One of the hardest things about running a profitable
agency is bringing on the perfect amount of talent to support your clients.
It's a balancing act — full-time employees are expensive, and hiring one means you need to have a consistent flow of work for them. But, if you don't have enough people working for you, it can be hard to grow and take on more clients.
When you have an overflow of work or need a specific skill set for a project, freelancers are the perfect solution.
But most freelance markets are saturated — nearly half of the entire global workforce (or
1.57 billion people) is freelance in some capacity. Especially if you're hiring overseas, you've got to be careful.
If you hire freelancers using a freelance site, you'll be able to vet their skills and experience without worrying about scams.
Key considerations when finding freelancers for your agency
You don't want to hire just any freelancer who's looking for work. Whether you need a logo designer, copywriter, or developer, there are tens of thousands of people out there offering those services. And they all have different specializations, levels of expertise, and working styles.
They also have different rates — "freelancer" could mean a $5 Fiverr logo or a $5,000 website design from a designer with years of enterprise-level experience.
So, before you start posting jobs and reviewing proposals, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind.
Skills
Be as specific as possible — for example, "React.js" instead of "JavaScript" or "Front-end developer." This will help you filter out unqualified candidates.
Experience
Ask yourself whether the scope of your project is more appropriate for a beginner, intermediate, or expert freelancer. A beginner can help you create a few new UI elements, but you'd need an expert if you're planning a full website redesign.
Budget
As a freelancer, setting rates is an inexact science. On top of that, some will charge hourly while others will charge by project. In general, the more extensive your project is and the higher-quality the freelancer, the more you can expect to pay.
Location requirements
Depending on the service you're hiring for, you might need a freelancer in the same time zone, someone who speaks your language fluently, or who understands cultural norms in a particular area.
Payment terms
For shorter projects and one-off tasks, "pay upon completion" is usually the best model. But for larger or ongoing projects, the freelancer will generally require a deposit and/or milestone payments.
Performance tracking
What does success look like to you and your clients? For something like web design, this could mean
creating an eye-catching website. But conversions and sales might matter as well. If performance goes beyond an easy working relationship and high client satisfaction, make sure you set up attribution tracking and KPIs.
Best practices for freelance hiring
Even if your expectations and budget are aligned with the market and you know exactly what you're looking for, there are tons of problems you can run into in the agency-contractor relationship. There are some things you have to iron out before proceeding.
Outline a detailed contract.
Lots of agencies choose to formalize the freelancer agreement beyond the platform’s basic contracting — especially for more involved services like full-scale web design/dev projects. Expert freelancers may even have their own agreement terms and contracting workflow.
It doesn't need to be dozens of pages and have a bunch of legal jargon. But it does need to address:
- Scope of work
- Deliverables
- Deadlines
- Payment terms
- Change management
You also have to think about the amount of information you're giving your freelancer as part of their project.
Things like clients' brand collateral, internal data, and documents should be kept confidential and secure.
If you’re sharing sensitive information or have private agreements with your clients about the work, make sure your freelancers sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before you send anything over.
Use collaboration tools to streamline your workflows.
Especially if you work with freelancers on a regular basis,
agency tools for project management, communication, and
design collaboration are a must. This will make it easier to keep track of progress, submit feedback, and share assets.
Most modern project management software is easy to set up and use. Setting up a new freelancer in Trello, ClickUp, Monday, Basecamp, or any of the others you've probably heard of is as simple as adding their email to specific projects and channels.
The same goes for communication tools like Slack and design tools like Figma.
Create a positive work environment.
Your freelancers aren't employees. And you are (probably) not their only client. But they're still a part of your team, and they deserve to be treated as such.
Freelancers are drawn to clients who respect their work, communicate clearly and kindly, and offer constructive feedback.
Build long-term relationships and maintain a "talent bench."
Not everyone you work with will be a home run, but the ones who are? Make sure to keep them warm.
Having a virtual "bench” of freelancers you can call on for particular services and types of projects is huge for your agency. It eliminates the risks of hiring someone you've never worked with, and you can hop right into the project immediately (without spending time hiring someone new).
Not to mention, they'll probably do a much better job once they're familiar with how your agency's and clients' processes work.
20+ best freelance websites for agency owners and managers
Without further ado, let's dive into the best websites for finding high-quality freelancers for your agency.
1. Upwork
Chances are, you've heard of
Upwork. It's the most popular freelance platform for hiring talent around the world, with over 18 million registered freelancers (hundreds of thousands of whom are active right now). In fact, we use Upwork at Duda to this day.
