If you’re running a startup and need digital marketing services without the agency price tag, Legiit deserves your attention. This platform specializes in affordable digital marketing and SEO services, with many offerings structured as fixed-price packages rather than hourly rates. That means you know exactly what you’re paying upfront, which makes budgeting much easier when funds are tight.

What sets Legiit apart is its focus on practical, results-driven services that startups actually need. You’ll find freelancers offering content writing, link building, social media management, video editing, graphic design, and more, often at prices that are a fraction of what traditional agencies charge. The platform attracts freelancers who understand startup constraints and are willing to work within them.

The fixed-price model is particularly helpful when you’re bootstrapping. Instead of watching an hourly meter tick up and wondering when the work will finish, you pay one set amount for a defined deliverable. Many sellers on Legiit also offer package deals where you can bundle services together for even better value. The platform has built a reputation among startup founders as a place where you can find legitimate professionals who deliver quality work without demanding premium rates.

PeoplePerHour takes a different approach by letting you post projects and receive proposals from interested freelancers, but it also features a marketplace where freelancers list pre-packaged services called Hourlies. These fixed-price offerings start at very affordable rates, making it easy to get small tasks done without committing to a large project.

The platform charges a service fee on top of what you pay the freelancer, but the base rates are often low enough that the total cost remains reasonable. You can filter freelancers by budget, skills, and location, which helps you find someone who fits your financial constraints. The proposal system also creates competition among freelancers, which can work in your favor when you’re negotiating rates.

One practical advantage for startups is the WorkStream feature, which lets you communicate with freelancers, share files, and approve work all in one place. This keeps everything organized, which matters when you’re juggling multiple projects and don’t have time to track down conversations across different platforms. PeoplePerHour also offers an invoicing system that makes bookkeeping easier, something every budget-conscious founder appreciates.

Guru positions itself as a platform for long-term working relationships rather than one-off gigs, which can actually save you money over time. When you find a freelancer you like, you can hire them repeatedly without going through the search process again, and many freelancers offer better rates to repeat clients.

The platform has a free membership tier that lets you post jobs and hire freelancers without paying a subscription fee. You only pay a processing fee on each transaction, and that fee decreases as you use the platform more. This structure makes sense for startups because you’re not locked into a monthly payment whether you’re hiring or not.

Guru also features SafePay, an escrow system that holds your payment until you approve the work. This protects your budget from disappearing on subpar work. You can release payment in milestones, which gives you control over the project and ensures the freelancer stays on track. The platform attracts experienced professionals across categories like programming, design, writing, and administrative support, so you can find help for most startup needs in one place.

Contra stands out because it doesn’t charge freelancers commission fees, which often translates to lower rates for clients. Freelancers keep 100% of what they earn, so they can afford to charge less than they might on platforms that take 10% to 20% cuts. For a startup watching every expense, this difference adds up quickly.

The platform has a clean, modern interface that makes it easy to browse portfolios, review work samples, and contact freelancers directly. There’s no bidding system or complicated proposal process. You simply find someone whose work you like, reach out, and discuss the project. This straightforward approach saves time, which is just as valuable as money when you’re running a lean operation.

Contra focuses on creative and tech professionals, including designers, developers, writers, marketers, and consultants. The platform verifies freelancers through their existing professional networks, which adds a layer of credibility. You can also see who has worked with whom, giving you social proof before you commit to hiring someone. For startups that need quality creative work but can’t afford traditional agency rates, Contra offers a practical middle ground.

Freelancer operates as one of the larger marketplaces with millions of registered users, which creates intense competition among freelancers. This competition drives prices down, often dramatically. You can post a project for free and receive dozens of bids within hours, many of them from qualified professionals willing to work for rates that fit startup budgets.

The platform covers virtually every category you can think of, from software development and mobile apps to accounting, legal research, and virtual assistance. The sheer number of freelancers means you can almost always find someone within your price range. You can also run contests for design work, where multiple freelancers submit samples and you only pay the winner, giving you options before you spend money.

Freelancer offers a milestone payment system similar to other platforms, letting you fund projects in stages and approve work before releasing payment. The platform also has a time tracker for hourly projects, which provides screenshots and activity logs so you can see what you’re paying for. While the interface isn’t the most polished, the functionality is solid and the cost savings can be significant. For startups that need to stretch every dollar, the competitive bidding environment on Freelancer often results in surprisingly affordable rates for quality work.

Legiit stands out as a marketplace built specifically for digital marketing services, including PPC and paid advertising specialists. Unlike general freelance platforms, everyone here focuses on marketing, which means you’re not sifting through web developers or graphic designers when you need someone to optimize your ad spend.

