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Top portfolio career boosting platforms

We've handpicked the 30 best platforms for freelance and contract work.

30 best platforms for finding portfolio work
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There are so many ways to earn money as a portfolio professional – in fact, that’s part of the appeal. Anyone can launch a side hustle or turn a passion project into a lucrative business. And you don’t even have to quit your day job to do it. All you need is a good internet connection and a basic knowledge of your online tools.

There are (literally) millions of digital platforms and resources available for independent workers like you. Which is great because it’s never been more important to find work, build your profile and personal brand and diversify your expertise.

That sounds like a lot, we know. But don’t worry, we can help you get started. Below are 30 career boosting platforms that every portfolio professional should know of – from industry-specific job boards to learning hubs that will expand your skillset.

Ready to start finding work and strengthening your career? Take a look at our favourite job and learning platforms for portfolio professionals – and don’t forget to share any that we may have missed!

Explore the best platforms for:

The best platforms for freelance or flexible work

Upwork@2x

A global marketplace for freelancers trusted by some of the world’s biggest businesses

Suitable for

Ideal for experienced freelancers with clients often choosing quality and experience over price.

Top work opportunities:

Data, Video editing, development, content creation, graphic design, bookkeeping
  • Big name clients like Microsoft, IBM, AirBnB
  • Safe ‘escrow’ payment functionality
  • Easy to use platform
  • ‘Job Success Score’ isn’t always clear
  • Often relatively low paying opportunities
  • Platform takes 20% commission
Freelancer platform for portfolio work

The world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace

Suitable for

All kinds of freelancers who are prepared to hustle to justify the monthly fees

Top work opportunities:

Graphic design, development, data entry, SEO, copywriting, web design
  • Has lots of registered clients
  • The largest freelancing marketplace
  • Relatively low 10% commission rate
  • Highly competitive
  • Expensive plans
  • Slow customer support
Fiverr platform for portfolio work

A freelancing community that lets you work your way and enjoy complementary courses

Suitable for

Creative freelancers looking to build skills and win shorter project work

Top work opportunities:

Graphic design, digital marketing, writing and translation, video, music and audio, programming and tech
  • Diverse range of job listings
  • Lots of creative opportunities on offer
  • More opportunities for new freelancers
  • Platform takes 20% commission
  • Lots of low paying jobs and projects
  • Limited number of bids
People Per Hour platform for portfolio work

A certified freelance community that matches the opportunities to you

Suitable for

Freelancers who are looking to build their profile, get reviews and increase their rates

Top work opportunities:

Content writing, illustration, social media strategy, programming, PPC and paid search, admin assistance
  • Diverse range of roles
  • Easy-to-use website
  • Clear pricing structure
  • Have to complete 2+ projects in 3 months or account will be suspended
  • Spam job postings
  • Relatively high commission rates
flexa@2x

Work with accredited companies that offer flexible options, dog-friendly offices and the ability to dial in from anywhere

Suitable for

Portfolio professionals that want guaranteed flexibility and the comfort of knowing they’re working with trusted organisations

Top work opportunities:

Marketing, finance, product, design, operations management, HR and recruitment, business development
  • Can filter based on desired flexibility
  • Big name clients such as Farfetch, Bloom and Wild and Allianz
  • Easy sign-up process and free to use
  • Highly competitive
  • Limitations to how flexible some roles are
timewise jobs@2x

Find part-time jobs and flexible working options that match your skills and requirements

Suitable for

Professionals who want guaranteed flexibility in a range of industries and career levels

Top work opportunities:

Finance, admin, HR and recruitment, marketing and PR, retail, customer service, engineering
  • Big name clients like GSK, Lloyds Banking Group, Ernst and Young
  • Useful search filters
  • Platform is free to use
  • Limited range of roles available
  • Website isn’t the easiest to use

The best platforms for digital marketing work

Traktion platform for portfolio work

An exclusive global community for top freelance marketing talent

Suitable for

Digital marketing experts looking for hourly, daily or monthly work with pre-vetted companies

Top work opportunities:

SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, PPC, performance marketing, copywriting
  • Top 5% of digital marketers
  • Highly-skilled opportunities
  • Big name clients like Uber, Spotify and Deliveroo
  • 4-step screening process
  • Chooses freelancers who are in similar time zones to clients
  • Platform takes 17% commission
YunoJuno platform for portfolio work

The UK’s largest marketplace for creative and tech freelancers

Suitable for

Experienced professionals who want to work on long-term projects with teams both remotely and on-site

Top work opportunities:

Client services, data analysis, UX and UI design, web development, market research, project management, strategy
  • Big name clients like Google, BBC and Netflix
  • Diverse, interesting projects
  • Platform is free to use
  • Lengthy onboarding process
  • Competitive
  • Can take 2+ weeks to clear your payment
Skyword platform for portfolio work

