5 Upwork Alternatives for Finding Top Talent Faster

Upwork is one of the most popular global freelance platforms today, having millions of registered freelancers from all over the world with a multitude of skills and services to offer. Despite the wide pool of talent, however, some clients still find it difficult to secure the success of their projects. Companies are always on the lookout for an UpWork alternative.

Since the growth of the freelance economy, the options for both clients and freelancers have expanded. There have emerged new competitors that are becoming well-known for having an efficient hiring process. Let’s find out how these platforms fare in terms of providing the right freelancers for clients.

How It Works on UpWork

UpWork, previously known as oDesk, is among the first websites to enter the freelance scene. They have been developing their system for many years. On Upwork, businesses can find scores of independent contractors to delegate tasks to. However, there must be a reason why so many companies are looking for an UpWork alternative.

The basic workflow of these freelance platforms is for clients to create a hiring post and wait for the right candidate to apply and be hired.  On Upwork, the intelligent platform gives you a short list of freelancers that match the skills and requirements you are looking for. Moreover, your posting is made open to other freelancers who can submit proposals.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Depending on your needs, the UpWork platform may or may not be a good place for you to outsource your business operations. Before you start looking for a freelancer, or an UpWork alternative for that matter, you may want to weigh first the advantages and disadvantages of using the site for your hiring needs.

Pros:

• You have a wide selection of freelancers that are equipped with different levels of skills and experience.
• Upwork freelancers vary in rate. You can choose based on your budget.
• You do the interviews yourself. If you are the nitpicky type, this will work well for you.

Cons:

• The selection is too wide and freelancers with multiple skills may be chosen for the shortlist. This is not the best if you need someone who specializes in one skill only — the one you need for your business.
• The freelance market is global. Rates may vary in different countries. You are not a hiring expert who can gauge their competency based on their market value.
• Going through all those proposals takes up A LOT of time. What if the project is urgent?
• As a business owner, your specialty is running your business, not hiring. You can nitpick all you want on the applications but you can still miss some details.

Top 5 UpWork Alternatives

If you are a business and you’re looking for a faster and more effective way of finding top talent, check out these 5 freelance websites that will give you better options.

FreeeUp

If you’re looking for the best place to hire competent and reliable talent who are driven to excel, FreeUp is your go-to platform. The freelancers on this marketplace specialize in different e-commerce work, particularly on the Amazon, eBay, and Shopify platforms.

FreeUp introduces you to the level of freelancer you need with the skills you need, from advertising, marketing and SEO to web content, product copy, and customer support. They also have a pool of talented graphic and video designers for your website, social media, and other business needs.

Why is it a good Upwork alternative?

FreeUp assures you that you will be hiring from the top talent in the freelance market. This is possible with their system of pre-vetting all marketplace freelancers. FreeUp does interviews with hundreds of freelancers every week and allows only the top 1% to work through the marketplace. The application process involves a careful review of skills, experience, and work attitude. By means of pre-vetting, FreeUp drastically reduces the chances of hiring unseasoned applicants that may perform poorly.

How It Works

Just like every other freelance website, you first sign up for an account. Once your account is set up, you can submit a request with the details of the task you’re trying to outsource. You need to type in exactly who you need so you can get a good match. They will introduce you to the top qualified freelancer within a few hours and make your first hire.

FreeUp requires both freelancers and clients to setup a profile where they can manage their projects. Make sure that you choose the option for a client account and not a freelancer or agency account.

TopTal

If your business focuses on IT and finance and you need a freelancer with that kind of expertise, TopTal is the platform for you. It is the avenue where software designers, developers, and finance experts meet from all over the world. Global companies such as HP, Pfizer, and Airbnb, to name a few, are known to hire experts from TopTal.

Why is it a good Upwork alternative?

TopTal is a good alternative to other freelance websites because they have a niche. The network categorizes talent into more specific fields within each domain. These domains require an unbelievable amount of problem-solving skills, experience, and passion to constantly up their game as technology evolves.

They provide clients the opportunity to select from the top 3% of industry experts doing freelance and remote work through this platform. Applicants undergo a rigorous screening process to qualify. Out of the thousand applications they review each month, TopTal accepts only the top 3% (sometimes fewer).

How It Works

Before you create an account on the website, TopTal requires you to first give them an idea of the freelancer you are looking for through a series of questions. They also give you an idea of the price range of the particular skill set you’re interested in. For instance, the sample rate below is for freelance designers who specialize in web, mobile, and UI/UX design.

TopTal clients are given the advantage of working with freelancers at no risk. After gauging their performance on the test projects, clients can decide to drop or hire them.

