Remote work has become a default for many people in the business world, which has opened a lot of doors for the freelancing industry. People are turning to freelance with the desire to have more flexible and comfortable jobs. One of the advantages being, having control of their schedules and salary. 

Now, more than ever is easier to become a freelancer. Over 50% of Gen Z is currently self-employed, and companies are becoming more and more comfortable hiring freelancers over full-time employees. Freelancing is usually done on websites such as Upwork, Freelancer and Fiverr. Deciding on the perfect platform as a beginner could be challenging and crucial, as they all work differently for each individual since they come with their unique functions. So, we compiled information about these platforms that we hope helps you in your freelancing career.

Upwork 

Upwork is an American marketplace that offers millions of choices from its range of diverse jobs. By todays' statistics, the website has over 12 million registered freelancers and up to five million registered clients. Being a beginner on Upwork has its cons and pros; You're most likely to find the perfect work for you as it offers the most extensive selection of jobs. On the other hand, starting can be troublesome since you need to have a good reputation, contacts, and skills to compete against professionals.

Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is an Australian website that allows one to post jobs that freelancers can then bid to complete. There are currently more than 19,000 job listings to choose from on the platform and 8.5 million already completed projects. It is a good and safe choice for beginners as the website itself does not require any additional steps after signing up.

Fiverr

Fiverr is an Israeli company that provides a platform for self-employed people worldwide. They list their digital services from 300+ categories to potential customers and rate them between $5 and $500. Clients can then approach them and directly negotiate. As of today, Fiverr gigs can cost up to $995. According to Proceonomics, 96.3% of freelancers on the website make $500 or less per month. Fiverr is an excellent option for beginners because of the low entry barriers. The only thing you need is some patience and skill. 

Differences Between the Platforms

Freelancer has over 21 million users and has won the Best Employment Website award in 2015 and 2016. Despite this, Upwork is recognized as the world's largest freelancing site and trusted by some top companies such as Airbnb, Microsoft, GE. Upwork currently has over 5 Million buyers, while Fiverr has 2.3 Million. Fiverr recognizes and appreciates creativity, while Upwork has a more diverse category of skills and tasks and fixates on having professional freelancers on their platform. Fiverr charges $1 on gigs up to $20 and 5% on any payments above that amount. Upwork takes 20% of the first $500 from each client. And lastly, the fee of Freelancer for fixed-price projects is 10% or $5, and 10% for hourly projects.

Freelancing can be a terrific choice for your work life and your personal growth. Each platform has its charisma along with its advantages. Have you used any of the mentioned marketplaces, or are you planning to use them?