The advantage of freelancing lies in its promise of individuality. It allows everyone to choose projects that align with their skills and interests. As businesses seek to reduce operational costs and increase efficiency, they are constantly turning to freelance professionals.
This trend is reshaping the traditional employment process, offering both challenges and opportunities for workers and employers. Opportunities for finding a job as a freelancer are numerous, and choosing the right platform is crucial.
There are many available freelance platforms. You should choose the one with a good reputation, user base, fee structure, and job posts from various market categories.
TopTal
What types of jobs and job categories are on the platform?
TopTal is known for connecting companies with top freelancers in customer operations, marketing, finance, new business, product management, sales and client services, talent operations, and technology services.
Can you showcase your resume, portfolio, reviews, and credentials on the platform?
Yes, you can showcase your job experience and related credentials on TopTal.
For example, developers or designers can also add their GitHub links, Dribbble/Behance portfolios, or live project URLs.
You can also add technical certifications (e.g., AWS Certified, PMP, CFA). They will be verified during the screening process, especially for specialized roles.
Is there a membership or job bidding cost?
Toptal does not charge freelancers any membership or job bidding fees.
What fees does the platform charge?
Once you pass their rigorous screening process and join the network, you set your rates and keep 100% of your earnings. TopTal charges the fee only to the client.
How can I withdraw money from the platform?
You can withdraw money from TopTal via bank transfer (ACH/SWIFT), prepaid TopTal Visa Card, or third-party services (e.g., Grey).
Freelancer.com
What types of jobs and job categories are on the platform?
Freelancer.com offers jobs in many market categories: technology and development, design, writing, marketing, sales, data and analytics, legal, finance, engineering, and administrative support.
Can you showcase your resume, portfolio, reviews, and credentials on the platform?
Yes, you can showcase your work history, credentials, portfolio, and reviews on your profile.
Is there a membership or job bidding cost?
Freelancer.com provides several membership options for freelancers:
- Free Membership: Allows you to bid on projects but with limitations on the number of bids per month.
- Basic: Priced at $6.95/month, this plan offers more bids and additional features.
- Plus: At $8.95/month, it includes even more bids and enhanced visibility.
- Professional: For $59.95/month, this plan provides access to high-value projects and other premium features.
- Premier: At $119.95/month, it offers the highest number of bids and exclusive benefits.
Bidding on projects is generally free. However, there are fees for sponsored bids (0.75% of the bid amount, minimum $5, maximum $20), highlighted bids ($1), and sealed bids ($0.10).
What fees does the platform charge?
Freelancer.com charges 10% for fixed-priced and hourly project fees. Submitting entries to a contest is free, but if a freelancer wins, a 10% fee is also applied.
For the withdrawal fees, the amounts are:
- Express Withdrawal: $1
- PayPal: $1
- Skrill: $1
- Payoneer Debit Card: $1
- International Wire: $25
Finally, if an account has been inactive for six months and still holds funds, a dormant fee of up to $14 per month may be charged.
How can I withdraw money from the platform?
You can withdraw money from Freelancer.com to Skrill, Payoneer, International Wire, PayPal, or Express Withdrawal (Bank Transfer).
PeoplePerHour
What types of jobs and job categories are on the platform?
PeoplePerHour is a freelance platform that offers jobs in the following categories: technology and programming, writing and translation, design, digital marketing, video and photo and image, business, music and audio, social media, marketing and branding, and sales.
Can you showcase your resume, portfolio, reviews, and credentials on the platform?
Yes, you can display your professional competencies and client reviews on your PeoplePerHour profile.
Is there a membership or job bidding cost?
With the option of free and basic membership, you receive monthly 15 free proposal credits.
To maintain the ability to send proposals and offer “Hourlies” (fixed-price services) beyond an initial period (usually three months), you need to meet certain requirements to qualify for continued free membership. These requirements typically involve:
- Completing at least 2 Jobs (or Hourlies) with a 4-star rating or above.
