12 Best Freelance Websites to Find High-Paying Jobs in 2023

Freelancing gives you the freedom and flexibility to make money on your own terms. It’s a great way to make some extra cash on the side, cover your bills when you’re in between full-time jobs, or even make your dreams of being your own boss come true. (Take it from someone who has been freelancing for over a decade and has done all three!)

If you’re new to freelancing, you may be wondering—how do I get started? And where do I find freelance gigs?

Check out this list of the best freelance websites for a few trusted places to find high-quality freelance jobs and projects online.

12 best freelance websites to find work in 2023

1. Upwork

Trusted by big brands like Nasdaq and Microsoft, Upwork is one of the most popular freelancing sites around—and for good reason! This site features freelance jobs in a variety of industries, including development, design, creative, finance, admin, engineering, legal, sales, marketing, writing, and more.

Upwork acts as the middle man between you and the client, making sure you get paid and any disputes are resolved peacefully. (However, that means they also collect a service fee!)

Pros

• You’ve got a profile that allows clients to find you and invite you to submit proposals for jobs, so the work isn’t entirely on you.
• Clients submit payment through Upwork, which means you get paid for your work every time—no chasing invoices or waiting on late payments.
• Being one of the largest and most popular freelancing sites means that there are thousands of freelance work opportunities on the site with new listings every few hours.
• There are jobs for every skill and price level, making it a great place for beginners to find their first jobs.
• As you submit projects, you will get ratings and reviews from clients. Good reviews make it easier for you to get more and better jobs on Upwork in the future.

Cons

• There is a LOT of competition for freelance jobs on Upwork as it’s one of the most popular freelancing websites.
• You will have to submit proposals for every job you want to apply to, which can be quite time-consuming.
• If you are brand new to the platform, you may have to take a few smaller, less desirable jobs in order to build up your reviews and ratings on the site.
• They have a rather high service fee, which means you aren’t keeping all the money you make on the site.
• Once you hit your limit for sending out proposals, you have to purchase more credits to continue to send out proposals.

Best For: People who are just getting started freelancing or multi-passionate freelancers who want to find jobs in multiple industries.

2. Toptal

Toptal is another large and popular freelance site where business, design, and technology service providers can find high-quality job opportunities with leading brands and startups. Unlike other freelance sites where you have to sift through tons of low paying or undesirable jobs to find one that suits you, Toptal only features big projects with companies who are willing to pay for top talent.

Pros

• All of the projects on Toptal are from top-tier companies, which means you won’t find low paying gigs here.
• Toptal offers free invoicing and payments through the platform.
• It’s one of the few sites that offers listings for project managers and product managers.
• They only accept the top 3% of freelancers, which means if you’re accepted, you’re not competing with as many people for the same jobs.
• The Toptal team matches you with projects that best fit your skillset, experience, and interest so you don’t have to comb through any listings.

Cons

• The screening process is long and rigorous and fewer than 3% of applications are accepted.
• Toptal only offers large, complex projects, which aren’t ideal for those who have ongoing clients or just want to pick up a small project here and there.
• There are no opportunities for those who are newer to the industry since they only accept experienced talent.

Best For: Freelancers who are the best in their fields and want to work with some of the world’s leading companies.

3. Fiverr

Fiverr works a little differently than some of the other freelance sites on this list. On Fiverr, you aren’t combing through job listings and sending out proposals. Instead, you create a free profile and list your “gigs” (or types of projects) and the prices. Buyers browse through the different categories to find the freelancer they’re looking for.

Pros

• You can sign up for free and start listing your gigs.
• You set the prices, so you can make sure you’re being well compensated for your work.
• There are diverse categories available for freelance work.
• Fiverr is a very popular site where many people will see what you’re offering.
• You don’t have to spend any time putting together customized proposals.

Cons

• There’s a fairly high 20% commission charge.
• It can take up to 14 days to get payment for work you’ve delivered.
• Many jobs on Fiverr tend to be low paying gigs, so you may find yourself competing based on price.

Best For: Beginners and those who don’t have time to create a bunch of proposals and want the clients to come to them!

4. Guru

Guru works similarly to Upwork. You can easily browse jobs in categories like programming, design, writing, administrative, sales, legal, education, and more. Then, you submit a quote for the job, and if it gets accepted, you’ve got work! Projects and payments are all managed within the platform, making it easy to communicate with clients and get paid.

