1. Upwork
- Founders: Odysseas Tsatalos, Stratis Karamanlakis
- Founded Year: 2015 (merger of Elance and oDesk)
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Product Categories: Freelance marketplace, remote work, talent outsourcing
- Description: Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces, offering businesses access to top-tier freelancers in various fields, from writing to programming. It provides a robust work tracking system and payment protection.
- Key Features:
- Wide range of skill categories
- Secure payment system with escrow protection
- Advanced filtering and vetting process for talent
- Work diary and time-tracking tools
- Offers both hourly and fixed-price projects
2. Freelancer
- Founders: Matt Barrie
- Founded Year: 2009
- Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
- Product Categories: Freelance marketplace, contest-based hiring, job posting
- Description: Freelancer.com connects employers with freelancers across the globe. It provides a diverse range of services, from web development to graphic design, and allows companies to post projects and receive bids.
- Key Features:
- Competitive bidding system
- Milestone-based payment security
- Wide-ranging skill categories
- Employers can hold contests for the best submission
- Membership plans for additional benefits
3. Toptal
- Founders: Taso Du Val, Breanden Beneschott
- Founded Year: 2010
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Product Categories: Premium freelancer hiring, software development, finance experts
- Description: Toptal is a premium freelance marketplace specializing in connecting businesses with top-tier freelancers in development, finance, and design. It has a rigorous screening process to ensure quality talent.
- Key Features:
- Only top 3% of applicants accepted
- Highly skilled professionals in various industries
- Custom matching for businesses
- No-risk trial period
- Strong customer support and assistance
4. PeoplePerHour
- Founders: Xenios Thrasyvoulou, Simos Kitiris
- Founded Year: 2007
- Headquarters: London, UK
- Product Categories: Freelance marketplace, hourly hiring, job postings
- Description: PeoplePerHour is a UK-based freelance marketplace that connects businesses with skilled freelancers for various tasks, offering flexibility through both fixed-price and hourly work models.
- Key Features:
- AI-powered freelancer matching
- Option to hire freelancers per hour or project
- Secure payment system
- Verified freelancer profiles
- Custom project management tools
5. Guru
- Founders: Inder Guglani
- Founded Year: 1998
- Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Product Categories: Freelance marketplace, consulting, IT services
- Description: Guru is a well-established freelancing platform that offers a secure and transparent workspace for businesses and independent professionals. It features different pricing structures like hourly, fixed, task-based, and recurring payments.
- Key Features:
- SafePay payment protection
- Multiple payment models
- Detailed freelancer verification process
- WorkRooms for project collaboration
- Extensive freelancer categories
6. 99Designs
- Founders: Matt Mickiewicz, Mark Harbottle
- Founded Year: 2008
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
- Product Categories: Graphic design, branding, creative services
- Description: 99Designs is a leading creative marketplace specializing in connecting businesses with talented graphic designers. It uses a contest-based approach to find the best designs.
- Key Features:
- Contest-based hiring for creative projects
- Direct hiring of designers available
- Secure payments and copyright protection
- Custom design categories
- Customer satisfaction guarantee
7. We Work Remotely
- Founders: Remote Year team (Owned by Tiny Capital)
- Founded Year: 2011
- Headquarters: Victoria, Canada
- Product Categories: Remote jobs, freelance opportunities, full-time remote positions
- Description: We Work Remotely is a job board-style freelance and remote work platform that focuses on high-quality, location-independent jobs in tech, design, marketing, and customer support.
- Key Features:
- Job board model with global reach
- Targeted job postings for remote roles
- High-caliber professionals in various fields
- No bidding system; direct employer-freelancer connections
- Well-curated job listings
8. SolidGigs
- Founders: Preston Lee
- Founded Year: 2016
- Headquarters: USA
- Product Categories: Freelance jobs, lead generation, networking
- Description: SolidGigs is a subscription-based freelance job service that curates top job listings and delivers them to freelancers, helping them focus on high-quality opportunities.
- Key Features:
- Hand-picked freelance job listings
- Time-saving job search tool
- Training resources for freelancers
- Exclusive deals and discounts for members
- Ideal for freelancers wanting high-value gigs
9. Hubstaff Talent
- Founders: Jared Brown, Dave Nevogt
- Founded Year: 2012
- Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Product Categories: Freelance marketplace, remote work management
- Description: Hubstaff Talent is a free resource that helps businesses connect with remote freelancers and agencies across various industries. It integrates with Hubstaff’s time-tracking software.
- Key Features:
- No fees for freelancers or businesses
- Integration with Hubstaff time-tracking
- Direct hiring without intermediaries
- Global talent pool
- Project-based or long-term hiring options
10. Truelancer
- Founders: Dipesh Garg
- Founded Year: 2014
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
- Product Categories: Freelance marketplace, IT services, writing, design
- Description: Truelancer is an emerging freelance marketplace that offers affordable and skilled freelancers, particularly in IT, writing, and digital marketing. It focuses on providing quick and cost-effective solutions for businesses.
- Key Features:
- Competitive pricing for businesses
- Escrow-protected payments
- Global freelancer network
- Work monitoring tools
- Multiple payment options
