Top 10 US Freelance Websites Better Than Upwork

Upwork has long been the king of the freelance world, but many professionals are starting to look for alternatives that offer better clients, lower fees, or a more specialized community. As the gig economy evolves in 2026, new platforms are emerging that cater to high-end talent and niche industries. These websites often provide a more curated experience, helping you avoid the "race to the bottom" on pricing and connecting you with companies that truly value your expertise.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler - a skills-first portfolio platform that connects talented individuals with companies through assignments, portfolios, and projects, not just resumes/CVs. Think Dribbble/Behance for work samples + AngelList for hiring infrastructure.

1. Toptal

Toptal brands itself as an exclusive network for the top 3% of freelance talent in the world, including developers, designers, and finance experts. Unlike general marketplaces where anyone can join, Toptal has a rigorous screening process that includes language tests, personality assessments, and live technical screenings. Once you are in, you get access to high-paying projects from Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley startups without having to bid against thousands of others.

• Elite Screening Process: Every freelancer undergoes a multi-stage vetting process that tests technical ability, communication skills, and problem-solving capacity to ensure only the best are admitted to the network.
• Direct Client Matching: Instead of spending hours writing proposals, Toptal’s internal team of recruiters manually matches your specific profile with clients who need exactly what you offer, saving you immense time and effort.
• Premium Client Portfolio: The platform works exclusively with high-budget clients, including major global brands and well-funded startups, ensuring that you are working on meaningful projects with professional management.
• Global Community Events: Members gain access to an exclusive community that hosts both virtual and in-person meetups, providing networking opportunities with other top-tier experts that you simply won't find on standard job boards.
• No Traditional Bidding Wars: Because the platform matches you directly, there is no public bidding system, which completely eliminates the pressure to lower your rates just to compete with other freelancers.

Pricing:

• For Freelancers: $0 (No service fees are deducted from your set hourly rate).
• For Clients: A $500 refundable deposit is required to start a search, and blended hourly rates for talent typically range from $60 to $200 per hour.

Why it matters

Toptal is the ultimate destination for experienced professionals who are tired of the noise and low-quality job postings on massive freelance boards. It validates your skills through its tough entry process, which acts as a massive green flag for premium clients who are looking for the best of the best. If you can pass their tests, you can essentially stop worrying about where your next high-paying contract is coming from.

2. Contra

Contra is a modern, commission-free professional network designed specifically for the independent worker of 2025. Unlike other platforms that take a 10% to 20% cut of your hard-earned money, Contra allows you to keep 100% of what you charge your clients. It focuses heavily on the visual aspect of your work, providing a beautiful profile that acts as a digital portfolio where you can showcase your best projects and get discovered by top brands.

• Zero Commission Fees: Contra is built on a mission to put more money in the pockets of creators, meaning they never take a percentage of your project payments or hourly earnings from the platform.
• Beautiful Digital Portfolios: The platform provides high-quality profile templates that allow you to showcase your work samples, testimonials, and services in a way that looks like a professional, custom-built website.
• Streamlined Contract Tools: They provide built-in, legally sound contract templates and integrated payment systems that make it incredibly easy to manage the administrative side of your freelance business without extra software.
• Discover Feed for Clients: Clients use a powerful discovery engine to find freelancers based on specific skills and previous work samples, allowing you to get organic leads without constantly applying for jobs.
• Verified Work History: Contra allows you to link your social accounts and previous project links to verify your identity and skills, building immediate trust with potential clients who visit your profile.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: $0 (Basic profile and commission-free payments).
• Contra Pro: Roughly $29 per month for enhanced customization and search priority.
• Client Fee: Clients pay $29 per contract to use the platform's infrastructure.

Why it matters

Contra is a game-changer for freelancers who want to build a long-term brand rather than just jumping from gig to gig. By removing commissions, they encourage a direct and fair relationship between you and your clients. It is the perfect platform for modern creatives and tech workers who value transparency and want their work to be the primary reason they get hired.

3. Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent)

Wellfound is the premier platform for freelancers and contractors who want to work with innovative startups. It connects talent with companies that are often in high-growth phases and need specialized help with building new features or scaling their operations. The platform is designed to be transparent, showing you salary ranges, equity options, and the specific stage of the company before you even apply, ensuring you don't waste time on projects that don't meet your needs.

• Startup-Specific Opportunities: You get access to a curated list of jobs from the world's most exciting startups, ranging from seed-stage companies to those preparing for a major public offering.
• Transparent Compensation Data: Every job posting includes a clear salary and equity range, which helps eliminate the awkwardness of the initial money conversation and ensures you are applying for roles that fit your worth.
• Direct Access to Founders: Unlike other platforms where you deal with middlemen, Wellfound often puts you in direct contact with founders and hiring managers, allowing for faster decision-making and clearer communication.
• Curated Talent Lists: High-performing freelancers can be featured in curated lists that are sent directly to hiring companies, significantly increasing your chances of getting noticed by top-tier employers.
• Detailed Company Profiles: You can research a company’s culture, mission, and team members deeply before applying, ensuring that you only work with organizations that align with your professional values.

Pricing:

• For Freelancers: $0 (Completely free for job seekers and contractors).
• For Clients: Basic job posting is free, while Recruit Pro features start at $499 per month.

Why it matters

Wellfound is the best place to find high-impact roles where your work can truly move the needle for a growing company. Startups value speed and skill over traditional resumes, making this an ideal platform for those who have a strong portfolio and a desire to work on cutting-edge products. It provides a level of transparency and direct access that is rarely found on larger, more generic freelance websites.

4. Guru

Guru is a veteran in the freelance space that focuses on long-term professional relationships. It offers a "SafePay" system that ensures freelancers are paid for the work they do while giving clients peace of mind that the job will be completed as agreed. The platform is organized into specialized "workrooms" where you can manage your projects, share files, and communicate with clients in a secure environment.

• Flexible Work Agreements: Guru supports multiple payment structures, including fixed-price, hourly, task-based, and recurring milestones, giving you the flexibility to bill your clients in the way that makes the most sense.
• SafePay Security: The platform holds client funds in escrow and only releases them once the freelancer has completed the agreed-upon work, protecting both parties from potential payment disputes or fraud.
• Workroom Collaboration: Every project has a dedicated workroom where you can track progress, manage team members, and keep all your project-related communication in one centralized and searchable location.
• Low Transaction Fees: Compared to some of its competitors, Guru offers relatively low transaction fees, allowing you to keep a larger portion of your earnings while still benefiting from platform protections.
• Searchable Professional Network: Freelancers can build detailed profiles that are indexed by search engines, helping you get discovered by clients who are looking for specific expertise even outside the platform.

Pricing:

• Basic Plan: $0 (9% job fee).
• Basic+: $11.95 per month (9% job fee + 10 monthly bids).
• Professional: $21.95 per month (7% job fee + 50 monthly bids).
• Executive: $49.95 per month (5% job fee + 50 monthly bids).

Why it matters

Guru is a solid choice for freelancers who prioritize security and structured project management. Their "SafePay" system is one of the most reliable in the industry, and their tiered membership plans allow you to lower your fees as your freelance business grows. It is a great platform for those who want a professional, no-nonsense environment to build and manage their client relationships.

5. 99designs

99designs is a specialized platform for graphic designers, offering a unique "contest" model as well as traditional one-on-one projects. It is a fantastic place for designers to sharpen their skills, build a portfolio, and connect with clients from all over the world. The platform categorizes designers into Entry, Mid, and Top levels, rewarding high-quality work with lower fees and better project opportunities.

