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10 Best Freelance Websites of 2026
This list is for freelancers looking for clients and for businesses hiring independent talent, from one-off design jobs to senior engineers. We compared documented features, fees and published prices for 10 freelance websites, including open marketplaces, vetted networks and design platforms. Scores weigh features at 40%, ease of use at 30% and value at 30%. Prices are the vendors' own US dollar figures where the page showed them from our location; others are marked as pending.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 9, 2026 · 10 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 9, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Upwork is our top pick because it covers the most job categories and the largest pool of clients, with fees shown before you commit. Fiverr is the easiest way to buy or sell a defined service at a set price, and Contra is the best choice for creatives who want to keep 100% of client payments. Dribbble is the strongest lead source for designers, Toptal is the pick for companies that want vetted senior talent, and Freelancer.com and Guru are the budget marketplaces with cheap memberships.
Top picks
Best overall
Upwork
8.7 / 10
Freelancers in most fields and businesses that want the widest pool of independent talent for hourly or fixed-price work.
Read the review →Runner-up
Fiverr
8.6 / 10
Buyers who want to order a defined service at a set price, and freelancers who prefer packaging their work.
Read the review →Also great
Contra
8.5 / 10
Designers, developers and other creatives who want to keep 100% of what clients pay them.
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upwork | Freelancers in most fields and businesses that want the widest pool of independent talent for hourly or fixed-price work. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.7 |
| 2 | Fiverr | Buyers who want to order a defined service at a set price, and freelancers who prefer packaging their work. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.6 |
| 3 | Contra | Designers, developers and other creatives who want to keep 100% of what clients pay them. | Free plan; Pro $29 per month or $199 per year | 8.5 |
| 4 |  Dribbble | Product, brand and web designers who want leads from clients browsing portfolios. | Free plan; Pro Lite $4, Standard $8 and Plus $99 per month billed yearly | 8.2 |
| 5 |  Toptal | Companies that want pre-screened senior developers, designers or consultants matched quickly. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.1 |
| 6 |  Freelancer.com | Clients with tight budgets who want many bids or a design contest, and freelancers ready to bid at volume. | Free plan; memberships from $4.99 per month (Basic), Plus $9.99 and Professional $49 per month | 8.0 |
| 7 |  Arc | Companies hiring remote developers who want vetted talent and AI screening at published hourly rates. | Freelance hires $15 to $110+ per hour; full-time hires 20% of annual salary | 7.9 |
| 8 |  Guru | Freelancers who want lower job fees and clients who prefer recurring or task-based payment terms. | Free plan; Basic+ from $8.95 per month billed annually or $11.95 monthly; Executive up to $49.95 per month | 7.9 |
| 9 |  99designs | Businesses that want a logo, packaging or brand design through a contest or a hired designer. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 7.7 |
| 10 |  PeoplePerHour | UK and European clients and freelancers who want both packaged services and project bidding. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 7.6 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Upwork
The largest general freelance marketplace, where clients post jobs and freelancers send proposals using Connects.
upwork.com8.7
out of 10
Best for: Freelancers in most fields and businesses that want the widest pool of independent talent for hourly or fixed-price work.
Upwork is the default starting point for most freelancers and for businesses hiring independent talent, because its job feed covers almost every type of remote work. Clients post a job, receive proposals and pay through hourly or fixed-price contracts. Freelancers spend Connects to apply: the free Basic plan includes 10 a month, while Freelancer Plus includes 100 and removes the 5% fee on direct contracts with clients you bring to the platform. Upwork's own guides say the freelancer service fee ranges from 0% to 15% depending on the contract, and the exact rate is shown before you submit a proposal or accept an offer. The trade-off is competition: popular jobs draw many proposals, so new freelancers often need to spend Connects on several bids before winning work. For clients, the size of the talent pool is the main reason to start here.
Standout feature
It covers more categories of freelance work than any other site on this list.