Pros

• They have a broad range of categories for freelancers including programming, engineering, architecture, and legal.
• There are many different ways to get paid, including wire transfer or PayPal.
• The SafePay feature ensures that freelancers get paid adequately and on time.
• Guru gives you job recommendations based on your skillset and experience.
• With 800,000 clients worldwide, there are plenty of job opportunities.

Cons

• If you want to use all of the tools and make your profile stand out, you’ve got to pay for a membership.
• Free members aren’t able to contact potential clients to discuss a job before submitting a quote.
• Some users have reported fraudulent jobs or clients that will change the parameters of the job after getting the quote or only agree to pay by check.

Best For: People who want to add an additional platform to their list of freelance job options (but maybe not those who are looking for a primary platform).

5. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a job board showcasing flexible and remote job opportunities, including freelance, part-time, and full-time jobs. The platform is well-established, with more than 30,000 jobs in over 50 different categories.

FlexJobs is generally trusted in the freelance community because they do the work ahead of time to ensure that all jobs featured on the site are legitimate opportunities so you don’t have to waste time dealing with scams.

Pros

• They vet all of the jobs on the site, which ensures that every job you see is legitimate and scam-free.
• FlexJobs hosts events and webinars that help freelancers and other professionals build their skillset and learn how to network and find jobs successfully.
• The site isn’t as saturated as some other freelance websites since they vet the jobs beforehand.
• The membership fee is affordable, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons

• FlexJobs isn’t just freelancing work. They also feature part- and full-time jobs, which may not be for everyone.
• Some of the jobs may not actually be remote, and the job descriptions are not always clear.
• This site isn’t free. Full access to the site requires a membership fee of $9.95/month.

Best For: Those looking for high-quality freelancing opportunities.

6. Behance

Owned by Adobe, Behance is a platform where designers can showcase creative work and employers can discover new designers to work with.

Behance has a jobs board, but it is more than just a freelance job site. It’s a community of creatives that gives people a place to showcase their portfolio and connect with other creatives. It’s totally free, and there is no limit to the number of projects you can create or images and media you can upload.

Pros

• It’s free to join and easy to use.
• You get the opportunity to network with both other artists and potential employers.
• Since it’s run by Adobe, Behance is well-known in the creative community, giving you a large audience for your work.
• Freelancers get personalized job recommendations based on their category and skillset.
• Behance has an excellent reputation in the creative community, which means that the job opportunities are generally high-quality.

Cons

• There’s a lot of competition for jobs on Behance.
• Not all of the jobs are freelance opportunities. Some are part- or full-time.
• Many of the freelance opportunities require you to be on-site, limiting the number of jobs that you can apply for.

Best For: Experienced designers of all types who are looking for high-quality opportunities and newbies who want to find an internship.

7. Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is another freelancing website that brings together companies and freelancers across industries to collaborate on projects. Signing up is free and easy as you fill out a registration form and provide more details on your skills, background, and experience. One unique aspect of this platform is the opportunity to participate in contests where freelancers can earn money as well as profile reviews.

Pros

• Freelancer.com features jobs in many languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and more.
• This platform features some job categories that can’t be found on other freelance sites like manufacturing and logistics.
• In addition to projects, this platform also hosts contests that freelancers can participate in as well.
• The platform offers 24/7 support so you never have to get stuck, no matter when you’re working.
• Freelancer.com has a progress tracker that makes it easy to see how projects are coming along.

Cons

• Freelancer.com has a complex interface that may not be easy to navigate.
• The platform doesn’t vet freelancers or job postings so there are spam applicants and fake clients.
• They take 10% of your total earnings for contests and fixed projects.

Best For: Freelancers who are looking for opportunities in languages other than English.

8. ProBlogger

ProBlogger is a popular website for bloggers who want to add more income streams to their blogs. The founder, Darren Rowse has been blogging since 2002, and he’s created a wealth of resources for bloggers who want to improve their craft and learn how to make more money blogging. The job board on this site is full of high-quality writing and editing gigs that you can browse and apply to for free without any kind of account.

Pros

• The job board is totally free!
• There are a lot of different types of writing jobs on ProBlogger—not just blogging but also content writing, copywriting, article writing, and even editing.
• ProBlogger is a well-established and trusted resource in the writing community, so many of the jobs posted on the site are high-quality.
• It offers more than just a job board. There are a wealth of awesome resources on how to become a better blogger and make more money as a writer.
• You don’t need to create an account or sign in to browse and apply to these jobs.

