1️⃣Upwork
Upwork dominates for vetted clients and serious budgets. Escrow protects both sides and Talent Scout fast-tracks premium gigs. Expect steady deal flow with fair fees at higher tiers.
Address: San Francisco, California, USA
- Strong client demand across niches
- Built-in escrow and dispute help
- Fast payouts to bank and Wise
- Robust search and project filters
- Rising Talent and Top Rated badges boost visibility
- Service fees reduce margins at lower tiers
- RFPs can be time-consuming
2️⃣Toptal
Elite network for engineers, designers, product, and finance talent. Clients are brand-name companies with enterprise budgets, and engagements last months not days. Fewer proposals, more curated matches.
Address: New York, New York, USA
- High-paying
- long-term engagements
- Rigorous screening signals quality
- Hands-on matching saves time
- Reliable
- timely payments
- Hard to get accepted
- Fewer categories than broad marketplaces
3️⃣Fiverr
Great for productized services and quick wins. Gig pages convert with bundles and add-ons, but price competition is fierce in crowded niches.
Address: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Huge buyer traffic
- Upsells and gig packages increase order value
- Built-in analytics and coupons
- Clear delivery workflows
- Race-to-the-bottom pricing pressure
- Platform takes a noticeable cut
- Messaging can be strict and auto-flagged
4️⃣Freelancer.com
Massive project volume across technical and creative categories. Bidding is flexible, yet you'll spend time filtering low-quality posts and chasing milestones.
Address: Sydney, Australia
- Global reach with constant new listings
- Contests showcase work fast
- Milestone system supports complex projects
- High competition on most jobs
- Freemium limits push paid upgrades
- Quality varies widely
5️⃣PeoplePerHour
UK-centric marketplace that still attracts international buyers. Hourlies and fixed-price offers are tidy, but demand spikes are seasonal and niche-dependent.
Address: London, United Kingdom
- Easy setup with templated offers
- Transparent fees after thresholds
- Responsive dispute support
- Lower project volume than bigger rivals
- Best categories skew to marketing and web
- Payout timing can feel slow for new sellers