• Design Contest Model: You can enter open contests to solve specific design challenges for clients, allowing you to showcase your creativity and potentially win high-value projects while building your public portfolio.
• Direct Client Work: Once you have established a reputation, you can work one-on-one with clients, setting your own prices and managing your projects through the platform’s secure collaboration tools.
• Tiered Designer Levels: As you complete more successful projects and receive positive reviews, you can move up to "Top Level" status, which unlocks higher-paying projects and reduces the platform’s service fees.
• Global Community Support: 99designs offers a wealth of resources, including design tutorials, community forums, and professional feedback, to help you constantly improve your craft and stay ahead of trends.
• Secure Payment Processing: The platform ensures that clients pay for the work upfront, holding the funds in escrow until the final design files are delivered and approved by the customer.

Pricing:

• Introduction Fee: $100 (Spread over the first $500 earned with a new client).
• Platform Fee: 15% for Entry Level, 10% for Mid Level, and 5% for Top Level designers.
• Client Fee: Clients pay a flat fee per contest, ranging from $299 to $1,299 depending on the package.

Why it matters

For graphic designers, 99designs provides a structured path to grow a freelance career from scratch. The contest model is a great way to practice your skills on real-world briefs and see how you stack up against other professionals in your field. It is a highly focused marketplace where your visual output is the only thing that matters, making it a true meritocracy for creative talent.

6. Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is one of the world's largest marketplaces, offering a staggering variety of projects in almost every category imaginable. While it is massive, it offers features like "Showcases" and "Contests" that help talented individuals stand out from the crowd. It is an excellent platform for those who are willing to compete on a global scale and want access to a constant stream of new job opportunities.

• Massive Job Volume: With millions of users and thousands of new jobs posted daily, you will never run out of potential projects to bid on, regardless of your specific niche or skill set.
• Skill Testing and Certification: You can take a variety of exams on the platform to verify your skills, which adds a "verified" badge to your profile and increases your credibility with potential clients.
• Freelancer Contests: Similar to design-focused sites, you can enter contests for writing, coding, and marketing, allowing you to prove your ability through actual work rather than just a written proposal.
• Mobile App Management: Their robust mobile app allows you to bid on projects, communicate with clients, and track your work hours from anywhere, making it a great choice for digital nomads.
• Milestone Payment System: They use a secure milestone system that ensures you are paid at different stages of a project, reducing the risk of working for long periods without receiving compensation.

Pricing:

• Fixed Projects: 10% or $5 (whichever is greater).
• Hourly Projects: 10% fee.
• Plus Membership: $9.95 per month (includes 100 bids and daily withdrawal requests).
• Professional Membership: $29.95 per month (includes 300 bids and premium insights).

Why it matters

Freelancer.com is for the person who wants maximum variety and a high volume of work. Because the platform is so large, it is a great place to test different services and see what the market is willing to pay for your skills. While it can be competitive, the ability to take skill tests and enter contests gives you multiple ways to differentiate yourself from the global talent pool.

7. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a premium job board that focuses exclusively on remote, flexible, and freelance roles that have been hand-vetted for quality. Unlike other sites where you have to sift through scams and low-quality posts, FlexJobs does the hard work for you by manually reviewing every single listing. They charge a small subscription fee to maintain this high standard, ensuring that you only see legitimate opportunities from reputable companies.

• Human-Vetted Listings: Every job on the platform is reviewed by a real person to ensure it is a legitimate opportunity from a real company, virtually eliminating the risk of job scams or "ghost" postings.
• Advanced Filtering Options: You can filter jobs by the level of remote work (fully remote vs. hybrid), career level, and even specific schedule requirements, making your search incredibly efficient.
• Exclusive Career Resources: Subscribers get access to professional resume reviews, career coaching discounts, and a library of educational webinars to help them land high-paying remote roles.
• Partner Discounts: FlexJobs partners with various companies to offer members discounts on essential tools like coworking spaces, home office gear, and professional software.
• Skill Tests for Profiles: You can take various skills tests that appear on your profile, giving hiring managers immediate proof of your expertise in areas like data entry, writing, or software development.

