Today, we live in a gig economy. In the next decade, it has been predicted that nearly 40% of the U.S. workforce will work as independent contractors.
The gig economy is growing fast. Gig workers are so invaluable and they can help you do just about anything. If you think about your lifestyle, you are probably already employing gig workers. Here are some examples:
- Grocery delivery with Instacart
- Food delivery from UberEATS
- Driver service from Uber or Lyft drivers
- Errands run by Postmates drivers
You can hire a gig worker at an affordable price, as low as a few dollars per task. Gig marketplace powerhouse Fiverr is known for their $5 gigs.
For $5, you can hire a freelancer to help you with a variety of tasks, from video editing to graphic design, copywriting, and more.
From the freelancer stance, these small gigs are perfect.
Quick, fast paying work that can accumulate fast. Top Fiverr freelancers make six figures per year! If you are a gig worker, Fiverr is an awesome solution to help you find work quickly and make money.
But, don’t let Fiverr be your only choice for finding jobs. Take a look at these 12 Fiverr alternatives to help you boost your income as a gig freelancer:
1. Guru
Guru connects clients with freelancers. As a freelancer, you can sign up for free, set up your profile and start searching for jobs right away.
Here are some of the categories:
- Programming
- Design & Art
- Writing & Translation
- Business & Finance
- Legal
The jobs page will show a list of available jobs for each category, along with a brief description of the work required. You can apply when a job looks like a good fit for you.
The application process is pretty simple. You’ll have a chance to explain your scope of work, submit milestone payments you propose and determine if you’d like to automatically accept or manually accept the job, if the client decides to hire you.
The registration and set up process is simple and you can get started quickly. Check out Guru to get started.
2. Upwork
Upwork is a freelance marketplace that connects you, the freelancer, with clients who can work with you in projects. You sign up for free, then peruse the list of available jobs, that will be sorted by category.
Some of the categories include copywriting, social media management, video editing, web development, etc.
When you see a job of interest, you’ll submit your proposal. In the proposal, you can write a cover letter to the client explaining more about yourself, why you’re a great fit for the job, your background, experience, skills, etc.
In the proposal, you will include your rate and timeline, then submit.
If the client is interested in working together, they’ll send you a message and if you can negotiate the deal, the client will extend an offer on Upwork, which you can accept. Then work starts!
You’ll like Upwork because the income potential is huge. Projects start at around $10 and go up to $10,000+.
Upwork will hold the client payment in escrow and there is a nice checks and balances system in place to keep things fair and keep both parties happy. To get started, you can join Upwork here.
3. Freelancer
Freelancer is a marketplace similar to Upwork. You join for free, then you can apply to client jobs that are posted. Clients will reach out to contact you, if interested. You may get contacted from client jobs that you haven’t applied to, as well.
There are a bunch of job categories including translation, copywriting, animation, and more.
You’ll like the chat feature that allows you to chat on site with prospective clients. Interested? Learn more about Freelancer.com.
4. Thumbtack
If you are U.S.-based, you might want to check out Thumbtack. Thumbtack is a hybrid of Upwork and Freelancer but, for locals. Clients can hire gig workers to help with their local needs. These are for service professionals in industries like:
- Plumbing
- Roof repair
- Computer repair
- Resume writing
- Social media management
- Logo design
This pay-for-lead marketplace will hand you qualified leads for clients in your industry. After you join for free, you’ll get alerts that tell you when a client needs a job done. Email and text alerts are a nice way to quickly be notified that a new job is available.
After reviewing the job, if you’re interested, you can send a message and quote to your prospective client. If they respond, you’ll have your chance to sell them on your service and book the gig.
Now, it was mentioned above that this is a pay-for-lead marketplace. Leads will cost you. For each prospect that replies to you, Thumbtack will charge you a referral fee. The amount will vary based on the industry (like web design, resume writing, etc.) and when you are going through registration, you’ll have a chance to set your weekly referral budget.
You will like that Thumbtack has a remote option. These are typically for virtual gigs that don’t require a home or business visit like graphic design. Check out Thumbtack to learn more.
5. Bark
Bark is a pay-f0r-lead marketplace like Thumbtack. The structure is set up pretty similar to Thumbtack except you pay for leads as you contact prospects.
Here’s an example:
With Thumbtack, you can contact 50 leads and hear back from 5 leads. You will be charged a referral/lead fee for 5 leads.
With Bark, you can contact 50 leads and hear back from 5 leads. You will be charged a referral/lead fee for 50 leads.
What makes Bark stand out?
- Detailed information about the client, like if they are a new Bark user, if they are an engaged user, if they are urgently hiring, etc.
- Contact details: like phone number and email address.
- Discounts on leads: leads which don’t get many contacts or no contacts from freelancers will have their rate drop substantially.
Overall, the turnaround time is very fast. You can register for free and start contacting leads within 15 minutes or faster.
Some may shy away from paying for leads but it may make sense for your business to pay $20 for a lead that results in a $600 sale, for example.
