Are you looking to make some extra money, but not sure where to start? There are plenty of freelance websites out there. They will offer you a chance at a side gig, no matter what you’d like to get into. However, sometimes knowing which freelance sites are worth visiting or signing up for can be difficult. After all, you want to be spending your time making that extra cash — not wasting it for mere pennies on the dollar.
To help you separate the good from those that might not have your best interests in mind, we’ve created this (by no means exhaustive) list. There’s a lot here, so you should click through at your own pace and see what sparks your interest. Each website offers its own set of pros and cons — often making payment easy, but including fees or other policies you’ll want to be aware of.
Forewarning: there are a lot of websites here, and plenty of opportunity. However, the freedom to choose comes with a bit of responsibility. Make sure you know what to look for before you sign any freelancing contracts.
All Freelance Opportunities are Not Created Equal
Before you embark on an hours-long click-through of each of the sites below, consider the following things.
Know How Much Time You Have
Some people freelance to save up extra cash for a certain purchase. Others are actually looking for longer-term opportunities that could potentially allow them to quit their day job. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of freelancing, be sure you can quantify how many hours per week you’re available. This will help you weed through job listings, as well as limiting your workload so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Prepare For Taxes
Freelance income is still income. While it might be nice to be your own boss for a change, that freedom comes with a price. Experts recommend saving up to 30% of your income to cover self-employment contract labor taxes. You can either calculate this tax rate into your earnings as they come in, or run calculations for your yearly income. Don’t let this tax bill sneak up on you.
While many of the resources below put processes in place to prevent fraudulent listings, it’s always a good idea to do the vetting yourself. For this reason, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend applying for freelance opportunities on websites such as Craigslist. The bottom line? Be cautious.
What is Your Time Really Worth?
We’d all like to make hundreds of dollars per hour. While that may a fantasy for most of us, the reality is that your time is valuable. Knowing the minimum wage in your state is a good place to start. If you’re being honest with yourself about what your freelance income works out to in terms of an hourly rate, you don’t want to be making less than minimum wage. You should consider your level of expertise or experience when making these calculations.
One of the most important things you should do before you start any freelancing gig is determine how you’ll keep track of your income. Wave is a great way to keep your books. If you’re looking for a fast, simple (and best of all, free) solution, you’ll definitely want to bookmark Wave.
Freelance Websites Full of Fast Work
In no particular order, here are freelancing websites offering fast work for motivated individuals.
Mobile Apps
Many of the resources we provide in this article have a mobile counterpart, but here are a few applications you can download to make some extra cash.
- InboxDollars: On this app, you’ll be able to take surveys, watch videos, shop online, read emails, play games, and even get coupons.
- MyPoints: Very similar to InboxDollars, MyPoints allows you to earn money by completing simple, menial tasks.
- YouGov America: Have an opinion about current events? This application is for you. You’ll be able to share your thoughts on political, sports, and entertainment topics to earn money.
- Clickworker: If you’ve got some extra time in your day to complete menial tasks, or micro jobs, download Clickworker.
If you’re after part- and full-time opportunities, keep reading. There’s plenty more freelance websites to be had.
The great thing about job boards is that you can narrow down your results based on a variety of factors. Here’s a list of the most popular job boards, in no particular order:
- ZipRecruiter
- Glassdoor
- Indeed
- We Work Remotely
- ProBlogger
- MediaBistro
- FlexJobs
- VirtualVocations
- Remotive
- SkipTheDrive
- Working Nomads
- Jobspresso
- PowerToFly
- RemoteOK
- SimplyHired
- The Penny Hoarder Work From Home portal
Many of these job boards will also allow you to sign up for email alerts when new jobs are posted. These alerts can oftentimes be customized to certain categories to make your daily job search easier. Spend some time browsing these sites, as they are each a little different. For example, some specialize in remote work. Others are geared towards female employment solutions. There’s a good chance you’ll find something that interests you.
Email Lists
Speaking of emails, there are a variety of companies that offer a summary of new freelance job postings. They will be sent to your inbox on a daily basis. These services may also offer advice and unique opportunities along with these aggregate lists.
- FreedomWithWriting
- Hired
- Freelance Writing’s Morning Coffee eNewsletter
- The Freelancer by Contently
- The Professional Freelancer
- The Writer
- The Freelance Beat
Email lists are a great way to get notified of freelance opportunities. Plus, you won’t be spending time on 50 different websites, looking to see what’s new each day. Instead, that information will come directly to you.
Though some of the job boards above may require you to sign up for an account, and the email lists do require an opt-in, the following freelance work sites that will demand more of you. Many of these services screen their freelancers before they’re allowed to even view job postings. You’ll invest more of your time proving your credentials, but you may earn better pay as a result of your experience. Hopefully it will be a worthwhile trade.
- Voices.com
- Upwork
- Guru
- Fiverr
- nDash
- AngelList
- PeoplePerHour
- LinkedIn and LinkedIn ProFinder
- ClearVoice
- Toptal
- Freelancer
- 99designs
- Constant Content
- FreeUp
- HubStaff Talent
- Contena
- Contently
- BloggingPro
- TaskRabbit
Freelancers with a bit more experience typically do better on these talent-based websites, but that’s not to say a beginner couldn’t get approval to join. Check each sites requirements and remember: just because one site doesn’t offer you an account doesn’t mean you can’t still freelance somewhere else.
Create Your Own Opportunities
One of the best ways to get started freelancing is to strike out on your own. There’s no rhyme or reason to how freelancers gain success, at least when it comes to learning what you love to do.
For example, many freelancers have bookkeeping jobs that allow them to earn extra cash by watching over other people’s money. You can write your own e-courses as well, no matter what subject you’re an expert in. Those skilled enough to design a mobile app will likely find success, along with those freelancers who start their own blog. Many freelancers use affiliate marketing or even become an influencer to earn extra funds as well.
The point here is that if you don’t find opportunities that fit with your goals, create them yourself. This road is often less traveled, but in many ways can be much more rewarding than simply punching in and out of a part-time freelance position.
We hope you’ve found this article to be helpful. There are endless possibilities for freelancers, no matter what subjects or industries you specialize in. All skill levels are welcome and able to gain experience and work towards taking their freelance career to its full potential. Best of luck, freelancers: your future awaits.
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