Upwork’s AI-powered job posting tools help you write clear, concise descriptions that attract the right freelancers. The platform’s
"Uma"
AI offers suggestions for refining job titles, skills, and scopes, ensuring high visibility among freelancers with the exact skills you need. It can also generate entire job posts based on your project details.
It also has a rich filtering system, including "Rising Talent," “Top Rated,” "Top-Rated Plus," and "Expert-Vetted," badges to help you identify the best of the best. You have the flexibility to choose between fixed-price and hourly contracts. And its escrow system for fixed-price contracts guarantees funds are held until you approve deliverables.
Best of all, service fees are fair. At 3% of the total project price, it’s about equal to what you’d pay if your freelancer charged a standard 2,9% credit card transaction fee by invoice.
For larger agencies, Upwork also offers enterprise-level features, including dedicated recruitment support, advanced reporting, and project-tracking dashboards.
2. Designhill
As the name suggests,
Designhill is a creative marketplace tailored for agencies that need high-quality design work. Its diverse array of designer service options makes it perfect for agencies running full-scale branding projects and multichannel marketing campaigns.
One of Designhill’s standout features is its
Design Contest
model, where you can start a project and receive multiple design submissions from freelancers around the globe. The crowdsourcing approach allows you to review a variety of design ideas, request revisions, and select the best fit, making it ideal for projects where creativity and diverse options are essential.
Pricing for these contests varies based on the package selected:
- Fast Track: $149
- Standard: $299
- Executive: $599
- Premium: $999
For more direct needs, Designhill also provides a One-to-One Project option, where you can collaborate directly with a chosen designer. For a 5% service fee, this feature is helpful for long-term projects or when building a relationship with a specific freelancer.
You'll also get:
- 24/7 customer support
- Money-back guarantee
- A
logo maker tool (starting at $20)
- AI-powered Brand Kit features
3. Toptal
Toptal is a high-end freelance platform designed to connect agencies with the top 3% of talent across tech, design, and finance fields.
What makes Toptal unique is its rigorous vetting process: freelancers go through a five-step screening that includes real-world test projects and ongoing quality assessments, ensuring that only elite talent is available. This exclusivity is what makes Toptal an ideal platform for agencies selling high-ticket service packages and complex projects.
For agencies, Toptal provides a
personalized matching service — you work with a talent advisor who selects freelancers that best align with your specific project needs, saving time in the hiring process. And the platform's two-week risk-free trial allows you to try freelancers before committing.
You won’t pay any fees, but keep in mind you will be required to make an
initial deposit of $500 to begin the engagement process.
4. Jooble
Jooble is a job search aggregator that simplifies freelance hiring by pulling job listings from a wide range of sources, including job boards, corporate websites, and social networks.
For
$200 per posting, Jooble offers an efficient way to tap into a massive pool of global talent. Its unique value lies in its aggregator model — it collects and updates job listings multiple times per day to ensure they're current. You're always looking at the latest and most relevant freelance options available.
It also offers
customized campaign management tools, which allow agencies to segment vacancies, adjust budgets, and optimize job visibility through a real-time dashboard.
Its “Advanced” plan (which costs
$500 per posting) offers additional features like segmentation, dynamic bids per click, PPJ (pay-per-job), and statistics of clicks on vacancies.
5. FreeUp
FreeUp is a specialized freelance platform that presents agencies with vetted freelancers. Its rigorous vetting process screens freelancers for skills, experience, and communication abilities, allowing only the top 1% to join the network.
FreeUp’s
customized matching system pairs agencies with freelancers whose skills align closely with project needs, which dramatically reduces the time and effort required in candidate selection.
You'll also benefit from a
flexible billing and support structure. FreeUp offers tiered pricing based on skill level (entry, mid, and expert), and the platform’s transparent fee structure integrates fees into hourly rates without hidden costs.
Best of all, FreeUp supports businesses with a “no-turnover guarantee,” helping replace freelancers if a project is unexpectedly left incomplete.
6. LinkedIn Services Marketplace
LinkedIn’s
Services Marketplace is a relatively new platform, launched in September 2020. It combines LinkedIn’s vast network with robust tools and features for sourcing. And it’s free to use.
The platform has two main benefits:
- Built-in integrations — As an agency owner or manager, you can easily access the LinkedIn network via your existing professional profile. You can also publish available freelance job opportunities on your company page.
- Advanced search options
— You can use advanced search filters, narrowing down by specific services and geographic location, to find freelancers suited to their project requirements. You can also review candidates’ profiles, recommendations, and endorsements for better decision-making during the hiring process.
