More than a third of the US workforce is made up of freelancers, and this is a trend that is set to grow in the future. Freelancing can offer a great platform for achieving a better work-life balance, it can offer improved flexibility and control, and it can open you up to a more diverse range of professional opportunities.
Finding freelance work is not always a walk in the park. With freelance sites offering different kinds of jobs, pay scales and terms, it can be challenging to root out the best jobs. Using the wrong sites can cause you to waste time and effort, and it may also prevent you from finding genuine freelance jobs that suit your skill set. To save you time and maximize your chances of success in the search for freelance work, we’ve put together a list of the best places to find freelance positions and projects online.
If you’re on the hunt for freelance work, and you’re searching for jobs, here are some of the leading freelance sites out there.
Tech and Engineering
Tech and engineering experts are in demand. If you’re an engineer or you have expertise in IT, web design, software development or project management, there are myriad remote jobs available. The best places to find freelance tech and engineering jobs include:
Fieldengineer.com: this site serves as a vast, global talent pool, which connects employers and businesses with highly-skilled engineers in their local area. If you’re looking for a freelance engineering job, the fieldengineer.com freelance marketplace will grant you access to opportunities that suit your skill set and level of expertise. Covering 170 countries and offering a seamless process to browse through and apply for jobs, it’s never been easier to find freelance engineering work.
Power to Fly: aimed at female freelancers searching for tech jobs, Power to Fly connects tech experts with businesses looking to recruit office staff as well as remote and freelance workers.
Authentic Jobs: marketed as a virtual jobs board for developers, programmers, software engineers and designers, Authentic Jobs offers both in-house and remote freelance opportunities.
Dice: Dice is a tech job database, offering more than 80,000 specialist positions around the world. You can refine your search based on job title and location, and there’s a range of jobs available, including roles designed for the most experienced developers, engineers, and analysts.
Freelancer Map: Freelancer Map is a platform aimed at those searching for IT jobs. From data entry to high-level developer posts, there’s a broad spectrum of roles on offer.
General Freelance Opportunities
If you haven’t found your niche yet, freelance work marketplaces that advertise a range of jobs may be the best place to start. Examples include:
Upwork: formed as a result of a merger between Elance and oDesk, Upwork is a versatile freelance site that advertises vacancies and opportunities across a broad spectrum of industries and sectors. If you’re looking for a job, you don’t have a specific role in mind, and you want results fast, it’s worth checking this site out. Initially, the site will take a cut of your earnings, but the amount will diminish over time.
Fiverr: Fiverr is so-called because it enables you to offer services at a starting rate of just $5. This platform is a popular option for freelance writers, individuals looking for graphic design jobs and those with an interest in digital marketing, web development, and social media.
FlexJobs: FlexJobs is designed to connect freelancers and those keen on remote working with short-term and long-term projects across a range of sectors. There is a fee for continued use, but it’s very easy to sign up and get started and all the adverts are vetted to ensure jobs are legitimate.
SolidGigs: if you’re in a hurry to find work, and you don’t want to waste time scouring pages of adverts and job titles, SolidGigs could be an ideal choice for you. This website does the legwork for you, providing you with a short-list of the best freelance jobs on offer each week.
Guru: Guru is similar to Upwork, but it provides access to a pool of jobs for free. On this site, you can find freelance opportunities for writers, translators, marketing and sales experts, web developers, architects, administration staff, lawyers and accountants.
Freelancer: Freelancer.com is a site that has grown rapidly. Offering businesses the chance to post jobs and freelancers the opportunity to browse available jobs, there’s a huge range of part-time, long-term and short-term projects on offer.
Indeed: Indeed gathers jobs from all over the web to present a selection of options based on a search term or job title. You can filter the results and narrow down the range based on a specific industry, the desire to work remotely or the type of contract.
We Work Remotely: if the idea of working at home or being out in the field appeals to you, check out We Work Remotely. This site specializes in remote jobs, advertising roles across several sectors with the only requirement being that an office is not needed. This is a popular choice for those looking for work in programming and engineering, sales and marketing, customer service and support, copywriting, business and finance, and design.
People Per Hour: based in the UK, People Per Hour now promotes freelance jobs all over the world. The concept revolves around paying freelancers a set hourly rate.
Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is a growing industry, and more and more writers are opting to work remotely. There’s a vast number of sites out there that promote freelance writing jobs, and some of them are much more professional and trustworthy than others. Leading examples include:
DailyPosts: DailyPosts is an agency specializing in freelance writing. Run by a virtual office, this platform offers all kinds of different jobs, from short articles to long-term writing projects.
All Freelance Writing: this site offers you the chance to find writing jobs rapidly based on the desired rate of pay and the date range. Enter your preferences, and you can choose which briefs suit you best.
The Shelf: if you’re a budding blogger or you have designs on a career in freelance writing, The Shelf provides access to businesses and employers looking to increase traffic and generate sales using content and influencer marketing.
Web Design and Development
If you have skills in web design or development, there’s an ever-growing range of opportunities both in-house and in the field. Freelance designers and developers are in demand, with many businesses stepping up digital marketing and e-commerce campaigns to attract new clients and customers. Examples of sites that specialize in freelance web design jobs include:
Hirable: Hirable is a recruitment platform that connects companies and employers with developers. There are short and long-term projects available. To join Hirable and apply for jobs, you’ll need to undergo screening.
Smashing Magazine: this interactive job board displays freelance positions for designers and developers. You can filter results based on your location and the type of contract you’re looking for.
Freelancing is becoming increasingly popular, and there’s an array of sites online promoting, advertising and posting jobs. To save time and effort and maximize the chances of finding the right job quickly, make use of the list of sites provided above. Whether you’re looking to work remotely, but you’re not quite sure what you want to do, or you have a specific role or industry in mind, there are sites that can provide you with access to incredible freelance opportunities.
