The internet has fundamentally changed how people work. With more people than ever before freelancing from home, the digital workplace is booming.
According to a study by Upwork and Freelancers Union, 57 million Americans – or 36 percent of the workforce – are currently freelancing. And that number is only going to grow.
Freelancing is projected to be one of the leading work trends in 2022. With the advent of new technologies and globalization, more people are choosing to abandon traditional employment in favor of freelancing.
The following 8 websites are the best places to find freelance work in 2022.
If you want to become a freelancer, but you don’t know how to get started, then this guide on the top 8 websites for freelancing in 2022 will be very helpful to you.
Here, we’ll talk about where to find freelance jobs, as well as how to make money as a freelancer with tips and strategies that have been tested by real-life working professionals. Let’s start!
The Benefits of Freelancing
Freelancing is on a lot of minds lately. For good reason! It’s one of the best ways to leverage your talents and earn income. You can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want.
And because freelancing has entered into mainstream culture—even CNN has reported that more than 34 million Americans are engaged in some sort of freelance work—it may be easier to get started as well.
The competitive nature of freelancing makes it fun, challenging, and lucrative! But there’s no need to reinvent any wheels when it comes to figuring out how to get started either.
a. Freedom
Freelance work allows you to do what you love while making a living. You can choose your clients and projects and complete them whenever you want. There are no deadlines and no stress about getting paid.
This flexibility is great if you have kids or other responsibilities that need tending to. Plus, freelancing gives you plenty of time to pursue your own creative interests.
b. Money
Freelance work tends to pay well - especially if you're good at what you do. Some people even make six-figure incomes from their side hustles! You'll earn more than minimum wage but won't spend as much time working.
c. Job Security
There's nothing quite like knowing that your income is dependent solely on yourself. If you find yourself struggling to keep afloat financially, you have only yourself to blame.
If you freelance, you don't have to worry about being laid off from a job.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr was created in 2007 and offers thousands of services for as low as $5. There are several websites like Fiverr but this one has millions of clients worldwide. When you get started on Fiverr, you will need to create a profile and then start bidding on gigs.
Like other freelancing websites, you can give multiple bids depending on how much time you want to work and what kind of service you offer.
This website is an excellent place to start, but it’s important to keep a few things in mind. First, you’ll need more than just your marketing skills to make money on Fiverr.
You also have to provide good design (copywriting, proofreading, etc.). Otherwise, you’ll be making a pittance. Second, don’t build your presence on Fiverr around micro-projects.
While these can potentially offer huge payoffs if done right (more on that later), they're also quite challenging and time-consuming. It’s best to treat Fiverr as a supplementary income stream—something you do in addition to freelance writing or other work you already do.
2. Freelancer.com
Freelancers can post their skills and what they are willing to do, and people who need work done can find freelancers to do the work for them.
There are a number of benefits to using Freelancer.com. For one, it is a great way to get high-quality work done without having to hire a full-time employee.
Freelancers are often more specialized in their skills than employees, so you can get work done more efficiently. Additionally, using Freelancer.com can
If you’re interested in using your expertise to help others and perhaps make a bit of money on top of it, there are plenty of ways to do so online. In fact, one of the most popular ways to make money freelancing is on freelance websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Guru.
These sites provide a platform where professionals and businesses can connect with one another, providing their services (such as design) or paying for services (like photo editing).
However, when freelancing via freelance websites, there are many things that you should be aware of – not only that these platforms have become saturated with providers, but that some have had serious security problems.
3. Upwork
Upwork is the world’s largest freelancing website. You can find freelance jobs from graphic design to app development. If you are just starting out in your career, this is a great way to make money online while helping others.
The site has over 16 million registered users and offers a variety of services including programming, writing, design, and marketing.
For years, Upwork has been one of the go-to sites for freelancers. Whether you’re looking to hire or be hired, you’ll find a ton of job opportunities here.
