Freelance websites are platforms which connect people looking for work, usually the temporary and remote kind, with prospective employers. These platforms allow those seeking work or those looking for workers (and sometimes both) to post their offers. Such websites have become the first stop for anyone looking for remote work on the internet. There, however, also happens to be quite a lot of them and choosing between them can be a bit of a challenge. Hopefully, this piece can make this process a little bit easier.

Fiverr

Site: fiverr.com

This platform allows freelancers to list small once-off jobs or gigs, as they are called. It serves as an e-commerce platform for individuals and companies to sell their services. Freelancers can list gigs in the same way as they would a product on an e-commerce platform i.e. by including all relevant details. Buyers can then buy the listed services. Fiverr also allows freelancers to showcase some of their finished projects. This allows potential clients to pick contractors based on their past work.

Upwork

Site: upwork.com

This is a freelancing platform which connects companies and individuals so that they can do business. It also happens to be the largest freelancer marketplace in the world. The company allows its clients (most of which are businesses) to interview, hire and work with signed up freelancers and freelance agencies. Clients post descriptions of the jobs which they want to be done together with the price ranges they are willing to pay. The client can either post the job for anyone to apply or only invite specific freelancers to do so.  Upwork can allow you to work for large companies like Microsoft, Airbnb and Dropbox.

PeoplePerHour

Site: peopleperhour.com

This platform, which is the leading marketplace for freelance talent in the United Kingdom, gives businesses access to freelance workers. Most of the businesses which use this platform are startups or SMEs which want to grow flexibly. Jobs start from as little as those lasting an hour to those which recruit the freelancer to become part of a company’s remote workforce.

99Designs

Site: 99designs.com

99designs is a freelance platform for graphic design work. It connects graphic designers to clients.

WriterAccess

Site: writeraccess.com

WriteAccess is a platform for connecting businesses and agencies with content creators. Over 40,000 brands and 1,000 agencies use it to outsource content creation services to screened, professional freelancers. Signed up content creators are discovered by clients on the platform through advanced search, casting calls or AI-powered matching.  In addition to being screened, content creators are also rated according to their past performance and customer reviews.

DesignHill

Site: designhill.com

This is a platform for freelance design work and businesses across the world use it to outsource their graphic design needs. The design work which can be offered through the platform includes that of logos, websites, brochures and even t-shirts. The platform also has an online Print Shop where people can buy products featuring the work of artists of their choice and the artists get paid.

Freelancer

Site: freelancer.com

This is a marketplace which allows potential employers to post jobs which freelancers who are signed up on the site can then bid for. The work is therefore assigned through this competitive bidding process. The site also allows members to create or participate in contests which award prize money to the winners. Freelancers only get a limited number of bids which they can use on the site. These get replenished periodically. The company takes a 10% fee from every job which you get paid for. This fee can be reduced by signing up for a paid monthly membership.

iWriter

Site: iwriter.com

This is another freelance platform for writers. The platform allows you to choose topics that best match your interests and background.

SolidGigs

Site: solidgigs.com

This site will post freelance job opportunities for you several times a week based on your provided preferences. The site not only provides you with a weekly gig list but it also offers courses which can help you on your journey as a freelancer or solopreneur. These courses will train and educate you on such topics as pitching, sales, pricing, client, acquisition and charging what you are worth.

ServiceScape

Site: servicescape.com

This is a platform which mainly focuses on connecting editors, translators, graphic designers and writers with clients. While opportunities in the second category may be scarce for someone in Zimbabwe, the platform avails opportunities for talented graphic designers and those with good writing skills.

Contena

Site: contena.com

Contena is yet another site on this list for writing professionals. The platform allows writers to discover jobs and work remotely for companies which require writing services.

Freelance Writing

Site: freelancewriting.com

This aptly named platform connects writers and those requiring services such as content creation or copywriting. The platform delivers daily and real-time freelance writing jobs online for freelance beginners and experts. If you sign up, you not only get access to freelance writing sources but you can also participate in writing contests.

Final words

Sometimes if you are working from Zimbabwe you may need to come up with workarounds to get paid on these platforms. Reasons for this include issues surrounding income tax codes, the payment platforms these sites use being unavailable in Zimbabwe or the platform strictly operating in certain countries. If necessary you can services such as Payoneer to facilitate your payments.