On top of that, the platform allows you to request proposals directly from freelancers without needing to connect first, simplifying the process and enabling quicker engagement.
7. We Work Remotely
We Work Remotely (WWR) is a popular job board specializing in remote positions. It's ideal for agencies that need contractors for ongoing part-time or full-time engagement.
For clients, WWR offers a robust set of tools and features tailored to the unique challenges of remote hiring. Agencies benefit from WWR's high-quality applicant pool and
90% fill rate for posted positions.
You can refine job postings by criteria such as job type, region, time zone, and company, which allows agencies to target suitable applicants from specific areas or time zones efficiently. And it integrates with platforms like Google Jobs and niche job sites to increase visibility for job listings, broadening the reach to specialized candidates.
WWR also provides flexible pricing options, including discounted bundle packages for agencies needing to post multiple roles.
8. Indeed
Indeed is well-known as a job board, but you can use it to source freelance talent as well. Like WWR, you can use the platform to find remote workers for long-term, ongoing projects or fixed-term contract work (e.g., 6 months).
One of Indeed's main benefits is its
extensive reach. Job postings on the site attract a large pool of global freelance talent quickly.
You also have tools like candidate matching, screening questions, and assessments to refine applicant pools, which simplifies the selection process. And Indeed’s
employer dashboard
offers tools for managing applications, tracking candidate interactions, and scheduling interviews, all in one platform.
You can post jobs on Indeed for free, but promoting it will cost you a
minimum of $5 per day or
$150 per month.
9. Behance
Behance is a top platform for finding creative freelancers, particularly in the design and multimedia fields. As an agency, you can browse detailed portfolios and use filters to target specific creative disciplines, tools, and locations.

A unique feature is the “Hire Me” button, enabling agencies to send project inquiries directly, streamlining contact and project proposals.
Behance’s structured tools, such as
Freelance Projects, streamline client-freelancer collaboration and tracking, making it highly suitable for agencies focused on visual and artistic projects. And its
Featured Freelancer program highlights top-tier professionals for easier selection of high-quality talent.
The platform also integrates payment options like Stripe and PayPal for secure in-app transactions.
10. SimplyHired
SimplyHired is a job search engine that connects agencies with a broad spectrum of freelance talent, though it is not exclusively a freelance platform. For agencies, SimplyHired provides a user-friendly interface to find talent based on job type, location, salary expectations, and experience level across various fields, from tech to marketing.
One of SimplyHired’s advantages is its accessibility for job seekers — they can apply for free, while you pay to post job listings.
Agencies also benefit from
email alerts and tracking features, which enable you to stay updated on applications and manage candidates as efficiently as possible. And, it posts jobs through Indeed, one of the best job boards in the world.
One thing to keep in mind: SimplyHired aggregates listings from various sources, which can cause duplicate job postings. It also lacks built-in project management and payment systems, which are common on dedicated freelance platforms for agencies.
On the bright side,
posting a job on SimplyHired is free. You only pay to access a candidate's contact information. The cost to unlock a candidate's contact details starts at $4.99 per candidate.
11. Dribbble
With its vast, niche community of designers and a user-friendly setup for evaluating and reaching out to talent,
Dribbble is an ideal platform for agencies prioritizing creative excellence and streamlined hiring within the design field. Graphic design, UI/UX, illustration, branding, and animation are Dribbble's bread and butter.
It stands out by combining a professional portfolio showcase with a job board specifically designed for creative professionals. Designers on Dribbble share their work publicly on their profiles, and they communicate with each other in addition to using the site for job hunting.
This is what makes it an excellent place to find creative freelancers who take pride in their work, and build relationships with them.
For hiring, Dribbble is
invite-only. so you won't get spammed with unqualified applicants. You can view tons of work up front, and reach out to creatives who match the skills and style you're looking for.
12. Constant Content
Constant Content is a content marketplace designed to connect agencies with skilled writers. If you need a copywriter or content marketer for a web or social media project or need to
scale content production for a client, this is a solid place to find the person for the job.
For businesses, there are two primary methods of obtaining content:
- Custom content requests: Post detailed briefs specifying the scope, budget, and timeline. Writers then apply, and the selected writer submits content according to the outlined requirements.
- Pre-written content catalog: Browse and instantly purchase articles from a vast catalog, ideal for quick access to general topics.
Each article is checked for plagiarism through Copyscape and is edited by the Constant Content team for grammar, syntax, and readability, providing a level of quality assurance that many content platforms don’t offer.