An elite creator network for those that want to create content with purpose

Suitable for

Creative freelancers who don’t want to have to worry about the admin side of things

Top work opportunities:

Content marketing, web design, graphic design, video, photography, social media marketing
  • Professional clients
  • Collaborative work with other freelancers
  • Admin is handled by platform
  • Not a reliable way to find enough work
  • Competitive
  • 4-step sign up process
Conently 300x300

A network for creatives who want to work with top brands on high-quality projects

Suitable for

Creatives who want to establish their portfolio, get paid top rates and gain access to big corporate gigs

Top work opportunities:

Writers, filmmakers, designers, editors, illustrators, social media managers
  • Big name clients like Marriott, American Express, Dell
  • Easy payment system
  • Platform is free to use
  • Can take a while to get ‘found’
  • The editing process can be painful
  • Highly competitive

The best platforms for purpose-driven work

Goodsted platform for portfolio work

Collaborate and discover causes you care about by working with social good organisations

Suitable for

Individuals looking to gain experience, collaborate with others and doing good

Top work opportunities:

Digital marketing, mentoring, copywriting, business consultation, brand strategy, legal advice, user testing
  • Anyone can join
  • Great for building skills in new areas and industries
  • Platform is free to use
  • Projects are unpaid
  • Platform is in beta
75497652_10157475340078190_8997016651786354688_n

An expert-led community of 500k+ purpose-driven professionals and progressive employees

Suitable for

Those who want to to find work that aligns with their values and attend relevant events and courses

Top work opportunities:

Sales and business development, operations, PR and communications, Marketing, Project management, Strategy
  • A diverse range of opportunities
  • Purpose-led work
  • Easy-to-navigate website
  • Majority of roles are full-time
  • Highly competitive
80000 hours logo@2x

Find jobs that tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems

Suitable for

Professionals who want to do good and build a high-impact career

Top work opportunities:

AI safety and policy, biosecurity, research, factory farming, global health and poverty, sustainability
  • Completely free to use
  • Easy sign-up process
  • Opportunities all over the world
  • Access to a Slack community
  • Jobs board is updated twice a month
  • Lots of competition
  • Website is a little clunky
Asset 50@2x

A social change careers platform for people searching for full and part-time work

Suitable for

Professionals who want to work with companies that are serious about diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Top work opportunities:

Operations, finance, marketing, PR, sales, customer service, tech, strategy and development
  • Big name clients like Amazon, Virgin Money, Sky
  • Diverse range of jobs
  • Platform is free to use
  • Approval needed for use
  • Limited range of roles available

The best platforms for tech and startup work

TPC logo@2x

A global community for portfolio professionals connecting the world’s top senior talent with innovative and purpose-driven startups

Suitable for

Senior level consultants, NEDS, mentors, advisors and portfolio professionals who want to help shape an exciting startup or scaleup

Top work opportunities:

Business development, mentoring, product management, finance, operations, advisory board roles
  • Mix of full-time, flexible and fractional roles
  • Community is free to join
  • Can connect and collaborate with 7,000+ professionals
  • Not all jobs are paid
  • Mostly top level roles
Work in Startups platform for portfolio work

The UK’s number one site for startup work

Suitable for

Individuals who exclusively want to work with startups or scaleups

Top work opportunities:

Web development, co-founder roles, marketing, operations, finance, customer support, sales, product development
  • Wide variety of jobs
  • Real opportunities and less spam
  • Platform is free to use
  • Majority of projects are tech-related
  • Website is slightly clunky
Otta logo@2x

A smart, AI-driven job board that matches you with roles based on your interests and preferences

Suitable for

Professionals who want to work with innovative tech startups that match their values

Top work opportunities:

A diverse range of roles that are tailored based on your unique interests and experience
  • Big name companies like Deliveroo, AirBnB, Spotify
  • Unique job search functionality that considers things like company culture
  • Over 70,000 live jobs at one time
  • Majority of roles are full-time
  • Highly competitive
  • You can’t browse through all available jobs
  • Response rates can be low
Toptal platform for portfolio work

An exclusive network for the world’s top 3% freelance talent in business, design and technology

Suitable for

Freelancers who specialise in business, design and technology that want to work with big name brands

Top work opportunities:

Software engineering, UX and UI design, finance, graphic design, startup funding, product management
  • Big clients such as Heinz, Shopify, Motorola
  • High paying roles
  • Platform is free to use
  • Difficult screening process
  • Unknown commission rates – speculated that commission comes from hiring clients
  • Lots of competition
brandbird-2-e1635946183715

A fractional talent marketplace for startups

Suitable for

Senior level and C-Suite executives looking to work between 5-25 hours per week

Top work opportunities:

Saas, FinTech, HealthTech, Ecommerce, Energy
  • A great platform to compare similar roles
  • You won’t waste time scrolling through irrelevant jobs
  • Well-paid opportunities
  • Commission rate is unclear
  • Apply to be put on a waitlist
  • Limited roles compared to other sites
Screenshot 2022-08-03 at 14.50.06

Where the most exciting companies meet top female talent

Suitable for

Women in business looking to work with up-and-coming tech companies

Top work opportunities:

Software engineering, marketing, sales, business operations, finance, design, data and analytics
  • Easy to sign up
  • Easy-to-use platform
  • Free to access
  • Limited roles available
  • Relatively niche opportunities
Clarity@2x

Startup advice from world class experts

Suitable for

Experts in their field looking to advise and mentor exciting startups

Top work opportunities:

Entrepreneurship, marketing, business strategy, business development, strategic planning
  • Easy sign-up process
  • You decide on your work and set your rate
  • Great for building expertise and growing reach
  • Average earnings for 30 min call is $50, so low for some experts
  • Platform takes 15% commission
  • Highly competitive

The best platforms for consultant or advisor work

Eden McCallum platform for portfolio work

Combines the best of traditional strategy consulting and freelancing with a new model that delivers a lasting impact

Suitable for

Individuals with previous experience in strategy consulting

Top work opportunities:

Strategy consulting, interim management, project management, growth management, organisational design
  • Big name clients like Tesco, Pfizer and Shell
  • High paying long-term roles
  • Platform is free to use
  • Low volume of work
  • Highly competitive
  • Must have 3-5 years top level consulting experience to join
GLG platform for portfolio work

GLG

A network of trusted experts and professionals sharing insight with some of the world’s leading organisations

Suitable for

Industry and subject matter experts with their finger on the pulse of the latest trends

Top work opportunities:

Exclusively for industry and subject matter experts looking to consult
  • Good hourly rate
  • Great for building on established expertise
  • Platform is free to use
  • Lots of compliance rules as work is linked to investing
  • You can’t talk about your own employer, so industry and subject matter knowledge needs to be broader
Move Me On platform for portfolio work

A global hub of strategy and consultant opportunities for both permanent and freelance roles

Suitable for

Experienced expert consultants who want to take on strategic roles in startups, consultancies and industry-leading businesses around the world

Top work opportunities:

Strategy consultancy, interim management, project management, industry expertise
  • Big name clients like Amazon, Unilever and GSK
  • Interesting opportunities
  • High paying roles
  • Difficult to join for new freelancers
  • Platform takes 12.5-25% commission
  • Highly competitive
  • Roles mostly for strategy consultants
Nurole platform for portfolio work

The hiring platform for chairs and chief executives building high-impact boards

Suitable for

Seasoned executives with standout skills who want to make a difference

Top work opportunities:

Exclusively for non-executive board roles
  • Relevant board opportunities get emailed to you
  • Highly paid roles
  • Platform is free to use
  • Very competitive
  • Can only join via referral
  • Limited opportunities available

The best generalist job platforms

LinkedIn platform for portfolio work

The social networking for managing your professional identity, building your brand and finding work

Suitable for

Individuals who want to grow their network, get involved in trending conversations and find new opportunities

Top work opportunities:

Software engineering, sales, project management, operations and development, business analysis, marketing
  • Diverse range of opportunities
  • Used by a number of big companies
  • Easy to apply
  • Fewer part time jobs
  • Lots of competition
  • Lots of expired roles
Indeed platform for portfolio work

One of the world’s largest job sites that puts job seekers first, giving them free access to opportunities

Suitable for

Those seeking part-time and permanent work in a range of industries and organisations

Top work opportunities:

Client services, data analysis, UX and UI design, healthcare, customer service, marketing, HR
  • Can filter for part-time, contract or temporary work
  • No fees required to apply for roles
  • Diverse range of roles and companies on the platform
  • Lots of competition
  • May be some spam roles
  • Some roles are expired and are low quality

The best platforms for diversifying your experience

Skillshare platform for portfolio work

Explore thousands of hands-on creative classes and share your passion worldwide

Suitable for

Those who already have the resources to teach and want to reach a wider audience (and even learn something themselves along the way)

Top work opportunities:

Course creation, animation, design, illustration, photography, film, business, content creation
  • Low barriers to entry
  • Helps build reputation and expertise
  • Platform is free to use
  • Higher payments are dependent on the audience you bring to the platform
  • Can take a while to get ‘found’
  • Commission varies based on the role
1200px-Coursera-Logo_600x600.svg

A global learning platform that offers remote access to online courses and degrees from world-class universities and organisation

Suitable for

Anyone who wants to gain new knowledge, master a specific skill or design a certified online course

Top work opportunities:

Business skills, data science, engineering, information technology, personal development
  • 4,000+ courses you can complete in a day
  • Free courses available
  • Access university courses online
  • Online degrees can be expensive
  • Only partners with universities, businesses and industry leaders

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