Hey there! 👋
Therefore, you are considering starting a freelance career in 2025? Whether you’re looking to make a little extra dough on the side, or you’re ready to say good riddance to the 9-to-5 grind, you’re on the right site.
Being someone who started freelancing way back in 2019 (yes during the time when the Zoom meetings were still a novelty), I’ve tested all the platforms available. Some were amazing. Others? Let’s just say... I learned my lesson.
So I won’t waste your time, headache, and grief over your choice of the best freelancing websites — I’ve picked the top 7 of them for 2025 with honest pros and cons for each.
Let’s get into it.
1. Upwork
Best for: Beginners to seasoned pros
Type of work: Writing, design, marketing, admin, programming and so on.
Upwork is the “Walmart” of freelancing, everything is here. You build your profile, apply for gigs and you can be invited for jobs by clients. It helps to develop a long-term freelancing career.
✅ Pros:
- Tons of job vacancies in different industries
- Safe payment system
- Once you are set, clients can find their way to you.
❌ Cons:
- Fierce competition, particularly at the initial stages.
- Takes a cut off your earnings (5-20%)
- The number of “Connects” (tokens) that you need to apply for jobs is diverse.
Tip: Take time and create a killer profile. It makes a big difference!
2. Fiverr
Best for: Creatives, marketers, and tech gigs
Type of work: Logo designing, voice-overs, SEO services, and so on.
Fiverr allows you to create “gigs” that can be purchased by clients directly – as if you have an online shop for your services. I used it for logo design and had my very first order in two weeks.
✅ Pros:
- Easy to get started
- Perfect for developing a specialised service.
- You charge your own rates and packages.
❌ Cons:
- Platform takes 20% of every sale
- Difficult to stand out without the good reviews.
- Can be felt as a race to who offers the lowest prices.
Pro tip: Start with small numbers but build reviews up before asking for more money.
3. Toptal
Best for: Seasoned tech, finance, and design freelancers
Type of work: Software development, UX/UI, project management etc.
Toptal is associated with high-quality clients and high-paid gigs but not for beginners. You have to go through a rigorous screening process (I failed the first time around, no shameo’).
✅ Pros:
- Premium clients and serious projects
- Long term contracts and full time freelance jobs
- Top-notch support team
❌ Cons:
- Application process is intense
- Not the best if you are starting out
- Fewer creative jobs (more tech-focused)
Real talk: If you have 5+ years of experience then by all means, give it a try.
4. Freelancer.com
Best for: General freelancers who want variety
Type of work: Writing, engineering, and customer support, among other things.
Freelancer.com is old-school in its ways. Something for everybody but the patience to filter through the noise is needed.
✅ Pros:
- Huge pool of job postings
- Quick wins competitions (very good for designers)
- Flexible bidding system
❌ Cons:
- A lot of low-budget projects
- Website interface can be overwhelming
- Fees can be confusing
Personal note: Here I located some cool one-off gigs, but not the one I like most for establishing long-term relationships.
5. PeoplePerHour
Best for: UK and European freelancers
Type of work: Marketing, design, writing, programming, among many others.
PeoplePerHour has a significant following in the UK and has both hourly and project work. It is a little less busy than Upwork and this can be an advantage.
✅ Pros:
- Good for hourly projects
- Less saturated than other platforms
- Helpful project management tools
❌ Cons:
- Mostly UK-based clients
- Approval process for profiles may also take a lot of time.
- Some things feel dated a little bit.
Fun fact: This platform gave me my first paid article ever. Forever grateful!
6. Guru
Best for: Freelancers who want flexibility
Type of work: Legal, engineering, IT, design, etc.
Guru is not very popular but it’s steadily consistent. You are able to make a profile, set up “services”, and apply for the jobs – similarly to Upwork.
✅ Pros:
- Workroom feature makes the project management convenient.
- Lower fees than some competitors (9%)
- Allows negotiation directly with clients
❌ Cons:
- Smaller client base
- User interface has got a bit old-school feel.
- It is more difficult to be noticed in absence of a good portfolio.
Heads-up: Very good platform if you don’t want to go with the “rat race” on more popular sites.
7. SolidGigs
Best for: Hate job hunting freelancers.
Type of work: Writing, design, marketing, development
SolidGigs isn’t a job board. Rather than that, it finds the best gigs from all over the web and sends them to you via email. It’s great if you have to save your time while searching.
✅ Pros:
- Hand picked gigs delivered to your email.
- Saves hours of scrolling
- Excellent for freelancers that have little time.
❌ Cons:
- Monthly fee (around $19)
- No built-in client platform – you apply directly
- For serious freelancers only (not good if you’re just dabbling).
My take: It is like having a freelance assistant who picks some gigs for you. Good idea if you are lacking on time.
Final Thoughts
Freelancing in 2025 has swathes of opportunities, though choosing the right platform can be a game-changer. Here’s a quick recap:
| Platform | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | All-around work | Variety, secure payments | High competition |
| Fiverr | Creative gigs | Easy start, fixed packages | Price competition |
| Toptal | Experienced tech pros | High pay, elite clients | Tough entry |
| Freelancer | Variety | Many gigs, contests | Confusing fees |
| PeoplePerHour | UK/Europe-based freelancers | Less crowded, good hourly | Region-specific |
| Guru | Flexible workers | Lower fees, flexibility | Smaller pool of clients |
| SolidGigs | Time-saving freelancers | Curated leads, no clutter | Monthly cost |
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