If you’ve been searching for sites like Upwork, you’re probably wondering where else you can find steady freelance work without drowning in endless competition.
Upwork is popular, but is it the best option for every freelancer? Or are there platforms better suited for your skills and goals?
In this guide, I’ll walk you through twelve of the best alternatives you can explore right now, each with its own unique edge.
1. Fiverr: Flexible Gigs for Every Freelancer
Fiverr has grown into one of the most popular sites like Upwork because of how easy it is to start and how much control you have over the type of work you offer.
Instead of bidding on jobs, you create “gigs” that showcase what you can do, and clients come to you. This flips the dynamic, and in many ways, makes it less stressful for beginners.
How Fiverr’s Gig System Works for Freelancers
On Fiverr, everything revolves around gigs. Think of a gig as a mini storefront where you describe your service, set your price, and outline delivery times. From your dashboard, you’ll click “Gigs” > “Create a New Gig” to start.
Each gig includes:
- Title: A clear description, like “I will design a modern WordPress website.”
- Packages: You can set three tiers (basic, standard, premium), which is perfect if you want to upsell.
- Description & FAQ: This is where you set expectations and answer common questions.
- Gallery: Upload images, videos, or PDFs that show your work.
What I like about this system is how visual it is. You’re not just a faceless bidder—you’re showcasing your style right from the start. Clients browsing Fiverr can filter by budget, category, delivery time, and rating, so the stronger and clearer your gig looks, the more it stands out.
Earning Potential and Fees on Fiverr Explained
Fiverr’s biggest appeal is accessibility, but its fee structure is worth understanding upfront. Fiverr takes a flat 20% fee from every order. That means if you charge $100, you’ll see $80 in your account. Payouts are cleared after a 14-day waiting period (7 days if you’re a Top Rated Seller).
Earnings vary widely. Some freelancers make a few hundred dollars a month offering simple tasks like logo tweaks, while others pull in thousands designing full branding packages. Fiverr even has a Pro program for vetted experts who charge premium rates—think $500 logos or $2,000 websites.
To boost income, I suggest creating multiple gigs around your skillset.
For example, if you’re a copywriter, you could offer one gig for blog posts, another for product descriptions, and a premium gig for full website copy. It’s like fishing with multiple lines in the water.
Tips to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace
The truth is, Fiverr is competitive. But there are practical steps that give you an edge:
- Use SEO in Your Titles and Tags: Just like Google, Fiverr’s search engine rewards clear keywords. “Website design in WordPress” works better than “I make cool websites.”
- Polish Your Gig Gallery: A sample video where you explain your service personally can increase orders by over 200% (Fiverr has shared this stat before).
- Overdeliver at the Start: I often recommend giving a little extra in your early gigs to rack up 5-star reviews. It builds momentum fast.
- Stay Online: Fiverr shows buyers when freelancers are active. Keeping the mobile app open can bump you higher in search results.
What makes Fiverr special is how scalable it is. You can start small, build credibility, and eventually raise your rates while working with repeat buyers.
2. Toptal: Premium Projects for Top Talent
Toptal takes the opposite approach compared to Fiverr. Instead of letting anyone sign up, it screens freelancers heavily, positioning itself as a network of the “top 3% of talent.”
If Fiverr feels like a bustling open market, Toptal is more like a gated community with premium clients.
Why Toptal Focuses on Elite Freelancers
The platform is built around clients who want specialized skills—software development, design, finance, and project management. Companies like Airbnb and Shopify have hired through Toptal, so the bar is intentionally high.
What I appreciate is that Toptal markets freelancers not as cheap labor but as trusted partners. That positioning alone attracts businesses willing to pay $60–$200 per hour instead of bargain-hunting.
For freelancers tired of being undercut on price, this exclusivity is a major advantage. It creates an environment where quality matters more than volume.
The Application Process and What to Expect
Getting into Toptal isn’t easy, but if you succeed, it’s worth it. The process looks like this:
- Screening Interview: A personality and communication check. They want to make sure you’re client-ready.
- Skill Review: Coding tests, portfolio reviews, or sample projects depending on your field.
