If you’re looking for alternatives to Upwork, chances are you haven’t been thrilled with the one-sidedness of their platform. I get it I’ve been there myself. Upwork is an online marketplace where freelancers can bid on jobs posted by businesses and companies in need of specific skills.
It’s similar to other freelance sites like Freelancer, Guru, and Fiverr, but has proven to be more popular than the rest. With that being said, Upwork isn’t perfect; far from it. As a client or business owner, your chances of finding quality contractors is slim and competition between contractors is fierce; so much so that many experienced freelancers have found themselves turning elsewhere for freelance work.
Upwork Alternatives And Why They Aren’t Any Better. Upwork alternatives are not as good as they’re cracked up to be. Here’s why:
Some of the more obvious Upwork alternatives are better for specific types of work than they are for general freelancing. For example, Fiverr is great if you need a voice actor or writer, but it doesn’t offer anything close to the same level of quality or experience in other areas band that’s true of most platforms on this list.
You may find yourself wanting to work with someone who has been doing this for years, rather than finding an inexperienced beginner who needs the money just as badly as you do.
Upwork alternatives can be easier platforms for specific groups of freelancers such as remote workers who want to work from home full-time and live in major cities like New York City or San Francisco but not necessarily good ones overall when compared with what Upwork offers its users (more flexibility) and what they need (more control over their careers).
Some Upwork alternatives might have a better chance at success because they’re built around particular projects instead of jobs; however, if your goal is stability over time then this isn’t likely going to help much since many companies outsource their internal projects anyway.
There are many parallels between Upwork and other freelancer platforms, but the differences between these two platforms are also great. Here’s what you need to know about Upwork alternatives and how they’re not any better for freelancers in general.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Explore alternative platforms: Consider exploring alternative platforms to Upwork to find the best fit for your freelancing or hiring needs. |
| 2. Understand drawbacks: Learn about the drawbacks and limitations of Upwork alternatives to make an informed decision about which platform to choose. |
| 3. Assess features and benefits: Compare the features, benefits, and unique offerings of different alternatives to Upwork to find the one that aligns with your goals. |
| 4. Consider niche platforms: Look into niche platforms that cater to specific industries or job types, as they may provide more targeted opportunities. |
| 5. Read reviews and do research: Before committing to an Upwork alternative, read reviews, and conduct thorough research to ensure the platform’s reliability and suitability for your needs. |
Fiverr – Great Concept, But No Experience
Fiverr is a great concept, but it’s not an alternative to Upwork. Fiverr is more like a marketplace for people to sell things like web design, logo design, and other services. It’s great for people looking to get started with freelancing though, so it’s worth checking out if you’re just getting your feet wet.
Freelancing on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer can be challenging, but understanding the reasons behind its difficulties is crucial. Explore our article on why freelancing on Upwork and Freelancer is so terrible to gain insights into the pitfalls and drawbacks of these popular platforms.
Peopleperhour – Waiting On Your Hour?
While it may seem like a good idea to get started on PeoplePerHour, you’ll quickly find that there are many reasons why this isn’t the best option for you.
- You can’t talk with your clients directly
- The hourly rate is higher than Upwork’s
There is no escrow system or dispute resolution system in place. Yes, this means that when you’re working on a project, the client can just decide not to pay you at all and there’s nothing you can do about it! Not only does this make it difficult for new freelancers who need their payments upfront (like me), but it also allows scammers and fraudsters to take advantage of workers’ hard-earned money.
There is no ratings system or reviews system on PeoplePerHour either. This means that anyone could be using fake profiles so they look like they’re qualified professionals when they’re just trying to scam other users out of their money! There’s also no forum where people can discuss issues with each other; so don’t expect help from any community members if something goes wrong during one of your projects here.
Toptal – Not An Alternative
While you’ll find some Upwork alternatives on our list that are just freelance marketplaces, Toptal is not one of them. Toptal is a different kind of marketplace altogether. It’s a marketplace for top talent, not hourly freelancers.