The platform uses a service-based model where specialists list their offerings with clear pricing, deliverables, and turnaround times. You can browse through profiles, read detailed reviews from other business owners, and see exactly what you’ll get before committing. Many specialists on Legiit offer packaged services like campaign audits, setup and management, or ongoing optimization, which makes budgeting straightforward. The community skews toward professionals who understand small to medium-sized business needs, so you’re more likely to find someone who speaks your language rather than agency jargon.

CloudPeeps takes a curated approach to freelance marketing talent. Rather than opening the floodgates to anyone with an internet connection, they vet applicants before allowing them onto the platform. This screening process means you’re working with professionals who have proven experience, not someone experimenting with your ad budget.

The platform works well for ongoing relationships rather than one-off projects. You can hire PPC specialists for hourly work or retainer arrangements, and the interface includes tools for communication and project management. CloudPeeps charges a membership fee for access to their talent pool, which filters out casual browsers and keeps the community focused on serious business relationships.

We Work Remotely functions primarily as a job board for remote positions, making it ideal if you’re looking to hire a PPC specialist as a full-time or part-time employee rather than a contractor. Companies post openings, and candidates apply directly to you.

This approach gives you more control over the hiring process. You can conduct interviews, review portfolios in depth, and negotiate terms that fit your specific needs. The platform attracts professionals who want stable, long-term positions rather than project-based work. If you have enough advertising work to justify a dedicated hire, this route often provides better consistency than juggling multiple freelancers.

PeoplePerHour operates with a hybrid model that accommodates both fixed-price projects and hourly arrangements. The platform includes a robust search system that lets you filter by skill, rating, location, and hourly rate, which helps when you have specific requirements for your PPC campaigns.

One useful feature is their AI matching system that suggests specialists based on your project description. While not perfect, it can surface candidates you might otherwise miss. The platform also offers payment protection and milestone-based releases, so you’re not paying for work until you’ve reviewed and approved it. Their community includes specialists from around the world, giving you access to various pricing tiers depending on your budget constraints.

Mayple takes the guesswork out of hiring by matching you with pre-vetted marketing experts based on your industry and needs. When you’re looking for a PPC specialist, their team asks about your business, goals, and budget, then suggests candidates from their network who have relevant experience.

This concierge approach costs more than browsing a freelance marketplace, but it saves considerable time. Mayple’s specialists have been screened for both skills and results, and many have worked with recognizable brands. The platform also provides ongoing support and performance monitoring, which adds a layer of accountability. If your first match doesn’t work out, they’ll find you another specialist without additional fees.

Gun.io positions itself as a premium marketplace for freelance talent, with a rigorous vetting process that accepts only a small percentage of applicants. While they’re known for developers, they also maintain a roster of marketing specialists, including PPC experts who handle complex, data-driven campaigns.

The platform handles all the administrative hassles like contracts, payments, and compliance, letting you focus on the work itself. Their specialists typically command higher rates, but you’re paying for proven expertise and reliability. Gun.io works best when you need someone who can hit the ground running without hand-holding, making it suitable for businesses with substantial ad budgets and high expectations.

Working Not Working started as a platform for creative professionals but has expanded to include marketing strategists and paid advertising specialists. The platform emphasizes portfolio quality and creative thinking, which matters when your ads need to stand out in crowded feeds.

Members showcase their work through visual portfolios, making it easy to assess their style and capabilities before reaching out. The platform attracts specialists who care about the creative side of PPC, not just the technical optimization. If your campaigns need fresh angles or you’re entering competitive markets where creative execution matters as much as targeting, this platform connects you with specialists who think beyond spreadsheets.

Toptal claims to represent the top three percent of freelance talent, and their screening process backs up that claim. Applicants go through multiple rounds of testing, including skills assessments, live screenings, and test projects before acceptance. For PPC specialists, this means you’re getting someone who has demonstrated both technical knowledge and practical results.

The trade-off for this quality is price. Toptal specialists command premium rates, often comparable to boutique agencies. They also require a deposit before matching you with candidates, which represents a bigger upfront commitment than most freelance platforms. This option makes sense when campaign performance directly impacts revenue and you can’t afford learning curves or mediocre execution.

Guru has been connecting businesses with freelancers for years, building a reputation for reliability and straightforward processes. The platform includes detailed profiles where PPC specialists list their certifications, past projects, and client feedback, giving you plenty of information for evaluation.

One practical feature is their SafePay system, which holds your payment in escrow until you approve the work. This protects both parties and reduces friction around milestones and deliverables. Guru also offers workroom tools for collaboration, file sharing, and communication, keeping everything in one place rather than scattered across email threads. The specialist pool includes a wide range of experience levels and price points, accommodating everything from startup budgets to enterprise needs.

Hubstaff Talent takes an interesting approach by offering their platform completely free for both businesses and freelancers. There are no service fees, commissions, or membership charges. You post your requirements, review applications, and handle negotiations directly with candidates.