- Live Screening: You’ll solve real-time challenges or discuss past work.
- Test Projects: A paid project to prove you can deliver under real-world conditions.
The whole process can take several weeks. I’ve seen skilled freelancers rejected simply because they weren’t prepared for the live test or didn’t showcase communication clearly enough.
My advice: Rehearse explaining your thought process out loud—Toptal values clarity as much as technical skill.
Benefits of Higher Rates and Quality Clients
Once you’re in, the rewards are clear. Toptal connects you with clients who already expect to pay premium rates. Instead of competing for $100 projects, you might land a six-month contract at $75 per hour.
Other perks:
- Dedicated Matching Team: Instead of endless bidding, Toptal matches you with projects.
- Long-Term Stability: Many roles last months or even years, giving freelancers predictable income.
- Global Network: You’re part of a vetted community, which makes networking and collaboration easier.
What I like most is how Toptal filters clients as well as freelancers. This keeps out the low-ball offers and difficult buyers you’ll often find elsewhere. For seasoned professionals, that’s a breath of fresh air.
Pro tip: If you’re newer to freelancing, start with platforms like Fiverr or Freelancer.com to build a portfolio. Once you’ve honed your skills and have strong work samples, applying to Toptal makes far more sense. It’s not about rushing in—it’s about timing your move when you’re truly ready.
3. Freelancer.com: Massive Marketplace With Global Reach
Freelancer.com is one of the biggest sites like Upwork, and that sheer size is both a blessing and a challenge. With millions of projects posted every year, there’s something for almost every skill set.
The catch? Standing out in a crowded marketplace requires a smart approach.
How Projects and Contests Work on Freelancer.com
Unlike some platforms that stick to one format, Freelancer.com gives you two ways to land work: traditional projects or creative contests.
- Projects: Clients post a job with a description, budget, and timeline. Freelancers then submit bids. For example, a client might post “Build an eCommerce website in Shopify” with a $500–$1,000 budget. From your dashboard, you’d click “Browse” > “Projects” to filter opportunities by category.
- Contests: These are especially common for design work. A client posts a need (say, a new logo), and multiple freelancers submit their entries. The client then selects a winner, who gets paid.
In my experience, contests are a double-edged sword. They’re fantastic for beginners building portfolios since you get practice and exposure, but the downside is that only one person gets paid. If you’re strategic, enter contests that have high prize amounts or few submissions to boost your odds.
The project system, on the other hand, is where long-term income lies. Here, crafting a strong proposal is everything—highlighting how you’ll solve the client’s problem instead of just listing your skills.
Membership Plans and Cost Structure
Freelancer.com is free to join, but like many platforms, the real flexibility comes with paid memberships. The free tier allows a limited number of bids each month.
If you’re serious about scaling, I suggest looking at their Plus or Professional plans, which give you more bids, skills listing, and visibility.
- Free Plan: 8 bids per month.
- Plus Plan ($9.95/month): 50 bids, daily withdrawal requests, custom cover images.
- Professional Plan ($29.95/month): 100 bids, priority customer support, high project visibility.
Fees also matter. Freelancer takes 10% of project payments (or $5, whichever is greater). For contests, the fee is usually 10% of the prize.
One subtle cost to watch: upgrading bids. You can pay extra to make your bid stand out (bold text, sealed bids, etc.). I only recommend this if the project is a perfect fit and worth the gamble.
Strategies to Win Projects in a Competitive Space
Competition on Freelancer.com is fierce, but with the right approach, you can still thrive. Here’s what has worked for me and others I’ve advised:
- Nail Your Profile: Upload a professional photo, highlight measurable results (e.g., “Increased organic traffic by 120% in 6 months”), and showcase samples.
- Write Problem-Solving Proposals: Don’t copy-paste. If a client says they need faster page loading, start your proposal with: “I’ve optimized over 20 websites and cut average load time by 40%. Here’s how I’d approach yours…”
- Start Small, Build Fast: Take on lower-budget projects early to rack up positive reviews. Once your profile has credibility, clients will naturally trust you with larger budgets.