Pricing:

• 1-Week Trial: $9.95.
• Monthly Plan: $24.95 per month.
• Annual Plan: $59.95 per year (billed once).
• Freelancer Fee: $0 (No commission taken from your earnings).

Why it matters

FlexJobs is the best investment for a freelancer who is serious about working with established US companies and wants to save time. The subscription fee pays for itself by giving you back the hours you would otherwise spend filtering out low-quality "gigs" on free platforms. It is a high-signal, low-noise environment that prioritizes your safety and career growth above all else.

8. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is a UK-based platform with a strong US presence that uses an AI-powered matching system to connect freelancers with the right projects. It focuses on high-quality, professional services and allows freelancers to post "offers"pre-packaged services that clients can buy instantly. This "productized service" model is a great way to generate passive leads without having to constantly write custom proposals.

• AI-Powered Job Matching: Their internal "WorkStream" algorithm analyzes your profile and skills to suggest the most relevant jobs, helping you find the perfect match without endless searching.
• Productized Service Offers: You can create "Offers" for specific tasks (e.g., "I will design a 3-page website for $500"), allowing clients to hire you instantly based on a clear deliverable and price.
• Detailed WorkStream Management: The platform provides a comprehensive dashboard to manage all your projects, invoices, and communication in one place, keeping your business organized as you scale.
• Secure Escrow Payments: Clients are required to pay a deposit for every project, which is held in escrow until you deliver the work, ensuring you never start a task without financial security.
• Invoicing and Accounting Tools: They offer built-in tools to generate professional invoices and track your earnings, making it easier to handle the financial side of your freelance career.

Pricing:

• Service Fee: 20% for the first $350 earned with a client, 7.5% for earnings between $350 and $7,000, and 3.5% for earnings over $7,000.
• Monthly Bids: First 15 bids are free; additional bids can be purchased in bundles starting at $10.

Why it matters

PeoplePerHour is perfect for freelancers who want to turn their skills into "products." The ability to sell pre-defined offers means you can earn money while you sleep, as clients can purchase your services without needing a prior conversation. Their sliding scale fee structure also rewards long-term client relationships, making it a great platform for building a sustainable and profitable freelance business.

9. Working Not Working

Working Not Working is a highly curated community for the world's best creative talent. It was built by creatives for creatives and is used by top brands like Google, Nike, and Apple to find high-end freelancers. The platform is famous for its "Vetted" status, where only the most talented professionals are accepted into the full community. It feels more like an elite club than a job board, focusing on high-level artistic and strategic roles.

• Elite Creative Community: The platform is home to some of the most respected designers, copywriters, and art directors in the industry, making it a prestigious place to showcase your work.
• Zero Hiring Fees for Talent: They do not take a commission from the freelancer’s earnings, allowing you to negotiate directly with clients and keep every penny of your project fee.
• Status-Based Availability: You can easily update your status (e.g., "Available," "Working," or "Not Working") so that clients know exactly when you are open for new projects without having to ask.
• Curated Job Board: The jobs posted on Working Not Working are typically high-budget and high-visibility, coming from the world's leading advertising agencies and tech companies.
• Portfolio-First Profiles: The platform is designed to highlight your best work samples prominently, ensuring that your talent is the first thing a potential employer sees.

Pricing:

• For Freelancers: $0 (Free to apply and build a profile; no commission on jobs).
• For Clients: Subscription plans for companies start at roughly $400 per month to access the talent database.

Why it matters

Working Not Working is where you go when you want to work on projects that win awards. It is a community that values quality and reputation above all else. If you are a high-level creative who wants to work with the biggest brands in the world, this is the platform that will put you in the right room. It eliminates the "cheap" side of freelancing and focuses entirely on premium talent and professional-grade projects.

10. SolidGigs

SolidGigs is a unique service that acts as your personal "lead generation" team. Instead of you spending hours every day browsing job boards, the SolidGigs team manually hunts for the top 1% of freelance jobs across the web and sends them directly to your inbox. It is a "lead-magnet" platform designed to save you time and help you focus on what you do bestthe actual work.

