal then finds the talent you need. After that, you register and speak with a Toptal talent scout to find the best match. It generally finds you a match within 24 hours.
- Non-escrow payments: Unlike others that hold your money in escrow, Toptal starts with a $500 deposit. If, after a two-week trial period, you are not satisfied with your freelancer, you can get a refund or choose a different one. You can even keep the work or project completed during the trial.
- Global pool of talents: Toptal has qualified freelancers in over 100 countries, allowing you to find talent where you need it or take advantage of remote talent. However, for a wider reach, consider Freelancer.com as it has gig workers in over 245 countries.
- Talent relocation option: In addition to having access to local or remote talent, Toptal freelancers are often willing to relocate for the duration of the contract. Toptal says they can get a freelancer to your office in less than a week.
Toptal users left mostly positive feedback on review sites (like G2), highlighting its excellent customer support and diverse pool of talents as its standout features. Several reviewers also said that its mobile app is intuitive and easy to use. However, some complained of occasional app glitches (like login issues), while others wished for additional functionalities, such as a payment transfer feature.
As of this writing, Toptal received the following scores on popular review sites:
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 based on nearly 300 reviews
- App Store: 4.7 out of 5 based on 65 reviews
- Google Play: 3.7 out of 5 based on close to 500 reviews
How to Choose the Best Freelance Website
There are many factors to consider when selecting the ideal website to hire freelancers. To help you get started, here are some of them:
- Project scope: Finding the right freelancer website to hire the talent you need depends on the scope of your project. Some websites have freelancers who can handle a wide range of jobs, while others focus on specific tasks, like digital marketing and graphic designing. Knowing the type of freelance work you need will help narrow down your choices and identify the top options for your business.
- Budget: Having a hiring budget will help you determine how much to pay freelancers. Don’t forget to factor in any transaction fees that freelance websites usually charge. This can be a fixed rate or a percentage of the project cost.
- Freelancer expertise: If you require highly experienced workers, look for providers that subject freelancers to a vetting process. While this is usually part of the website’s premium solutions, having access to a vetted pool of freelancers ensures that the workers you get are highly skilled and reliable.
- Access to online tools: Given that most freelancers work remotely, having access to an online platform where you can communicate with your selected workers is critical. What’s great is that most freelance websites offer a dashboard where you can send and receive documents, track projects, and process freelance payments.
- Customer support: Live phone support is preferable, but if it isn’t available, check if the freelance website offers a live chat option. This way, you can easily reach the support team if you have questions about its platform, how to hire freelancers via its website, and how to handle work and/or payment disputes, if any.
How We Evaluated the Best Websites to Hire Freelancers
Many freelance websites allow you to post jobs for gig workers to bid on. However, we wanted to present only those that let you find and hire vetted freelancers and provide a means to ensure you’re not wasting your money, such as an escrow account and a dispute resolution process. We avoided platforms that tend to attract scammers and focused on those with a strong reputation for solid talent.
For our full evaluation criteria, click through the tabs below:
15% of Overall Score
We looked for the best combination of fee transparency, inexpensive talent-sourcing services, and low transaction rates (or those with fees charged to the freelancer).
25% of Overall Score
25% of Overall Score
10% of Overall Score
Reporting scores were determined by the capacity and quality of basic reporting and analytics, and whether reports were customizable.
10% of Overall Score
Reporting scores were determined by the capacity and quality of basic reporting and analytics and whether reports were customizable. All websites we reviewed received the same quality score in this area as they provide non-customizable reporting features within their system.
15% of Overall Score
We selected top-rated freelance websites that make it easy to set up an account, find a freelance worker, and process payments online. We also checked integration options and whether live phone customer support was available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
By hiring freelancers, you can do the following:
- Get a quick project done without hiring a new employee
- Take the load off your established workforce
- Avoid the complexities of handling payroll taxes for the freelancers
- Find cheaper rates by hiring in areas with a lower cost of living
- Discover new talent that you can hire for future work
- Have a low-risk investment by starting with a small, inexpensive project as you build trust
Freelancers work by assignment (or by the hour to complete an assignment) as opposed to being full- or part-time employees. Like with contract workers, you don’t pay payroll taxes or Social Security. When using a website to hire a freelancer, you pay a transaction fee, plus any fees for special services.
As of 2023, 73.3 million freelancers are estimated to work in the US, according to Statista.[1] That number is expected to rise to 90.1 million by 2028. In terms of country, a Payoneer study[2] shows that the US remains the largest freelancer market, followed by the United Kingdom, Brazil, Pakistan, Ukraine, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Russia, and Serbia.
The freelance economy is growing and, for many, a preferable way of living.
As with any employee, it depends on the freelancer. While there are scammers out there, most freelancers are invested in making a living with remote work. They thrive on the variety of clientele and keep deadlines because that’s how they pay their bills. Naturally, you need to do due diligence before hiring one.
In general, you should pay attention not only to qualifications and price, but also to reputation and finished product. Most review sites include client ratings plus a rating by the hiring website that addresses issues like prompt completion, time on the site, and number of successful assignments. You can ask for samples of their work or even test their skills, like Freelancer.com offers.
Bottom Line
Freelance websites help you find skilled workers who can complete tasks and projects when you don’t want to hire a full-time employee. Most charge a transaction fee for their services and provide an escrow process to protect you from scams.
Of all the freelance websites we reviewed, we recommend Upwork as our top pick. It offers the most features at an affordable price for most small businesses, and we love the Upwork Plus plan, which allows employers to only see highly qualified freelancers.