Check out Bark to take a closer look.
6. Etsy
If you are a creative, Etsy is the place to showcase your work. Many think of Etsy as a platform for homemade or DIY gifts but there is so much more to this marketplace.
For gig workers in the creative space, here are some examples of services/jobs you can advertise:
- Website design
- Pre-made WordPress templates
- Stock photos
- Web development
- Fonts
- Calligraphy
Etsy is set up similar to Ebay’s store model for sellers. You can sign up for free, then set up a store. You will pay for each listing, with an option to pay extra for promotion.
This will be your own store showcasing your services. Etsy has a huge audience so it’s a great opportunity to show off your work and get more clients.
7. Creative Market
Like Etsy, Creative Market is a marketplace but, catering to the web community. They offer 7 main categories:
- Photos
- Graphics
- Templates
- 3D
- Themes
- Fonts
- Add-Ons
For consumers looking for creatives for their business, they will be a kid in a candy store. If you offer services in one of the above categories, this is a marketplace definitely worth checking out.
8. Amazon Services
You can build your business with Amazon Services. This hidden gem connects businesses with consumers in the service industry. Businesses are boasting nearly half of their business coming from Amazon Services!
Professionals like assemblers, house cleaners, and handymen are using Amazon to grow their business.
You can fill in gaps in your schedule or use it to fuel your entire business. Here are some of the benefits:
- Zero startup cost
- Real jobs
- Invitation only
- Service Amazon customers
So, you want to sell on Amazon Services? Here’s how it works:
1.) Get discovered
Your services/products will show in Amazon’s search when consumers are looking for service professionals in your area.
2.) Receive jobs
Amazon sends jobs to you from real customers.
3.) Get paid
Perform the work and get paid.
Amazon handpicks the best service professionals to sell in their marketplace. Here are some requirements you’ll want to make sure that you meet:
- General Liability Insurance: You will be considered an Amazon Home Services (AHS) provider and required to carry General Liability insurance limited to $1,000,000 per occurrence.
- Licensing for Trade Professions: If you are in a trade profession like a plumber or general contractor, you will need to furnish the appropriate licensing/certification requirements.
What you’ll love is that there are no sign up fees, no startup costs and no lead fees. You can prepackage your services and you will even have the ability to offer subscription plans for recurring appointments.
Learn more and sign up for free with Amazon Services here.
9. People Per Hour
People Per Hour is the place for quality freelancers! They actually do a quality check on all their freelancers, which makes them stand out from the crowd. They have categories like design, development, content and promotion. Once you sign up, you’ll have a variety of fixed budget and hourly gigs available. They have an escrow system like Upwork. Click here to join for free.
10. Gig Bucks
This platform, Gig Bucks, is similar to Fiverr. Gigs range from $5 to $50. These are great for small jobs that you can complete quickly then move onto the next.
The place for:
- Digital marketers
- Programmers
- Writers
- Singers
- Translators
- Advertisers
- And, more!
Here is how the process works:
1.) Buyers will search Gig Bucks for listings
2.) Buyer registers their account
3.) Purchase made and work begins
4.) Seller provides delivery of gig
5.) Buyer takes delivery of gig
6.) Seller (you) gets paid
Sound good? Get started with Gig Bucks!
11. DesignCrowd
If you are a designer, DesignCrowd is the place for you! They call themselves the #1 custom design marketplace. Consumers visit the site to have their custom design needs met. It works like this:
1.) Customers launch their project
2.) They receive custom designs
3.) They can choose a winning design
There are a variety of design categories including t-shirt designer, web designer, logo designer, flyer designer, and more.
As a designer on the platform, you’ll create your account for free then apply to the 300+ design jobs available. Jobs are high paying starting at around $90 to $300+ per project.
12. 99Designs
99Designs is the final Fiverr alternative on the list. With 99Designs, consumers will have access to a global community of designers to meet their needs.
As a freelancer with the network, you’ll have a chance to jump start your earnings by becoming a 99Designs designer. Design work is available in many industries and you have the power to pick and choose which fields you want to serve.
It’s free to join and you can get paid in as fast as 3 days, once you become a Top Level designer. There are two ways to use 99Designs to get work: one-on-one with clients and competitions.
A one-on-one project means that you’ll work individually with clients, similar to Freelancer or Upwork. You’re hired and you start work. You set your rate, you are matched with clients who fit your style, and you get paid up front.
The competitions involve clients posting a design contest and freelancers on the platform competing to win the project by submitting their design.
The best design wins. You can pick which contest you want to join, build your portfolio and skills and get a chance to explore new business categories.
For designers, 99Designs is a great marketplace to try.
Final Recap
Fiverr is a gig marketplace matchmaking clients with freelancers. It’s rise to popularity was partly a result of it’s $5 per gig business model.
It’s a great place to start your freelance career and earn money but you’re not limited to just this site. These options are just as good, if not better!
