There are so many freelance websites available to freelancers nowadays that it can be hard to pick one. They all come with different advantages and inconveniences, and users navigate to find the one best suited for them. As a freelancer, the choice can be overwhelming due to the vast amount of information available. That's why we've created this guide to help your search so you can make an educated decision on the best freelance websites to use.

In making a decision, it always seems that people have to choose one platform, but that isn’t necessarily the case. You can use multiple websites to increase your chances of finding work. Some websites offer better commissions. So you can bring your outside clients there. Others have many clients. You can then publish your services and wait for people to order them. Most of the time, it’s free to create an account, so you can take advantage of that to be on multiple sites. This will give you the best chances of finding jobs.

Why sell your services on freelance websites?

Before looking into the best websites to sell your services on, let's go over why you should use these sites. Selling on freelance websites offers many advantages for freelancers.

• Access to a global marketplace. Freelance websites connect clients with freelancers around the world. This global reach increases the chances of finding clients who need your specific skills, regardless of geographical location. In some countries, hiring can be expensive, and there can be labor shortages. Hiring freelancers has become a valuable solution for companies.
• Diverse job opportunities. Freelance sites cater to different industries and skills. Writers, graphic designers, developers, marketing experts, or experts in other fields can find relevant job opportunities on these websites.
• Flexibility and independence. Freelancers have the flexibility to choose their projects, set their schedules, and work from anywhere. This independence is particularly attractive to those who value work-life balance and prefer a non-traditional work setup like remote working. Depending on the platform, freelancers can enjoy more flexibility by choosing their own rates and delivery times.
• Reviews and rating systems. Clients often leave reviews and ratings for freelancers upon project completion. Positive feedback builds your reputation, making it easier to attract future clients. It gives you social proof in addition to your portfolio.
• Quick payment and secure transactions. Many freelance sites facilitate secure payment transactions. This ensures that freelancers receive timely and guaranteed payments for their work. Every platform has different systems in place, so you need to find the one you can rely on the most.
• Ease of finding clients. The platforms provide a structured way for clients to find freelancers with specific skills and experience. This makes it easier for you to be discovered by potential clients looking for your services. You only have to focus on presenting your best self to convince them to order.
• Streamlined communication. Freelance platforms usually offer communication tools that make it easy for freelancers and clients to discuss project details, share files, and stay in touch throughout the project lifecycle.

These advantages come at a cost. Because of their success, freelance sites have a lot of competition. You need to create strong profiles and services to sell. There are also fees for using these platforms. A platform like Fiverr may have more job opportunities, but the fees are also higher than on other platforms. Using multiple platforms will empower you to find more work and identify your go-to platform.

The best freelance websites to sell services in 2026

Fiverr

Fiverr is one of, if not the most famous, freelancing platforms. It has millions of users and has different advantages. The most notable one is the number of jobs available. Numerous buyers are looking to complete their online projects.

Freelancers can create a service they want to sell. It will then appear online for employers to see and buy. There is no review time before a service is published, so it's easy to get started. But that's also why Fiverr is so competitive. With thousands of services available at various prices, it's easy for your service to become lost in the mass of options.

All kinds of projects are available on the website. From development to marketing, writing, and many more. It's great if you have skills in one of the more in-demand areas.

The commission is a fixed 20% commission, which makes it one of the freelancing websites with some of the highest fees. Additionally, the website features a rigorous payment system, whereby freelancers are only paid 14 days after completing their work on an order, which has been approved by the client. That's a lot of time for freelancers to wait to get paid.

Fairwork Cloudwork rating 2025: 2/10

Upwork

The second most well-known website for people to find freelancing work. This website works differently as employers post their projects on it and freelancers then bid for a chance to work on the project. Freelance experts directly compete for the chance to win the job. This is not the best solution for them, as it often leads them to reduce their rates.

The projects available on the website are varied, so there are designers, developers, marketers, and other profiles.

Upwork changed its pricing model on 1 May 2025. The old flat 10% commission was replaced by a variable freelancer service fee of 0% to 15% per contract, set when you submit your proposal and locked for the life of that contract. Most freelancers report a rate around 10% to 13%, plus the cost of Connects (roughly $0.15 each) just to apply. Orders on Upwork are usually for much larger amounts than on Fiverr, and payments are made more rapidly: freelancers wait 5 days after their order is approved.

