We’ve put together a list of the newest (and most reliable) low-competition freelancing sites for beginners and job boards out there, perfect for those just starting their freelancing journey.
If you’re new to freelancing and still building experience, we recommend steering clear of the big, popular sites like Fiverr and Upwork for now. The competition on these platforms is fierce, and landing a project as a beginner can be tough.
On top of that, some of the well-known freelancing platforms have been increasing their fees, which forces freelancers to raise their rates. This often leads to repeat clients getting frustrated by the price hikes and ultimately canceling their services.
No clients, no projects—it’s a tough spot for freelancers.
But don’t worry! If you’re a beginner looking to score gigs quickly or a seasoned pro exploring options with lower fees, this list is here to help.
Browse through it and see which platforms might suit you best. You may want to sign up for a few just to test out their processes, fees, and customer service.
These smaller platforms may be under the radar now, but they’re growing fast.
Getting in early could give you a head start before their fees climb, making them the next big freelancing hubs.
1. Boonle
Boonle for Universities is a specialized platform that connects students with real-world freelancing opportunities.
Designed for students looking to gain hands-on experience, this platform allows them to work on actual projects while building their portfolios.
Universities can integrate Boonle into their curriculum, giving students the chance to collaborate with professionals, apply their skills, and earn income through freelance work.
The platform also benefits businesses and organizations by providing access to fresh talent at a lower cost, while students gain valuable experience that prepares them for future careers.
With Boonle for Universities, students can bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, all within a supportive environment.
2. Speedlancer
Speedlancer is a rapidly growing platform, making it a great option for freelancers just starting out.
While the application process can be challenging (they’re focused on getting top talent), it’s worth a shot if you’re confident in your skills.
Though there are many experienced freelancers on the platform, if you’re quick and deliver high-quality work, Speedlancer could be the perfect fit for you.
Their standout feature is fast turnaround—projects are completed and delivered within just 4 hours!
One thing to keep in mind: the platform charges a 20% fee on every paid project, which some freelancers find a bit steep.
3. ServiceScape
ServiceScape is a small but growing freelancing platform that focuses on three key areas: graphic design, writing, and translation—some of the most in-demand services in freelancing.
They work with well-known companies from various industries, making it a great platform for experienced freelancers.
While it’s ideal for seasoned professionals, beginners with standout skills are also welcome.
Just be prepared for a lengthy signup process. For payments, they only offer PayPal or check as payout options.
4. FreeUp
FreeeUp is a freelancing platform with a strict screening process to ensure they bring in top talent.
Instead of a bidding system, freelancers are matched with projects based on their skills and experience, which reduces competition for available work.
If you’re up for a challenge, this platform could be a great fit.
While the application process is tough, it’s worth it once you get through, as you’ll be rewarded with projects that align with your expertise.
5. Working Not Working
For creative freelancers, whether you’re a graphic designer, game designer, or animator, Working Not Working is the go-to platform.
The name might sound funny, but it’s serious about connecting top-notch talent with quality clients.
Freelancers do have to go through a detailed screening process to get accepted, but here’s the best part: there are no platform fees for freelancers.
The employer or project owner covers all the costs, so whatever you earn from completed projects is 100% yours to keep.
6. Contena
Contena is a new platform designed for freelance writers and copywriters.
It offers a wide range of writing tasks, including blog articles, fiction, technical writing, and even resume and cover letter writing.
The registration process is super simple, and getting projects is pretty easy—no need to worry about bidding wars.
Qualified freelancers are directly awarded projects, making it a smooth and hassle-free experience.
7. Remote
Remote.com is a great platform for beginner freelancers, and signing up is completely free.
Though it’s a newer platform, it already has a large community of freelancers across various fields and categories.
What makes Remote.com stand out is its use of AI technology to match freelancers with jobs and clients, making the process faster and more efficient.
If you’re just starting out, this could be a fantastic place to find your first gig!
8. goLance
goLance is a freelancing platform that charges a 10% fee from freelancers.
It’s a great place to find projects in information technology, like programming and web design, as well as marketing-related gigs.
With plenty of available jobs, even beginners can easily land a project, making it a solid choice for those just starting out.
9. RemoteOK
RemoteOK is a free job board for freelancers and remote workers worldwide.
There’s no need to register or apply to use the site—just browse through available projects and hit the Apply button to submit your application directly to employers.
With no platform fees at all, RemoteOK is an excellent choice for beginners looking to gain valuable experience and start building their freelancing career.
10. AuthenticJobs
AuthenticJobs is a fresh job board for freelancers specializing in arts and graphic design.
It features a variety of projects from startups and small to medium-sized businesses.
To access most jobs, you’ll need to register, but once you do, you’ll be taken directly to the job listings of companies hiring remote and freelance workers.
This means you can find and land projects easily without dealing with a bidding process.
11. FiveSquid
FiveSquid is like Fiverr’s smaller sibling, but it caters primarily to clients in the UK, so gigs are priced in sterling pounds rather than dollars. Each gig starts at a minimum of 5 pounds.
The platform charges a 20% fee on your earnings from projects.
You don’t have to be based in the UK to shine here—freelancers from places like India, the US, the Philippines, and China are also making their mark on FiveSquid.
