The 37 Best Upwork Alternatives: Find Top Freelancers in 2025

Paying high fees on Upwork but still stuck with poor-quality work? You’re not alone. The lack of freelancer vetting often leads to inconsistent results, wasting your time and money.

That’s why hiring managers are turning to alternatives that offer vetted talent, reliable outcomes, and better value. With so many options available, you can find the perfect platform to suit your unique needs.

In this post, we’ll explore the best Upwork alternatives and similar websites. You’ll discover top freelancing platforms, learn about their unique features, and find the perfect site to connect with qualified candidates for your projects.

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⚡️ Find developers, designers, marketers, and more
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Top Upwork alternatives for tech talent

These Upwork competitors specialize in tech talent, connecting you with freelancers skilled in designing and developing websites, apps, and software.

Each platform offers varying levels of vetting and matching support. Some provide full-service vetting and quality assurance, while others take a hands-off approach. Explore the list to find not just freelancing sites like Upwork but the best option for your tech project.

Platform	Best For	Candidate Quality	Pricing Model	Key Differentiator
Arc	Developers, designers, marketers, product managers, project managers, assistants, and more	Top 2% freelancers, pre-vetted talent	Hourly rates or one-time fees for full-time hires	Instant candidate shortlisting with HireAI
Codeable	WordPress experts	2% of applicants pass a rigorous vetting process	17.5% service fee	Specialized expertise in WordPress
Gigster	Developers, designers, project managers	Comprehensive vetting process	The average hourly rate ranges from $100 to $149	Assembles entire teams led by project managers
Gun.io	Developers, designers, project managers	Project-based interviewing	Flexible project-based pricing	Remote-first and async-focused work
Hired	Developers, designers, project managers	Vetting of 70,000 applicants monthly	Non-transparent pricing	Rapid talent placement (within 25 days)
Indiez	Developers, designers, project managers	Thorough interview and assessment process	Non-transparent pricing	Invite-only access and personalized support
Pangara	Software engineers	Vets talent for coding, problem-solving, and communication	Non-transparent pricing	Low-cost Vietnam-based developers with flexible scaling
Scalable Path	Developers, project managers	4-stage vetting process	A minimum engagement requirement of 150 hours or $7,500	High-quality developers with live video challenges
Top Coder	Developers, designers, data scientists	Competitive crowd-sourcing for projects	Non-transparent pricing	Crowdsourcing model for project competition
Toptal	Developers, designers, project managers, marketers, finance experts	Vets top 3% talent	Flat monthly subscription fee of $79 + bi-monthly invoices based on freelancer roles	Access to top-tier talent (3% of applicants)
X-Team	Developers	Pre-vetted developers	Non-transparent pricing	Ongoing support and professional development for placed developers

1. Arc

Arc is a global marketplace of top remote talent, vetted and ready to interview. You can quickly find top freelance developers, designers, marketers, product managers, project managers, assistants, and more to hire in days, not months.

Hire a freelancer by inputting the skills you’re looking for, your budget, and any other requirements. Arc’s HireAI will then present a shortlist of matching candidates in seconds — literally. The candidates are highly vetted talent from around the world.

Freelance talent’s rates, typically between $15 and $110+ per hour, depend on role, skill, and location. You pay an hourly rate based on actual hours worked. No additional fees. For full-time remote hires, Arc charges a one-time fee based on the annual salary.

Arc is an excellent Upwork alternative, connecting you with pre-vetted freelance contractors and remote full-time team members. If you plan to scale, Arc can help you build a remote team, giving you access to top global talent.

Pros	Cons
Instant matching for quick talent sourcing	Limited to remote freelancers only
Work with vetted freelancers	Verified freelancers on Arc may have higher expected rates compared to other platforms
Pay only for freelancer work, with no additional platform fees
Flexible hiring options to suit various project needs
Save costs by leveraging global hiring opportunities

2. Codeable

Codeable is an outsourcing platform to find WordPress experts. Codeable has a talent bank of 750+ developers resulting from a vetting process that selects only the top applicants.

It’s a great alternative to Upwork for WordPress services. However, costs can be high, which might be tough for small or medium-sized businesses. Arc offers a more affordable option, where you only pay for the freelancer’s work.

