11 Best Freelance Websites for College Students to Find Work

As a college student, finding ways to earn extra money while balancing your studies and extracurricular activities can be challenging.

Luckily, freelance websites offer a great opportunity for students to find flexible, remote work that allows them to earn money on their own terms.

Check out our list so you can start spending (or saving) your hard-earned cash.

Top Freelance Websites for College Students to Find Work

1. Fiverr

Best for beginners

Fiverr has been out there for ages and has become a popular place for companies of all sizes to source all sorts of talent, making it a great place to get started as a freelancer.

One of the best things about Fiverr is that anyone can create a profile for any specialty. Some of the popular services offered by freelancers on Fiverr include web design and development and freelance writing, but freelancers offer other unique skills like online tutoring and even gaming.

We like this for beginners because it’s so easy to make a new profile and get started in no time. You also have access to a large community of freelancers that you can communicate with and learn from.

2. Dribbble

Best for designers

Whether you’re into graphic design or custom illustration, Dribbble is the freelancing site you should check out.

College students can find jobs in everything from product design to illustration and animation.

It’s easy to showcase your talent on Dribbble since you can post your stellar portfolio and have your work speak for itself to get possible clients to check you out.

They even offer courses for young and new designers to refine their skills and learn more about their industry, so you can take a class when you’re not… in class.

There is also the option for a pro membership that costs around $5 to $15 per month and grants you access to premium features and exclusive job postings.

3. Upwork

Runner up for beginners

Another great option for college students just starting in the world of freelancing is Upwork.

Upwork makes it easy to find job openings filtered by your skills and level of experience. You have a certain amount of connections per month, each corresponding to the quantity and quality of jobs you can apply to. You get a few for free each month, but you do have to buy more if you run out.

Upwork is the first site I used as a freelance copywriter, and it ultimately led me to where I am today, so I’m personally a fan of the site to find work.

They do take a 20% service fee on any earnings you make, but you do have the option to set your own rates.

4. TaskRabbit

Best for local freelance work

If you’re looking for a local in-person gig, TaskRabbit is the best place for a college student to look for work.

This site offers everything from IKEA furniture assembly to fixing a toilet to gardening and cleaning, making it a great place for college students to make an extra buck. Most tasks take only an hour or two, so it’s great if you have a free Saturday afternoon and need to make rent.

Taskers need to pay a $25 registration fee upfront but can then set their own rates and hours, offering whichever services they feel confident in doing. College students set up a map of where they’re willing to travel for work and availability.

5. Toptal

Best for tech freelancers with experience

Toptal is a quality freelancing site that requires all freelancers to go through a rigorous screening process.

Because it is hard to become a part of this team, we recommend it for college students who may already have a bit of work under their belt and more advanced knowledge of their specialty.

With this comes a higher paycheck. The high-talent freelancers on Toptal make a good amount more on their projects due to and are hand-matched to pre-vetted companies that they think will be a good fit for you.

6. Freelancer

Freelancer is one of the original freelancing marketplace platforms, and it remains one of the most popular.

We like Freelancer for college students because they also hold competitions for visual design with the opportunity for a cash prize.

You also have the opportunity to search for urgent requests from clients who require a freelancer to complete a project within the next 24 hours. These requests often pay more since they are on such a tight deadline.

7. Behance

Unlike other sites on this list, Behance is more of a social network for artists, photographers, and other visual creators.

With this site, college students upload their portfolios featuring their animated, photographed, or designed work for others to see. You can also follow peers, see other designers' work and maybe draw inspiration.

They also have a job list feature that freelancers can check out to see what sort of job descriptions will best suit them and their skills.

This platform is a great place for artists to get discovered by companies in search of original artwork for their projects.

8. People Per Hour

People Per Hour is another popular site for freelancers from all backgrounds and areas of expertise to go and find gigs.

We love this site because of the huge variety of career paths offered across multiple different industries. Whether you’re a programmer, a journalist, or a designer, you can create a winning profile and find success on the platform.

The site uses AI to match freelancers with businesses that will mesh well together.

There is a 20% fee on earnings up to $350, but luckily this percentage goes down the more money you make.

9. Angel List

If you’re a college student looking for a startup to grow with, Angel List has you covered.

This site uniquely focuses on freelancers that are interested in working with startups as clients. Since they do place their focus here, you can find exclusive opportunities with businesses at their beginning stages, possibly allowing you to grow alongside their business.

It’s also important to note that Angel List is recruiting freelancers in the tech space, so it’s great for those looking for remote tech positions.

10. Flexjobs

Flexjobs matches freelancers with clients based on project and contract length.

This makes it a great option for college students who may be looking for a freelancing gig with the opportunity to transition to a full-time position after graduation.

Flexjobs does a bit more thorough vetting than Upwork or Fiverr when it comes to both freelancers and companies using their services, so both you and the business hiring you have been checked out, giving more security.

11. Guru

Guru is a tried-and-true freelance network platform with built-in features to make sure both freelancers and businesses hiring them are secure.

This site offers a progress-tracking feature where freelancers can add members to their freelancing team and collaborate in real time with their clients, allowing for a more connected working environment.

Invoicing for your services is made simple and easy through Guru’s secure payment system right on their site.