The 11 Best Websites for Hiring Freelance Web Design Experts

The freelance web design world is hot with talent—over 20,000 freelance web designers are currently employed in the US!

You just have to know where to find them. 

To help, we’ve marked out 10 platforms with the best freelance web design experts available for hire. Each one differs in price, amount of leg work you’ll have to go through, and expertise. So, jot down your priorities, and let’s see which fits your project best!

Fiverr

Fiverr is a popular freelance web design website that’s easy to navigate and works great for small businesses. Paired with its adjoining app, you can search and select the services you want or post a job. When selecting a designer, you can view their packages and star ranking given to them after each job they complete. Here are some more details about Fiverr:

• Fiverr is free to use
• You can find services starting as low as $5
• They have 830K users from around the world
• All purchases are subject to a $2 service fee for projects under $40
• For projects $40 and over, it’s a 5% service fee

Things to Keep In Mind

Fiverr takes a 20% commission from freelance web designers. Honestly, that’s a pretty high cut. While it doesn’t directly impact you as the client, this could mean more proficient freelance web design experts are on sites with a lower commission rate.

Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is a global platform with over 55 million registered users. It operates similarly to Fiverr in that clients can search for a service or post a job. 

• Freelancer.com offers a third option to conduct design contests where freelancers can pitch to you
• While that may be a good option for a project with flexibility, it may not be necessary if you are looking for ideas that have already been conceptualized
• Freelancer.com has a free plan available, plus a surplus of affordable freelancers

Things to Keep In Mind

Freelancer.com offers clients designer portfolios for review. Samples are open to the public which can help you narrow down your freelancer selection process.

Upwork

Upwork is the largest freelancing platform out there. It departs from its budget counterparts and has worked to bring the scale of a huge platform with a more elite feel. Here’s what else it offers:

• Toggling between freelancers around the globe or in the US
• Tracking hours and invoice fulfillment can be processed within the platform or on the app
• Upwork allows you to search for freelance web design experts and select them based on skill and ranking
• Typically, rates for freelance web designers can range from $15 per hour to $45 per hour or more for experts
• You can also post a job to let freelancers come to you 
• Between platforms for hiring freelancers, Upwork is where membership plans begin to increase in price, but they do have a free plan available

Things to Keep In Mind

Upwork also offers an Enterprise Plan option for companies looking to build out their contract services through an Upwork Hub. Companies like Microsoft and Airbnb utilize Upwork Enterprise, so this is a viable option for large corporations.

DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd is a contest-based freelance platform built to crowdsource design work. In DesignCrowd:

• Your budget determines how many entries you get
• After you receive entries, you can share designs with the rest of your team 
• The clarity around assets and industry standards is set high 
• If you don’t like any of your designs, you receive a 100% refund
• You get access to over 1.17 million freelance designers
• Clients can receive 25 to 100+ design concepts per project
• Promises at least 50% savings compared to traditional creative agencies 

Things to Keep In Mind

By most accounts, DesignCrowd is a fast and high-quality platform. Because of that, there are no free plans available. The posting fee goes up to $129.

99designs

99designs is Vistaprint’s design service. 99designs:

• Has professional, rated, and reviewed designers
• Gives multiple design concepts to choose from
• Has  bespoke, non-template approaches that ensure unique website designs
• Promises a money-back guarantee for client satisfaction
• Connects you with a designer from a creative brief, or you can start a contest
• Starts at $299 for a contest. However, you’ll get the best designers working on your briefs
• Most reviews noted that the monthly cost is worth the time you would have spent sorting through designers on other platforms

Things to Keep In Mind

You can’t hire a freelance web design “expert” in the basic plan. Those are only available in Gold and Platinum ranges.

Toptal

Toptal is a highly selective freelancer platform in which the platform does most of the work. 