Best of all, there are no fees to list jobs and take on projects, so anyone can use it—even if they aren’t getting paid yet. Upwork is especially good if you have a specific skill (like coding) and want to get started doing contract work ASAP.
It takes just seconds to set up your profile and start exploring gigs. Of course, these days there are many other sites that offer similar services (and some niche options like 100%. Don’t limit yourself to just one platform when starting out!
4. Peopleperhour
If you're looking to make a little extra cash on the side or develop a freelance career, PeoplePerHour is your best bet. With over 25 million projects posted since 2005, PeoplePerHour has provided opportunities for digital nomads and entrepreneurs to take their careers on an entirely new path.
PeoplePerHour is about more than quick cash—it's about connecting people with creative interests who have various levels of experience with those who can help them achieve that vision.
Over 50 percent of all of their projects are done through repeat users and referrals from clients who are very satisfied. In addition to web development, design, and writing services, some of our favorite industries on PeoplePerHour include fitness, language tutoring, and wedding planning/management.
5. SimplyHired
Just like the name implies; this website allows freelancers to search for jobs they are interested in completing. You can find a job that fits your skillset, then bid on the job to get hired.
Freelance jobs can range from simple writing assignments to graphic design projects so make sure to take a look around their site to see what kind of jobs are listed.
If you have an agent, they can use SimplyHired to find you freelance work. To get your business on SimplyHired, agents need to fill out a form and submit it to Simplified Management Group (SMG), which operates SimplyHired.
SMG says agents will be notified if your profile is approved within three days of submitting it. If not, SMG offers help with submitting your profile directly or simply removing it from their site.
Once your profile is approved, you can start receiving contract jobs through Simplified Services or by directly contacting clients via email, phone, or LinkedIn message.
Be sure to update your profile often as employers are more likely to hire someone who has recent experience.
For example, don’t say you have five years of experience doing something when you only have one year because most employers assume that if you're willing to lie about how long you've been doing something, then what else might be false?
This may seem like common sense but apparently, it's not because people do just that all the time.
6. Guru
The biggest name in freelancing, Guru is a great place to start your search for gigs. Companies post specific projects and you can bid on them—but note that it’s a two-sided marketplace so be sure to review prospective clients carefully before accepting projects.
You can also follow companies or categories and get notifications when new jobs are posted.
On top of all that, Guru lets users rate and leave reviews on businesses; if you want to cut through some of that noise, look up companies with an established track record (and ideally at least 200 reviews).
Bonus: Guru's mobile app offers access to your jobs anywhere you go.
If you want to get started with freelance gigs, Guru is a great place to look. While its platform isn’t as robust as some of its competitors (such as Upwork), it offers an easy-to-use interface and a strong reputation that can help attract both clients and freelancers.
It also offers an affordable pricing structure (starting at $10 per month) that includes access to job listings and online training.
If you are looking for a straightforward, simple, and easy-to-use system, Guru may be right up your alley. Plus, there’s no contract or commitment required—if you don’t like it after 30 days, simply cancel your account.
7. Toptal
Two years ago, Toptal was a database of top freelance developers vetted by its founders. Today, it's a network of nearly 7,000 freelancers that can solve nearly any programming problem, from creating an iPhone app to optimizing mobile ads.
Perhaps more importantly, however, is how fast they can do it: Many freelancers on Toptal can complete projects in as little as one day—or less.
That's not just impressive, it might be the future of work. The gig economy is growing at a fast pace and more companies are looking to hire people with specialized skills on a contract basis rather than building their own internal teams or hiring employees full-time.
8. Jooble
If you’re looking to get started on freelancing but aren’t quite sure where to look, look no further than Jooble.
With a very minimalist interface and an easy-to-navigate directory of various jobs posted around the world, Jooble is a fantastic place to start your search.
It can also be used as a good resource when working with certain companies that accept freelance work from time to time. Since it’s easy to search through and use, Jooble would make a great entry point for anyone thinking about getting into freelancing.
It’s completely free and pretty easy to understand right away.