Pros	Cons
Vetted developers	High (17.5%) service fee
Specialized WordPress expertise	Non-refundable service fee
Fixed pricing structure without bidding	Risk of mismatch due to lack of personalized matching

3. Gigster

Gigster is a San Francisco-based freelancing platform of 50,000+ vetted developers, designers, and product managers. Gigster assembles entire teams led by a project manager, who the client communicates with exclusively.

With Gigster, you can achieve 30% more efficient staffing, reduce project risk by 60%, and enjoy 3.6x higher project satisfaction, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking for comprehensive project solutions.

Pros	Cons
Top 1% talent	High hourly rates may not suit all budgets ($100-$149 on average)
Less than ten days staffing period	No trial period

Read More: How to Implement a Welcoming Software Developer Onboarding Process

4. Gun.io

Gun.io is a platform for hiring freelance software professionals. Founded in 2011, it uses a project-based interviewing process to connect you with skilled software developers, designers, and product managers.

Remote-first and async-focused, Gun.io embraces the future of distributed work, making it a standout Upwork alternative for finding reliable, tech-savvy talent.

Pros	Cons
Flexible pricing based on project	More suited for long-term contracts
Options for contract and full-time hiring	Non-transparent pricing model for hiring freelancers
Hire within 13 days of requesting a candidate
AI-based talent matching

5. Hired

Hired matches tech talent with full-time and contract opportunities. With over 500,000 people placed at 15,000+ companies, it’s a reliable platform for quickly finding skilled candidates, making it ideal for critical hiring needs. 

However, it’s best suited if you’re ready to invest significantly in hiring. For a more affordable option that still ensures quality, you can hire with Arc.

Pros	Cons
50+ years of hiring experience	Costs can be high for small and medium-sized businesses
Multiple hiring solutions, including temporary and permanent	Lack of personalized instant matching
Pre-qualified talent

6. Indiez

Indiez is an invite-only site consisting of developers, designers, and product managers. With a pre-vetted pool of 12,000+ engineers from 50+ countries, it’s easy to find the most relevant candidates for your needs.

With Indiez, project managers work closely with you to provide complete solutions for websites, apps, and other custom software projects. However, since Indiez is more like a dev agency, you won’t have direct communication with developers.

Pros	Cons
Thorough assessment and interview process to ensure the fit	No direct access to developers
Personalized support throughout the process	Lack of instant personalized talent matching

Read More: What a Freelance Developer Contract Should Include (w/ Templates)

7. Pangara

Pangara sources freelance software engineers from Vietnam for companies worldwide, making it a great Upwork alternative to hiring low-cost software developers

Pangara vets developers for coding skills, problem-solving, English communication, and personality. It also offers flexibility, letting you scale your team up or down as your development needs change.

Pros	Cons
Vetted talent	Limited access to global talent
Specialized candidates in IT and software engineering	Potential time-zone and communication challenges due to Vietnam-based talent only

8. Scalable Path

Scalable Path connects you with top software developers from around the world. Every developer goes through a 3-stage vetting process to ensure quality before being matched with you. 

Rates vary per developer, typically $50–$75 USD/hour. Whether you need to hire an individual developer or build an entire team, their project managers are there to help make the process seamless.

Their vetting goes beyond generic evaluations, making it a strong Upwork alternative for high-quality outcomes. Live video challenges ensure you work with top-tier professionals.

Pros	Cons
Vetted developers for tech skills and English fluency	A high minimum engagement of 150 hours or $7,500 USD doesn’t suit smaller projects
Full-featured platform to manage hiring in one place	The platform doesn’t offer job posting
Hire talent within a week
Two-week risk-free trial period

9. TopCoder

TopCoder is a crowdsourcing platform that was launched in 2001. It includes over 1 million members, including designers, developers, and data scientists, who compete to win projects.

In three steps, you can define your project with a dedicated Copilot, launch it with clear cost and timeline estimates, and receive high-quality results. TopCoder’s expert review board and global talent network ensure fast, reliable solutions.

Pros	Cons
Choose between hiring for a project or running a competition to find the best solution	Lack of personalized hiring support
Suitable for short-term projects	Non-transparent pricing structure

10. Toptal

Toptal is a network of freelance software developers, designers, marketers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers around the world. The company was founded in 2010 and focuses on delivering vetted freelance talent.