Cons

• This freelance job site only features jobs related to blogging, writing, and editing, so if you’re in another field, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
• While they do their best to moderate job posting to eliminate scams, not all of the jobs are fully vetted so you may still run into fraudulent job posts.
• Many of the jobs on this board are contract work, and therefore, may not be as flexible or quick as some freelance projects.

Best For: Freelance writers and bloggers who are looking for high-quality freelance writing opportunities.

9. MarketerHire

MarketerHire is a freelancing site just for marketers. They match the client with the best marketer for them based on the skill set and experience level of marketers on their pre-vetted list.

Big brands work with MarketerHire to save time vetting and hiring experienced freelance marketers. Marketers like freelancing with MarketerHire because the jobs are high-quality and often pay more than freelance gigs on more general sites like Upwork and Fiverr.

Pros

• You set your own rates and keep 100% of your earnings.
• Since MarketerHire takes care of the contracts, you don’t have to worry about negotiating.
• They also handle payouts, so you know that you will get paid for your work on time.
• Freelancers get the opportunity to work with bigger brands like Netflix, AngelList, Puma, Logitech, and SkillShare.
• No more wading through thousands of freelance jobs! MarketerHire will match you with jobs that are a good fit based on your experience and skill set.

Cons

• You have to go through their rigorous vetting process that involves an application, video interview, and test projects. That means you won’t start making money immediately.
• MarketerHire picks which freelancer gets the job, so you have less control over which projects you’re chosen for.
• This site is only for experienced marketers, so if you are new to the industry or not interested in marketing work, this is not the site for you.

Best For: Marketers who are looking for freelance opportunities with top-tier companies without having to write time-consuming project bids.

10. Freelancing Females

Freelancing Females is a freelancing website designed by women freelancers for women freelancers. But it’s more than just a freelance job board. It’s a community where women freelancers from a variety of backgrounds come together to support one another. With over 60k women in their Facebook group alone, you’ll not only be able to find new job opportunities but also network with other women who “get it.”

Pros

• It was created by freelancers, so many of the features and resources available are exactly what a freelancer would ask for.
• You can create a profile in the freelancer directory, so businesses and individuals can find you when they need you.
• When you become a member, you get access to a Slack channel with exclusive job opportunities.
• FF offers grant opportunities for women freelancers throughout the year.
• As a smaller freelance job board, you’ll find that there are many job postings you don’t see on the larger sites.

Cons

• While many different types of businesses can post jobs here, most of the jobs are in the marketing or creative realm, making it not-so-ideal for those outside of these industries.
• While applying to jobs is free, you have to pay a fee to get access to membership perks like the directory and Slack channel.
• Not all of the jobs listed are remote. Some require you to be in a specific city and/or come into the office.

Best For: Women freelancers in the marketing and creative fields who want to go beyond just finding jobs and join a large, active community to get support.

11. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social network for professionals. But did you know that it’s also a great place to find freelancing opportunities? You can search for freelance work by typing keywords into the job search bar—just make sure you include the word “freelance”!

In addition to browsing the job listings, you also have the opportunity to network with people who may need services and post content to show your expertise and highlight your services and availability.

Pros

• LinkedIn is free to use, and it’s free to apply to jobs you find on the site.
• In addition to job postings, LinkedIn is built for networking, which may open up new job opportunities and freelance projects.
• You can find freelance work in a variety of fields, both remote and in-house.
• After you build your profile, people who need your services will be able to search, find, and contact you.
• In addition to using the job postings, you can also show that you’re looking for work on your profile and post content about what services you can offer.

Cons

• As with any social media platform, LinkedIn can get a little noisy, which means not everyone is going to see your posts or messages.
• You have limited messaging under the free plan, and paid plans are a little pricey (ranging from $29.99/month to $119.99/month).
• Spam is common on this platform, so you may get messages from people trying to sell you things or telling you about jobs that are not a good fit for you.

Best For: People looking for remote and in-person freelance job opportunities across industries and countries.

12. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is different from the other sites on this list because it focuses on day-to-day tasks and errands for local people rather than professional services. This means that you’re dealing directly with the consumer instead of working with a business.

Freelancers on this site can choose from a variety of handyman services like home repair, yard work, painting, and appliance installation or general tasks like cleaning, furniture assembly, shopping, or moving services.

Pros

• TaskRabbit doesn’t charge service fees to freelancers (just clients).
• It offers a variety of different types of jobs, many of which don’t require special skills.
• Given the nature of the jobs on TaskRabbit, you could feasibly pick up a job on the same day if you need extra cash quickly.
• You set your rates, so you don’t have to negotiate pricing with anyone.
• People who need help can find your profile based on the tasks you perform, so you don’t have to find your own clients or submit any bids.