- Use Contests Strategically: Focus on contests with clear instructions and active clients (look for those who frequently award winners).
Think of Freelancer.com as a numbers game with a twist: the more specific and tailored your approach, the more you stand out in the flood of generic bids.
4. Guru: Long-Term Work Opportunities for Specialists
Guru doesn’t get as much hype as Fiverr or Freelancer.com, but it quietly serves freelancers who want longer-term, specialized projects.
If you prefer ongoing relationships over one-off gigs, Guru might be the right fit.
How Guru’s Workroom Simplifies Collaboration
One of Guru’s standout features is its Workroom—a built-in project management hub. Instead of juggling email threads and external tools, everything happens inside the platform.
Inside the Workroom, you can:
- Share files securely with clients.
- Create task lists and milestones.
- Communicate through an integrated messaging system.
- Track progress for each deliverable.
It feels almost like having Trello and Slack built into your freelancing platform. For example, if you’re managing a content marketing project, you could set milestones for “Outline,” “Draft,” and “Final Submission,” with deadlines attached. Clients can then approve, comment, or request changes without messy back-and-forth.
This structure not only saves time but also builds trust. Clients see transparency at every stage, which reduces misunderstandings.
Payment Protection and Safe Transactions
Another reason freelancers stick with Guru is their SafePay system. It works like escrow: clients fund a project milestone before you begin, and the money is released once you deliver.
Here’s how it typically flows:
- Client sets up a SafePay balance for the project.
- You deliver work based on milestones.
- Client approves, and Guru releases the payment.
I recommend always ensuring SafePay is funded before starting work. It’s the safety net that protects you from unpaid projects, and it signals that the client is serious.
Guru’s fees range between 4.95%–8.95% depending on your membership plan. Compared to Fiverr’s flat 20%, that’s a significant saving over time.
Finding Steady Clients Through Niche Expertise
Guru leans toward specialized, professional skills—IT, programming, legal, design, and business consulting are strong categories. If you’re a generalist, you may find less traction. But if you position yourself as a niche expert, the platform rewards you.
For instance:
- A general “graphic designer” might struggle.
- A “UI/UX designer specializing in fintech apps” is more likely to attract serious clients willing to invest in long-term work.
From what I’ve seen, Guru is less about quick wins and more about relationship building. Once you land a client, they often come back repeatedly because the platform encourages ongoing collaboration.
Pro tip: Keep your profile sharp and focused on one specialty. Upload work samples that align directly with the kind of projects you want. The narrower your pitch, the more likely clients are to trust you as the go-to person in your field.
5. PeoplePerHour: European Platform With Strong Local Demand
PeoplePerHour is one of the better-known sites like Upwork, but it has a distinctly European flavor.
While it’s open to freelancers worldwide, the platform is especially strong in the UK and European markets, which makes it great if you want clients closer to your time zone or who prefer local talent.
Posting Offers vs. Bidding on Projects
What makes PeoplePerHour unique is that it gives freelancers two paths to get work: posting offers or bidding on projects.
- Posting Offers: Think of this like creating a menu of your services. You set the price, scope, and delivery time, and clients can buy it instantly. For example, you could post an offer like “I will design a responsive landing page for £200, delivered in 5 days.” Clients browse these offers like a shop, so it’s passive marketing—you don’t need to chase work.
- Bidding on Projects: Similar to Upwork, clients post a project, and freelancers submit proposals. From your dashboard, click “Browse Projects” to filter opportunities. You’ll see details like budget range, description, and location.
In my experience, offers are a powerful way to attract quick wins and repeat buyers. Projects, on the other hand, tend to be higher-value and more custom, which is where you’ll land bigger contracts.
The best strategy is usually a mix: keep polished offers live for fast sales, while actively bidding on larger projects to grow your pipeline.
How Fees and Pricing Work on PeoplePerHour
The fee system here is tiered, and understanding it helps you plan your rates properly. PeoplePerHour takes a service fee from your earnings, but the percentage decreases as you earn more from the same client.
