From web design to copywriting to data entry, there are tons of freelance jobs and positions available online.
The big question everyone has is: How do you find them?
The good news is that today’s internet is primed for digital nomads, freelancers, and the gig economy, and it provides access to a myriad of resources for finding these jobs.
In this article, I cover the best freelance apps and freelance websites to find jobs and make money online from the comfort of your home.
What Are Freelance Websites?
Freelance websites are essentially virtual job boards. Clients post ads for their open jobs, and freelancers can submit bids.
Typically this includes a cover letter and some examples of your work, along with addressing any questions the client may ask in their ad. First impressions matter, and this is your time to stand out from the crowd.
Freelance websites allow for remote work, and you can often complete jobs from anywhere in the world. These platforms allow for location independence if that’s what you want.
Best Freelance Apps For Freelancers and Side Hustlers
1. Fiverr
If you are brand new to freelancing and want to be able to get your foot in the door and land a quick job, Fiverr is a great place to browse.
There are many random jobs available, from logo designs to resume editing to blog writing.
Fiverr is a place where clients go to find affordable workers, so don’t expect to make hundreds of dollars right off the bat, but if you have the patience to browse, you are sure to find a rewarding gig.
Fiverr is also great for freelancers because they can publicly showcase their completed projects to potential clients. They even have courses available that can help you develop your skills and teach you how to properly sell your talents when pitching to clients in the future.
2. Upwork
One of the best freelancing sites on the web, Upwork is a great resource for those just starting their freelancing journey.
Upwork has clients that are looking for everything, from business plans to web design to children’s book illustrations.
The Freelancer Basic account gets you ten free connects per month. Each job that you bid on requires anywhere from 1 to 6 connects to be able to submit your proposal.
You can purchase additional connects if needed. Learn about how Upwork works in this detailed review.
3. Gigwalk
No matter if you are looking for a few extra bucks spending money or if you need to earn an entire paycheck, Gigwalk might be just what you need.
Just download the app, register, and link your PayPal, then check out the gigs in your area. Work as little or as much as needed.
4. Freelancer
Freelancer offers a huge variety of skills to specialize in—everything from PHO to app development to graphic design and more.
Professional clients who are looking for the best workers are what makes Freelancer great.
5. Simply Hired
Simply Hired is a website and an app that people can use to find freelance work.
Based in California, Simply Hired allows job seekers to upload resumes, complete a profile, and search for jobs.
Best Freelance Websites For Beginners
6. Rev
Rev is a transcription platform that allows anyone to pick up freelance transcription work anywhere they have a computer and internet access.
You will initially need to pass a competency test, but after that, you can start taking jobs you are comfortable with.
As long as you keep your scores and metrics up, you can advance to the top level of transcriptionists, giving you access to better jobs, higher pay, and the ability to grade other jobs.
Here’s a Transcription Course to get you started.
7. Truelancer
Truelancer is an international freelancer job site. Look for freelance gigs from clients in the US, UK, Philippines, India, and more. You can do any type of work you like, be it data entry, consultant work, content creation, and so on.
Freelancers on Truelancer must sign NDAs to work through the site.
8. Guru
Guru is a site for hiring freelancers that are experts in their fields. If you are good at what you do, then Guru is the site you want to be courting clients on.
Their secure, cost-effective, and flexible job platform is among the best in the industry.
9. Flexjobs
One of the best work-from-home sites, Flexjobs has been a leader in flexible job opportunities for over a decade.
You can choose from full-time, part-time, employee, and freelance positions. Before you decide, look at the site’s employer research, it’s a great feature.
10. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is a gig platform that lets you skill yourself in a task, and clients in search of talent skilled in that task will hire you through the site.
There are various services offered by “taskers” that differ by city, but there is a wide variety of things to do.
11. Toptal
Toptal is a freelancer site that boasts top talent in their fields. If you are at the top level of your profession and ready to get into freelancing, Toptal is where you want to do it.
12. Instawork
Instawork is a unique gig and freelancing site that uses a picture-oriented format for job listings.
It allows you to show your talents visually, and also browse jobs available, and see what the location or client looks like.
13. Wage
The Wage app is a new way to market gigs and services on-demand, based on your location.
If you are looking for intermittent work, such as pet sitting, laundry help, junk removal, and tons more, Wage might be the app for you.
Browse ads for gigs in a very visual way, seeing pictures of the jobs or settings.
14. Peopleperhour
Peopleperhour is one of the top freelancing sites that connects clients to freelancers that are available for them.
They are a bit more strict than other sites, requiring aspiring freelancers to apply to become certified on their site.
15. Solidgigs
More of a subscription list than a full-featured job site, Solidgigs lets you create customized job search criteria based on your freelancing wants and needs, and they will email you a selection of hand-picked jobs every day.
Benefits Of Freelance Websites and Apps
While there are a lot of smaller businesses that utilize freelance platforms, it is not uncommon to come across jobs from Fortune 500 companies while browsing the job postings on Upwork.
Working from home is awesome; there’s no question about it. There are a few reasons that Forbes is predicting that, by 2030, about 80% of the job force will be freelancers.
It is cheaper for employers to pay their employees to stay home, many jobs don’t need to be done in an office, and the demand for more remote positions is there.
There will always be jobs that have to be done in person, but there are a lot of things that can be done remotely. Freelancing comes with several benefits other than being able to stay in your pajamas all day:
- Most gigs are flexible enough for the freelancer to set their own schedule, which is helpful for those with other jobs, taking classes, or that have kids
- Entry-level positions are easy to find
- Offers some protection against scammers, as there are a lot of scam gigs that float around
- Public feedback on completed jobs, which can help you get future clients
- Many sites have a chat function built-in that allows communication between the freelancer and the client
- Escrow protection for payments
- Ability to report clients for non-payment of work
Freelancing Website FAQs
Which freelancing site is best for beginners?
For those just starting out, the best site would be Upwork. Upwork is great for those with no freelancing history, as there are a ton of entry-level gigs in a ton of different niches.
Whether you want to get into editing, copywriting, graphic design, or analytics, Upwork will have something perfect for you.
What are the highest paying freelance jobs?
If you are concerned that you won’t make enough money freelancing, you’d be surprised to hear how well some of these positions pay.
It is common to find jobs that pay $30 or more per hour. Some of the higher-paying jobs are:
- PR Manager: $52/hour average
- Account Executive: $43/hour average
- Software Developer: $42/hour average
What skill is best for freelancing?
The great thing about freelancing is that there are so many different types of jobs available. No matter what your skill set is, you should be able to find a place where you fit. The most in-demand skills are:
- Video Editing
- Freelance Writing
- Copywriting
- SEO Specialist
- Proofreading and Editing
How can I become a freelancer with no experience?
The first step towards getting your career as a freelancer started is by checking out the websites we’ve listed, setting up accounts, and putting yourself out there.
If you have a portfolio, that is great, but not having any prior experience won’t make or break your ability to be a freelancer. Once your accounts are set up, start applying for gigs. You never know what you can find if you don’t try.
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