It’s a good Upwork alternative if you’re looking for top-tier professionals, but it can be costly. For a more cost-effective option, Arc offers vetted talent at a lower price without compromising quality.

Pros	Cons
Rigorously vetted top 3% talent	High cost for small and medium-sized businesses
Specialized candidates in tech, design, marketing, product and project management, and finance	Not suitable for short-term, temporary projects
Hire candidates within 24 hours

11. X-Team

X-Team was founded in 2006 and provides staffing solutions for software development needs. X-Team provides full-time individual developers or teams to work on software projects. 

While you handle project management, X-Team supports you by onboarding the developers they place, ensuring a smooth start and seamless integration with your team.

Pros	Cons
Pre-vetted developers	Requires a minimum of 90-day contract
Flexible hiring models to suit your needs	The hiring process could take several weeks
Ongoing support and professional development of candidates

Read More: 21+ Important Freelance Interview Questions to Ask Software Engineers

General Upwork competitors

The general freelance marketplaces in this section offer a wide variety of services and talent categories. 

Since these platforms have a broader focus, their vetting processes are usually less strict. However, this loose screening often means you can find more budget-friendly pricing options.

Platform	Best For	Candidate Quality	Pricing Model	Key Differentiator
Contra	Creative/Knowledge-based work	Vetted freelancers	$29 per contract for one-time projects or $29/month for ongoing	Smaller talent pool, flexible hiring options
Crackerjack	U.S.-based freelance work	Verified freelancers	Non-transparent pricing	Focus on U.S. talent at a lower cost
Freelancer.com	Software dev, writing, design	Unvetted freelancers	Bidding system based on proposals	Large talent pool with competition-based hiring
Fiverr	Budget-friendly freelance work	Unvetted freelancers	$5 starting fee with service fees (5.5% + $3 for small orders)	Simple fee structure, low-cost options
Guru	Various industries	Unvetted freelancers	2.9% service fees, pay when satisfied	Built-in project management, lowest service fees
Localancers	Location-based freelance work	Unvetted freelancers	Zero-commissions	Free platform with location-based filtering
Onsite	Skilled professionals (curated)	Freelancers must provide work samples	No commission from clients	Invite-only, zero-commission platform
People Per Hour	Small business freelance work	Unvetted freelancers	10% service fee	AI-based freelancer matching
Speedlancer	Quick-turnaround tasks	Vetted freelancers	Time-based pricing	4-hour project completion promise
Working Nomads	Digital nomads seeking remote jobs	Unvetted freelancers	$199 per job posting	Focus on digital nomads, jobs posted to Google Jobs
Yeeply	Niche, specialized freelancers	Only 15% of candidates pass vetting	Non-transparent pricing	Certified professionals, formal project proposal handling

12. Contra

Contra is an all-in-one platform to source, manage, and pay freelance, contract, and fractional talent. Founded in 2019, Contra aims to help you scale flexible teams with a shared network of freelancers and contractors in one place.

Project pricing includes a $29 fee per contract for one-time projects or $29 per month for ongoing ones, with an optional $199 boost for more visibility.

Contra’s smaller talent pool is where Arc shines, offering 450,000+ vetted professionals across 190 countries.

Pros	Cons
Flexible payment terms and hiring options	Smaller talent pool
Vetted freelancers	Limited project management tools
Projects kick off one day after the contract is signed	Focus on creative and knowledge-based work only

13. Crackerjack

Crackerjack makes it easy for you to find local professionals and freelancers perfectly suited to your specific projects.

With a wide range of categories, it offers a wide range of services across the United States. If you’re looking to hire U.S. talent at a lower cost, Crackerjack is a budget-friendly alternative to Upwork.

Pros	Cons
Verified freelancers	Restricted to freelancers from the US
Supports multiple project types (hourly, fixed-rate)	Non-transparent pricing
Claims to offer the lowest fees

14. Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is a well-known Australian-based Upwork competitor. It offers talent-sourcing solutions for software development, writing, design, and more, making it easy to find the right skills for your project.

Freelancer.com’s large talent pool and bidding system lets you filter candidates by proposals and past work.

