Where To Find Freelance Work

Freelance Platforms: Curated by Need

Not all freelance platforms are worth your time. Some are bloated with spam. Some underpay. But others actually help you build a career.

This isn’t a sponsored list or a search result copy-paste. These are platforms chosen for what they’re best at, based on ease of use, client quality, payment protection, and consistent freelancer success.

Each category covers a different kind of need. Find what fits your goals, your skill set, and your stage of freelancing.

🧑‍🎓 Best for Beginners

These platforms are open to almost anyone and offer a mix of short, accessible gigs. Ideal for those building their first portfolio or learning how freelancing works.

• Fiverr
  Set up your services as gigs and let clients come to you. Easy to start, especially for simple creative tasks, admin support, or digital products.

• Upwork
  A massive marketplace with posted jobs across every field. You apply directly. Feedback and ratings matter here, but beginners can still land solid starter projects.

• Freelancer.com
  Offers a wide variety of jobs across industries. Lower competition in certain niches, though rates can vary. Good for quick tasks and skill-building.

• PeoplePerHour
  UK-based but global in reach. Hourly or fixed-rate gigs with a smaller freelancer pool. Easier to get noticed compared to more saturated platforms.

• TaskRabbit
  Great for in-person service work like deliveries, moving, or home tasks. Not digital freelancing, but useful for earning while building your online presence.

💰 Best for High-Paying Clients

These platforms don’t cater to bargain hunters. You’ll need experience or a vetting process, but the payoff is access to serious clients and long-term contracts.

• Toptal
  High standards, rigorous vetting, and top-tier clients. If accepted, you’ll be joining one of the most elite freelance networks available.

• Catalant
  Focused on strategy, operations, and consulting. Clients include Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups. Ideal for ex-consultants and business specialists.

• A.Team
  A newer model where vetted freelancers are grouped into teams to work on long-term product and innovation builds. Great for experienced devs, PMs, and creatives.

• Braintrust
  A no-fee platform where freelancers keep 100 percent of their pay. Strong community and support, especially in tech and product roles.

• Contra
  A commission-free platform that connects independent creators with modern brands. Clean design, solid client base, and ideal for long-term relationship building.

🖼️ Best for Creatives (Design, Video, Art Direction)

These platforms were built for visual work. Whether you're a designer, illustrator, animator, or art director, they offer better exposure and better client matches.

• 99designs
  Known for logo and branding contests, but also offers direct client matching. Great for turning design skills into steady freelance income.

• DesignCrowd
  A contest-style platform with faster turnaround gigs and lots of entry points. Easier to test and scale up.

• Working Not Working
  Invite-only platform that connects top-tier creatives with premium brands. Great for experienced freelancers with standout portfolios.

• Behance Job Board
  Linked to Adobe’s creative portfolio site. Strong for discovery and credibility. Jobs skew toward agencies, media, and startups.

• Dribbble Freelance Jobs
  UI/UX focused, with a freelance job board and a matching service for vetted designers. Especially useful if you already have visibility on Dribbble.

📝 Best for Writers

Whether you're writing blogs, sales copy, UX content, or thought leadership pieces, these platforms offer paid opportunities for skilled writers.

• WriterAccess
  Connects writers with content-hungry brands. Transparent pay structure and consistent flow of assignments.

• ProBlogger Job Board
  A staple for freelance bloggers and content creators. Clients post directly. Good range of niches from lifestyle to tech to business.

• Contena
  Curated job board with higher-end listings, mostly for business content, blog posts, and email marketing. Paid membership required.

• ClearVoice
  Matches freelance writers with brands, often on a recurring basis. Focus on quality over quantity.

• Contently
  Premium clients and editorial-level work. You build a portfolio, and if approved, get added to their talent network. Ideal for writers with agency or publishing experience.

🧠 Best for Developers and Tech Pros

Coding, data, engineering, and product development work best on platforms that understand your skills. These are worth your time.

