Which freelance platform is best?

Freelancing is one of the most popular forms of work these days. With the ability to work from the comfort of your home, the flexible hours, and the range of companies you can work for, it’s no wonder that remote work has become more common. 

From an employer’s perspective, hiring freelancers can be a lot more economical than hiring an in-house staff. 

Before 2020, it could be difficult to find work as a freelancer without an established connection. But these days, there are many platforms that allow you to connect to freelancers and those looking to purchase services. Today, we will be comparing two of these sites, Fiverr and Dribbble.

Fiverr

What is Fiverr?

Fiverr is an online, two-sided marketplace designed to connect freelancers to those looking to purchase services. Founded in 2010, the site originally had most services starting at $5, hence the name of the platform. But in 2023, the site has since become a global sensation, and is now a multi-billion dollar global company.

You can find a range of services on the platform, but the highest paying services are social media management, proofreading, resume writing, copywriting, and website design.

There are also more unique services, such as psychic readings and life coaching.

How does Fiverr work for freelancers?

Fiverr is completely free to use, and there is no application process, unlike many freelance websites. This means as soon as you finish creating an account, you can start making money.

As a freelancer, you will post gigs to advertise your services. Unlike typical job search websites like LinkedIn or Indeed, you will be posting advertisements and letting employers come to you for their projects.

While writing your gig, you want to make sure you include all the necessary details about your service, including your rate, timelines you can work under, and your experience. You should also include finished products of your service if possible, and positive testimonials from satisfied customers. 

Here an example of a gig from a top rated seller on Fiverr.

This seller also included a video introducing their shop and what other extra services they provide.

This seller is known on Fiverr as a top rated seller. This is part of the ranking system that Fiverr uses to rank their sellers. The levels are New Seller, Level 1, Level 2, and Top Rated Seller.

Every seller starts as a New Seller. This means you can post 7 gigs, add 2 extra services per gig, and withdraw your money after 14 days. 

To move up to Level 1, you have to

• Be an active seller for at least 60 days
• Complete at least 10 orders 
• Earn $400 or more
• Maintain a 4.7-star rating over 60 days
• Deliver a 90% response rate score over 60 days
• Score a 90% order completion rate over 60 day
• Achieve a 90% on-time delivery score over 60 days
• Receive no warnings over 30 days

 Once you complete this, you can post 10 active gigs and post 4 extras per gig.

The higher your ranking, the more likely it is that potential clients will purchase your service. Read below to see how you can level up Level 2 and Top Rated Seller.

You will be able to track what level you are in your dashboard, which is also where you can track all your orders, payments, and communication with clients.

Note – it’s important to remember that Fiverr takes a 20% cut from your sales, regardless of your level ranking. This means you will be taking home 80% of your total profits.

How does Fiverr work for clients?

You can easily switch between being a client or a freelancer on Fiverr without having to create two separate accounts.

Simply hit ‘switch to buying’ on the top right corner of your screen to start scrolling through freelance services.

Many freelancers will want you to message them first before you order from them. This is so you can confirm details such as deadlines, payment, and other important factors about your project.

When you communicate with your freelancer first, you can hopefully solve any issues before they arise. 

When you confirm the order, you will be automatically charged by Fiverr, but the freelancer will not receive the payment until the order is finished and you are satisfied with your product. Remember to only communicate on the Fiverr site.

Note – Fiverr will charge a 5.5% fee on all orders, and charge an extra $2 for all orders under $50 USD.

Dribbble

What is Dribbble?

Dribbble is a self promotion and social networking platform for digital designers and other creatives. This includes graphic designers, animators, product designers, and website builders. The site was founded in 2009 and has a completely remote team, meaning there are no in-person offices or headquarters. 

Dribbble has been used by companies such as Google, Apple, Meta, amongst other major companies. The site used to be invite-only until 2017, when they started allowing all designers to the platform, and has now helped over 40,000 users get hired.

How does Dribbble work?

Although the site is used to show off creative work, Dribbble is also a job board that allows freelance designers to search for jobs and for employers to post freelance positions.

Designers can upload snapshots of their work (these fragments of work are called dribbles) and get feedback from other designers, sort of like a social media platform. 

Although originally founded as a site just for designers, the site has switched lanes as now employers can be scanning the site to look for designers they like, post jobs, and communicate with designers about upcoming projects.

Below are some freelance jobs currently posted on the site.

However, in order to message or apply for these freelance positions, you have to upgrade to a premium subscription. 

For $5 a month, you can build your portfolio on the site, find career opportunities, including full time jobs, and sell your services. For $15 a month, you get access to even more features.If you

If you have a project and you need to hire freelancers, you can post a project for $9.99. Below is the type of information you will need to post a project.

If you want to search through Dribbble’s extensive network of freelancers and designers, you have to subscribe to a premium plan as well, either the Designer Search Access for $299 USD a month or the Designer Search and Job Board Post for $499 USD a month. These are recommended for larger businesses looking to hire full-time freelancers.

Below are some of the freelance agencies and profiles you will have access to. These profiles will show off their rates, experience, and testimonials.

Which freelance platform is best?

For more experienced freelancers and designers, Dribbble could be the site to check out. Major companies have worked with the brand and you have access to a multitude of well-paying jobs. From an employer’s perspective, if you have the budget for it and are looking for the best freelancers, this could be the site you want to use as well.

However, compared to Fiverr’s free platform, if you are a less experienced freelancer or just looking to hire someone for a quick little project, Fiverr may be the best site for you.

Which freelance platform will you choose? Do you use an alternative, such as Upwork or Toptal? Let us know below.