Pros	Cons
80% jobs recieve bids within 60 seconds	Unvetted freelancers
Only pay when you’re 100% satisfied with work	High competition among freelancers results in longer hiring times

Read More: 5 Tips on How to Treat Freelance Developers Like In-House Employees

15. Fiverr

Fiverr describes itself as “freelance services for the lean entrepreneur,” hinting that they offer budget freelance options, starting at just $5. Freelancers provide services across 100+ categories, catering to a wide range of needs.

While Fiverr is popular for freelance work, reviews are mixed, with inconsistencies in user experience. Arc connects you with vetted freelancers, ensuring high-quality results without the hassle of vetting.

Pros	Cons
Simple fee structure	Unvetted freelancers
Secure payment system to guarantee smooth transactions	5.5% service fee per payment plus a $3 fee for small orders, increasing project costs
Diverse talent pool	Low costs may result in low-quality work

16. Guru

Guru boasts over 3 million services available from 1.5 million members worldwide, giving you plenty of options to find the right talent.

With Guru’s Work Room, you can manage projects easily and track progress in one place. Their SafePay system ensures payments are only released to freelancers after you approve the work, giving you peace of mind.

Guru’s dedicated support team helps you navigate the platform and quickly resolve any issues. This reliable support makes it a strong competitor to Upwork.

Pros	Cons
Claims lowest (2.9% service fee)	Unvetted freelancers
Built-in project management, communication, and payment-handling features	Fewer of freelancers compared to Upwork

17. Localancers

Localancers is a site focused on sourcing “local freelancers.” You can search for talent by time zone, country, and language and filter by skillset. Freelancers skilled in creative design, IT development, writing, and more.

If you’re looking for a free Upwork alternative, Localancers is a good option. However, since the platform doesn’t display portfolios, you’ll need to ask for and review them yourself to ensure the right fit.

Pros	Cons
Location-based search	Availability of freelancers may vary by location
Zero-commissions platform	Smaller talent pool than Upwork
	Unvetted and unverified freelancers

Read More: Freelance Payment Terms: Fixed Cost vs Hourly vs Retainer Payments

18. Onsite

Onsite is a curated marketplace that connects you with both on-site and off-site freelancers. As an invite-only platform, freelancers must provide work examples before joining, ensuring you get access to skilled professionals.

Unlike many platforms, Onsite doesn’t take a commission from you, making it a cost-effective option. Its invite-only model guarantees quality, making it a good Upwork alternative for reliable talent.

Pros	Cons
Zero-commission platform	Limited freelancer diversity due to invite-only model
Instant freelancer matching	Lack of talent screening beyond approval
In-app communication tools

19. People Per Hour

Peopleperhour makes it easy for you to find the right freelancers. You can review profiles and portfolios and then contact freelancers directly to discuss your project.

Geared toward small businesses, the platform lets you award projects based on proposals and holds payments in escrow until you approve the work. AI-powered matching quickly connects you with freelancers, making PeoplePerHour a strong Upwork competitor.

Pros	Cons
AI-based freelancer matching	Unvetted freelancers
In-app project management and communication tools for better organization	£0.60 plus 10% service fee on payments through credit card or electronic services

20. Speedlancer

Speedlancer promises to deliver projects within 4 hours, making it great for quick-turnaround tasks. Just share your project details, and freelancers commit to completing it on time, with hourly rates set upfront.

While Speedlancer focuses on quick turnarounds, it’s not ideal for complex projects. That’s where Arc comes in, providing quality results tailored to your needs, no matter the project’s scope.

Pros	Cons
Vetted freelancers	Only one free revision, which may incur additional costs
Make a hire in 4 hours or less	Doesn’t support long-term projects
Manage multiple tasks seamlessly with a $500/month Concierge Subscription	Time-based pricing model

21. Working Nomads

Working Nomads connects you with digital nomads seeking remote jobs. You pay a fee to post job listings for temporary or regular roles.

Your job posting is featured at the top of the homepage for 30 days, ensuring it attracts interested candidates, unlike Upwork, where visibility can be limited.

Pros	Cons
Flexible hiring models	One job posting costs $199
Jobs are automatically posted to Google Jobs	Limited hiring support
Over 3+ million yearly users	Unvetted talent

22. Yeeply

Yeeply makes it easy to find top notch talent with a vetting process that accepts only 15% of candidates into its talent pool. You simply share the details of your project, and Yeeply invites freelancers to submit proposals tailored to your needs.