Use cases
Freelance developers
Bid on hourly contracts with US and European clients
Outcome: Steady contract work paid through the platform
Small businesses
Post a job and compare proposals
Outcome: A shortlist of freelancers within days
Key features
- Job posts with proposals from freelancers
- Hourly and fixed-price contracts
- Freelancer Plus plan with 100 Connects a month
- Direct contracts for clients you bring yourself
- Connects that roll over for up to a year
Pros
- Very broad mix of categories, from development to admin
- Service fee shown before you submit a proposal
- Plus members pay no fee on direct contracts
Cons
- Proposals cost Connects, so bidding is not free
- Freelancer service fees vary by contract, up to 15%
- Pricing pages could not be checked in USD from our location
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Fiverr
A marketplace of fixed-price services, called gigs, that buyers order directly from freelancers.
fiverr.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: Buyers who want to order a defined service at a set price, and freelancers who prefer packaging their work.
Fiverr flips the usual freelance model: instead of bidding on jobs, freelancers publish gigs with fixed packages, and buyers order the one they want. That makes it the easiest site on this list for one-off tasks such as a logo, a product video or a set of blog posts, because price, delivery time and reviews are visible before you buy. Larger jobs run through custom offers, and Fiverr Pro gives businesses access to hand-vetted freelancers. Fiverr's help center says sellers receive 80% of the transaction value, and buyers pay a 5.5% service fee plus a small-order fee on low-value orders. Seller Plus adds growth tools for sellers on Standard and Premium tiers, but it is invite-only. The model suits freelancers who can define their service clearly, and it is less suited to long hourly engagements than Upwork.
Standout feature
Buyers see the price, delivery time and reviews before they order.
Use cases
Startup founders
Order a logo and launch video
Outcome: Finished assets at a known price and delivery date
Freelance video editors
Sell editing packages as gigs
Outcome: Orders without writing proposals
Key features
- Fixed-price gigs with tiered packages
- Custom offers for larger jobs
- Fiverr Pro with hand-vetted freelancers
- Seller Plus tools for sellers who qualify
- Ratings and reviews on every gig
Pros
- Buying a service takes a few clicks
- Prices are visible before you order
- Fiverr Pro adds vetted talent for business projects
Cons
- Sellers keep 80% of each order
- Buyers pay a service fee plus a small-order fee on cheap orders
- Seller Plus is invite-only and subject to eligibility
Rank 3 · Also great
Contra
A commission-free network where independents show their work, find jobs, sign contracts and get paid.
contra.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: Designers, developers and other creatives who want to keep 100% of what clients pay them.
Contra is built for independents who want to run their client work without a marketplace cut. Its pricing page states that Contra is always commission-free for all creatives, and the free plan includes a profile, community access and standard payouts. The catch on the free plan is on the client side: payments over $500 carry a $15 or $29 client payment fee, and digital product sales carry a capped 5% fee. Pro costs $29 per month or $199 per year, removes those fees, unlocks unlimited job opportunities and boosts your profile in Discover and jobs. Contracts, invoices and payments all run inside Contra, so freelancers can also bring existing clients onto it. Companies can post jobs, discover contractors and approve invoices, but the network is strongest for design, engineering and creative roles rather than general admin work.
Standout feature
Creatives pay no commission on client work, even on the free plan.
Use cases
Brand designers
Invoice existing clients without platform commission
Outcome: Full payment received through one tool
Startups
Find and contract a Framer or web developer
Outcome: A contractor paid with built-in contracts and invoices
Key features
- Commission-free payments for creatives
- Portfolio and discoverability in the Contra Discover page
- Contracts and invoices built in
- Job opportunities, unlimited on Pro
- Digital product sales
Pros
- Always commission-free for creatives
- Pro waives client payment fees
- Contracts, invoices and payouts in one place
Cons
- Free plan limits job opportunities
- Clients pay a $15 or $29 fee per payment over $500 on the free plan
- Talent pool leans toward design and creative work
Rank 4
Dribbble
A design community and hiring marketplace where clients find designers through portfolios and project briefs.
dribbble.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: Product, brand and web designers who want leads from clients browsing portfolios.
