Outsourcing talent has, for many years, been the best way for small businesses and enterprises to find highly skilled professionals in industries like tech, marketing, and design.
Outsourcing talent has, for many years, been the best way for small businesses and enterprises to find highly skilled professionals in industries like tech, marketing, and design. With freelancers making up 36% of the American workforce, companies can explore freelance platforms where top talent awaits at as many hourly rates as you can think of.
Instead of turning to Fiverr—a platform that provides affordable solutions but comes with challenges such as inconsistent quality and a lack of long-term collaboration—businesses can benefit more from exploring alternatives. Take a look at the best Fiverr alternatives that come with greater reliability, better talent selection, and more tailored hiring experiences.
As far as one-time gigs and budget-friendly projects go, Fiverr is the perfect place to find web design and web development pros. Some Fiverr freelancers have an hourly rate of $5, and you just might be lucky enough to find a skilled professional at such a price. They also provide an extensive range of services, as you can choose from:
Fiverr is great when you want to complete your one-off projects quickly and cheaply, but if you are looking for a long-term employee, this platform isn't your best bet. If you are searching the market in need of high-skilled professionals, expect to run into a few problems if using Fiverr. You might be met with:
Let's say you are interested in hiring React Native developers who can scale your business. If you want access to vetted professionals and better pricing models, you'll likely find your perfect match on one of the best Fiverr alternatives. These platforms will also provide you with more control during the hiring process, and you'll be able to employ skilled freelancers at your own pace.
Hiring freelancers through some of the best Fiverr alternatives is also a good idea if you are searching for industry-specific professionals. Here are some platforms you'll want to check out if you are looking to hire a consistent Java developer who's dedicated to your success:
Empat is a software development company that helps both startups and enterprises reach their full potential. With more than 300 projects finalized across 17 markets, and many Fortune 500 firms as clients, Empat is best used for businesses that want to connect with highly skilled professionals.
Clients looking for long-term collaborations and top-tier web and mobile app developers can turn to Empat and avoid the hassle of manually searching through profiles. The hiring process consists of a few simple steps:
Empat not only excels at MVP and startup product development, but it also has a rigorous vetting process that ensures only top-tier freelancers make the cut. With free consultations and one month of free dedicated project support after launch, you'll get the best bang for your buck by resorting to this Fiverr alternative.
Unlike Fiverr, where services can come at a price as low as $5 per hour, Empat's hourly rates are in the $50-$100 range. For that price, clients get to enjoy a pool of worldwide talent with a company that has a client-centric approach. When in need of top-tier freelance talent that includes IT professionals, graphic designers, and full-stack developers, Empat is the way to go.
Upwork is one of the top freelancing platforms in the world. It's a perfect solution for businesses that need a broad talent pool, as the platform includes millions of rookie and experienced freelancers across many industries. Whether you need general freelancing services, like content writing and logo design, or are looking for talented designers and back-end developers, Upwork gives you full control over the hiring process.
When looking to hire specialists for freelance jobs on Upwork, you'll have to:
One of the main upsides of Upwork is having full control over the hiring process; however, that also means you are taking on all the risks. Hourly rates on this Fiverr alternative go as low as $5, with many freelancers coming from Asia and Eastern Europe.
Searching for your perfect freelancer is fairly easy. It's possible to fine-tune your searches and focus on specific services, although this can sometimes take plenty of time. If you want to avoid bidding wars when hiring remote developers, it's best to post your target price in advance.
Some of the most popular services of this alternative to Fiverr include back-end development, front-end development, and full-stack development. You can also find help with more general tasks, such as data entry and virtual assistance.
One thing is a certainty – with 18 million freelancers, a secure payment system, and more than 200 subcategories, Upwork is one of the most competitive environments around.
If the price of hiring freelancers isn't an issue, Toptal is one of the best Fiverr alternatives for you to explore. One thing that most of Toptal's competitors lack is a network of top freelancers, designers, and marketing experts. What sets this high-end platform apart from the rest is the fact that it accepts only 3% of applicants.
Unlike some other Fiverr alternatives where companies can find affordable assistance for freelance jobs, Toptal puts quality above cost. Whether looking to hire React.js developers or someone from the UX designer community, you should be ready to foot the bill. To get access to the finest software developers and digital marketing experts, you'll have to go through the following hiring process:
Toptal expects its creative freelancers to deliver top-tier services to your web development project. That's why they have a rigorous vetting process in place for all the job categories. To get access to Toptal's platform, a freelancer's subject matter expertise has to be successfully measured, and they have to show they have sufficient professionalism and rich communication skills.
Gigster is a unique alternative to Fiverr, as it combines the knowledge of top freelancers with the potential of artificial intelligence when building your project. They are among the top companies for software development outsourcing, promising to deliver your software at twice the speed.
While everyone in need of a tech solution or web development pros can use this platform, Gigster is best used for companies that are developing complex software, AI tools, and digital products. It's perfect for large-scale projects where you need to hire entire teams of Django developers, AI specialists, and graphic design professionals. If you decide to hire multiple freelancers through this Fiverr alternative, you'll have to:
What sets Gigster apart from other freelancing platforms is the hiring process, which is entirely internal. It's also completed using artificial intelligence, which matches clients and freelancers alike.