The platform handles the formal project proposals and ensures the contract is executed smoothly. With Yeeply managing these details, you can focus on your project while they deliver reliable results.

Pros	Cons
Certified professionals	Non-transparent pricing
Flexible hiring options	Suitable for both small and long-term projects
Specialized niche developers

Read More: 14 Toptal Alternatives to Hire Freelance Software Developers & More

Alternatives to Upwork for designers

These platforms bring together some of the best designers in the industry. Their networks are built on collaboration, where professionals share their work, refer jobs, and endorse one another. 

This section highlights top-tier design-focused Upwork competitors to help you find the perfect talent for your projects.

Platform	Best For	Candidate Quality	Pricing Model	Key Differentiator
Behance	Design services, creative professionals	Offers featured freelancer badges to top designers	Platform fees ranging from 10% plus $2 for small payments to 3% for larger ones	Large pool of creatives, built-in communication tools
Crowdspring	Quick design delivery	Profile screening only	Membership packages starting at $299 for 60 designs	Guarantees delivery in 7 days, IP protection for designs
Designhill	Design contests, custom designs	Profile screening only	Pricing varies based on contest or direct hire, 5% commission on one-to-one projects	Flexible hiring, 100% money-back guarantee
Dribbble	Design services, hiring designers	Review designer portfolio and feedback before hiring, advanced filtering to find the best designer	$150 monthly to post jobs + 7.5% platform fee	Escrow for payment protection, strong designer community
Penji	Graphic design services	Vetted freelancers (Top 2%)	Fixed-rate monthly billing, starting at $499/month	Unlimited design projects, AI-powered freelancer matching
99designs	Design contests, selecting designers	Profile screening only	Fixed pricing for contests or direct hire with contests starting from $299	Fast turnaround, ranked designers for easy selection

23. Behance

Behance is a social media platform focused primarily on creative professionals to showcase their work and connect with a global community. Their site boasts creatives who are available for freelance projects and full-time opportunities.

If you’re looking for design services, Behance is a strong niche competitor to Upwork, offering access to a global community of skilled professionals.

Pros	Cons
Over two million skilled freelancers	High platform fees, ranging from 10% + $2 for small payments to 3% for larger ones
Built-in tools for chatting, file sharing, and video calls	No vetting for freelancers. Only offers featured freelancer badges to top designers
Specialized candidates in design and photography

24. Crowdspring

Crowdspring guarantees delivery of a design within 7 days. You simply create a project brief, review submissions, and select the winning design. Payment is made upfront through one of three membership packages, ensuring flexibility based on your budget.

The Crowdspring team also offers free, no-obligation design consultations to help you get started. Their no-obligation consultation makes Crowdspring a better option than Upwork for businesses prioritizing design security.

Pros	Cons
Work with a network of creatives, receive custom designs, and pick a winner	Crowdworking can result in noise and inconsistency, requiring additional effort to filter through submissions
1-on-1 working option available	Lack of personalized hiring support
Pricing starts at $299 for 60 designs	Lack of free trial

25. Designhill

Designhill offers various services to fulfill your design needs. You can launch contests to receive submissions from multiple freelancers, browse curated galleries, or select a designer directly from categories that fit your project.

However, Designhill’s services can come with additional costs. You can avoid these by hiring through Arc, where you only pay the freelancer’s fee, ensuring a more cost-effective solution.

Pros	Cons
Flexible hiring options are available	5% commission on one-to-one projects
100% money-back guarantee	The cheapest design contest package includes designers with the shortest experience level
Unlimited revisions to ensure satisfaction

26. Dribbble

Dribbble is a platform for finding and hiring designers. Built on its original community site, Dribbble’s talent pool features talented professionals who showcase their work, processes, and projects. You can access a job board and a full hiring suite to meet your design needs.

To ensure you’re 100% satisfied, Dribbble holds your payment in escrow until the project is complete, giving you peace of mind as you work with top-tier designers.

Pros	Cons
Flexible hiring options	Posting a job requires $150 monthly
No additional fees for hiring freelancers	7.5% platform fee for hiring freelancers

27. Penji

Penji helps you avoid costly mistakes by connecting you with some of the world’s most talented graphic designers. Instead of billing by the hour, Penji offers a fixed-rate monthly model, letting you submit unlimited design projects without restrictions.

