4 Popular Freelance Websites – BW

Currently, many people are focused on making money.

A recent survey by BW, conducted online by The Harris Poll, found that more than 1 in 5 Americans (21%) are concerned about not earning enough money at their job. Another study by BW revealed that 10% of Americans started a side business or second job in 2025 because their primary job did not cover their financial needs.

One practical side hustle to consider is freelancing, especially if you leverage skills you already possess instead of learning something new from scratch,” said Chelsea Ransom-Cooper, a certified financial planner.

Many of her clients, including high earners, have adopted freelancing to reach their financial goals faster.

“With increasing costs and home prices, many HENRYs feel they are priced out of the lifestyles they once thought they could afford,” Ransom-Cooper, chief financial planning officer at Zenith Wealth Partners in New York, explained. “Using skills from their day job for freelance work can help bridge that gap.”

Perhaps you can do the same. Signing up for a freelance website is a good way to start, but make sure to weigh the tradeoffs before diving in.

Fiverr is like the Coca-Cola of freelancing, a well-known platform with a user-friendly interface that attracts many. It offers services in over 200 categories, such as web development, video editing, SEO, and interior design.

Signing up is free, allowing you to create a profile and showcase your skills to a global audience. Clients come to you, eliminating the need for cold calling, but it may take time to establish yourself, especially if you are new or charge higher rates. Fiverr takes a 20% commission once you complete a job.

In comparison to Fiverr, Upwork is like Pepsi. It is another popular platform that caters to a wide range of freelance fields. However, the high number of freelancers makes it challenging to stand out. You can reach out to potential clients for projects you are interested in.

As a freelancer, you bid on projects by submitting proposals to clients using “Connects.” Basic members receive 10 free Connects per month. Upwork charges freelancers up to 15% service fee based on project-specific factors once the job is completed.

Freelancer.com claims to be the world’s largest freelancing site, featuring numerous work categories and millions of users. Be prepared for stiff competition, and ensure your profile stands out. You can bid on projects and receive payments at various project milestones. Free members receive six bids per month.

Freelancer.com charges a small project fee for winning fixed-price projects and a 10% fee (or $5, whichever is greater) upon project delivery.

Toptal is known for connecting top talent with major companies for high-impact projects. Experts in design, business, and technology with 2-3 years of experience can apply. Toptal has a rigorous screening process, with only 3% of applicants passing. Once accepted, candidates are matched with clients by a dedicated team.

The standout feature of Toptal is that it does not charge any fees to freelancers, making it a desirable platform for many.

While freelance websites offer value, they also come with drawbacks such as crowded marketplaces and high fees that may impact your experience and earnings.

We delved into Reddit forums to gather insights on how users perceive freelance websites. Several benefits and challenges emerged, analyzed using an AI tool. As users post anonymously, the authenticity of their experiences cannot be verified.

While signing up for a freelance website is an option, traditional methods like networking, cold pitching, and advertising without using a platform still hold value.