Fairwork Cloudwork rating 2025: 1/10

ComeUp

A newcomer to the international market, ComeUp has existed for more than 10 years in the French-speaking market. It's one of the best web platforms for freelancers to be on. They offer many advantages, but one of their most notable ones is their $1-only commission option.

On ComeUp, freelancers create their services. They choose their own rates, delivery times, and what their service entails. This design gives them full control over their work.

There are services in 8 main categories with many subcategories on ComeUp. Developers, marketing experts, designers, social media account managers, and many other people are present on the website.

Since the platform is relatively new on the market, there are fewer jobs available for all. Freelancers really have to establish themselves as the best in their category. In order to do so, they can bring outside clients and have them place orders for their services to help them rank higher in the algorithm and appear first in search.

As mentioned above, there is a $1-only commission option for people who subscribe to a ComeUp Plus plan. For those who don't want to or don't have the resources to subscribe to a plan, they can start selling for free with a 20% commission. This enables them to upgrade only when they are sure they want to benefit from ComeUp Plus. There is also a one-month free trial for all ComeUp Plus plans.

When freelancers complete orders, they are paid as soon as the order is validated by the buyer. No more waiting for days after the order is completed to get paid. They can also withdraw their money as soon as it is available on their ComeUp wallets.

That treatment of freelancers is measurable, not just a claim. ComeUp went from 5 out of 10 in the 2023 Fairwork Cloudwork ratings to 8 out of 10 in 2025, the highest score of the whole study, on criteria that concern you directly: fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management, and fair representation.

Fairwork Cloudwork rating 2025: 8/10, the highest score of the study

A flat €1 commission per order, whatever the order value See ComeUp Plus plans

Toptal

Toptal is another freelance site that has been gaining traction over the last few years. It's most likely the most exclusive site out there, as freelancers who apply are carefully vetted. The website claims it only accepts the top 3% of freelance talents on its site. It's free to apply, but unless you're one of the best in your industry, chances are high you will be rejected.

There are all kinds of freelancers on Toptal. From development experts to design experts and writing professionals. However, companies are usually hiring developers and technical skills-based workers.

If your profile does end up being in the top three percent and you get the chance to work on jobs on Toptal, you should know the site is not very transparent with its freelancers. Many people end up wondering how much their jobs cost clients. And it turns out that Toptal charges companies twice the hourly rate of a worker. That's a steep commission. Companies are willing to pay those high rates because they expect a premium service. But as a freelancer, it's tough being paid only half of what you deserve.

Fairwork Cloudwork rating 2025: not assessed

Guru

A more secure version of Fiverr that works to secure transactions between employers and freelancers. The site is known to be more professional with a strong emphasis on business services. People can create a profile for free and offer their services. There's also a bidding system where people can apply for jobs offered by companies. Freelancers are often pitted against each other as they may have to reduce their prices to get a chance to work on a project.

On Guru, there are nine main categories. The main ones are development and programming, writing, and design.

The commission is a percentage-based commission as well as a monthly rate. Under the basic plan, there’s a 9% commission; under the executive plan ($49.95/month), there is a 5% commission. These fees can really add up. Especially, with the bidding system that already pushes some people to reduce their rates. The membership subscription also gives users more bids. So some may pay for it only to have bids that lead to no work.

Freelancer

Another famous website, although this one is a bit older. Freelancer has more than 41 million users worldwide. They're one of the largest freelancing sites. Being an older site, their approach to helping people find a freelance job is different. Instead of focusing on selling a one-time job. They focus on creating a relationship between employers and freelance talents.

Employers post projects on Freelancer, and people can bid on them. The hiring person can review a freelancer's profile and contact them before making a decision on who they want to hire for the job. This can lead to a bidding war with lesser-skilled workers accepting low rates just to get the job.

On Freelancer, the platform takes 10% of the project value from the freelancer, and the client pays 3% of the winning bid on their side. Workers also have limited bids. If they want more, they need to pay for them. This can be frustrating as bids can lead to no work.