This hands-off model means you’re responsible for vetting specialists yourself, which requires more work upfront but gives you complete control. The platform attracts professionals who prefer to avoid commission fees, which can sometimes translate to better rates for you. Hubstaff Talent works well if you’re comfortable evaluating PPC expertise on your own and don’t need the platform to mediate the relationship. Many specialists list their availability, hourly rates, and portfolio work, making initial screening relatively straightforward.

While Codeable focuses primarily on WordPress development, many businesses don’t realize they also connect clients with marketing specialists who handle PPC campaigns for WordPress sites. If your business runs on WordPress and you need advertising help that integrates with your site’s tracking, analytics, and conversion optimization, this specialized focus can be valuable.

The platform maintains strict quality standards and provides project managers who help coordinate between you and the specialist. This added support layer helps prevent miscommunication and keeps projects on track. Pricing tends toward the higher end, but you’re paying for specialists who understand both the technical WordPress environment and paid advertising strategy. This dual expertise proves useful when campaign performance depends on landing page optimization and proper tracking implementation.

Contra built their platform around the idea that freelancers shouldn’t pay commissions on their earnings. For clients, this means specialists can offer competitive rates since they’re not building platform fees into their pricing. The interface is clean and portfolio-focused, letting you quickly assess whether a PPC specialist’s experience matches your needs.

The platform includes built-in contracts, invoicing, and payment processing, handling the administrative details that often slow down freelance relationships. Contra attracts younger, digitally-native professionals who are comfortable with modern tools and communication styles. If you prefer working with specialists who are fluent in current platforms and trends rather than those stuck in old-school agency methods, Contra’s community often fits that profile. The specialist pool is still growing, so you might find fewer options than on older platforms, but the quality tends to be high.

Legiit specializes in digital marketing and SEO services, making it a strong choice if you need agency partners who understand online visibility. The platform connects you with freelancers and small agencies that offer everything from link building to content creation and social media management. What sets Legiit apart is its focus on transparent pricing and clear service descriptions, so you know exactly what you’re getting before you commit.

The marketplace uses a straightforward system where service providers list their offerings with fixed prices, which helps you budget accurately. You can browse categories, read reviews from previous clients, and compare options without dealing with lengthy proposal processes. Many agencies on Legiit offer package deals that bundle related services, which can save you time and money if you need multiple marketing tasks handled at once.

When your primary need is design work, 99designs offers a marketplace built specifically around creative services. You can hire agencies or individual designers for logos, websites, packaging, and more. The platform supports both one-to-one projects and design contests, where multiple creatives submit concepts and you pick your favorite.

The contest model works well if you want to see several approaches before committing to a direction. However, direct hiring is often faster and builds better long-term relationships with agency partners. Most designers and small agencies on the platform display portfolios that let you assess their style before reaching out. The pricing varies widely based on experience level, so you can find options that match both your aesthetic needs and financial constraints.

Clutch takes a different approach by functioning more as a directory and review platform than a traditional marketplace. It lists thousands of agencies across various specialties, from software development to PR and branding. Each agency profile includes verified client reviews, project examples, and detailed information about their team size and capabilities.

What makes Clutch valuable is the depth of information available. You can filter by location, budget range, industry focus, and service type to narrow down potential partners. The platform doesn’t handle transactions, so you’ll negotiate directly with agencies you contact. This setup works well for larger projects where you need extensive conversations before starting work. The review system helps you avoid poor performers and identify agencies with proven track records in your specific niche.

Mayple focuses exclusively on marketing agencies and vetted marketing professionals. The platform pre-screens its talent pool, which means you spend less time sorting through applications and more time working with qualified partners. Mayple matches you with marketers based on your industry, budget, and specific goals.

The matching process involves answering questions about your business and what you hope to achieve. Within a short period, you receive suggestions for potential agency partners who have experience in your sector. This curated approach reduces the risk of hiring someone who doesn’t understand your market. Pricing tends to fall in the mid-range, making it accessible for growing businesses that need professional marketing help but can’t afford the largest agencies.

Dribbble started as a portfolio platform for designers but has grown into a marketplace where you can hire creative professionals and agencies. The platform attracts top-tier design talent, so expect higher prices compared to general freelance sites. However, the quality of work typically reflects those rates.

You can browse portfolios by category, such as illustration, UI design, or animation, to find agencies whose style matches your vision. The hiring process happens directly through the platform, with project postings that attract proposals from interested designers. Many small design agencies use Dribbble as their primary client acquisition channel, so you’ll find responsive partners who are serious about remote collaboration. The community aspect also means that agencies maintain their reputations carefully, which generally leads to reliable service.

Working Not Working caters to creative professionals and agencies looking for both project work and full-time opportunities. The platform includes designers, writers, strategists, and producers who typically have agency backgrounds themselves. This makes it a good fit if you need partners who understand how agencies operate and can integrate smoothly with your team.