12. Jobspresso
Jobspresso is a small jobs board for freelancers that is steadily growing in popularity. You can find small and big-time gigs here in two ways.
You can either submit your resume on this site so that clients can find you based on their preference, or you can browse available jobs
or projects posted by employers and you can apply to them directly via the link provided.
There is no platform fee on this site, so this is a helpful site where you can easily market your skills and get to keep 100% of your earnings.
13. SkipTheDrive
SkipTheDrive is still an unpopular freelancing site to many remote workers, but there are already tons of available projects you can choose from.
It is a good idea for a name.
You don’t need to drive or commute going to work as the setup is telecommuting, obviously.
As a beginner, you can easily find a good project here.
So better register as soon as you can while there are not too many freelancers here yet.
14. Landing Jobs
Are you a skilled freelancer in video production, creative design, app development, UI and UX design, and software development?
If you are, then you can easily land a good project here on Landing Jobs.
You can simply sign up for an account with them and apply for available projects.
You won’t be charged with a platform fee as this will be shouldered by your clients.
15. Proz
Proz is a freelancer site specifically created for language translators from anywhere in the world. Proz, even though still considered a small company as of this writing, has been around for more than a decade.
This is a slow but stable growth.
They already have loyal followers and clients.
As a freelance language translator, you can browse for available projects and submit a quotation for your services.
You need to create an account first before you can start browsing and submitting quotes.
Users of the platform can choose between the paid plan and the free plan.
Free users get charged $1 for every quote submitted for available projects.
This process guarantees they are only getting the most serious and skilled language translators.
16. HatchPad
HatchPad is a new freelancing site for experienced gig workers, and they accept anybody from anywhere in the world.
Almost all kinds of jobs that can be done remotely are on this platform from the common creative gigs to life coaching gigs.
High-paying projects are only offered to seasoned freelancers with considerable years of experience in doing remote work.
But even if you are only a beginner, you can still join this site to gain experience especially so if you believe you are really good with your skills.
17. Remotive
Remotive jobs board for freelancers located anywhere in the world has created an image that attracts small and big companies to post jobs and projects for freelancers.
Most of the available projects here are for website design and development, software programming, app development, and other similar skills.
There is no platform fee on this site because it only redirects your application to the company or employer’s jobs page.
18. Worksome
Worksome is a new marketplace for freelancers with various skill sets.
They may be new in this industry, but they already gained a reputation.
In fact, they already have more than 4,000 freelancers under their roof.
Although this site promotes freelancers who reside in the United Kingdom, freelancers from anywhere in the world are also welcome to try their chance of getting paid projects.
19. VirtualVocations
VirtualVocations is another lesser-known freelance jobs board for virtual or remote workers from anywhere in the world.
They always update available projects here for remote positions, and take note, from reputable companies in various industries.
You can search under categories to easily find a project that will match your skills.
There is no platform fee in using or getting paid projects here.
What you earn is all yours to keep.
20. Rev
Rev is a new transcription platform for transcription, captioning, and subtitling freelancers, mostly for video bloggers on YouTube and Vimeo and podcasters.
This platform is open to freelancers in the transcription industry anywhere in the world.
This is a good venue where you can further hone your listening and typing skills and gain a considerable amount of experience for your future projects as a freelancer.
21. Zeerk
Zeerk is a freelancing site already in operation for five years.
The number of freelancers and employers is steady growing every single day.
You can set your price or rate as a freelancer, under a specific category, from a minimum of $5 to a maximum of $500.
Registering and selling your skills with this freelancing platform is free, but they collect 8% up to 20% commission from each of your completed projects, which is automatically computed by their system before they send your earnings to your registered PayPal or bank account.
22. TCI Job Board
If you’re looking for freelance transcription jobs or independent contracts, TCI Job Board is a nice option for you.
Transcription companies, such as Voxtab, GMR, AlphaSights, looking to hire transcriptionists regularly post job openings on this job board.
You can also upload your resume and be found by employers.
23. The Freelancer Club
Another new freelancing platform home based in the United Kingdom is The Freelancer Club.
Although based in the UK, they accept quality freelancers from any location in the world.
You can register on this platform with two options, a free account and a paid account to unlock some premium features.
The premium plan costs 11.99 sterling pounds per month which will give access to an unlimited number of high-paying projects.
If you are the competitive type and one who believes highly in your skills, this is a great chance for you to earn more.
The paid monthly plan is a small amount compared to what you can earn from their high-quality projects.
24. Outsourced
Outsourced.ph is a dynamic platform that connects businesses with skilled freelancers and remote workers from the Philippines.
It focuses on providing a range of outsourcing services, including virtual assistance, customer support, and specialized project work.
The site allows companies to easily find and hire talent for various roles, offering flexibility and cost-effective solutions.
For freelancers, Outsourced.ph provides an opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and projects, leveraging their expertise in a supportive and professional environment.
Whether you’re a business looking to outsource tasks or a freelancer seeking new opportunities, Outsourced.ph aims to facilitate smooth and productive collaborations.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
This post may contain affiliate links. An affiliate means Escribr may earn referral fees if you make a purchase through our link without any extra cost to you. It helps to keep this blog afloat. Thanks for your support!
Did you know that by visiting this blog, you are doing good in the world? READ THIS.