Fairwork Cloudwork rating 2025: not assessed

Contra

One of the most recent new players in the industry, Contra was founded in 2019. They have an attractive commission-free business model. Instead of paying a commission, freelancers pay a monthly subscription to the platform to benefit from its different perks. Contra's strength is how it presents your portfolio and enables you to develop branding around your freelance activity. It's perfect to showcase your work and talent. The platform is most popular with creatives, developers, and marketers.

Despite being a great platform to present your work and brand, Contra is still relatively new to the industry and does not have many clients browsing the website. To find work, you will have to network and prospect for clients. Finding clients organically on the platform seems complicated, as it isn't as famous as many other platforms.

PeoplePerHour

Launched in 2007, PeoplePerHour has been around for a long time and has a considerable audience across different countries despite being UK-based. The platform enables you to post a project to find freelancers or to search directly for services offered by freelancers and buy the one you need. The main freelance categories you'll find on the website are SEO, writing, and development.

Despite having many visitors and opportunities, the platform is also known for having intense competition. In addition, when it comes to finding work from projects posted by companies, the platform uses a bid system. You have to bid on a project to get a chance to work on it. This can make getting work challenging and unfair, as a less skilled worker with more bids has more chances of finding work than you. Lastly, the main issue with using PeoplePerHour is the commission, which is considered pretty high compared to other platforms.

Fairwork Cloudwork rating 2025: 1/10

SolidGigs

SolidGigs is a very different concept compared to the other platforms introduced before. You have to pay a monthly membership fee to use SolidGigs, and the platform will send you a curated list of freelance jobs you can apply to work on. They claim to focus on quality over quantity, only promoting real opportunities. It's a good alternative for freelancers who prefer to pitch their case and work rather than bidding for a chance to get the work.

While SolidGigs presents itself as a good alternative to freelance platforms, it's better to combine it with a freelance platform to ensure you get paid after completing your work. In addition, some users have complained that the leads sent by SolidGigs are irrelevant and don't lead to work.

FlexJobs

FlexJobs is another alternative to the platforms mentioned earlier. It shares similarities with SolidGigs while being different at the same time. FlexJobs is a curated freelance job board with job opportunities screened to ensure legitimacy. Users have to pay a monthly fee to use it, and then they get access to new job postings they can apply to work on. The key work categories are marketing, project management, tech, and writing.

This platform can also be leveraged side-by-side with other freelance platforms for greater impact.

99designs

A more specialized platform, 99designs, is a freelance platform where freelance designers can highlight their work and find freelance projects. It specializes in graphic design, especially logo and brand design contests. The platform enables clients to host contests, which is an intriguing way of seeing multiple sketches and different perspectives. Nonetheless, these contests take time to manage, and you have no control over who participates. In addition, this system can be somewhat cruel for freelancers who invest time participating and don’t win anything.

Behance

Acquired by Adobe in 2012, Behance is a sort of social media platform for designers. They use it to highlight their skills in graphic design, photography, illustration, web design, and more. Clients use Behance to find skilled freelancers and hire them to complete various projects. Unfortunately, the platform is not optimal to collaborate on. But it’s a good showcase for your portfolio if you’re a designer.

Braintrust

Braintrust is a unique platform in the freelance world. It's a blockchain-based platform where freelancers keep 100% of their earnings, with clients like Porsche and Nestlé using it for tech and design roles. The fees are charged entirely on the client side, which means what you quote is what you take home. A rare thing in this industry. The platform is focused on tech and design, so it's not for everyone. And because it's more niche, the volume of available projects is smaller than on more generalist platforms.

Arc

Arc is a platform specifically built for tech talent. Developers, designers, and marketers looking to work with verified clients. The platform operates as a specialized talent marketplace, leveraging advanced algorithms and a selective vetting process that accepts only 2.3% of applicants. The exclusivity is the platform's core selling point. Companies using it know they're hiring from a curated pool. What makes Arc particularly interesting for freelancers is its fee structure. Freelancers benefit from the ability to set their own rates without any commissions, allowing them to maximize their earnings. The platform's fees are charged on the client side, which is a real advantage compared to platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. The trade-off, of course, is getting in for freelancers and high prices for businesses.

What each platform really costs, on both sides

Most comparisons only look at the commission charged to you. That is half the picture. Platforms also charge the client, and those fees matter to you too, because they reduce the budget a client can actually spend on your work.

