The online freelance market is competitive and certainly overwhelming to those new to the business of self-employment. You’re here because you want to know where the best jobs are at, but you’re also here because you may be wondering what the differences between these providers are in the first place. So without further ado, let’s get to our picks for the Top 5 online platforms for the seller of skill that you are:

1. Guru (their cut: ~9%)

Image from Guru

The selling point for Guru is the four methods of payment for your services – by milestones, by task, by hours, or by recurring payments – and how they are all made secure via SafePay, which has features like AutoFund and Dispute Resolution Service. It’s a great way for both you and your potential clients to smoothly agree on how things are going to be like moving forward with the projects you’ll be working on.

2. PeoplePerHour (their cut: varies and ranges between 3.5% to 20%, click here for more details)

Image from PeoplePerHour

With PeoplePerHour (PPH), you can work for either fixed rates or a tailored proposal depending on what and how the clients are willing to pay for the jobs they post. This means there’s a chance you can work with a downpayment up front if the client’s needs are more urgent or important.

3. 99 Designs (their cut: 10%)

Image from Stukent

Primarily focused on graphic designers, the highlight of 99Designs work is having multiple graphic designers compete in design contests posted by clients. It’s almost like a Gladiatorial arena where the last man standing takes the cake, while the rest go home with nothing. This may sound pretty cutthroat, but the advantages are that the client requirements are made to be as specific as possible, and you know what the take is from the get-go. This is also generally favorable to the clients as well since they won’t have to pay any given designer and risk a potential runaway. For you, this means you can expect plenty of jobs to apply for, which translates to more chances to win. This is a good place to cut your teeth in the design world.

4. Upwork (their cut: 20%)

Image from 99designs

Upwork is the largest freelance service network in this list and it’s easily the most competitive. You’d need to be very meticulous with your account creation, and once you have it up and running, Upwork helps by including you in focused shortlists that suit the needs of jobs posted by potential clients. This way, finding the best match for any job is easier, and you have a better chance at doing a satisfactory job.

5. Fiverr (their cut: 20%)

Image from Codeinwp

At Fiverr, you can start selling your services by offering them as “Gigs” which buyers then purchase as “Orders”. As soon as you complete and deliver the Orders, you get paid. Easy as that! Their ratings system allows you to work up your rates over time.