Dribbble started as a place for designers to share shots and has grown into a hiring marketplace where clients send project briefs and browse portfolios. For freelancers, the paid Pro plans are what turn a portfolio into a lead source. Pro Lite costs $4 per month billed yearly and adds an enhanced profile, a search ranking boost, the ability to receive leads and send proposals, up to three services and a portfolio website. Pro Standard, listed at $8 per month billed yearly, drops the designer platform fee on payouts, adds InstantMatch recommendations and 30 Project Brief credits a month, and includes three team seats. The Plus plan at $99 per month billed yearly targets agencies and waives the client platform fee. Clients get a visual first look at a designer's work, which suits branding and UI projects, but Dribbble has nothing to offer non-design freelancers.
Standout feature
Its cheapest paid plan costs $4 per month billed yearly.
Use cases
UI designers
Turn a portfolio into inbound leads
Outcome: Project briefs from clients who liked their shots
Startups
Hire a brand designer by browsing past work
Outcome: A designer chosen on visual fit
Key features
- Portfolio of shots that clients browse
- Leads and proposals on Pro plans
- Services you can offer from your profile
- Project Brief credits and InstantMatch
- Portfolio website on Pro Lite
Pros
- Low entry price for a paid plan
- Pro Standard removes the designer platform fee on payouts
- Clients judge designers on visual work first
Cons
- Only useful for design work
- Lead features require a paid plan
- Agency features sit on the $99 Plus plan
Rank 5
Toptal
A vetted network of senior freelancers matched to clients by Toptal's own team.
toptal.com8.1
out of 10
Best for: Companies that want pre-screened senior developers, designers or consultants matched quickly.
Toptal works differently from open marketplaces: instead of posting a job and sorting through proposals, a client speaks with a Toptal talent matcher who introduces pre-screened candidates. Toptal says every applicant to its network is rigorously tested and vetted, that the average time to match is under 24 hours, and that its process leads to a 98% trial-to-hire success rate. Each engagement starts with a trial period, and Toptal says you pay only if satisfied. Talent covers developers, designers, marketing experts, management consultants, project managers, product managers and sales experts. There is no public rate card; Toptal says cost depends on location, seniority, project complexity and engagement type, and gives estimates after a call. That makes it expensive compared with Upwork or Freelancer.com, but it saves hiring managers the screening work. For freelancers, getting in requires passing the screening.
Standout feature
Clients get a no-bill trial period before committing to a match.
Use cases
Funded startups
Add a senior engineer to the team quickly
Outcome: A vetted match after a short trial
Finance teams
Bring in an interim finance expert
Outcome: A screened consultant without a long search
Key features
- Every applicant tested and vetted
- Matching by a Toptal talent matcher
- Trial period, pay only if satisfied
- Developers, designers, finance, project and product talent
- Hourly, part-time and full-time engagements
Pros
- Screening done before you see candidates
- Average time to match under 24 hours, per Toptal
- Trial of up to two weeks with no bill if unsatisfied
Cons
- No public rate card
- More expensive than open marketplaces
- Freelancers must pass a selective screening to join
Rank 6
Freelancer.com
A bidding marketplace and contest platform with one of the largest pools of registered freelancers.
freelancer.com8.0
out of 10
Best for: Clients with tight budgets who want many bids or a design contest, and freelancers ready to bid at volume.
Freelancer.com combines a classic bidding marketplace with contests, which makes it useful for clients who want to see many options for little money. The site says it has a talent pool of over 90.6 million professionals. Employers pay a fee of 3% or $3.00, whichever is greater, when a fixed-price project is awarded, and freelancers pay 10% or $5.00 on fixed-price projects and 10% on hourly ones. Contest holders deposit the full prize when posting, backed by a money back guarantee. Freelancers can stay on the free plan or buy memberships for more bids: Basic is $4.99 per month with 50 bids, Plus is $9.99 with a one month free trial and 100 bids, and Professional is $49. The downside is noise. Popular projects attract dozens of bids, and the interface packs in many upsells, so both sides need patience to find a good match.
Standout feature
Contests let clients compare finished concepts before paying a winner.
