Did you know that there are over 1.57 billion freelancers worldwide? As remote work continues to rise, freelancing platforms have become a crucial part of the gig economy. But with so many options available, how do you know which one is actually worth your time?
This blog post will break down the best and worst freelancing platforms of 2024, ranking them based on fees, competition, and job opportunities. Whether you’re a beginner freelancer or a seasoned pro, knowing where to invest your time can make or break your career.
From the crowded battlefield of Upwork to the elite network of Toptal, we’ll analyze the pros, cons, and hidden fees of each platform. Stick around until the end, where we’ll reveal the ultimate freelancing strategy to maximize your success.
Ready to find out where you should (or shouldn’t) be freelancing? Let’s dive in!
Best & Worst Freelancing Platforms
1. Upwork – The Freelancer Giant
🔹 Pros:

- 150,000 active core clients – Plenty of job opportunities.
- Diverse job categories – From graphic design to legal services.
- Great for beginners – Many entry-level jobs available.
🔻 Cons:
- High competition – 18 million freelancers fighting for jobs.
- Expensive bidding system – Requires “connects” (paid tokens) to apply for jobs.
- 10% fee on earnings – Too high for many freelancers.
🏆 Verdict: Good for beginners, but tough for experienced freelancers.
Upwork is a solid option if you’re just starting out, but once you build your client base, you might want to transition elsewhere to avoid the intense competition and fees.
2. Fiverr – The Wild West of Freelancing
🔹 Pros:
- 5 million+ buyers annually – Huge potential client base.
- Easy to use – Clients browse services instead of freelancers bidding.
- Package-based pricing – Encourages higher earnings compared to hourly rates.
🔻 Cons:
- Competitive pricing – Many clients expect services for as low as $5.
- 20% commission fee – Even applies to tips!
- Clients sometimes undervalue work – Hard to charge premium prices.
🏆 Verdict: Great for beginners, but difficult to scale without lowering prices.
Fiverr is a good place to build a portfolio, but long-term freelancers might struggle to charge what they’re worth.
3. Toptal – The Elite Freelancer Club
🔹 Pros:
- High rates – Average freelancer earns $80/hour.
- High-quality clients – Clients must deposit $500 upfront to hire.
- No freelancer fees – Toptal charges the client, not the freelancer.
🔻 Cons:
- Exclusive – Only 3% of applicants get accepted.
- Limited job categories – Mostly for tech, business, and design professionals.
🏆 Verdict: Amazing if you can get in, but not an option for most.
Toptal is the gold standard for freelancers, but with a 97% rejection rate, most people won’t qualify.
4. Contra – The Freelancer-First Platform
🔹 Pros:
- No commission fees – You keep 100% of your earnings.
- Freelancer protections – A human dispute system to protect your work.
- Higher rates – Minimum $25/hour enforced.
- Strong community – Includes Slack groups for networking and portfolio reviews.
🔻 Cons:
- Smaller client base – Doesn’t have as many jobs as Upwork or Fiverr (yet).
🏆 Verdict: Best for serious freelancers looking for fair pay and protections.
If you want a platform that puts freelancers first, Contra is a must-join.
5. PeoplePerHour – The Math Nightmare
🔹 Pros:
- Over 1 million clients – Decent job volume.
- Diverse job types – Ranges from tech to creative work.
🔻 Cons:
- Confusing fee structure – Fees range from 20% to 3.5%, but vary per client.
- High competition – 3 million freelancers competing for jobs.
- Terrible customer service – Common complaints about slow support.
🏆 Verdict: Heavy fees and complicated rules make it not worth your time.
If you don’t want to spend hours calculating how much you’re actually earning, avoid PeoplePerHour.
6. Guru – The Subscription-Based Gamble
🔹 Pros:
- Better freelancer-to-job ratio – Fewer freelancers compared to Upwork and Fiverr, meaning slightly less competition.
- Diverse job categories – Covers a variety of fields, from writing to IT and design.
- Lower fees (with a catch) – Fees start at 9%, which is lower than Fiverr and Upwork. However, this only applies if you pay for a membership.
🔻 Cons:
- Subscription model – Essential features like messaging clients require a paid membership (up to $50/month).