Toptal isn’t an hourly marketplace: it’s more like a platform where employers can hire developers to build their next product or app instead of having them do it themselves (or farm out the job to someone else).
And while you may find jobs available on Upwork and other sites that allow users to post projects they need to be completed by freelancers, these aren’t platforms for finding work they’re places where you go when you already know what you want to be done and how much money you want to spend doing it!
Outsourcing work on Upwork requires careful consideration and adherence to best practices. Discover our top 10 recommendations for outsourcing your work on Upwork to ensure successful collaboration and efficient project management.”
Outsourcely – Not The Best Option For Freelancers
Outsourcely is a great platform for finding work, but it’s not the best option for freelancers. It doesn’t have many clients and other platforms have more.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t use Outsourcely to find work; you’re likely to find something if you look hard enough. However, if your goal is to build a client base of your own or get projects from clients who aren’t actively looking for someone like you, then we’d recommend another platform.
Guru – A Different Kind Of Marketplace To Explore
Guru is a different kind of marketplace than Upworkit’s more like Craigslist. It’s not as streamlined or easy to use, but it does have its perks. You can get paid immediately through PayPal or check, which means that you’re less likely to lose your money if an employer disappears after hiring you. It also has a lower minimum price point than Upwork so if you’re just starting, Guru might be the right place for you!
FreeeUp – Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be
FreeeUp is not the best alternative to Upwork. The site does have some decent features, such as a free trial period and some nice payment options, but it lacks many of the things that make Upwork so great.
If you’re looking for something with similar features to Upwork but at a lower price point, then FreeeUp might be for you. However, this platform isn’t quite what it’s cracked up to be it doesn’t offer the same level of quality in terms of freelancer experience or job posting options that other sites offer.
If you’re just getting started as a freelancer or contractor and want to build your portfolio before moving on to bigger and better projects later on, then this site might be okay for now; however, if I were starting over today (and I wish I could!), I’d go elsewhere instead!
Freelancer.com – Good For Hobbyists, Not So Much For Professionals
Freelancer.com is a great place to find work if you’re a hobbyist or freelancer, but it’s not the best option for professionals looking for long-term contracts.
Freelancer.com has been around since 2009 and is one of the more reputable sites in this industry, but it still has its flaws. Most notably, their platform can be difficult to use at times and there are limited opportunities for clients to connect with talent directly.
It’s easy to sign up on Freelancer.com as well as post your profile and portfolio online—you can even set up a profile in less than five minutes! There are no annual fees or hidden costs associated with using this site either.
However, that does mean that they don’t have many additional features besides being able to post projects/jobs and browse through other freelancers’ profiles (which may or may not be helpful depending on what type of project you’re looking for).
Simply Hired – A Job Board, Not a Freelance Marketplace
Simply Hired is a job board, not a freelance marketplace. Simply Hired is owned by Recruiter.com, which also owns other career sites like ResumeEdge, CareerBuilder, and others.
Simply Hired has been around since 1999 and is one of the longest-running job boards on the web. When you search for “freelance” on Simply Hired you’ll find over 3 million jobs available across all industries in every corner of the world!
If you’re looking for work though, I’d recommend using an Upwork alternative instead (like any of these!)
Understanding Upwork’s pricing model is essential for freelancers and clients alike. Learn more about Upwork’s pricing model and how it can impact your freelance career or hiring decisions.
CloudPeeps – A Hybrid Freelance Marketplace Model
CloudPeeps is a hybrid freelance marketplace model, which means it’s part Upwork and part Fiverr. You can bid on projects and work hourly or per project, or you can also work on a retainer basis. The platform is for designers, developers, and writers.
You’ll find that the rates are pretty low compared to other marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork where you get to set your rates but you do have the option of accepting bids from clients who want something done quickly.
Workhoppers – Great For Finding Local Work, But Does Anyone Use It?