- First £500 billed to a client: 20% fee
- Between £500–£5,000: 7.5% fee
- Over £5,000: 3.5% fee
This rewards long-term relationships. For example, if you land a client and keep working with them, your fees shrink dramatically over time. Compared to Fiverr’s flat 20% cut, this can save you hundreds or even thousands if you maintain ongoing contracts.
Another detail worth noting: you can set your rates in GBP, EUR, or USD. If you’re in Europe, this gives you flexibility to avoid currency headaches when working with local businesses.
Building Trust and Reviews for Repeat Work
On PeoplePerHour, your credibility is everything. Clients rely heavily on reviews and trust levels when deciding who to hire. The platform even has a ranking called CERT (Certified Ranking) that rewards freelancers with consistent high-quality work, responsiveness, and repeat clients.
Here are some practical ways to build trust quickly:
- Deliver Ahead of Time: If you promise 5 days, deliver in 3. This simple move consistently earns rave reviews.
- Communicate Clearly: The built-in messaging system makes it easy to update clients. I suggest sending progress updates even if they don’t ask—it shows professionalism.
- Stack Your Offers: The more offers you publish, the more visible you are in search results. Even if only a few sell often, they create digital “shop windows” for your profile.
- Request Feedback: After completing projects, politely ask satisfied clients for a review. Reviews aren’t just nice—they directly boost your CERT ranking.
PeoplePerHour works best if you see it as a hybrid: part online marketplace, part reputation-building system. Once you’ve got a strong profile with glowing reviews, clients are more likely to hire you without hesitation.
6. FlexJobs: Curated Remote and Freelance Jobs
FlexJobs is a completely different beast compared to other sites like Upwork. Instead of being an open bidding platform, it’s more of a curated job board designed to save you time and stress.
The key appeal? Every job is hand-screened before it’s posted, which means you’re not wading through scams, shady offers, or spam.
Why FlexJobs Screens Every Listing for Quality
FlexJobs prides itself on its screening process. Their team personally reviews each job before it goes live, removing anything suspicious, low-paying, or exploitative.
Why does this matter? If you’ve ever spent hours on open platforms rejecting “$5 for 1000-word article” type listings, you know how exhausting it is. FlexJobs removes that noise. You’re left with legitimate remote jobs and freelance gigs from reputable companies.
I find this especially helpful for people who want freelancing to feel more like a career path and less like a daily hustle. You’re not fighting in a race-to-the-bottom bidding war—you’re applying for professional roles.
Membership Options and Value for Money
FlexJobs isn’t free, but the subscription is often worth it if you value quality over quantity. Membership fees are straightforward:
- $2.95 for a 1-week trial (good if you want to test it out).
- $24.95 per month for ongoing access.
- Discounts if you pay quarterly or yearly.
What you get:
- Unlimited job applications.
- Detailed company research (so you know exactly who’s hiring).
- Skills testing to boost your profile credibility.
Here’s where I believe FlexJobs delivers value: you’re paying to save time. Instead of scrolling through endless irrelevant jobs, you’re focusing on vetted, career-friendly opportunities. If your time is worth more than a couple of dollars per day, the subscription justifies itself quickly.
Types of Roles You’ll Commonly Find Here
FlexJobs is broader than you might expect. While it covers freelancing, it also features part-time, full-time remote, and contract roles. Categories range widely:
- Writing and Editing: From blogging to technical documentation.
- Customer Support: Flexible shifts for global companies.
- Design and Development: Web design, software engineering, and UX work.
- Marketing and Sales: Social media management, lead generation, and SEO.
- Professional Services: Accounting, HR, project management.
One client example I’ve seen is a Fortune 500 company posting flexible remote project manager roles—not something you’d find on most gig platforms.
FlexJobs is best suited for freelancers who want stability and professional growth. Instead of chasing dozens of micro-gigs, you’re positioning yourself for ongoing roles that align with your skills and career goals.
Pro tip: If you’re serious about freelancing long-term, I recommend pairing FlexJobs with another open platform like PeoplePerHour or Fiverr. FlexJobs gives you steady, professional leads, while the open platforms keep your pipeline full of flexible projects. Together, they balance stability with variety.
