If you’re a freelancer, chances are that the first freelancing platform you used was Upwork. Thanks to its large clientele, it’s no wonder Upwork has made its mark on the freelancing industry in the past decade. As of 2024, many thought leaders and gurus still rate it as one of the best freelancing sites.
However, as more Upwork competitors enter the market, they introduce newer value propositions that may serve you better than Upwork. Besides, your chances of landing impressive gigs on Upwork are slim if you’re a new freelancer. This is because the platform requires an ample skill set and experience for more visibility. Therefore, we have compiled the ten best Upwork alternatives, as recommended by gurus.
Pros and Cons of Upwork
Before examining other alternatives to Upwork, you should know its pros and cons. Understanding the pros and cons will help you determine what to avoid when choosing an alternative. Also, knowing its advantages will help determine if you want a freelancing platform like Upwork.
Pros of Upwork
Whether you’re looking to hire or get hired, here are some advantages of Upwork you should know:
- Upwork has a wide range of primary categories for clients and freelancers. The division of its 14 categories comprises several areas of specialization. It includes digital marketing, web development, and graphic design
- Upwork provides secure payment methods for clients and freelancers. Some of its security measures include multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and data encryption.
- Upwork has a dispute team that settles disputes between clients and its pool of freelancers.
- Unlike its competitors, the platform employs a vetting process to onboard only qualified freelancers.
- Thanks to its large user base, businesses looking for skilled freelancers will always find their best match.
Cons of Upwork
Although many freelancers and businesses use the platform, here are reasons you might consider some of the best Upwork competitors:
- You need “connects” to apply for a freelance job on Upwork. You get ten connects for free, after which you need to buy. However, some of its best alternatives allow you to do this for free.
- Some freelancers say the best job listings are available to users on its premium plan.
- Upwork has over 12 million registered freelancers worldwide and is one of the largest freelance platforms. This number only makes sourcing jobs difficult for new freelancers.
- Competition is fierce on Upwork. One job posting may get about 50 proposals in less than an hour.
- Regardless of its security measures, Upwork has its share of scams. More often than not, beginners fall for it.
Things You Should Look Out for in Upwork Alternatives
Many other sites, like Upwork, connect businesses with freelancers. Here are a few factors that may help you decide which is better for you:
1. Costs
Most freelancing platforms, like Upwork and Fiverr, charge a service fee. Fiverr, for instance, uses a flat fee rate, while Upwork uses a tiered pricing model. Learning about their models before signing up for any of them is essential.
2. Ease of Getting a Job
This one is specifically for freelancers. If you are starting, you must pick a platform where you can quickly scale. On the other hand, some sites like Upwork reward experience and proof of expertise. Therefore, you can consider them if you’re willing to invest time in your growth.
3. Types of Jobs
Businesses and freelancers on Fiverr enjoy short-term gigs. Therefore, if you want to hire freelancers for short-term gigs, you need an alternative like Fiverr.
4. Quality of Work
We can hardly measure the quality of work by freelancing sites. However, you’ll need to consider the niches Upwork alternatives provide and see their freelancers’ reviews and work histories to decide.
5. Security
A site that helps freelancers looking for work meet clients should have intelligent security systems. Therefore, to be safe, review how your chosen alternative protects both parties from scammers.
10 Best Upwork Alternatives 2024
Some Upwork alternatives that offer similar value are:
Fiverr: The Most Popular Upwork Alternative
Fiverr is another of the world’s largest freelance platforms, comprising various freelancers for different services. One good thing about Fiverr is that it allows you to sell almost any service, from logo design to software development. Fiverr offers freelancers and clients the opportunity to create short-term gigs and one-time buys.
Gigs on Fiverr are the services you offer to the marketplace. Apart from your main gig, you can create several small gigs to hook your clients and earn their trust.
Pros:
- You can sell any service you want on Fiverr.
- It has a large clientele for its wide range of services.
- You don’t need to pay before applying for jobs.
- Fiverr is straightforward to use.
- It has a secure payment system for clients and freelancers.
Cons:
- Clients must pay a service fee for each project.
- Competition on Fiverr is also fierce.
- Fiverr charges a whopping 20% for each gig.
PeoplePerHour: Best Upwork Alternative for Quality Work
Unlike Upwork and Fiverr, PeoplePerHour is stricter with its freelance onboarding processes. The platform only accepts your application when there is a need for your talent. Therefore, the competition here is less fierce.
PeoplePerHour provides users with project management tools. Its project stream tool allows for the sharing of files and easier collaboration with clients.
Pros:
- Freelancers can directly send proposals to clients.
- PeoplePerHour employs AI to match freelancers with projects.
- Freelancers go through a vetting process. Therefore, a client’s chances of getting quality work are high.
- Freelancers have autonomy over their rates.
- The platform also boasts a large client base.
Cons:
- Building your profile is time-consuming.
- The commission structure could be more favorable for short-term gigs.
- You might need to pass the platform’s vetting process.
Freelancer.com: Beginner-Friendly Alternative to Upwork
Freelancer.com is one of the oldest freelancing platforms. It is popular among new freelancers for its ease of use. It has no screening process and is the go-to place for freelancers seeking experience.
However, one of the downsides to the platform is that you can only bid for a few jobs with its free version. You’ll need to choose from its premium plans to bid for more.
Pros:
- There is no screening process for freelancers.
- It offers a wide range of services spread across several industries.
