10 Marketplaces for Hiring Product Designers and UX Researchers on Different Budgets
Finding the right product designer or UX researcher can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. You need someone who understands your product vision, communicates well, and delivers quality work within your budget. Whether you’re a startup founder with limited funds or an established company ready to invest in top talent, the marketplace you choose makes all the difference. This list organizes hiring platforms by budget level, from affordable freelance options to premium talent networks. Each option serves a different need, so you can find the right fit for your project scope and financial reality.
- Legiit
Legiit connects businesses with vetted freelancers who specialize in design, research, and digital services. The platform uses a straightforward pricing model where designers and researchers list their services with clear deliverables and costs upfront. You can browse portfolios, read verified reviews from past clients, and message providers before committing to a project.
What sets Legiit apart is its focus on practical, results-driven work rather than hourly billing. Many product designers on the platform offer package deals for specific deliverables like wireframes, user flows, or usability testing reports. This makes budgeting simpler and eliminates surprises. The platform also includes project management tools that keep communication organized, which helps when you’re working with remote talent across different time zones.
- Fiverr Pro for Enterprise Teams
Fiverr Pro represents the higher tier of the Fiverr marketplace, featuring hand-vetted professionals who have passed rigorous skill assessments. While regular Fiverr serves budget-conscious buyers, Fiverr Pro targets companies willing to pay more for experienced product designers and UX researchers with proven track records.
The vetting process for Pro sellers includes portfolio reviews, skill tests, and background checks. You’ll find designers who have worked with recognizable brands and researchers who can conduct comprehensive user studies. Pricing typically starts in the mid-range and goes up depending on project complexity. The platform offers dedicated account managers for larger projects, which adds a layer of support that smaller marketplaces don’t provide.
- Gun.io for Fully Vetted Freelance Talent
Gun.io operates as a curated marketplace that accepts only the top 2% of applicants. The platform specializes in developers but has expanded to include product designers and UX researchers who meet their strict standards. Every freelancer goes through technical assessments, portfolio reviews, and interviews before joining the network.
This marketplace works best for mid-sized companies and funded startups that need reliable talent without the overhead of a traditional agency. Rates reflect the quality of talent, usually falling in the upper-middle range. Gun.io handles contracts, payments, and administrative tasks, which reduces friction when bringing on remote team members. The matching process involves conversations with their team to understand your needs before they suggest candidates.
- We Work Remotely Job Board
We Work Remotely functions as a job board rather than a marketplace, which changes the hiring dynamic entirely. You post your opening, and designers or researchers apply directly. This approach gives you access to a large pool of candidates actively looking for work, including full-time, part-time, and contract positions.
The platform attracts remote workers from around the world, which means you can find talent at various price points depending on location and experience level. You handle the screening, interviewing, and negotiation yourself, which requires more time investment upfront but gives you complete control over the process. Posting costs are reasonable, making this a cost-effective option if you have the bandwidth to manage recruiting yourself.
- Dribbble Hiring for Portfolio-First Recruiting
Dribbble started as a portfolio showcase platform for designers and later added hiring features. The marketplace lets you browse thousands of designer portfolios, filter by specialty and location, and reach out to candidates directly. Many product designers and some UX researchers maintain active Dribbble profiles with their latest work.
This platform works well when visual design quality is your top priority. You can see exactly what candidates have created before making contact. Dribbble offers both a job board where you post openings and a freelance marketplace where designers list their availability. Pricing varies widely since you’re negotiating directly with individuals. The platform charges a fee to post jobs or unlock certain search features, but browsing portfolios is free.
- Behance for Adobe-Focused Creatives
Behance serves as Adobe’s creative community and portfolio platform. Like Dribbble, it started as a showcase site but has added hiring tools over time. You can search for product designers and UX researchers, review their project case studies, and contact them about opportunities.
The platform has a massive user base, which means more options but also more noise to filter through. Designers on Behance often have strong skills in Adobe’s creative tools, which matters if your workflow relies on Photoshop, XD, or Illustrator. The platform itself doesn’t handle payments or contracts, so you’ll need to manage those aspects independently. This makes Behance better suited for companies with existing hiring processes who simply need a talent pool to draw from.
- Toptal for Premium Enterprise Needs
Toptal positions itself at the top of the freelance marketplace hierarchy with intensive screening that reportedly accepts only 3% of applicants. The platform specializes in connecting large companies and well-funded startups with senior-level product designers and UX researchers.
Expect to pay premium rates for Toptal talent, often comparable to or exceeding U.S. agency prices. The value proposition centers on quality and reliability. Toptal provides a matching service where they suggest candidates based on your requirements, and they offer a trial period to ensure fit. The platform handles contracts, payments, and replaces freelancers if things don’t work out. This level of service appeals to organizations that prioritize risk reduction over cost savings.
- Contra for No-Fee Freelance Connections
Contra operates on a commission-free model, which means freelancers keep 100% of what clients pay them. This approach attracts quality designers and researchers who prefer not to surrender a percentage of their earnings to a platform. For hirers, it means freelancers can offer competitive rates without platform fees inflating the final price.
The marketplace includes portfolio hosting, project management tools, and integrated payments. Product designers and UX researchers on Contra tend to be independent professionals who value autonomy and direct client relationships. You’ll find a range of experience levels and pricing. Since the platform is newer and smaller than established marketplaces, the talent pool is more limited but growing. The interface emphasizes showcasing work and building long-term professional relationships rather than transactional gig work.
- Coroflot for In-House and Contract Design Roles
Coroflot has operated as a design-specific job board for over two decades. The platform caters to industrial designers, product designers, UX professionals, and researchers. You can post full-time positions, contract roles, or project-based work.
The site attracts professionals who take design seriously as a career, which means you’ll find candidates with formal training and substantial experience. Pricing to post jobs is straightforward with no hidden fees. Coroflot doesn’t insert itself into the hiring process beyond connecting you with candidates, so you’ll handle everything from interviews to contracts to payments directly. This works well for companies with established HR processes who simply need access to qualified candidates.
- Authentic Jobs for Digital Design Professionals
Authentic Jobs focuses exclusively on digital creative roles, including product design, UX research, and related disciplines. The job board has built a reputation for attracting serious professionals rather than casual freelancers. Companies post openings, and candidates apply through the platform.
The site curates listings to maintain quality, which means your posting appears alongside other legitimate opportunities rather than spam or scams. This benefits both hirers and job seekers. Pricing for posting is subscription-based, which makes sense if you hire regularly but might be excessive for one-off projects. The candidate pool tends toward mid-level to senior professionals looking for meaningful work with reputable companies. If you value cultural fit and long-term relationships over quick turnaround, this platform deserves consideration.
The marketplace you choose depends on your budget, timeline, and the level of involvement you want in the hiring process. Budget-conscious teams can find capable designers and researchers on platforms with transparent pricing and verified reviews. Companies with more resources might prefer premium networks that handle vetting and matching. Job boards give you the widest candidate pool but require more work on your end. Whatever your situation, multiple solid options exist. Start with the platform that matches your budget range, post a clear project description or job listing, and evaluate a few candidates before making your decision. The right designer or researcher is out there, and choosing the appropriate marketplace gets you one step closer to finding them.
