Best Freelance Platforms for Designers to Make Earnings

The best freelance platforms for designers are booming! While there are a lot to choose from in the design industry, it paves the way to building a thriving independent career. From Upwork to DesignCrown, each platform offers benefits and challenges that vary depending on designers’ skill levels, experience, and rates.

Whether you’re a seasoned freelancer or a new designer seeking opportunities, these top 7 freelancing sites will make your project-hunting seamless.

Key Takeaways:

• Freelance sites allow designers to find work and improve their design skills.
• The best freelance platforms for designers are Upwork, Fiverr, Behance, Toptal, Dribbble, 99Designs, and PeoplePerHour.
• Each freelancing site has its own pros and cons when it comes to control over projects.

Also Read: 100 Easy Freelance Jobs for Beginners to Earn Money Online

7 Best Freelance Platforms for Designers

The number of freelancers in the U.S. was nearly 75 million in 2024 and is projected to grow to over 90 million by 2028. As a result, freelance sites are vying to be the go-to place for designers to find work. Here are the freelance marketplaces to follow.

1. Upwork  

Upwork is the largest global freelancing site with a broad range of project categories for designers of all skill levels.

Pros:

• Secure payments: Upwork has an escrow payment system to ensure freelancers always get paid for their hard work with fixed prices and are released upon job completion.
• User-friendly interface: Its robust search filters enable freelancers to create a striking profile that highlights their work in advance. 

Cons:

• High service fees: A designer’s total income may be impacted by Upwork’s 10% service fee on earnings.

2. Fiverr

Fiverr is a thriving marketplace for designers with specific design services. It is a gig-based model to start selling services quickly for direct purchase.

Pros:

• Flexible work: Fiverr offers a variety of services, including a choice of working hours, customized packages, and project selection, allowing freelancers to build long-term relationships with clients.
• Early payout: It has hourly payment options; interestingly, some freelancers can opt for early payouts to access greater financial flexibility.

Cons:

• Difficulty for beginners: The platform favors established sellers, thus, it is hard for new designers to get noticed and secure gigs.

3. Behance

This is one of the best freelance platforms for graphic designers​, named a portfolio marketplace for creative talents.

Pros:

• Integration with the Adobe ecosystem: Behance projects can be automatically imported into Adobe applications, allowing designers to share and update work seamlessly. 
• Easy application process: Designers can quickly access the tools and features to build and manage their projects with a single click.

Cons: 

• Competitive rates: The competition is fierce, with almost 12 million freelancers registered on Behance.

Also Read: 10 Best High Profit Business to Start: Minimal Risk in 2025

4. Toptal

Toptal marks itself in the business connections of freelance designers worldwide without bidding against competitors.

Pros:

• Exclusivity: It is a premium site that links top-tier experts who have undergone a rigorous screening process with high-paying customers.
• Connect with leading startups and brands: Toptal provides freelancers to engage in substantial projects with reputable brands.

Cons: 

• Hourly pay: Toptal primarily operates on an hourly payment basis for freelance work. This is a big challenge for multiple freelancers who prefer charging a fixed amount for a project.

5. Dribbble

Dribbble is not only one of the world best graphic design platform for freelancers, but it’s also a vibrant community to gain inspiration, feedback, and projects.

Pros

• Exposure and networking: Dribbble’s wide community enhances the designers’ exposure and network quickly. 
• Modern interface: The sleek and modern interface offers easy navigation and browsing across the portfolio. Plus, the “shot” function contributes to visual representations of a designer’s projects that capture a specific design or idea.

Cons

• Freelance project paywall: The designer must purchase a Dribbble Pro Business subscription to access job boards weekly.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Websites for Free Fonts in 2025

6. 99designs

Among the best freelance platforms for designers, 99designs is popular for its unique concept of crowdsourcing. Here, designers can respond to customer briefs by submitting their work and winning projects based on it.

Pros

• Exposure to a large client base: With the concept-based approach, designers can expand the work to a wide audience of potential clients.
• Design levels and benefits: 99designs allows freelancers to showcase their design skills across various styles and industries based on the platform’s levels.

Cons

• Potential for free work: Designers may submit designs without a guarantee of winning or payment.

7. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is a global freelance site that employs AI to match freelancers with relevant projects on a per-hour basis.

Pros

• No bidding wars: Designers have the freedom to choose a project and work hours options without bidding wars.
• High-quality clients: PeoplePerHour pre-screens clients, lowering the likelihood of dealing with untrustworthy or unpaid clients.

Cons

• High commission rates: PeoplePerHour takes a significant percentage, around 20% of freelancer earnings, as a service fee.

Also Read: 300+ Startup Business Name Ideas for Innovative Entrepreneurs

Choose Your Best Freelance Platforms for Designers!

While freelance sites have a fair share of pros and cons, they can be a big help for designers to find projects and update portfolios. To stay competitive, designers should upgrade their portfolios to attract better opportunities by highlighting niche skills, keeping up with design trends, and showcasing client feedback.

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