7. 99designs: Creative Hub for Designers Only
If you’re a designer, 99designs is one of the most specialized sites like Upwork. Unlike general marketplaces, it’s tailored for creative professionals—graphic design, branding, web design, and illustration. That focus makes it both competitive and rewarding.
How Design Contests Work on 99designs
Contests are the heart of 99designs. Here’s how it usually plays out:
- A client posts a design brief with details, preferences, and budget.
- Designers submit concepts, often dozens of entries per contest.
- The client gives feedback, eliminates weaker entries, and eventually selects a winner.
- The winner delivers final files and receives payment.
For example, a small business might launch a $500 logo contest. You’d join by clicking “Find Contests” from your dashboard, submit your design, and refine it based on feedback.
The upside: contests are a fast way to build a portfolio and gain exposure.
The downside: only one designer gets paid.
I suggest targeting contests in niches you know well—say, tech startups or food brands—where you can anticipate what clients want and stand out more easily.
Direct Projects for Designers Seeking Stability
Once you’ve proven yourself through contests, clients can invite you to 1-to-1 Projects. These are direct contracts, without the competitive contest element.
This is where real stability kicks in. A client you won over with a logo might come back asking for a website design or packaging. Instead of chasing new contests every week, you’re cultivating long-term partnerships.
Tip: Keep your profile polished with your best work and detailed case studies. Clients browsing designers are more likely to invite someone with a professional, niche-specific portfolio.
Pricing Tiers and Earning Potential Explained
99designs uses tiered levels: Entry, Mid, Top Level. Your level depends on performance, reviews, and consistency. Higher tiers unlock more visibility and trust.
- Entry Level: Good for beginners but limited exposure.
- Mid Level: Recognized for consistent quality.
- Top Level: Premium access, higher rates, priority support.
Earnings vary. A beginner might win a few $200 contests per month, while Top Level designers land $2,000+ direct projects. 99designs takes a platform fee between 5%–15% depending on your level and the project type.
In my experience, the smartest strategy is to use contests as a stepping stone, then shift toward direct projects. That’s where the real money—and less stress—lives.
8. Workana: Latin American Market for Freelancers
Workana is one of the biggest freelancing platforms in Latin America, making it a fantastic choice if you want to work with Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking clients.
It’s like Upwork but with a stronger regional focus.
How Workana Connects Talent With Local Businesses
Workana connects freelancers with startups, small businesses, and agencies across Latin America. Clients post projects in areas like web development, design, marketing, and translation.
From your dashboard, you can filter projects by country, language, or budget. For example, a startup in Mexico might post a project for a bilingual social media manager. Since the platform emphasizes local matches, freelancers in similar time zones often have an edge.
I’ve noticed Workana has a community feel. Clients and freelancers often build ongoing relationships rather than one-off jobs, which is appealing if you prefer steady contracts.
Language, Currency, and Regional Advantages
One of Workana’s unique strengths is its flexibility in languages and currencies. You can set your profile in Spanish, Portuguese, or English, and payments are processed in local currencies (ARS, BRL, MXN) or USD.
For freelancers in Latin America, this removes barriers you might face on global sites like Upwork. Clients are more comfortable paying in their currency, and freelancers avoid awkward conversion issues.
If you’re bilingual, you can double your opportunities. I suggest creating your profile in multiple languages to reach both local and international clients.
Opportunities for Bilingual Freelancers
Being bilingual is a superpower on Workana. Many businesses in Latin America are expanding globally and need professionals who can bridge languages.
For example:
- A Brazilian SaaS company may want UX copy translated into English.
- A Mexican agency might need English-speaking account managers to handle U.S. clients.
I’ve seen freelancers charge premium rates for translation, localization, or bilingual customer support because the demand is so strong. If you market yourself clearly as bilingual, you instantly stand out.
9. SolidGigs: Subscription-Based Gig Finder
SolidGigs isn’t a marketplace in the traditional sense. Instead of competing for jobs, you pay a subscription and get a daily or weekly curated list of freelance gigs sent straight to you.
It’s like having a personal assistant scouting opportunities while you focus on client work.