• Once you submit your job posting, Toptal matches you with freelance web design experts they think you’ll pair well with
• When moving forward with a designer, you pay their hourly rate and a $500 refundable deposit to the platform 
• Toptal screens all freelance web designers and claims to only accept the top 3%—so you get what you pay for
• Some reviews note that the process takes a little too much time to select your designer
• The cost of services varies widely for Toptal, generally ranging from $60 to $200+ per hour

Things to Keep In Mind

With Toptal, you can also find on-site talent. Meaning, yes, your freelancer can come into the office. This approach is more like a traditional consulting agreement, with Toptal handling the details.

Dribbble

Dribbble is an invite-only platform for freelance web designers, automatically giving it a boutique feel. 

• Dribbble is pretty simple. You submit your brief and Dribble suggests freelancers that fit
• Plans start at $99 a month and all designers house a portfolio on-platform
• The cost to design a website ranges from $30 to $80 per hour for design work
• Designers can sell pre-made work, which could be used as a quick solution to light projects

Things to Keep In Mind

Dribble doubles as a social network for the design community, which makes it easy to peruse work and engage with other designers. 

DesignHill

Similar to DesignCrowd, DesignHill is a crowdsourcing design platform. 

• To submit a design contest, it will start at $249 and can go up to $999 
• The freelance web design package costs $799/month
• To hire a designer one-to-one, you’re met with a 5% fixed DesignHill commission cost
• DesignHill is a smaller site with great talent
• Has 125K creative professionals globally

Things to Keep In Mind

DesignHill offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t like any of your design submissions. Plus, they allow for unlimited revisions. Typically, design revisions are limited by the platform or the designer.

Guru

Guru is one of if not the most affordable freelance web design options out there. 

• There is no membership fee and posting a job on Guru is free
• As an employer, you pay a  2.9% standard handling fee
• Freelancers can see up to 9% of their earnings taken from Guru
• Due to the lower pricing, finding your freelancer might take a little longer and require a little more legwork
• Guru has more freelancers than just designers
• Guru verifies freelancers, publishing their feedback scores and transaction data

Things to Keep In Mind

Guru reviews are hit or miss. We would suggest trying it with a smaller project first before locking in project timelines and budget.

LinkedIn Profinder

LinkedIn Profinder is a freelancing platform born from LinkedIn that connects users with freelancers who are often already in their network. 

• Once LinkedIn shares potential freelancers with you, they can submit proposals 
• Every designer may not be in your network, however 
• Ideal for small businesses looking for freelance web design experts 
• You can receive up to five proposals from qualified professionals within 24 hours
• Freelancers need a Premium subscription to respond to more than 10 proposals

The in-network feature does create a sense of trust when choosing to work with someone you might already know.

Things to Keep In Mind

LinkedIn Profinder does not offer a way to pay in the app. This is a pretty big letdown since many freelancing websites offer multiple. Profinder’s price tag begins at $60 a month.

How to Hire a Freelance Web Design Expert

Now that we’ve talked through the best freelancing websites you should be using to hire a freelance web designer, it’s time to talk through connecting with a designer who understands your vision and can bring it to life. Here are our steps:

1. Define Your Project Scope and Goals

Web designers can’t know how to design until the project scope and goals are defined. So, internally, you should:

• Outline the specifics of your project clearly 
• Define what the purpose of the website is
• Explain who the target audience is
• List which features and functionalities are essential
• Set a budget and timeline
• Prepare a creative brief

Having this information beforehand will help you hire a freelance web designer with the same priorities for your project.

2. Research and Gather Referrals

Begin your search by exploring reputable freelance design websites, but don’t underestimate the power of referrals. Here’s what you should do:

• Tap into your professional network
• Utilize social media and professional forums
• Explore online freelance marketplaces
• Attend industry events and meetups

While the websites we listed above can be great for finding freelance web design experts, often, the best talents can be found through word-of-mouth or your own network.