Cons

• It’s only available in major cities.
• Most of the jobs on TaskRabbit cannot be done remotely, which means you’ll need to travel to a location to complete the job.
• TaskRabbit is a same-day service provider, so you can’t exactly work where and when you want to.

Best For: People who enjoy handling day-to-day tasks and errands and want to make some extra money helping people in their community.

How to choose the right freelance website

To find the best freelance website for you, start by deciding what types of jobs you’re looking for. This will help you narrow the list considerably. For example, if you’re a designer, you can find work on Behance but probably not on ProBlogger or TaskRabbit. If you want a hybrid or remote role, you can find work on FlexJobs, but not every job on LinkedIn will apply to you.

More broad freelancing sites like Upwork and Fiverr not only have a lot of different types of work, but they’re beginner-friendly. This is a great option for those who are exploring their skillsets and just getting with freelancing.

On the other hand, those who are more experienced in their industry might bypass these more general freelancing sites and opt for a site like Toptal where they can get higher-paying jobs designed for top professionals. It’s also worth considering online job boards and platforms, which offer a range of remote and online job opportunities across various industries.

Freelancing FAQ

If you’re just getting started freelancing, you probably have some questions. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about freelancing.

What is freelancing?

Freelancing is when you work as an independent person or company rather than an employee. Freelancers are self-employed and sometimes referred to as independent contractors or 1099 contractors.

Freelance work is often short-term or part-time. The limited hours make it a great option for those who are looking for a side hustle. In fact, many freelancers get started while they have a part- or full-time job.

People with a number of different skillsets can become freelancers. Though we often think of creatives like designers or writers when we hear the word “freelancers,” you can do pretty much any type of work as a freelancer from bookkeeping and administrative work to web development and event planning.

How do I start freelancing?

All you need to get started freelancing is a skill set or type of expertise that others find valuable. This can include skills you learned from a previous job or skills you’ve taught yourself. For instance, a graphic designer might do some freelance design work as a side hustle. Or someone who enjoys photography as a hobby may decide to become a freelance wedding photographer.

Once you’ve decided which skills you want to use as a freelancer, identify the types of clients you want to work with. Find a way to package those skills in a way that makes sense for your target client, and decide on a pricing strategy (hourly, retainer, fixed-rate, or value-based pricing).

After you’ve got all the basics down, it’s time to go out and find your first client! The list above is a great place to start.

What are the benefits of freelancing?

Many freelancers enjoy this type of work because it offers flexibility and freedom that the typical 9-to-5 job often does not.

Because freelancers are not employees of the company, they’re able to do their work when, where, and how they want to. This makes freelancing a great option for those who want a side gig or people who may have commitments during daytime work hours, like parents or caretakers.

Another benefit of freelancing is the unlimited capacity for income. When you work in a corporate position, you have to earn a promotion or a raise to make more money. With freelancing, you set your own rates. That means that you can raise them whenever you’d like to and only work with the types of clients who will pay a premium for your services.

Yet another benefit of freelancing is that you get to pick the types of projects you work on and the types of clients you work with. If you find a project that’s boring or a client who is likely to be hard to work with, you can always turn it down without getting any flack from your boss (which is you!)

Which freelance website is best for beginners?

Most freelance websites showcase a variety of different types of projects with varying budgets and experience levels. Most of the websites we have listed above have projects that are a good fit for beginners, especially Fiverr or Upwork. You just have to look through the listings to find a project that’s a good fit for someone who is new to freelancing.

How much money can I make freelancing?

According to Upwork (which happens to have a TON of data on freelance earnings), freelancers make on average $28/hour.

Of course, the rate you charge will depend on your skill set, years of experience, education and training, location, reviews, and portfolio.

More skilled jobs like web developers and mobile developers can pay on average $50-65/hour. While transcribers make an average of $20-25/hour.

Rates are not always paid hourly. It depends on the project and type of work. You may also find yourself charging rates based on the project or a monthly retainer rather than hourly.

Start your freelancing journey today

Freelancing can be an exciting opportunity to make extra cash as a side gig or even find the freedom to work for yourself full-time. Not to mention, freelancing is a great way to dip your toe into another industry or job role that you think you might like.

Whether you’re brand new to your field or you’ve been doing it for a decade, you can use the best freelance websites we’ve laid out in this list to get your freelance journey started.