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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Read More: How to Pay Freelancers: A Complete Guide for 2025
FAQs
Upwork offers a large talent pool and secure payments, but high fees and varying freelancer quality may not suit everyone. Exploring alternatives can help you find a platform that better fits your needs.
Arc is the best Upwork alternative, offering vetted freelancers to ensure you work with qualified talent. Arc helps you hire freelance talent, full-time employees, or entire teams without any additional hiring costs.
Upwork alternatives come in both expensive and budget-friendly options. For example, Toptal is expensive, while Fiverr and Freelancer are more affordable; freelancer quality on these platforms can vary.
Arc stands out by offering pre-vetted candidates and personalized hiring support, all at no additional cost, ensuring consistent quality and better value for your projects.
Upwork alternatives offer vetted candidates and personalized support at no extra cost, helping you hire quickly and confidently.
These platforms ensure quality results and often include a no-risk trial period. However, freelancer quality can still vary, so choosing the right platform is key to meeting your project needs.
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