How SolidGigs Curates Freelance Leads Daily
SolidGigs’ team scans dozens of job boards and freelance marketplaces, then handpicks the best gigs and delivers them to your inbox or dashboard.
From the dashboard, you’ll see a clean list with job titles, descriptions, and direct application links. No bidding wars, no profiles to maintain—you apply directly to the client.
This saves hours every week. Instead of scrolling through spammy listings, you’re looking at high-quality, remote-friendly projects. Think of it as a filtered pipeline of opportunities.
Cost Structure Compared to Traditional Platforms
SolidGigs is subscription-only: about $19 per month. That’s it. There are no service fees, commissions, or percentage cuts.
Compare this to Upwork or Fiverr, where 10–20% of your earnings disappear in platform fees. If you land even one $500 project per month through SolidGigs, the subscription pays for itself many times over.
I recommend treating SolidGigs as a supplement, not a replacement. It’s a fantastic tool for lead generation, but since you apply outside the platform, you’ll still need contracts, invoicing, and payment systems set up on your own.
Best Practices for Converting Leads Into Clients
Since SolidGigs delivers leads, your success depends on how you follow up. Here’s what works:
- Respond Fast: Leads are competitive. Apply the same day you get them.
- Personalize Every Pitch: Use details from the job post to show you actually read it. A simple “I noticed you’re launching a Shopify store” goes a long way.
- Have a Ready Template: Draft a strong base proposal you can tweak quickly. This saves time while keeping pitches sharp.
- Track Outreach: Keep a spreadsheet of applications, follow-ups, and results. That way you can refine your approach and see patterns.
SolidGigs isn’t about volume—it’s about efficiency. With consistent follow-up and professional proposals, even a few solid leads per week can transform your freelance pipeline.
Pro tip: If you’re struggling with the “feast or famine” cycle of freelancing, combining SolidGigs (steady leads) with platforms like Workana (regional opportunities) or 99designs (niche contests and projects) creates a healthy balance of new work and stable income.
10. Hubstaff Talent: 100% Free Platform for Remote Jobs
If you’re tired of giving away a slice of your income to platforms, Hubstaff Talent is a refreshing alternative. It’s one of the few sites like Upwork that is completely free—no service fees, no hidden charges.
Clients post jobs, you apply, and you keep what you earn.
Why Hubstaff Talent Stands Out With Zero Fees
The biggest draw of Hubstaff Talent is its pricing model: there isn’t one. Unlike Upwork (which takes up to 20%) or Fiverr (flat 20%), Hubstaff Talent lets you keep 100% of your rate.
This is possible because Hubstaff makes money from its time-tracking and team management software, not from charging freelancers. That means the platform is more focused on connecting companies with talent than profiting from your contracts.
For freelancers, this is liberating. If you charge $50/hour, you actually get $50/hour—no mental math required.
Types of Roles and Companies Hiring on Hubstaff
Hubstaff Talent leans toward remote-friendly industries. You’ll see postings for:
- Tech and Development: Web developers, app developers, QA testers.
- Marketing and Content: SEO specialists, copywriters, social media managers.
- Design: UI/UX, product design, graphic design.
- Admin and Support: Virtual assistants, project coordinators, customer support.
Many clients are startups or small businesses looking to grow lean. Some are even fully remote companies that staff their entire teams through platforms like this.
If you’re aiming for international clients with flexible arrangements, Hubstaff Talent is well worth exploring.
Building a Profile to Attract International Clients
On Hubstaff, your profile is your storefront. Here’s how to make it magnetic:
- Clear Tagline: Use a benefit-driven line, like “Helping SaaS startups boost growth with SEO-driven content.”
- Detailed Skills Section: Add specific tools you know (e.g., Figma, Google Analytics, Python). Clients often search by software proficiency.
- Portfolio Links: Hubstaff lets you link to outside work—don’t just rely on text descriptions.
- Set a Realistic Rate: Since there are no fees, you don’t need to inflate your rate to account for cuts. That makes you more competitive globally.
I suggest refreshing your profile quarterly, highlighting new skills or projects. International clients love seeing active, updated profiles—it signals you’re serious and available.