3. Review Portfolios and Experience

Once you have a list of potential designers, dive into their portfolios. Here is what you should look for as you are evaluating portfolios and experience: 

• Look for a style that resonates with your brand
• Check if their experience in handling projects is similar to yours
• Asses the range of skills (is it broad enough to encompass your needs)
• See how the portfolio website itself interacts and functions
• Search for niche specializations that may be advantageous
• Give some love to the personal projects and passions section

Reviewing portfolios can help you gain a comprehensive understanding of a designer's capabilities and how they might align with your project needs. This isn’t just about finding someone with the right skills; it’s about finding a creative partner whose vision, style, and work ethic match what you're looking for in your project.

4. Evaluate Communication Skills

Effective communication is crucial in web design projects. Good communication can make the difference between a project that runs smoothly and meets its deadlines and one that is fraught with misunderstandings and setbacks. Here is what you should look for in communication skills:

• Timeliness of replies
• Availability and working hours (are they asynchronous or synchronous)
• Ability to convey ideas clearly
• Active listening
• How they incorporate feedback
• How they address issues
• Do they take initiative
• How do they set professional boundaries

5. Get a Quote

Request a quote from the designer based on the scope, timeline, and creative brief you provided them. Many of the freelance web design experts on platforms from the section above already have their hourly rates visible, but sometimes it’s still good to ask.

However, be wary of estimates that seem too good to be true; quality work demands fair compensation. Make sure it is clear what is included in the quote they are making, what work you’ll get out of it, and what the protocol is if any additional costs arise.

7. Get Ongoing Support

Keep in touch with your freelancer. Websites require maintenance and updates. Discuss how you can get ongoing support for your project, including maintenance services and training for updating the content yourself. This can be crucial to the long-term success and health of your website.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to hiring a freelance web design expert who not only meets your needs but also enhances your project with their unique expertise and creative vision. Remember, the key to a successful partnership lies in clear communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to bringing your vision to life.

How to Streamline Feedback for Freelance Web Design Experts

The best way to get feedback from your team or your clients into the hands of a freelance web design expert is through Punchlist.

Punchlist is an all-in-one creative collaboration and feedback management tool that compiles comments from creative teams, clients, stakeholders, and more in one place. Punchlist makes freelance web design easy, too! With guest accounts and easily shareable links, you can get feedback from your client and your team to a freelance web designer without having to compile it all into a Google doc you’ll never go back to.

To get started, sign up for your 30-day free trial. Once you do, you and your team will get full access to our library of features. Knock ‘em out!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Do Freelance Web Designers Charge?

For hourly rates, mid-level freelance web designers typically charge around $50 per hour while higher-level, senior designers may charge $100+ or more per hour.

However, the industry standard for freelance web design professionals as of late is to charge per project rather than hourly.

Here’s why charging per hour can be inefficient:

1. Project complexity can create longer timelines

2. Clients will rush projects because they can see how many hours it is taking

To know what they should charge, freelancers should think of themselves as a business and charge based on an hourly estimate, project complexity, and experience, and then add a 0 to the end of their invoice just in case.

How to Find a Website Designer

Finding the right freelance web design partner can feel like you’re jumping through hoops, but there are several effective ways to connect with skilled professionals who fit your needs:

Freelance Websites: Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal let you browse profiles, portfolios, and reviews of freelance web designers. You can post projects and receive proposals on these sites. However, these platforms aren’t exclusive to web designers, so you may get many different types of designers gunning for your project.

Specialized Design Communities: Websites like Dribbble, Behance, and 99designs showcase the work of talented designers, making it easy to find someone whose style matches your vision.

Referrals and Recommendations: Ask colleagues, friends, or other business owners if they’ve worked with a great web designer. Personal recommendations can lead you to trusted professionals.

Social Media and Forums: LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and Reddit communities focused on design can be great places to connect with freelance web designers. You can also post about your project and get responses from interested designers.

Local Agencies or Design Schools: Check out local design agencies or design schools for emerging talent. Sometimes, smaller agencies or recent graduates can offer quality work at a more affordable rate.

‍Job Boards: Sites like We Work Remotely or FlexJobs often have freelance web design listings. You can also post your project to attract designers.