Upwork Alternatives in 2024: 9 Sites like Upwork for Freelancers and Businesses.

With the rise of remote work, platforms that support freelancing have become very popular. If you are a freelancer, then Upwork is certainly not an unfamiliar term. Currently, there are over 18 million freelancers and 5 million clients on Upwork.?

This is quite outstanding, and it is a clear representation of the relevance and reliability of the Upwork platform.?

Upwork is great; however, there are other platforms where freelancers can meet and connect with potential clients and find freelance jobs.?

In this article, I have reviewed 9 other freelance marketplaces where you can find jobs.?

Ready? Let’s go!

CloudDevs

CloudDevs is a popular platform for developers. It connects remote developers and designers in a specific region, which is Latin America and Europe. On the CloudDevs platform, you will find over 8,000 talents, comprising senior developers and designers with over 5 years of experience. Before hiring a talent, a rigorous five-stage screening process will occur. Therefore, you can expect to hire suitable talents on this platform. According to them, only the top 5% of engineers make it past the 5 screening stages.

If you are an engineer, developer, designer, or IT expert in the LatAm region looking for flexible work with tech firms, then this is the right platform for you.

How does it work?

The application process for CloudDevs is straightforward. First, you will have to register on the platform by submitting an application. CloudDevs will get back to you if you qualify, and you will officially get full access to the platform. Then, you can begin browsing available jobs in different categories.

As a client, when you need to hire talent, you will book a call with the senior consultant on CloudDevs and share your needs specifically. Afterwards, the team will assign you a few talents that have been pre-vetted and are the most likely matches for your needs. The client gets 48 hours to choose a talent, and you can get to work immediately after. Also, clients get a 7-day free working trial with the talent.

If you are unsatisfied with your selected talent, CloudDevs has a cancellation policy that permits you to either cancel or request another talent. CloudDevs charges a transparent rate of $45 to $70 per hour as the talents here are on the senior level.

There are three ways in which the hiring process can happen: The CloudDevs’ Freelance Hires service, Direct Recruitment, or Project-Based Services.

Pros

• The client-talent match is accurate.
• The platform handles all compliance, legal, and administrative issues for the client.
• You get a 7-day free trial to work with a talent.
• There is a large availability of work
• Talents are paid between $45 to $70 per hour.

Cons

The vetting process can be a bit time-consuming for the talents.

The talents might have to wait for about two weeks before receiving their payment from CloudDevs.

Freelancer

Freelancer is the closest platform to Upwork in terms of service pattern and flow of work. This platform has a large database with over 25 million freelancers. One of the best features of Freelancer is that it has diverse categories. It has over 1800 categories, making it easy for freelancers to find jobs in any category. If you have unique and peculiar skills that are usually too difficult to find jobs in, then this is a great platform for you to try out.?

How does it work?

After registering and completing your profile, you will be able to see available projects posted by freelancers. When you see a job you are qualified to do, you can send in a bid. If the employer accepts your bid, you receive the job, complete it, submit it, and then get paid. However, Freelancer collects 10% of your earnings.?

Pros

• Freelancers can set their own time.
• There is a large database of work.
• The 10 percent fee is fair.

Cons

• There is a limit on the amount of work you can bid for in a month for free.
• There is a high rate of unplanned banning of accounts

Unicorn.Dev

Unicorn.Dev is another lucrative platform for top talents and tech organizations to meet. They have an extensive pool of pre-vetted talents with at least 5 years of experience up their sleeves. The platform pays a flat rate of $35 per hour. The talent pool consists of experts residing either in Asia or in the Middle East. There are over 8,000 developers and designers on this platform, all pre-vetted and qualified for the senior ranking.

How does it work?

One of the best parts of Unicorn.Dev is its simple hiring process. As a client, you can reach out to a consultant to share your development needs. Let them know if you need to hire an individual or a team. The Unicorn.Dev team will then commence a vetting process for you and match you with a Unicorn Dev within 24 hours.

To sign up as a talent, you will need to submit an application on their website, fill in the necessary details, and confirm that you reside in either Asia or the Middle East, then wait for them to get back to you.

Pros

• Access to top talents that have been pre-vetted.
• The hiring process is easy and straightforward.
• Developers with unique skills can easily find clients on this platform.

Cons

• Talents must reside in Asia or the Middle East before they can apply. This is restricting.
• The flat payment rate is $35. Some senior-level developers may consider this too small.

Indeed

Indeed is another popular platform for finding jobs. The thing about Indeed is that you can find both full-time and freelance jobs on this platform. It has both a free and subscription-based model. Finding jobs on this platform is quite easy, and there are several available jobs here that are also regularly updated.?

How does it work?

Posting jobs and applying for jobs on Indeed is quite easy. Jobs can be posted for free, but to reach a larger audience, posters might need to sponsor the jobs. When you register on the platform, you can see available jobs and apply to them. It also offers job alerts that you can easily turn on to get notified early when a job you are capable of doing is posted. With Indeed, you can apply for jobs on the platform, and you can also use the Indeed resume.

Pros

• It is cost-effective and delivers many candidates
• There is a private message option
• It is easy to use the platform.

Cons

• Large-scale hires can be a problem since candidates can continue to apply despite rejections.
• Job posts have high competition since new jobs are added regularly.

Simply Hired

Simply Hired is another fast-rising job board in 2023. Employees like this platform because most advertising jobs are free. Clients are only required to make payment when they are ready to move forward with a candidate. This way, you can be sure that you received value for your money.?

How does it work?