The platform supports various licensing options — Full Rights, Unique Rights, and Usage Rights — allowing agencies flexibility in how you use purchased content for your clients.
13. Fiverr
Fiverr is another one of the most well-known talent marketplaces, with over 380,000 active freelancers. Its structured “gig” model, where freelancers offer predefined service packages, makes it easy to compare options, evaluate deliverables, and select the most suitable freelancer without needing a custom proposal each time.
Fiverr also offers a
profession-based catalog, which allows you to search for freelancers by skill and industry. And if you need a higher level of expertise, Fiverr Pro features a curated selection of top-tier, vetted professionals who are experts in their fields.
Like Upwork, Fiverr’s
messaging system enables clients to communicate directly with freelancers, ask questions, and set expectations upfront. And its escrow system provides a secure way to pay for services, with funds only released after project completion.
But Fiverr’s fees are steep. At
5.5% of the total service price, they’re nearly double those of Upwork’s.
14. PeoplePerHour
Despite its name,
PeoplePerHour is a flexible, AI-powered freelance platform you can use to hire freelancers for both hourly and project-based work.
One of PeoplePerHour’s unique features is its
CERT algorithm, which ranks freelancers based on factors like job success, community engagement, and repeat client work.
For hiring, PeoplePerHour offers
multiple options: you can post a project and receive tailored proposals, directly search for freelancers by skill or hourly rate, or purchase from a range of pre-set “Offers”—predefined service packages at a fixed rate.
The
Project Workstream tool centralizes communication, file sharing, and payment processing, keeping all project-related interactions in one organized location. And you can securely release payments through PeoplePerHour's escrow system.
Keep in mind that service fees are high on this platform. Once a freelancer is hired, clients are charged a service fee of
10% of the total project cost, plus a
£0.60 payment processing fee.
15. Guru
Guru is a comprehensive freelance platform known for its flexible hiring features and secure project management options, making it particularly useful for agencies. Agencies benefit from
WorkRooms, Guru’s dedicated workspace for each project, where you and your freelancers can communicate, share files, track progress, and manage invoices.
One of Guru’s distinguishing features is
SafePay, an escrow-like system that holds funds until you're satisfied with the freelancer's work. For hourly work, you have access to a
TimeTracker
tool to monitor logged hours, ensuring transparency and accountability on both sides.
Guru also offers
varied hiring options, allowing you to post jobs, request quotes directly from freelancers, or browse pre-defined service packages. And the only fee required is a low 2.9% handling fee on payments (refundable for eCheck and wire transfers).
16. Freelancer
Freelancer.com is one of the largest and most versatile platforms for hiring freelancers, offering a wide range of features that cater to agencies of all sizes. You can post projects in almost any field and receive bids quickly. Most jobs attract bids within minutes.
One of Freelancer’s unique offerings is its
contest feature. Through the app, you can crowdsource ideas by inviting freelancers to submit designs or concepts. This feature is especially popular for creative projects, as you can review multiple entries and only pay for the winning one.
Freelancer also offers various project enhancements, such as marking projects as "urgent" to receive faster responses or setting up private, NDA-secured projects for sensitive tasks.
Other features are similar to Upwork, Fiverr, and other full-fledged freelancer platforms:
- Personalized recruiting services
- Milestone payments with escrow
- Messaging system for direct communication
- Time tracking for hourly contracts
Compared to Upwork and Fiverr, Freelancer’s fees are much lower. For fixed-rate projects, clients are charged 3% of the total project cost or $3 USD, whichever is greater, when a project is awarded. For hourly projects, a 3% fee is applied to each payment made.
17. Wellfound (formerly AngelList talent)
Wellfound is perfect if you're looking for specialized talent for startups and tech-focused clients.

Unlike most on this list, the platform offers a
free Applicant Tracking System (ATS), allowing agencies to manage candidate applications directly or integrate with their existing ATS. This feature supports streamlined hiring and keeps the recruiting process organized.
For agencies looking for enhanced hiring capabilities, Wellfound’s
Recruit Pro subscription ($499/month) provides advanced sourcing filters, custom pitch templates, instant interview scheduling, and unrestricted messaging.
And with
Curated, a premium service, agencies receive pre-vetted candidates from the top 10% of the talent pool, ensuring they connect with the most qualified candidates for technical, design, and management roles.
For enterprise agencies that need even more specialized hiring, Wellfound’s
RecruiterCloud offers fully automated sourcing that scans over 500 million profiles and presents a shortlist of candidates tailored to the specific needs of the role.
18. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd operates through design contests, where you can post projects and get numerous submissions from freelancers worldwide. This setup allows you to review multiple options before selecting the perfect one.
Over 800,000 designers use the platform, so you'll choose from a broad array of styles and specialties for any creative need, from logos to branded merchandise to web design.
For contests, you can specify deadlines (ranging from 3 to 10 days), allowing them to balance time and quality by adjusting how quickly designers must submit their work.
Beyond contests, DesignCrowd offers a
One Designer Service option, letting clients select and work directly with a specific designer, which is better for projects that need a more controlled, one-on-one approach.
19. 99designs
99designs is, as the name suggests, focused on design, from websites to packaging to marketing materials. It's especially popular for logos, but it's also great for web design, social media, and full-scale branding projects.
What makes 99designs great is how fast and simple it is. You can initiate
design contests, inviting multiple designers to submit concepts based on a provided brief. Alternatively, the
1-to-1 Projects feature enables direct collaboration with a chosen designer.
The platform also offers
predefined services where designers list specific offerings with set prices and timelines (e.g., logo design), and you can hire them for those specific services without a bidding process or contest.
20. Working Not Working
Unlike traditional freelance marketplaces,
Working Not Working focuses on quality by maintaining a
selective membership, ensuring that clients have access to highly skilled and experienced freelancers.
Freelancers update their status to indicate availability, allowing you to quickly identify and connect with someone who's ready to take on new projects. Each creative's profile includes comprehensive information and a portfolio of work, making it easy to assess suitability for specific projects.
Agencies can post job listings or search for talent using filters such as skills, location, and availability, streamlining the hiring process. And the platform offers features that promote cross-collaboration among hiring colleagues, enhancing team efficiency.
21. YunoJuno
YunoJuno is an end-to-end platform for hiring, managing, and paying freelancers. It offers direct sourcing from their own talent pools and access to a marketplace of over
100,000 vetted contractors, facilitating quick and cost-effective hiring.
The platform
automates contracts, workflows, and data storage, ensuring smooth onboarding. It also supports global payments to contractors in over 150 countries, with options for instant payments, enhancing financial efficiency.
For your freelancers, it also gives you
built-in global worker classification, automated right-to-work checks, and misclassification indemnity, helping you navigate complex compliance requirements.
A unique feature most sites don't offer is
full visibility into contractor workforce spending through real-time reporting and downloadable dashboards. While lots of platforms facilitate project management, none give you the info that drives decision-making quite like YunoJuno.
22. Flexjobs

FlexJobs offers access to a diverse range of professionals across over 50 career categories, including IT, marketing, writing, and design. It's not a traditional freelance platform, as it caters to both full-time and part-time jobs, but you can use it to post freelance roles.
FlexJobs'
detailed company profiles give you the opportunity to showcase your brand and culture, in addition to your job openings. This helps you attract freelancers who align with the agency's values and project requirements.
You also have access to some of the most
robust search capabilities, which you can use to filter candidates based on criteria such as job type, schedule, career level, and location.
Like Indeed and other job boards,
FlexJobs is better for long-term engagements. You’d post an open position on there because you need someone for ongoing part-time or full-time contract work, rather than a one-off service.
Considering the cost, it’s also really only worth it if you’re a larger agency trying to fill multiple roles. Posting your freelance role on the site costs
$399 per month,
$859 per quarter, or
$2,999 per year.
23. Using social media groups
As an alternative to using dedicated freelance platforms, agencies can also leverage social media groups to connect with freelancers. Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit have numerous groups dedicated to freelance work in various industries.
Joining these groups allows you to network with other professionals and post job opportunities to a targeted audience. It also gives you the opportunity to engage with freelancers directly and get a better sense of their skills and experience before hiring them.
On LinkedIn, you can also look specifically for freelancers based on keywords in their bios. Or, you may know someone in your feed from the content they publish.
It's important to note that while you can circumvent freelance site fees, using social media for hiring can be more time-consuming and less structured. Get on a call with your freelancer before agreeing to anything, and make sure they have their own process for client management and invoicing.
Final thoughts
When you work with freelancers, it's especially important to have your internal workflows on lock. You can't expect a freelancer to know your company's unique communication methods or project management procedures off the bat. This means you should have processes and systems in place for efficient collaboration and seamless onboarding.
Duda's
website builder is perfect for agencies that use freelancers because it offers
client management and
team collaboration features built into the tool, which totally streamlines the process of working with freelancers on web projects.
