Freelancing and gig working platforms connect businesses with independent professionals for project-based, short-term or on-demand work. These Freelancing Platforms and Gig Economy marketplaces offer flexible staffing, transparent fee and payment models and a mix of contract vs. platform work arrangements. In this FAQ, we answer essential questions to help you select, budget for and manage talent through these platforms.
Freelancing platforms (e.g., Upwork, Freelancer) and gig marketplaces (e.g., Fiverr, TaskRabbit) provide digital hubs where clients post projects and professionals bid or accept tasks. They streamline onboarding, handle payments and often include review systems for trust and quality. Learn more on our Freelancing & Gig Working Platforms page.
Freelancing platforms (e.g., Upwork, Freelancer) and gig marketplaces (e.g., Fiverr, TaskRabbit) provide digital hubs where clients post projects and professionals bid or accept tasks. They streamline onboarding, handle payments and often include review systems for trust and quality. Learn more on our Freelancing & Gig Working Platforms page.
For high-skill work, like software development or design, Upwork, Toptal and Guru offer curated talent pools with vetting processes. Creative specialists may prefer 99designs, while technical experts gravitate to Gigster or Codementor. Review each platform’s talent screening and portfolio features to match your project needs.
For high-skill work, like software development or design, Upwork, Toptal and Guru offer curated talent pools with vetting processes. Creative specialists may prefer 99designs, while technical experts gravitate to Gigster or Codementor. Review each platform’s talent screening and portfolio features to match your project needs.
Most platforms charge a percentage fee on each transaction, typically 5–20%, split between client and freelancer. Subscription or membership plans (e.g., Freelancer Plus) may reduce fees or unlock premium features. Payment options include hourly contracts, fixed-price milestones and escrow services for secure transactions.
Most platforms charge a percentage fee on each transaction, typically 5–20%, split between client and freelancer. Subscription or membership plans (e.g., Freelancer Plus) may reduce fees or unlock premium features. Payment options include hourly contracts, fixed-price milestones and escrow services for secure transactions.
Contract work often involves direct agreements with clear scopes, rates and deliverables, managed outside of a platform. Platform work leverages the marketplace’s infrastructure - ratings, dispute resolution and payment protection, but may incur higher fees and less direct control over terms. Balance control versus convenience based on project complexity.
Contract work often involves direct agreements with clear scopes, rates and deliverables, managed outside of a platform. Platform work leverages the marketplace’s infrastructure - ratings, dispute resolution and payment protection, but may incur higher fees and less direct control over terms. Balance control versus convenience based on project complexity.
Assess project scope, required expertise and budget. Compare platforms by:
Assess project scope, required expertise and budget. Compare platforms by:
Ready to expand your workforce with on-demand talent? Explore All Recruiting Tools at a Glance to compare solutions, from ATS to AI recruiting and find the right mix of platforms and workflows for your organization.All Recruiting Tools