With its rigorous vetting process, Penji ensures you work with top-quality designers, making it a better alternative to Upwork for your design needs.

Pros	Cons
AI-powered matchmaker for personalized freelancer matching	Pricing starts from $499/month
Top 2% designers	Limited design services are included in the basic plan
Replace a designer at no additional cost if needed	Fewer flexible hiring options compared to Upwork
Manage all projects on a single platform

28. 99designs

99designs is a popular design-based platform. You can launch design contests with different awards attached as the prize — the greater the award, the more design submissions. You can also select designers directly or use a pro option for vetting and management support.

Pros	Cons
Choose between hiring a designer directly or running a contest based on your project needs	Lack of formal vetting process for designers
Fast turnaround time for simple projects	Only fixed price option available
Designers are ranked as entry, mid, or top-level for easy selection	Turnaround times are not specified

Read More: Hiring Developers: Freelance vs Recruitment Agencies vs In-House

Sites like Upwork for writers

Whatever your industry, quality writing is essential. From product descriptions and blog posts to email campaigns and press releases, every business needs talented writers. This section features freelance platforms where you can find freelancers on demand.

Platform	Best For	Candidate Quality	Pricing Model	Key Differentiator
Draft	Ready-to-publish content writing	Vetted top 1% of writers	$0.10 per word	High-quality, ready-to-publish content, fast turnaround time, top 1% writers, free revisions and rewrites
Problogger	Blogging, niche writing talent	Mostly mid-level writers, offering a good selection of skilled candidates	Membership starts at $10, and posting jobs costs $80	Great for specialized writing jobs, but lacks hiring support
Scripted	Standardized content, niche writing	Review past customer ratings to filter the right candidate	Paid membership with a 30-day free trial	Easy filtering for industry-specific writers, set prices
Text Broker	Blog posts, product descriptions, technical content	Writers are subject matter experts and in-app plagiarism detection ensures quality	Pay for freelancer work with no additional costs	Plagiarism protection with proprietary 3-fold detection
Writer Access	Finding and managing freelance writers	Review past client ratings to select the best talent	Membership fee, priced per word or content type	Integrations with HubSpot and WordPress for easy content distribution

29. Draft

On Draft, you’ll get high-quality, ready-to-publish content from vetted writers fast. Simply submit a brief using the platform’s brief builder or upload your own, and they’ll match you with a skilled writer within 24 hours. 

Once your content is complete, you’ll receive polished, publish-ready work with free revisions and rewrites to ensure it meets your expectations perfectly.

Pros	Cons
Money-back guarantee for your first 4,000 words	You cannot interview or directly choose your writer; the platform assigns one for you
Free revisions and rewrites	Heavily relies on algorithms to match freelancers
Top 1% vetted writers

30. Problogger

Problogger, launched in 2004, is designed to help you grow and monetize your blog while connecting with skilled writers for your content needs.

With its community of niche writing experts ready to respond to job posts, ProBlogger is a great alternative to Upwork for finding specialized talent in content creation.

Pros	Cons
Easy-to-use employer dashboard	Posting a job costs $80
Membership starts with $10	ProBlogger is solely a job board, with no hiring support provided
	Freelancers are unverified and unvetted

31. Scripted

Scripted is a paid membership platform that offers the first month free, making it easy for you to try out their services. They provide set prices for standardized content, with base rates used to calculate costs for special requests or niche writing needs.

Unlike Upwork, Scripted offers writers from virtually every industry, with easy filtering to help you find the perfect match for your needs.

Pros	Cons
Flexibility to invite writers to pitch ideas	Non-transparent pricing
30-day free trial	Unvetted freelancers

32. Text Broker

Text Broker allows you to place content orders for blog posts, product descriptions, technical content, and more from native speakers in up to 15 languages.

Textbroker ensures unique content with multiple layers of plagiarism protection. Their system checks submissions internally and across the internet using a proprietary three-fold detection process, guaranteeing original and exclusive content for your business.

Pros	Cons
Pay only for freelancer work with no additional costs	Unvetted writers
In-platform project management tools	No hiring support available within the platform

33. Writer Access

Writer Access makes it easy for you to find, manage, and hire talented writers. As one of the fastest-growing content-sourcing platforms, it connects you with freelance writers for all your needs, from blog posts to ebooks.

