1️⃣Toptal
Elite network with enterprise clients that pay for quality. Rates align to your seniority, not a marketplace average. Expect long term projects and fast approvals once accepted.
Address: San Francisco, United States
- Highest average project rates in this list
- Enterprise clients with serious budgets
- Fewer proposals as talent managers bring matched roles
- Consistent long term contracts
- Strong payment reliability and swift invoicing
- Tough vetting and a waitlist can slow entry
- Fewer short gigs if you only want quick wins
- Niche skills may have sporadic openings
2️⃣Upwork
The biggest pool of paying clients with every niche imaginable. Clear escrow and hourly protection keep cash flow predictable. Optimize your profile and premium invitations will follow.
Address: San Francisco, United States
- Massive client volume across all categories
- Robust escrow and hourly protection
- High paying Enterprise programs
- Powerful search and filters to target premium buyers
- Flexible pay options including fixed
- hourly
- and milestones
- Service fees and proposal costs add up
- Crowded bids in lower tiers
- Takes time to build a visible reputation
3️⃣Fiverr Pro
Sell packaged services at premium rates with a buy now button. Great for brandable offers where speed beats negotiation. Demand can spike, but rankings are algorithm driven.
Address: Tel Aviv, Israel
- High ticket gigs via Pro verification
- Instant checkout with minimal back and forth
- Great for productized design
- development
- and marketing
- Algorithm volatility can reduce visibility overnight
- Heavy competition in hot categories
- Fees cut into margins on small orders
- Scope creep risk if packages are not airtight
4️⃣Guru
A veteran marketplace with loyal small business buyers and a straightforward workroom. You can win stable retainer style work in tech, content, and admin. Discovery is slower, but clients often renew.
Address: Pittsburgh, United States
- Friendly for long term relationships
- Simple contracts and milestones
- Less saturated than giant marketplaces
- Fewer high budget enterprise projects
- Lower average rates in many categories
- Traffic is modest so lead flow can be slow
- Membership upsells may be required for better terms
5️⃣PeoplePerHour
Strong UK and EU buyer base with project streams and hourly offers. Useful for quick wins and localised gigs. Rates vary widely and proposals can be a grind.
Address: London, United Kingdom
- Good for UK and EU time zones and VAT friendly billing
- Quick micro projects and hourlies
- Solid escrow and invoicing
- Rate pressure in popular niches
- Proposal queues and slow client replies
- Currency conversion can eat into payouts
- Fewer opportunities outside Europe