1️⃣Upwork
The largest talent marketplace where serious clients spend. Smart matching, escrow-protected payments, and rising rates for top performers. If you want repeat contracts and long-term retainers, this is where they happen.
Address: San Francisco, USA
- High-spend clients in every niche
- Escrow with milestone protection
- Project Catalog and hourly tracking for predictable cash flow
- Strong search and badges amplify visibility
- Easy international payouts
- Service fees can add up
- Requires profile optimization to rank
2️⃣Fiverr
A storefront for your services that sells while you sleep. Package-based offers, instant orders, and lightning-fast payouts keep cash moving. Upsells and subscriptions can turn one buyer into recurring revenue.
Address: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Frictionless gig storefront
- Fast payouts and clear fees
- Built-in promos and coupons drive extra sales
- Buyer requests keep pipeline full
- Mobile app makes responding instant
- High competition in popular categories
- Algorithm rewards constant activity
3️⃣Toptal
Elite network placing senior talent on premium contracts. Rates are strong and clients are vetted. Vetting is rigorous and availability expectations can be demanding.
Address: Palo Alto, USA
- Top-tier clients and budgets
- Longer engagements with stable income
- Hands-on support from talent managers
- Rigid multi-stage vetting takes time
- Limited categories and fewer seats
- Less control over project selection
4️⃣Freelancer.com
Massive marketplace with a constant flow of projects worldwide. Contests and bids can land quick wins. Fees and bidding wars require strategy to stay profitable.
Address: Sydney, Australia
- Huge volume of postings
- Contests can showcase your skills
- Milestone payments and escrow available
- Race-to-the-bottom pricing pressure
- Complex fee structure
- Spammy or low-quality briefs still appear
5️⃣PeoplePerHour
UK-born platform popular with SMEs and startups. Hourlies and projects offer flexibility. Visibility can be slow until you collect strong reviews.
Address: London, United Kingdom
- Friendly for fixed-price microprojects
- Solid for European clients and time zones
- Integrated invoicing with escrow
- Approval queue can be slow
- Fewer enterprise buyers than rivals
- Seasonal demand fluctuations