The platform charges a membership fee, and content pricing is based on word count or content type, allowing you to match your budget and project requirements.

Pros	Cons
14-day free trial	You pay for the platform subscription in addition to the writer’s fee
Direct integrations with tools like HubSpot and WordPress for easy content distribution	Only supports per-word pricing, which can complicate budgeting

Read More: Toptal vs Upwork, Fiverr, Arc: Where to Find Great Freelance Developers?

Other Upwork competitors

Some freelance platforms don’t fit perfectly into any one category but still provide valuable services. Here are a few you may find useful.

Platform	Best For	Candidate Quality	Pricing Model	Key Differentiator
MarketerHire	Marketers	Top 1% talent	Pricing starts at $5,000/month for the starter level, with options available at $10,000 and $15,000	Pre-vetted marketing experts, fast hiring, flexible contracts, save 70% costs
Credo	Online marketing consultants and agencies	Vetted talent	Free for clients, hires occur outside the platform	Great for reputable, vetted marketing professionals
Crossover	Long-term remote contracts for digital talent	Rigorously vetted talent (1% pass rate)	Full-time hiring commitment required	AI-powered shortlisting for top-tier remote talent
SoundBetter	Music production, specialized music talent	Vetted songwriters, vocalists, musicians	Commissions, in addition to freelancer pricing	Tailored services for music production based on client needs

34. MarketerHire

MarketerHire connects you with skilled digital marketers in just 48 hours. They offer a two-week trial, so you can ensure the marketer is the right fit with no long-term commitment.

Their marketers come from top global brands and startups, ready to tackle your needs. Share your project details, and MarketerHire will match you with the right marketer and set the ideal timeline for your goals.

Pros	Cons
Pre-vetted marketing experts	Pricing starts at $5,000/month for the starter level
Fast hiring process, typically within 48 hours	No option to browse the pre-vetted talent in the network
Flexible contracts (hourly, part-time, or full-time)	No dashboard or application to manage hiring and invoices
Save 70% on hiring costs

35. Credo

Credo connects you to reputable online marketing consultants and agencies. You can browse and contact consultants directly or create a project and receive talent-matching recommendations from Credo.

Since hiring happens outside the platform, the service is free for you. Credo’s vetting process ensures you work with top freelance professionals, making it a great alternative to Upwork.

Pros	Cons
Vetted talent	Not suitable for short-term projects
Free trial available to help you get started	Hiring can take 3-5 weeks

36. Crossover

Crossover helps you find top-tier talent for long-term remote contracts, making it easier to build a reliable team. With a rigorous screening process that only 1% of candidates pass, Crossover ensures you work with the best.

The platform also helps you manage remote teams, providing the tools you need to handle projects smoothly and efficiently.

Pros	Cons
AI-powered candidate shortlisting	Not suitable for short-term projects
Rigorously vetted talent	Requires full-time hiring commitment
Receive the top 5 candidates in your inbox daily until you make a hire

37. SoundBetter

SoundBetter is a music production marketplace that helps musicians connect and hire top music professionals. With thousands of vetted songwriters, vocalists, musicians, and mixing engineers, you’ll have access to experts across every area of music production.

You can browse talent based on your specific needs, such as budget, genre, reviews, and sound samples, to help you find the perfect fit. It is a fantastic Upwork alternative if you are working on music projects and need high-quality, specialized talent.

Pros	Cons
AI-powered candidate shortlisting	Not suitable for short-term projects
Rigorously vetted talent	Requires full-time hiring commitment
Receive the top 5 candidates in your inbox daily until you make a hire

Read More: How to Pay Freelancers: A Complete Guide for 2025

FAQs

Final Thoughts on Upwork Alternatives

Upwork might work for some, but it’s not ideal for everyone. High fees, a slow hiring process, and inconsistent candidate quality often cause frustration. Choosing the right alternative helps avoid these challenges and ensures a more effective hiring experience.

If you’re looking for a better way, consider alternatives like Arc. Arc offers greater transparency, reliable quality, and faster results. Personalized support allows you to connect with the right talent more efficiently. Don’t settle for less. Hire the best with Arc today.

You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:

⚡️ Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers
⚡️ Vetted and ready to interview
⚡️ Freelance or full-time

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