Workhoppers is a great platform for finding local work, especially if you live in a small town or city and want to find something within walking distance of your home! It’s not very well known and doesn’t have the huge user base that some of the other platforms do.
The reason I wouldn’t recommend this as an alternative to Upwork is that the pay is usually pretty low. In addition, even though it can be a good place to start looking for freelance jobs, I feel like Upwork has more options and there are better freelancers on there as well (that’s what we’re here to help you with).
SuperTasker – One Of The First To Try The Hourly Model, And It Shows
SuperTasker is one of the first platforms to try the hourly model when it comes to freelancing. And while it’s not perfect, we think they’ve done a great job of making sure that their users feel comfortable with their pricing model and get what they want out of their experience using SuperTasker.
The biggest drawback with SuperTasker is that it doesn’t have any kind of marketplace where employers can browse through potential employees’ portfolios before they hire them which means that if you’re looking for something specific (like a designer who specializes in creating infographics), then you might have trouble finding someone who
Codeable – Don’t Bother Unless You’re A Developer. Seriously! Don’t
Codeable is an Upwork alternative in the same vein as PeoplePerHour and Freelancer it’s an online marketplace where you can find new clients or projects to work on by bidding on them, or by offering your services directly to clients who need them.
The difference between Codeable and its peers is that it’s specifically targeted toward developers and if you aren’t one yourself, you probably don’t want to use it anyway! Codeable only allows developers onto its platform, so if you aren’t one yourself, then your chances of finding work here are slim-to-none (unless you have a friend who can pass off some coding work for you).
Codeable is a developer-only platform. They have a bad reputation for being slow to pay and not paying their freelancers. They also have a bad reputation for not being trustworthy, transparent, and fair in general.
In short: don’t bother unless you’re a developer!
Creating a killer profile on Upwork is a crucial step towards attracting potential clients and standing out from the competition. Follow our comprehensive guide on building an impressive Upwork profile to maximize your chances of securing high-quality freelance opportunities.
Gun.io – Great For Developers, Awful For Designers. Just Awful
Gun.io is the best-kept secret of developers. It’s so good and so well known by developers that you won’t find a single designer there. If you have a great idea for an app or website and need someone to build it, then Gun.io might be the place for you!
If you’re looking for a way to connect with clients who need freelance designers (or even just want to get started freelancing yourself), then this platform is not the answer. Let me tell you why:
There are no clients on this site. Gun.io has been around forever but they’ve never been able to attract any kind of traffic at all because no clients are using their service – only developers looking for work done by other developers (which means there’s zero room for interaction).
It’s harder than ever before to find new opportunities in today’s job market due solely to a lack of demand from both employers and potential employees alike; spending time searching multiple websites isn’t helpful when everyone else is doing exactly what they’re doing too – wasting valuable time trying different options until something works out perfectly fine solo.”
Folyo – Designer’s Dream? Yes! Client’s Nightmare! Also Yes
Folyo is a great alternative to Upwork in terms of the client-designer relationship. Some clients might find it difficult to communicate their requirements and end up getting exactly what they don’t want, but that’s always going to happen with freelancers. The difference is, on Folyo you can make sure that you’re only dealing with clients who know what they want.
Designers are also more likely to be able to do what they want on Folyo. This is because the platform doesn’t have a review system like Upwork does, meaning the designer doesn’t have any pressure from previous jobs or views from other people influencing their choice of project or client
Uncover valuable secrets and insider tips about Upwork that can enhance your freelancing journey. Explore our article on Upwork secrets you need to know to gain valuable insights and make the most out of your freelancing experience.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to note that none of the alternatives are “better” than Upwork. They all have their benefits, but they also have their drawbacks. If you’re looking to make more money, then an alternative might be helpful for you because it will allow you
Section: It’s important to note that none of the alternatives are “better” than Upwork. They all have their benefits, but they also have their drawbacks. If you’re looking to make more money, then an alternative might be helpful for you because it will allow you
Section: It’s important to note that none of the alternatives are “better” than Upwork. They all have their benefits, but they also have their drawbacks. If you’re looking to make more money, then an alternative might be helpful for you because it will allow you to post your skills and services on multiple platforms at once (we’ll talk about this in a later article).