• Daily Hand-Picked Leads: You receive a daily or weekly list of high-quality freelance opportunities that have been manually vetted for budget and professional standards.
• No Platform Fees on Work: Because you deal directly with the clients they find, SolidGigs never takes a commission or a cut of your project earnings.
• Educational Training Library: Membership includes access to a large library of courses and workshops on how to pitch clients, set your rates, and scale your freelance business.
• Direct Client Relationships: Once they find a lead for you, you communicate and bill the client outside of the platform, giving you total control over your business relationships.
• Time-Saving Automation: By outsourcing your job hunting to their team, you can save roughly 10-20 hours of "unpaid" work every month that would otherwise be spent searching for clients.

Pricing:

• Monthly Plan: $49 per month.
• Yearly Plan: $382 per year (Billed annually).
• Commission Fee: $0 (You keep 100% of your client payments).

Why it matters

SolidGigs is for the freelancer who hates the "hustle" of constant searching. It is essentially a subscription to your own research department. The fee is small compared to the value of the high-paying leads they provide and the time they save you. If you already have a strong portfolio and just need a steady stream of high-quality "at-bats," SolidGigs is one of the smartest investments you can make for your business.

How Fueler Helps You Beat the Competition

On any of these platforms, whether it is the elite Toptal or the high-volume Freelancer.comthe biggest challenge is proving you are the right person for the job. This is where Fueler becomes your secret weapon. Most freelancers just send a link to their profile or a basic PDF resume. With Fueler, you can share a beautiful, organized portfolio of your actual work samples and assignments.

By showcasing a Fueler profile, you show potential clients that you are a "skills-first" professional. You aren't just telling them you can do the work; you are showing them the proof through your previous projects. Whether you are applying for a $10,000 project on Working Not Working or a $50 gig on Guru, having a professional portfolio built on Fueler makes you look more reliable and expert than 90% of the competition.

Final Thoughts

Moving beyond Upwork in 2025 is a smart move for any freelancer who wants to increase their rates and work with better clients. Whether you choose a specialized site like 99designs, an elite network like Toptal, or a commission-free platform like Contra, the key is to move where your specific skills are most valued. Remember that a freelance platform is just a tool; your true value lies in the work you can produce and the results you can deliver for your clients.

FAQs

1. Which freelance website has the lowest fees in 2025?

Contra and Working Not Working are among the best for low fees, as they both offer a 0% commission model for freelancers. SolidGigs also charges no commission, though it requires a monthly subscription for access to its vetted lead list.

2. Is it harder to get accepted into Toptal or 99designs?

Toptal is significantly harder to get into, as they only accept the top 3% of all applicants through a multi-stage technical and personality screening. 99designs is open to everyone, but you must work your way up their internal tiers to get the best projects.

3. Do I need a subscription to find high-quality US freelance jobs?

While you can find work for free on sites like Wellfound or Contra, premium subscriptions like FlexJobs ($24.95/mo) or SolidGigs ($49/mo) are often worth the cost because they save you hours of time and protect you from low-quality or scam postings.

4. Can I use these platforms if I am a beginner freelancer?

Yes, platforms like Freelancer.com and Guru are very beginner-friendly. However, even as a beginner, you should have a strong portfolio on a platform like Fueler to show clients what you are capable of, even if you don't have a long history of reviews yet.

5. Are these sites better for long-term contracts or one-off gigs?

It depends on the site. Wellfound and Toptal are excellent for long-term, high-stakes contracts with startups and major brands. 99designs and PeoplePerHour are often better for quick, deliverable-based "productized" tasks.

What is Fueler Portfolio?

Fueler is a career portfolio platform that helps companies find the best talent for their organization based on their proof of work.

You can create your portfolio on Fueler, thousands of freelancers around the world use Fueler to create their professional-looking portfolios and become financially independent. Discover inspiration for your portfolio

Sign up for free on Fueler or get in touch to learn more.