Generally speaking, Gigster offers a wide range of expertise, with services ranging from custom tools, apps, and software development to AI development. Companies love this platform's high-quality deliverables, tailored solutions, and inclusion of a manager with advanced project management tools for every project.
Full access to high-quality freelancers isn't enough for everyone; Gigster's initial AI-estimated project estimate costs can lead to higher prices. The good news is that those searching for Fiverr and Gigster alternatives have many other solutions to explore.
Guru is a unique online freelance platform that lets you work with international and local professionals, depending on your needs. Whether you need to hire a graphic designer or get access to professional services in tech and creative industries, Guru will connect you with a freelancer who will get the job done quickly and affordably.
Affordability is one of Guru's main characteristics, as they are a perfect Fiverr alternative for companies looking for flexible hiring with lower fees. They are not just one of the most affordable freelance websites on the market, but they also have a unique hiring model. To access their tech and digital services and hire a web developer for your startup, you'll need to:
The benefits of Guru are obvious – you get to hire talented professionals at a fraction of the price of some other Fiverr alternatives. If you don't like to spend hours on the vetting process, rounds of interviews, and less-than-perfect matches—all of which can happen when using this platform—then you'll want to focus on other Guru alternatives.
Empat |
Upwork |
Toptal |
|
Pricing |
$50-$100 per hour |
$3-$100+ per hour |
$100-$150+ per hour |
Service fees |
Custom |
8% or 10% Business Plus fee |
A flat fee of $500 per hire |
Services offered |
Custom IT solutions MVP development Startup development Product development Software development Mobile & web applications Discovery & validation Design |
Front-end development Back-end development E-commerce development Content writing Translation services Contract law Virtual assistance Data entry |
Web development Software development API development & integration Blockchain development Mobile app development Data science & AI Finance and business consulting Marketing |
Talent verification process |
Rigorous vetting process by Empat's professionals |
Upwork only verifies that you are behind the profile. The rest is up to the employer |
Measuring subject matter expertise, professionalism, and communication skills |
Talent location |
Worldwide |
Worldwide |
America and Europe |
If you are looking to outsource software development to a freelancer and are not sure how to pick the right platform, here are some factors you'll want to consider:
Your choice of the freelancing platform will mostly depend on how simple or complex your project is. Businesses needing vetted freelancers who can handle complex projects will turn to either Empat or Toptal. They have the most rigorous vetting process, which is why their global community of freelancers consists of the most trained individuals.
If your project isn't as complex, you can post a job offering on either Upwork or one of its alternatives, like Fiverr and Guru. Posting a job on these platforms is easy, and it consists of the following steps:
The good thing about Fiverr and its alternatives is the variety of price ranges. Small businesses with a modest budget can find affordable freelancers on platforms like Upwork and Guru, where prices start as low as $5 per hour. Enterprises, on the other hand, can search for their perfect match on Empat and Toptal, where you get high-quality assistance for $100 per hour on average.
Since Fiverr and some of its alternatives are best suited for short-term engagements, it's essential to consider your needs for long-term collaboration. If you need long-term support and want to add other services, like staff augmentation services, Empat might be the optimal choice. Toptal can also supply you with a workforce that's perfect for long-term collaboration.
How ready are you to perform talent screening by yourself? If you don't mind going through resumes, holding rounds of interviews, and reviewing freelancer credentials, Fiverr, Upwork, and Guru will be your top picks. If you want to be handed pre-vetted freelancers and enjoy some security, then you should focus on Empat and Toptal.
Fiverr is a solid option when you need one-time gigs, but when looking for something more permanent, your best chance of success lies in the best Fiverr alternatives. By finding the right platform, you'll get to hire the most qualified workforce from around the world – and it will be at a price that works best for you. Hiring the right person will boost the efficiency of your on-site team, which will lead to better project outcomes.
You don't have to get it right from the start to be successful—you can test a few of these platforms and focus on the one that best suits your needs. Some choose to start by contacting Empat, one of the best Fiverr alternatives, and gauging their satisfaction with the services provided. Then, they can decide how to proceed.
There are many Fiverr alternatives, with some of the best options being Empat, Toptal, Guru, Upwork, and Gigster. The platform you choose will depend on your needs and budget, as they serve different purposes and come with varying price ranges.
Both Fiverr and Upwork are good choices if you are looking for short-term assistance and don't mind taking on some risks during the hiring process. However, if you need more stability and safety, platforms like Empat and Toptal are much better options.
Some of the highest-paying gigs on Fiverr are SEO content writing, cover letter & resume editing, proofreading, podcast writing, and product description writing. However, a freelancer's hourly rate in any industry depends on their experience and portfolio.
Upwork is better than Fiverr if you are looking for long-term assistance with your project. If you are looking for short-term help and lower fees, then Fiverr should be your go-to platform.