However, if your goal is simply finding work from home opportunities with no startup costs or risk whatsoever then just stick with one of these websites
Takeaway: Deciding whether or not an Upwork alternative is right for me depends on what my goals are and how I want to achieve them.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for exploring Upwork alternatives:
Hubstaff: Upwork Competitors: Discover a list of alternative platforms to Upwork and learn about their features, pricing, and benefits.
UpSkillWise: Upwork Alternatives: Explore a collection of Upwork alternatives and find platforms that cater to specific niches, providing freelancers with diverse opportunities.
Revelo Blog: Upwork Alternatives: Read about various alternatives to Upwork and gain insights into their unique offerings, allowing you to find the platform that best suits your freelancing needs.
People Also Ask
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is the practice of working for yourself by taking on projects and assignments that you find online. You can be a freelancer in any industry, from writing to graphic design to programming and there are lots of opportunities out there.
How Do I Get Started As A Freelancer?
The first thing you need to do is set up your profile! This will help people find you when they’re looking for someone with your skillset, so it must be filled out completely and accurately.
Then, start looking for jobs on Upwork. There are tons of jobs listed every day, so no matter what you’re looking for or how much experience you have in your field, we’ll make sure there’s something perfect for you.
What Kind Of Jobs Are Available On Upwork?
There are tons of different types of jobs available on Upwork from one-time gigs to longer-term contracts and each job has its own set of requirements and qualifications. Check out our job listings page to see what kind of work we have available today!
Can I Freelance On Upwork If I Don’t Have Any Experience?
Yes! If you are just starting, this is a great way to get the experience you need. You can find clients who are willing to provide mentorship and guidance as you build your skills. Just be sure to set up your profile with information about what kind of work you’re looking for, so that it doesn’t get buried in the thousands of other profiles that are open to bidding on projects.
How Do I Find Jobs?
It’s simple! All you have to do is search for jobs in the categories that interest you by typing keywords into the search bar at the top of any page on Upwork. If you want to narrow down your results, click “Advanced Search” to specify what kinds of services you offer (for example, design or writing). You can also browse through jobs posted by companies based on location or industry by clicking “Jobs” on the left-hand side of the site.
What Are The Main Issues With Upwork?
Upwork has a lot of problems. The first is that it was expensive. It’s hard to find freelancers who want to work for your budget, and if you do find one, often they won’t be willing to work on your project for free because they need the money too badly.
Plus, if you do find someone willing to work for free or at least cheaper than the current rates on Upwork, there’s a good chance that person isn’t very good at what they do anyway (since there’s no way for them to prove their worth).
The second problem with Upwork is that it’s not always reliable you can’t guarantee that a freelancer will actually complete their work or that they’ll even show up when they say they will (which leads us back to our first problem: finding someone who wants to work with your budget).
Finally, the other drawback is that if you’re not careful about what you’re looking for and what you offer in terms of payment, it can be easy for freelancers to take advantage of you by charging more than they should or taking longer than they should.
Why Can’t I Find A Good Upwork Alternative?
I think the biggest reason why you’re having trouble finding an alternative to Upwork is that it’s such a wide platform, and there are so many ways to use it. So it’s hard to know where to start looking when you want to find an alternative.
Also, I think a lot of people are just used to Upwork and don’t want to switch over. They’re comfortable with the interface and feel like they’re already set up with their account there. That’s fine!
How Do I Know If An Upwork Freelancer Is Right For My Project?
First, read their profile carefully. Pay attention to how long they’ve been on the platform and what kinds of jobs they’ve worked on previously. Are there any reviews from previous clients? If so, read them carefully! Look at the freelancer’s portfolio and see what kinds of projects they’ve done in the past. Is there anything similar to yours? If so, great! If not… maybe try someone else.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