The interface of the Simply Hired platform is clean and allows ease of finding jobs. When you register on this platform, you can search for jobs using the filter feature. The job listings are found on the left window, while the job descriptions are found on the right window. You can apply for jobs on the Simply Hired platform by simply uploading your resume, and you can also choose to go to the external site to apply.

Pros

• Listings get posted to multiple job boards
• There is a huge library of users and listings.
• It has some great HR features.

Cons

• The filtering process is not too solid
• You cannot predict how much it will cost to contact applicants
• There is no option to sponsor listings for more reach.?

FreeUp

FreeUp is a unique freelance platform. They brag that the top 1% of freelancers are a part of their freelance marketplace. Unlike other freelance writing platforms, with FreeUp, you will need to apply and go through tedious vetting processes before you are granted access to the marketplace as a freelancer. The good part of this is that clients coming in here are high-paying, so as a freelancer, you can be sure to get high-paying jobs on this platform.?

How does it work?

As a freelancer, to apply, you will need to go to the FreeUp site. You will find an application form that you should fill out and submit. If you are a good fit, you will be called for an interview. Next, you will have to pass a skill and TOC test. If you pass, you can then get access to the available listings and start browsing and choosing. FreeUp freelancers are paid weekly.?

Pros

• No need to struggle with the application process.
• There are top-tier freelancers and high-paying clients on this platform.
• The interface of this platform is clear and allows for ease of searching.?

Cons

• Getting into the platform is difficult

We Work Remotely

We work remotely is a very organized platform for finding jobs. All the jobs on this platform are strictly remote, so it is great for freelancers. Clients have to pay a fee for job postings.?

How does it work?

Companies post their job listings on this platform after paying $299. This platform has a slightly high pricing plan when compared to others. However, it has a lot of benefits. It also has a lot of qualified freelancers. When you register as a freelancer, you can browse through listings, find a suitable job, and apply.

Pros

• Jobs are regularly updated on this platform.?
• Jobs on this site are distributed to over 20 partner sites, so jobs have a wide reach of potential candidates.?
• There are several helpful resources on this platform.

Cons

• It is not very user-friendly. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the most recent jobs
• It is a bit expensive for clients.

Toptal

Toptal is short for Top Talent. This platform also boasts about having the best freelancers in their marketplace. It claims to produce the top 3% of freelancers. This claim is backed by the rigorous screening process of their hiring. On this platform, you will find high-paying freelance writing jobs.?

How does it work?

As a freelancer, all you need to do is sign up on the platform and fill out the application form. If you are a good fit, you will be onboarded and browse through available job listings. When there is a job matching your skill set, you will be paired with the client and can begin working immediately.

Pros

• Freelancers are top-tier. They must continue to maintain their high customer satisfaction standard, or they will be ejected from the team.?
• If you have special talents and skills, you will find this platform welcoming.
• Fast placement process.

Cons

• It is not a good fit for freelancers looking for small jobs or one-off jobs. It is better for long-term jobs.?

People Per Hour

People Per Hour is a useful freelancing marketplace. In addition to browsing the available job listings using People Per Hour, freelancers can also post an offer to tell potential clients the type of service that they offer. With this platform, freelancers need to use credits to apply for jobs. You will get some credits for free when you join the platform, but when you exhaust those, you will have to buy more.

How does it work?

When you register for People Per Hour, you can start sending proposals to apply for jobs. When you see a job you like, you can send in a proposal, and if the job poster is comfortable with your proposal, an escrow deal will be created. After completion, you send in the job, and the client can release your money.?

Pros

• A large network of freelancers and clients
• Invoicing is automatic
• Posting a job is free for buyers
• It has an app for convenience

Cons

• There is a lot of competition on the platform.?
• The customer support on this platform is not great.

Solid Gigs

Solid Gigs is also another lucrative marketplace. Unlike Upwork, it is a lead generation for clients. In this platform, there is no need to share a percentage of your earnings with the platform owners. You simply get leads to potential clients, and they can also find you.?

How does it work?

Now, this platform is not free. Freelancers have to pay a fee before getting access to the platform. There are several plans, and you can choose the one most convenient for you. On this platform, you are assigned a gig hunter. This person is responsible for searching and finding jobs related to your skills and experiences and sending them to your email. You get the best jobs sent to you, and then you can apply and get started.?

Pros

• It is time-saving. You don’t have to go through the stress of searching for suitable jobs.?
• AI or robots do not run it. Real human beings work with you to find the best jobs for you.
• You don’t have to share a percentage of your earnings. You only pay a monthly fee and can get access to well-paying jobs.?

Cons

• You still have to pitch your services after receiving jobs in your inbox.?

9. LinkedIn

Of course, we can barely mention large marketplaces for freelancers without mentioning LinkedIn. LinkedIn has grown and is still rapidly growing to accommodate thousands of buyers and sellers. The LinkedIn platform is genuine, professional, and exposed.

How does it work?

On LinkedIn, there are several ways to get jobs. There is a job board on the platform where freelancers can check for jobs constantly. This board is constantly updated with recent jobs from around the world with on-site, remote, and freelance types. Again, professionals and employers can put out job postings on their feeds, reaching their connections and getting them to apply for the job.

When you find a job you like, you follow the instructions given by the poster and apply for the job accordingly.?

Pros

• It is very professional, and you are likely to get legit and long-term jobs here.
• It is easy to prove your expertise to the poster by sharing your profile.
• It encourages networking, giving you diverse opportunities.

Cons

• LinkedIn owns your data and information
• It can be hard to get noticed until you put in the work to network.?

These 9 platforms are highly effective, and spreading your wings on them can be quite lucrative for you as a freelancer.?