Paro

Looking to build a group of finance experts to help you in your business? Go to Paro.io. Paro has all kinds of freelancers specializing in finance. They have the following talent in their network:

• Chief Financial Officers
• Financial Analysts
• Certified Public Accountants
• Bookkeepers

Paro works with the philosophy that every business model is unique and has specific needs. Their network provides companies the flexibility to hire financial experts for short-term projects or hire ongoing financial support.

Why is it a good Upwork alternative?

Like TopTal, Paro provides services in a specific niche — the finance industry. The advantage of hiring freelancers from this kind of platform is that you are assured that they are experts in their chosen fields. Even for Paro, which also does pre-vetting, you are certain that they know what to look for in the applicants because it is their area of expertise.

Paro’s multi-step pre-vetting process proves to be efficient for business owners who want to build long-term strategic plans with trusted financial experts. Through in-depth skills assessment and thorough screening, Paro accepts only the top 2% of thousands of applicants. As a result, they have experts with top-notch educational backgrounds, seasoned in respected companies like Google, Intel, and the US Air Force.

How It Works

Paro prefers to be a little more hands on with their clients. After signing up with them, they personally reach out to you to make sure that your needs are met.

Your work as the client is to do the final vetting based on a mutual industry and technology fit (i.e. whether they have experience with the business software you use like Quickbooks, Netsuite, etc.). Paro facilitates the onboarding of new hires and makes sure that they provide excellent service throughout the duration of the project.

Dribbble

Dribble, previously Crew.co, is an exclusive freelance platform of web designers, software developers, and small studios. They focus on creating customized apps and websites for any kind of business. The creative pool of design professionals has completed top-grade projects for big companies like Apple, Uber, and Google.

Why is it a good Upwork alternative?

Dribbble sets high expectations for its clients. The freelancers are pre-vetted and handpicked according to their qualifications in their respective fields. Their aim is to provide clients with highly creative designers and developers who have proven track records for launching products that work throughout and beyond the engagement.

How It Works

Dribbble has 2 options for clients to find and hire design experts from their website.

For business owners who want to actively participate in the hiring process, they have the Sourcing Platform. This self-serve paid option allows you to attract, engage, and hire qualified candidates. They currently have different plans and features that will surely suit your budget.

The other hiring option is Dribbble Talent where you can tap directly into an exclusive network of candidates. This UpWork alternative saves you the time of sorting through applications. It also rids you of the worry that you might make a bad hire.

Tell Dribbble about your project, your goals, and even your budget. You will have an expert ready to start work for you in no time. The management will be with you every step of the way.

Codeable

Most websites and blogs run on WordPress, and plenty of clients need their websites up to get their business going. Ultimately, you need an expert to help you get started. Codeable is a digital freelance platform that caters to WordPress professionals – from designers to content creators, maintenance, and support.

Why is it a good Upwork alternative?

A WordPress professional has his/her own expertise. Codeable follows strict guidelines to find the right match for every project. Through a rigorous testing process, the platform accepts only the top 2% of applicants to ensure that the freelancer you hire is capable of solving your problem and delivering results. 

Codeable is also known for outstanding support that is open 24/7 with a short response time. Easily post your project details with automated selections and have an expert contact you in minutes.

How It Works

The goal of Codeable is to make the process of hiring great freelancers simple and stress-free for business owners. They have a rather unique “Get Started” process for clients who are looking to tap into their pool of WordPress experts. Getting an estimate looks free. You just need to specify the details and create an account. However, if you want to ensure that both parties understand the task you are about to outsource, you can speak to one of their consultants for a fee.

Pre-Vetting Upwork Alternatives

Pre-vetting is the way of the future for digital freelance marketplaces. It offers a lot of opportunities for clients to succeed in their business by hiring top-notch professionals. Choosing Upwork alternatives that pre-vet talent saves you from going through numerous interviews when hiring is not your expertise.

You deserve to hire a freelancer with the right skill set, a proven track record, and a great working attitude that makes you want to work with them long-term. Let these hiring professionals do what they do best — finding the perfect freelancers for your projects.

Hire Top Freelance Experts

The digital freelance market has shaped the future of modern companies. If you are into e-commerce and need help with your online store or website, check out these Upwork alternatives to find professionals who can help market your brand, increase your conversions, optimize your business processes, or take over operations entirely.

If you want the top 1% of experienced freelancers who are passionate and driven to excel, visit FreeUp to take a look at what these freelancers can offer. Set up a call with one of the network’s founders to discuss further about choosing the right freelancers for your projects. Make your first hire with only the best on the market.