Toptal is one of the websites that is quite good in the freelancing sector, and simply put, it works with businesses. They pitch this very lucratively, making it sound as if they have deep pockets funding them and that your future as a freelancer is more stable than working on Upwork and Fiverr, which makes it a perfect pitch. However, Toptal is very selective when it comes to freelancers. Here are a few Toptal alternatives that you should consider if you work at Toptal or are looking to start.
Fiverr: A Recognizable Toptal Alternative
The first Toptal alternative is Fiverr.com. I’ve been a freelancer for a long time, and when I mention that I work on Upwork.com, many people don’t know what Upwork is. Yet when I say I also work on Fiverr, they immediately recognize it. Fiverr is quite well-known.
Despite having practically half the size of Upwork in terms of market capitalization, Fiverr has effectively marketed its products. Personally, I’ve worked on Upwork for quite some time. I’ve also worked on Fiverr for a long time, and I recommend Fiverr primarily because it doesn’t require much of my attention.
The beauty of the gig system is that you set up your gig, and people keep searching for it; they find it, and they can purchase it. This changes the dynamic of buyers and sellers.
Upwork: The Global Leader
Upwork is my second recommendation, as it is the biggest freelancing website globally. If you want to make money, Upwork is a solid option. It’s one of the best Toptal alternatives.
I had a financial obligation of around $20,000 to fulfill in six months. Knowing this, I began working on Upwork intensively. I applied to numerous gigs, wrote personalized cover letters, and actually made it happen. I managed to meet that financial requirement.
There is a direct correlation between the effort you put into Upwork and how much money you can make. On Fiverr, it’s not like that at all; it doesn’t matter how much effort you put in. It’s about how well your gig resonates with people and your performance, which drives Fiverr’s algorithm.
These two websites are excellent Toptal alternatives. If you are currently working on Toptal, that’s fine. If you’re not, consider applying. However, if you are rejected from their application—something that is quite common based on my experience—then consider moving on to Upwork and Fiverr. You can earn significantly more money on these platforms as well because being a freelancer is not about the platform; it’s about the experience you gain while working across various platforms.
Toptal Alternatives Are Not The Only Choice
When you spend 10 years on Fiverr and 15 years on Upwork, you gain experience that allows you to excel beyond those freelancing websites eventually. I started on Upwork 15 years ago, and I’ve been working on Fiverr for over five years now. Nowadays, we generate revenue by selling our products online using search engine optimization, directly reaching buyers without intermediaries.
This experience is only obtained through years of working in the gig economy. If you keep that in mind, you will eventually transcend the limitations of the Toptal, Fiverr, and Upwork gig economies, and establish your brand that can sustain long-term healthy financial growth.
PS. We’re building the web3 gig-economy platform here on intensify. It’s a mix of freelancing with AI.
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