11. SimplyHired: Job Aggregator With Freelance Listings
SimplyHired works more like Indeed than Upwork. It’s a job aggregator, pulling listings from across the web—freelance, part-time, contract, and full-time roles.
For freelancers, it’s a powerful way to uncover opportunities you might miss elsewhere.
How SimplyHired Sources Projects From Across the Web
SimplyHired scrapes postings from company websites, job boards, and recruiting platforms. Instead of manually checking ten different sites, you can log into SimplyHired and see them all in one place.
From your dashboard, use filters to narrow results by:
- Job type (freelance, contract, remote).
- Location (local or worldwide).
- Industry (design, writing, tech, etc.).
This saves time, but here’s the trick: some listings redirect you to the original source. That means you’ll often apply off-platform, which requires you to manage contracts and payments on your own.
Resume Builder and Extra Tools for Freelancers
SimplyHired offers a free resume builder that many freelancers overlook. You can import your LinkedIn profile, tweak the design, and download a polished resume instantly.
Why does this matter? Many of the roles posted are more traditional freelance jobs—like short-term contracts with companies—so having a professional resume helps you stand out.
They also provide salary estimator tools. While geared more toward employees, freelancers can use this data to benchmark rates. If SimplyHired shows average pay for content managers is $35/hour, you know where your pricing stands.
Finding Niche Projects Hidden on the Platform
The goldmine on SimplyHired isn’t the obvious roles—it’s the niche ones buried in search. For example:
- A local nonprofit looking for a part-time grant writer.
- A small business needing bookkeeping help for 10 hours a month.
- A regional magazine hiring freelance photographers.
I recommend setting up multiple search alerts with specific keywords. Instead of just “writer,” try “grant writing,” “copy editing,” or “technical documentation.” That’s how you uncover hidden gems most freelancers overlook.
12. TaskRabbit: Local Freelance Work for Hands-On Jobs
Unlike most sites like Upwork, TaskRabbit is focused on local, physical services.
If you enjoy hands-on work—assembling furniture, running errands, or handyman tasks—this platform connects you directly with people in your area who need help.
Types of Services in High Demand on TaskRabbit
The categories are surprisingly diverse. Some of the most requested services include:
- Furniture assembly (think IKEA).
- Moving help and heavy lifting.
- Home repairs and painting.
- Cleaning and yard work.
- Errand running and personal assistance.
If you’ve got practical skills, TaskRabbit lets you turn them into quick, local income. Even something as simple as helping someone mount a TV can pay $50–$100.
How to Set Rates and Get Booked Quickly
You control your hourly rates, which is rare compared to fixed-price gig platforms.
- Start with competitive rates when you’re new. For example, if the local average for furniture assembly is $35/hour, you might start at $25/hour to build momentum.
- Highlight availability. Many clients book based on who’s free soonest. Keeping your calendar updated is crucial.
- Add photos to your profile. A quick picture of past projects (like a freshly painted wall or organized garage) makes you more trustworthy.
Once you’ve built a few reviews, you can raise your rates and still get steady bookings.
Safety and Security Features for Freelancers
TaskRabbit takes safety seriously, which matters since you’re often going into someone’s home. They run background checks on all Taskers and provide a secure payment system (no awkward cash handoffs).
From my experience, clients also tend to be vetted—these aren’t random Craigslist gigs. That said, always trust your instincts. If a booking feels off, you can decline without penalty.
Another plus: insurance. TaskRabbit provides limited coverage for property damage or accidents, which adds peace of mind compared to informal side hustles.
Expert Tip to Boost Your Freelance Career
The smartest freelancers don’t rely on just one platform. I suggest mixing global online platforms (like Hubstaff Talent or SimplyHired) with local, practical ones (like TaskRabbit). That way, you diversify your income and stay protected against slowdowns on any single site.
A quick framework you can try:
- One lead generator (SolidGigs or SimplyHired).
- One portfolio builder (99designs or PeoplePerHour).
- One stable client source (Hubstaff Talent or FlexJobs).
- One local safety net (TaskRabbit).
Balance is everything. This approach turns freelancing from unpredictable hustle into a reliable, long-term career.