- Hidden fees – While fees start at 9%, they go down to 5% only for premium members who pay for the most expensive subscription.
- Clunky user interface – The website feels outdated and not user-friendly.
- Mixed client quality – Some freelancers report encountering low-budget clients and unreliable projects.
🏆 Verdict: A pay-to-play model that isn’t worth it for most freelancers.
Guru has a better freelancer-to-job ratio, but it makes freelancers pay for basic features. Between subscriptions and commissions, it feels more like a gamble than a solid freelancing platform. If you’re serious about freelancing, there are better free platforms (like Contra or Upwork) that don’t lock features behind a paywall.
Best Freelancing Strategy
Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s a simple 3-step system to make freelancing platforms work for you:
1️⃣ Pick 2 platforms – Don’t spread yourself too thin. Choose platforms that match your experience level.
2️⃣ Create a weekly system – Set goals for how many jobs you’ll apply to per week.
3️⃣ Give it time – Stick with your strategy for at least 2-3 months before making changes.
📌 Pro Tip: If you’re serious about freelancing, consider starting on Upwork or Fiverr, then transitioning to Contra or Toptal for better pay and fewer fees.
Wrap-Up
Choosing the right freelancing platform is critical for your success.
- Best for beginners? Upwork or Fiverr
- Best for elite freelancers? Toptal
- Best freelancer-first platform? Contra
- Worst for freelancers? PeoplePerHour & Guru
Now that you know where to find the best freelancing jobs, it’s time to take action. Sign up for Contra or Upwork today and start building your freelancing career.
📌 RECOMMENDED READING: How to Get Your First Upwork Job With No Experience (Fast!)
BONUS:
1. Freelancing Platform Cheat Sheet – Compare & Choose the Best Platform for You
📌 How to Use: Copy & paste to Google Spreadsheet. This cheat sheet summarizes the key aspects of major freelancing platforms so you can make an informed decision.
Platform | Fees & Commissions | Competition Level | Job Availability | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
Upwork | 10% fee | High (18M freelancers) | High (150K+ clients) | Beginners, diverse job types |
Fiverr | 20% fee | High | High (5M+ buyers) | Creative services, gigs |
Toptal | No fees (clients pay) | Very High (only 3% accepted) | Exclusive | Elite freelancers, high rates |
Contra | No fees | Medium | Growing | Freelancers looking for fair pay |
PeoplePerHour | 20% to 3.5% (complex) | High (3M freelancers) | Moderate | Not recommended due to fees |
Freelancer.com | 10% (varies) | High | High | Beginners willing to compete |
Guru | 9% (subscription-based) | Medium | Moderate | Not recommended (high fees + subscription) |
✅ Pro Tip: Pick 1-2 platforms and focus on consistent job applications.
2. Freelance Platform Scorecard – Choose the Best Platform for You
📌 Instructions: Copy & paste to Google Spreadsheet. Score each platform from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) based on your needs. Add up the totals to find the best fit!
Platform | Ease of Use (1-5) | Job Availability (1-5) | Competition (1-5) | Fees (1-5) | Client Quality (1-5) | Total Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Upwork | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ |
Fiverr | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ |
Toptal | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ |
Contra | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ |
PeoplePerHour | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ |
Freelancer.com | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ |
Guru | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ |
🎯 Your Top Platform: ________________________
📆 30-Day Goal: ________________________
🚀 Action Step: Apply to at least X jobs per week and track your progress.
3. Freelance Success Tracker – Track Your Job Applications & Earnings
📌 Instructions: Copy & paste to Google Spreadsheet. Use this tracker to stay organized and monitor your freelancing progress.
Date | Platform | Job Title | Client Response? (Yes/No) | Earnings ($) | Next Steps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/01/2024 | Upwork | Logo Design | Yes | $50 | Deliver project |
01/02/2024 | Fiverr | Social Media Post | No | – | Follow up |
01/05/2024 | Contra | Website Development | Yes | $500 | Submit first draft |
01/07/2024 | Guru | Article Writing | No | – | Apply again |
🔹 Goal: Apply to at least 5 jobs per week
🔹 Tip: Follow up with potential clients after 3-5 days
📌 Use this tracker to analyze patterns and improve your success rate.
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