Use cases
Small business owners
Run a logo contest
Outcome: Dozens of concepts for a fixed prize
New freelancers
Bid on small fixed-price jobs
Outcome: First reviews and repeat clients
Key features
- Project bidding for fixed-price and hourly work
- Contests with prize money held up front
- Memberships with more bids and skills
- Milestone payments
- Freelancer Enterprise for larger companies
Pros
- Huge talent pool for clients
- Contests let clients compare finished concepts
- Cheap memberships for freelancers
Cons
- Freelancer fee of 10% or $5.00 on fixed-price projects
- Busy job posts attract many low bids
- Interface is cluttered compared with newer platforms
Rank 7
Arc
A remote hiring platform for vetted freelance and full-time developers, designers and marketers.
arc.dev7.9
out of 10
Best for: Companies hiring remote developers who want vetted talent and AI screening at published hourly rates.
Arc is a remote hiring platform aimed at companies that need developers and other tech talent without running a full search. Its pricing page is unusually clear: freelance hires cost $15 to $110+ per hour, and full-time hires cost 20% of the annual salary. Vetted talent has passed Arc's communication and technical assessments, and HireAI screens incoming applications and automatically contacts matching candidates. Freelance engagements come with a dedicated recruiter, custom sourcing and a risk-free trial of up to two weeks. Arc also covers designers, marketers, product managers and assistants, but its strength is engineering. For freelancers, Arc is a place to apply for remote roles rather than a marketplace where you buy bids, so it suits experienced developers who can pass the screening. Clients get less choice than an open marketplace and more filtering.
Standout feature
It publishes an hourly range for freelance hires, which most vetted networks do not.
Use cases
SaaS companies
Hire a freelance React developer
Outcome: A vetted contractor after a trial
Senior developers
Find long-term remote contracts
Outcome: Matched roles without bidding
Key features
- Vetted talent that passed communication and technical assessments
- HireAI applicant screening
- HireAI auto sourcing
- Dedicated recruiter
- Risk-free trial of up to two weeks
Pros
- Published hourly range for freelance hires
- Talent is screened before you meet it
- Also covers full-time hiring
Cons
- Focused on tech roles
- Full-time hires cost 20% of annual salary
- No self-serve subscription for freelancers to buy
Rank 8
Guru
A long-running freelance marketplace with low job fees, flexible payment terms and SafePay protection.
guru.com7.9
out of 10
Best for: Freelancers who want lower job fees and clients who prefer recurring or task-based payment terms.
Guru has been around since the early days of online freelancing and focuses on keeping fees low. Its homepage cites 800,000 employers worldwide and $250 million paid to freelancers. Freelancers pay a job fee on each paid invoice: 9% on the free Basic and the Basic+ plan, 7% on Professional, 6% on Business and 5% on Executive. Paid memberships start at $8.95 per month billed annually, or $11.95 monthly, and raise bids from 10 to 50 a month, with annual bid rollover and search boosts on higher tiers. For clients, posting a job is free, and Guru supports four payment terms: fixed price with milestones, hourly with its Time Tracker, task-based and recurring payments, all protected by SafePay. The marketplace is smaller than Upwork, so expect fewer jobs in niche categories, but the lower fees make each won job worth more.
Standout feature
Recurring payment rules let clients pay their regular freelancers automatically.
Use cases
Freelance writers
Win retainer clients on recurring payments
Outcome: Monthly income paid automatically
Agencies
Bid on development projects at a lower job fee
Outcome: More of each invoice kept
Key features
- Fixed price, hourly, task-based and recurring payment terms
- SafePay payment protection
- WorkRooms for collaboration and tracking
- Time Tracker for hourly jobs
- Memberships with more bids and lower job fees
Pros
- Job fees drop to 5% on the top membership
- Four payment terms, including recurring payments
- Free to post a job
Cons
- Free plan gets only 10 bids a month
- Smaller and quieter than Upwork
- Site design feels dated
Rank 9
99designs
A design marketplace by Vista for contests and 1-to-1 projects with vetted designers.
99designs.com7.7
out of 10
Best for: Businesses that want a logo, packaging or brand design through a contest or a hired designer.