Here is the real cost on both sides, on a €500 order:

Two takeaways. First, with a ComeUp Plus subscription the total cost is the lowest of the comparison. Second, and this matters more than the percentage: ComeUp Plus is the only option where your cost does not grow with the order value. On a €1,000 order you pay €1 on ComeUp Plus, against €200 on Fiverr. The bigger your projects, the more decisive that gap becomes.

To be clear though: on the free ComeUp account, at 20%, you are on par with Fiverr, not better. It is the Plus subscription that makes the difference, and it becomes worthwhile from roughly €60 in monthly sales.

Be careful with platforms advertising "0% commission for freelancers". Many of them charge the client 15% to 20% instead, which directly reduces the budget available for your work.

What the fees don't tell you: how a platform treats you

Fees are easy to compare. Everything else is not, which is why it usually gets ignored until something goes wrong: a payment held for weeks, an account suspended without explanation, terms changed overnight, no one to talk to when a client disputes your delivery.

The Fairwork project at the Oxford Internet Institute scores platforms on exactly that, across five criteria: fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair management, and fair representation. The 2025 cloudwork ratings are worth a look before you invest months building a profile somewhere.

Most of the industry scores between 1 and 2. That is the part of the comparison no commission table will show you.

Find the platform that is right for you

Now that you have more information about all the different sites available to find work on, you just have to try them out. We recommend giving multiple ones a chance and focusing your efforts on the one you enjoy the most. Even if you find the best one you want to focus on, you can still use others to increase your chances of finding work.

You've probably seen the YouTube and TikTok videos claiming you can get rich easily. The truth is that it's never that easy. Freelancers average multiple hours per week searching for jobs. That's why registering on multiple platforms gives you more opportunities, and why you should keep prospecting on the side, using social platforms like LinkedIn to find potential clients.

Companies are always looking for talented professionals with the right skills. Focus on crafting the perfect profile description that summarizes your skills and convinces hiring managers you're the one they want. Take advantage of the platform with the best interface to highlight your offers. Deliver great work to get great reviews. Those reviews are social proof that you know how to get the job done, and they work even when you're prospecting: if you send a hiring manager to your profile, your reviews reassure them instantly. Your account on a freelance platform becomes a marketing tool to sell and promote your services online.

One last thing worth saying plainly, because it decides where the work goes in 2026: AI has absorbed the tasks that were purely mechanical. What clients still pay a human for is judgment, originality, and accountability for the result. The freelancers doing well right now are the ones who position themselves on that, and the ones who help clients use AI properly rather than competing with it on speed alone.

Before you commit anywhere, it costs nothing to see what is already selling in your category.

FAQ

What is freelancing?

Freelancing is a career where individuals work on a project basis for different clients or companies, rather than being employed on a long-term contract by a single employer. Freelancers are often self-employed and have the flexibility to choose their projects, clients, and work schedules. They offer their skills and services in fields such as writing, graphic design, programming, development, marketing, consulting, and project management. Freelancers are typically paid for the specific tasks or projects they complete, and the duration of their engagement with a client can change.

Can beginners freelance too?

Yes. Freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, ComeUp, and Fiverr provide an entry point for newcomers, and serve as a gateway to showcase your skills, build a portfolio, and gain initial experience. Start with realistic expectations, focus on smaller projects to establish credibility, and expand to more complex work as your expertise grows. Building a strong profile that highlights your skills and a professional demeanour is what attracts the first clients. ComeUp also offers tutorials and training videos to help you get results faster.

Which platform has the lowest fees overall?

You need to look at both sides. With a ComeUp Plus subscription, the flat €1 commission gives the lowest total cost of the comparison above, around 5.3% on a €500 order including client-side fees. Platforms advertising 0% for freelancers usually charge the client 15% to 20% instead.

Why do client-side fees matter to a freelancer?

Because the money comes from the same pot. A client with a €1,000 budget who pays 5% in platform fees only has €950 left for your work.

Can I use several platforms at the same time?

Yes, and it is recommended while you build a reputation. Relying on a single platform is risky: a suspension or an algorithm change can cut off your entire income overnight.

How long does it take to get a first order?

Usually a few weeks of consistent effort. The first order is the hardest, because it unlocks the reviews and the ranking that bring the following ones. Reaching out to past clients and inviting them to order through the platform is the fastest way to break that deadlock.