- Bidding is relatively easy.
- Users have access to project management features.
- The payment system is secure.
Cons:
- Quality assurance for work is difficult.
- The competition is quite high.
- Premium members pay membership and project fees.
FlexJobs: Go-To Site for Quality and Vetted Jobs
FlexJobs vets every gig posted on its site. Unlike popular freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, you’ll hardly find a scam job listing.
However, the platform requires you to pay an annual or monthly fee. The platform also provides skill tests that help freelancers prove their expertise.
Pros:
- FlexJobs vets all jobs before posting
- The platform allows users to prove their expertise by taking tests.
- They provide a warranty that enables you to get your subscription fee back in 30 days.
- The platform offers career coaching and resume review resources.
- Small businesses can choose from a variety of hiring options.
Cons:
- Membership fees and payments for specific projects may need to be more manageable.
- The hiring process takes longer than on Upwork and other Upwork alternatives.
- The competition is high.
TopTal: Upwork Alternative for Startups
TopTal focuses on helping businesses and startups scale by linking them with quality freelancers. Its specialization areas are software development, finance, product development, and project management.
Freelancers who want to join the platform undergo a screening process, making it easier for clients to find talent.
Pros:
- Freelancers go through a thorough screening.
- The platform is home to small businesses and startups looking for wholesome solutions.
- Freelance developers work hard to maintain their track record.
- You can start with a free trial.
- Aspiring members must take language and personality tests.
Cons:
- The platform is relatively expensive.
- Not all freelancers will pass the screening process.
- The hiring process is time-consuming.
Revelo: Best Upwork Alternative for U.S. Companies
Revelo is a freelancing platform for companies in the U.S. It allows them to source talent in the U.S. time zone. It means freelancers who want to apply must reside in states within the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada.
Due to this, clients only interact with English-speaking software developers. Most jobs are full-time and remote and come with employee benefits.
Pros:
- Communication is in English.
- It accepts only top-quality talent from places within the U.S. time zone.
- Revelo narrows down its area of specialization to software development.
- The platform manages employee benefits, taxes, and other expenses.
- Revelo provides remote workers with resources to fast-track career growth.
Cons:
- Although it’s a freelancing platform, it isn’t for outsourcing.
- Revelo permits only English-speaking developers and clients.
- Companies will need to sign up to other platforms to source for other talents.
Wishup: Upwork Alternative for Virtual Assistants
Wishup is the place to go if you need a virtual assistant to satisfy several business needs. WishUp is not a freelancing site. However, it onboards virtual assistants, trains them, and links them with interested organizations.
WishUp’s virtual assistants have several areas of specialization. Therefore, you can choose the one that offers tailored services for businesses like yours.
Pros:
- It helps clients reduce their staffing costs.
- WishUp offers a wide range of talents under virtual assistance.
- The platform supports long-duration projects.
- It gives clients a refund policy.
- WishUp provides training for its virtual assistants.
Cons:
- Pricing starts at $9 per hour.
- Clients cannot hire assistants for short-term gigs.
- Not all applications are accepted.
Guru: Upwork Alternative for Flexible Payments
Guru is another freelance platform that cuts across several categories. However, programming and writing are the most competitive specializations. Combined, they have over 400,000 freelancers.
Guru’s pricing structure is flexible. Clients can choose a fixed-price, hourly, task-based, or recurring payment plan.
Pros:
- It continually vets registered freelancers.
- The payment structure is flexible for clients.
- The platform offers freelancers different membership plans.
- Clients can set milestones for each gig.
- Guru’s services are suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Cons:
- Its free plan is limited.
- The site is highly competitive.
- Freelancers must upgrade their membership to bid for more jobs.
Cloud Devs: Popular Platform for Latin American Developers
Cloud Devs focuses on the software development industry. The platform is home to over 8,000 Latin American remote developers. Whether you’re looking for experts or new developers, you’ll find them there.
Latin American developers who want to join the platform must prepare for a 5-stage screening process. The Cloud Devs team selects a few vetted developers, and the client gets to make their pick.
Pros:
- The platform pays talents generously.
- The platform takes extra care in matching clients and developers.
- Clients get a 7-day free trial.
- Cloud Devs are responsible for legal and administrative issues.
Cons:
- The platform is for developers alone.
- You may experience a delay in response after applying.
- The vetting process takes time.
Contena: Freelance Platform for Writers
Contena is one of the best sites to earn money if you’re a content writer or copywriter. As a freelance platform targeted at writers, it has a writing job finder. This feature gathers writing jobs from around the Internet for you.
Consequently, this reduces the time you spend hunting for online jobs. However, Contena membership plans start at $45 per month.
Pros:
- Simple application process
- Resources to support freelance writers
- Contena’s writing job finder gathers writing gigs from the Internet
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Access to a freelance writing coach
Cons:
- Membership fees might be too pricey for some writers
- There’s no free trial option
- You can find some of its job listings on other free sites.
Join Our Diverse and Dynamic Team at TechWriteable
When choosing an Upwork alternative, it is best to consider your niche and the platform’s best practices. Some freelance platforms are niche-specific and could be a better shot for you than general-purpose platforms. Besides, many freelancers using Upwork also use these tools.
Regardless of your specialization, having a portfolio could fast-track your growth on these platforms. Techwriteable allows technical writers to build a portfolio that could help prove their expertise. To learn more, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.