99designs focuses on one job: getting design work done through contests or direct projects. A client writes a brief, then either starts a contest where designers submit concepts and the client picks a winner, or hires one designer for a 1-to-1 project. Contests carry a 100% money-back guarantee, and the winning design comes with full copyright. A dedicated quality team ranks designers as Entry, Mid or Top Level, and the site covers more than 90 design categories, from logos to wine labels. It cites an average customer rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 37,649 reviews. Our location only showed euro prices, so we could not confirm US dollar contest packages. For designers, contests are a way to win new clients, though entering means doing work that may not be paid; 1-to-1 projects pay on agreed quotes instead.
Standout feature
Contest buyers can get their money back if they do not like any design.
Use cases
New businesses
Run a logo contest
Outcome: A chosen logo with full copyright
Packaging designers
Win repeat clients through 1-to-1 projects
Outcome: Ongoing paid design work
Key features
- Design contests open to the whole community
- 1-to-1 projects with a chosen designer
- Designer levels: Entry, Mid and Top
- 100% money-back guarantee on contests
- Full copyright transferred to the client
Pros
- Contests show many concepts before you choose
- Designers are ranked by a quality team
- Over 90 design categories
Cons
- Only covers design work
- Contest prices could not be checked in USD from our location
- Freelancers in contests may work without winning
Rank 10
PeoplePerHour
A UK-based freelance marketplace for fixed-price Offers and posted projects, with AI matching.
peopleperhour.com7.6
out of 10
Best for: UK and European clients and freelancers who want both packaged services and project bidding.
PeoplePerHour sits between Fiverr and Upwork. Freelancers can list fixed-price Offers that buyers purchase directly, and clients can also post a project and collect proposals, or search for freelancers and contact them with no obligation. The homepage cites 3 million rated freelancers and says its AI matches clients with the right freelancers for a job, with an AI assistant called Phoenix. Profiles show ratings, project counts and hourly rates, which makes comparing candidates fast. The platform is based in the UK, its fee pages are in pounds, and its client base leans toward the UK and Europe, so US freelancers may find fewer local clients than on Upwork. We could not confirm fees in US dollars from our location. For freelancers in Britain or Europe, it is a useful second channel next to a larger global marketplace.
Standout feature
Clients can buy a packaged Offer or post a project in the same marketplace.
Use cases
UK small businesses
Buy an SEO or web design Offer
Outcome: Fixed-price work from a rated freelancer
European freelancers
Quote on posted projects
Outcome: Clients in their own time zone
Key features
- Fixed-price Offers from freelancers
- Project posting with proposals
- AI matching for jobs
- Phoenix AI assistant
- Direct contact with freelancers before hiring
Pros
- Combines gig-style Offers and project bidding
- Strong UK client base
- Ratings shown on freelancer profiles
Cons
- Fees are published in pounds rather than US dollars
- Smaller US presence than Upwork or Fiverr
- Popular projects draw many proposals
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best freelance website in 2026?
Upwork is our top pick because it covers the widest range of jobs, from development to admin, with service fees from 0% to 15% shown before you propose. Fiverr is the best option for fixed-price services, and Contra is the best commission-free option for creatives.
+Which freelance website has the lowest fees?
Contra charges creatives no commission on client payments, even on its free plan. Guru's job fees run from 9% down to 5% with paid memberships, while Fiverr sellers keep 80% of each order.
+Which freelance site is best for beginners?
Fiverr is the easiest to start on because you list a service instead of writing proposals. Freelancer.com and Upwork have more small jobs to bid on, though competition is heavy and bids can cost money.
+Where should businesses hire vetted freelancers?
Toptal and Arc screen talent before clients see it and offer trial periods. Arc publishes freelance rates of $15 to $110+ per hour, while Toptal quotes after a call with a talent matcher.
+What is the best freelance website for designers?
Dribbble is the best lead source for designers with a strong portfolio, with Pro plans from $4 per month billed yearly. Contra suits designers who want commission-free payments, and 99designs offers contests and 1-to-1 projects.
About this list
Updated November 9, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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