- Billing an aggregate of a certain amount (e.g., $124.17 or equivalent) within 3 months.
You can always pay a monthly membership of $13.95 to regain full access to job applications.
When you apply for a job, one credit will be used. After spending all 15 credits, you can buy more. Not-used paid credits will roll over to the next month.
What fees does the platform charge?
PeoplePerHour charges a service fee on your earnings. The fee depends on the lifetime billings with an individual buyer:
- 20% fee: For the first $350 billed with a new buyer.
- 7.5% fee: For earnings between $350.01 and $7,000 (or equivalent) with the same buyer.
- 3.5% fee: For earnings over $7,000 (or equivalent) with the same buyer.
How can I withdraw money from the platform?
You can withdraw earnings from PeoplePerHour via UK/USA Bank Transfer (GBP/USD), SEPA/Local Currency (GBP, USD, EUR), International Bank Transfer (GBP, USD, EUR), PayPal, and Payoneer.
Upwork
What types of jobs and job categories are on the platform?
Upwork offers jobs in the following categories: IT, design and creative, sales and marketing, writing and translation, admin and customer support, finance and accounting, HR, legal, engineering, and architecture.
Can you showcase your resume, portfolio, reviews, and credentials on the platform?
Yes, you can showcase your previous job experiences, certificates, client reviews, and more on your Upwork profile.
Is there a membership or job bidding cost?
Applying for the jobs requires using 4 to 16 connects. The number of connects you will need depends on the project’s scope and size. If you get an interview for the job, you do not use any connects.
If you have a Free Basic Account, you will get 10 connects each month. As a new freelancer, you will get 30 connects for achieving the “Rising Talent “and later “Top Rated” and “Top Rated Plus” badges.
If you have a Freelancer Plus Account, you will get 90 connects. This membership costs $19.99 per month, and you will also get 10 free connects per month.
The third option is to buy connects, which costs $0.15 individually.
What fees does the platform charge?
The fee for the job contracts is 15% and depends on factors like client demand for certain work and may occasionally include promotional discounts.
If you invite a new client to Upwork, you will pay a 5% fee and 0% if you are a Top-Rated freelancer.
How can I withdraw money from the platform?
You can withdraw money from Upwork to a local bank account (in the USA or outside the USA), instant pay (only in the USA), Payoneer, Skrill, Paypal, or wire transfer.
Fiverr
What types of jobs and job categories are on the platform?
The main categories on Fiverr are graphics and design, digital marketing, writing, translation, video, animation, programming, tech, business, lifestyle, and data.
Can you showcase your resume, portfolio, reviews, and credentials on the platform?
You can showcase your resume, portfolio, video gigs, reviews, and credentials.
Is there a membership or job bidding cost?
Fiverr does not charge freelancers to bid on job posts.
Fiverr only charges freelancers for promoting gigs. You need to set the budget for promotion, and you are charged when the buyer clicks on your gig.
What fees does the platform charge?
The platform charges a 20% service fee on every order.
How can I withdraw money from the platform?
You can withdraw money from Fiverr to PayPal, Bank Transfer, or Direct Deposit (USA only).
Guru
What types of jobs and job categories are on the platform?
The main job categories on Guru are programming and development, writing, translation, design and art, administrative, sales, marketing, engineering, architecture, business, finance, education, and training.
Can you showcase your resume, portfolio, reviews, and credentials on the platform?
You can display your resume, portfolio, reviews, and credentials.
Is there a membership or job bidding cost?
With a free membership account, you will receive 10 bids monthly, which you can use to apply for job posts.
Monthly membership fees range from $8.95 to $49.95. Unused bids will roll over to next year.
For job applications, usually, one bid is spent for one quote sent.
What fees does the platform charge?
The job fee is 9% with the Basic Plan and 0.95% to 5% with the Paid Plans.
How can I withdraw money from the platform?
You can withdraw money from Guru to a Non-U.S. Bank Account (Local Currency Transfer), PayPal, or Wire Transfer (USD only).