• Gun.io
  Matches senior developers with clients building real products. Focus on long-term contracts and respect for freelance autonomy.

• Arc
  Focused on remote developer jobs. Includes freelance, part-time, and full-time. Vetted roles with clear expectations.

• Hired
  A broader hiring platform for tech, including freelance and contract roles. Good for developers with portfolio-ready projects.

• Lemon.io
  Matches startup clients with vetted developers. Emphasis on fast placement and consistent pay.

• Toptal
  Also listed above, but worth repeating here. Still one of the best for elite devs looking to avoid job boards and dive into premium work.

🧳 Best for Remote Lifestyle

Digital nomads and remote-first freelancers need platforms that prioritize flexible work and global clients. These sites are remote by design.

• FlexJobs
  One of the most trusted sites for remote, freelance, and part-time listings. All jobs are vetted and scam-free. Subscription required.

• Remotive
  Remote job board with a helpful freelance filter. Best for developers, marketers, and customer success roles.

• We Work Remotely
  Clean, clear listings from companies hiring remote workers across disciplines. Mostly tech, but also design, support, and marketing.

• Jobspresso
  Well-designed remote job board with updated listings. Skews toward startups and tech. Great for freelancers who want ongoing remote contracts.

• Outsourcely
  Connects remote freelancers with startups around the world. Strong for long-term remote work, especially in admin and support roles.

🔍 Best for Curated Leads

If you’re tired of platforms but still want a steady flow of opportunities, these services curate jobs from around the web and send them to your inbox.

• SolidGigs
  Sends a weekly list of high-quality freelance leads based on your industry. Focus is on time-saving, not job hosting.

• Freelance Leads by Starter Story
  Startup-focused freelance leads, often from early-stage companies looking for affordable but skilled help.

• Morning Brew Jobs
  Curated listings in marketing, ops, and media. Less crowded than major boards. Good for freelancers with niche skills.

• Growth Collective
  Invite-only marketplace for top marketers. Once accepted, you’ll be matched with vetted clients. Emphasis on data-driven results.

• MarketerHire
  Focuses on marketing freelancers only. Clients range from DTC brands to large agencies. Strong support team and client screening.

🎯 Bonus: Platforms That Aren’t Just for Freelancers (But Still Worth Checking)

Some sites weren’t built specifically for freelance work, but they still list solid freelance gigs, especially from companies that don’t use traditional platforms. If you know how to filter and search well, these can lead to unexpected opportunities.

• LinkedIn Jobs
  Most people use LinkedIn for full-time roles, but thousands of freelance and contract listings are posted here too. Use keywords like “freelance,” “contract,” or “remote” and filter by job type. Bonus: Clients can check your profile instantly, so make sure it’s up to date.

• Indeed
  While it’s more known for traditional employment, Indeed is one of the biggest job aggregators out there. Many small businesses and startups post freelance gigs here under “contract” or “temporary.” Use targeted searches and set up alerts to avoid digging through unrelated posts.

These platforms aren’t designed for freelancers first, but they’re still valuable tools, especially if you’re willing to dig a little deeper and pitch yourself well.

Final Note

This list isn’t static. We’ll keep it updated based on what’s working in the field, not just what’s trending online. If you’ve had a great (or terrible) experience with a platform, share it with us.

Follow Freelance Insider on LinkedIn or bookmark freelanceinsider.net for more tools, stories, and job picks made for freelancers by freelancers.

Disclaimer

The platforms listed on this page are curated by Freelance Insider based on publicly available information, user feedback, and independent research. We do not receive compensation for these listings, and this page is not sponsored or affiliated with any of the platforms mentioned.

While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee the outcomes, safety, or reliability of any platform. Freelancers are encouraged to do their own due diligence before signing up, accepting work, or sharing personal information on any third-party site.

This list is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal, financial, or professional advice.

For questions or to share feedback about your experience with any of these platforms, contact us at contact@freelanceinsider.net.