Membership is required for creatives to join, which creates a curated pool of talent. You can post projects and receive applications, or you can browse profiles and reach out directly to agencies that catch your attention. The platform skews toward mid-level to senior professionals, so budget accordingly. Many users appreciate the quality of communication and professionalism they encounter here compared to larger, less selective marketplaces.

DesignRush operates as both a directory and a marketplace for agencies specializing in design, development, and marketing. The platform features detailed agency profiles with case studies, team information, and client testimonials. You can search by service type, industry experience, and geographic location, though most agencies listed work remotely.

What distinguishes DesignRush is its focus on helping you compare agencies side by side. The platform provides estimated pricing ranges for different service types, which helps set realistic budget expectations before you start conversations. You can also read articles and guides about hiring agencies, which is helpful if this is your first time outsourcing significant work. The platform doesn’t charge clients to use its matching services, making it a low-risk way to explore agency options.

Catalant specializes in connecting businesses with independent consultants and boutique consulting firms for strategy, operations, and business transformation projects. The platform serves enterprise clients and mid-sized companies that need high-level expertise for specific initiatives. Expect premium pricing, but also expect professionals with substantial experience.

The platform handles the entire engagement process, from scoping and matching to contracts and payments. This managed approach reduces administrative burden on your end. Catalant’s talent pool includes former executives from major consulting firms and industry specialists who can provide strategic guidance alongside implementation support. If your project requires business acumen more than execution skills, this marketplace offers agency partners who can deliver both advice and action.

Sortlist helps businesses find marketing and creative agencies by matching project requirements with agency capabilities. You describe your project and budget, and the platform suggests relevant agencies from its database. The service is free for businesses, with agencies paying to access leads and maintain enhanced profiles.

The matching algorithm considers factors like industry experience, service offerings, agency size, and geographic preferences. You typically receive several agency suggestions within a few days, complete with profiles and portfolios. From there, you can request proposals and schedule calls with agencies that interest you. Sortlist works well if you prefer a guided approach to agency selection rather than browsing hundreds of options independently. The platform operates globally, so you can find remote partners regardless of where your business is based.

GoodFirms provides a research and review platform for software development agencies, IT service providers, and digital marketing firms. The platform ranks agencies based on verified client reviews, project portfolios, and technical capabilities. You can filter by technology stack, service type, company size, and hourly rates to find suitable partners.

Each agency profile includes detailed information about their development processes, case studies, and client feedback. The research team at GoodFirms conducts interviews with agencies to verify their claims, which adds an extra layer of credibility to the listings. While the platform doesn’t handle transactions, it provides enough information to make informed decisions about which agencies to contact. The global nature of the directory means you can compare agencies from different regions and take advantage of favorable rate differences while still ensuring quality through the review system.

Legiit has built a strong reputation as a marketplace for digital marketing services, and it’s particularly well suited for influencers and social media managers. The platform allows you to create detailed service listings with clear pricing, packages, and delivery times, which helps set client expectations from the start. You can offer everything from Instagram growth campaigns to full-scale social media audits, and clients can browse your profile, read reviews from past projects, and place orders directly.

What sets Legiit apart is its focus on marketing professionals rather than generalists. You’re not competing with graphic designers or writers in the same space. Instead, you’re part of a community where clients come specifically looking for social media expertise, influencer outreach, and content strategy. The platform also supports recurring services, so if you want to offer monthly management packages, you can set those up without worrying about chasing invoices every few weeks.

Legiit charges a reasonable commission on each transaction, and the interface is straightforward enough that you can get your profile up and running quickly. Many users appreciate the built-in messaging system and the fact that payments are handled securely through the platform. If you’re serious about positioning yourself as a social media professional, this marketplace gives you the tools and audience to do it.

Upwork remains one of the largest freelance marketplaces, and social media management is one of its most active categories. You’ll find clients ranging from small startups needing someone to post a few times a week to established brands looking for comprehensive influencer campaigns. The platform uses a bidding system where you submit proposals for posted jobs, which means you need to write compelling pitches and often customize your approach for each opportunity.

The competition on Upwork can be intense, especially if you’re new and don’t have many reviews yet. However, once you build a solid profile with positive feedback, clients start reaching out to you directly. Upwork also offers hourly and fixed-price contracts, giving you flexibility in how you structure your work. The platform takes a sliding percentage fee based on how much you’ve earned with a particular client, starting at 20% and decreasing as you build longer-term relationships.

Many social media managers use Upwork as their primary source of income because of the sheer volume of available work. You can filter jobs by budget, project length, and client history, which helps you focus on opportunities that match your skills and rates. Just be prepared to invest time in crafting proposals and building your reputation during the early stages.

Influencer Marketing Hub operates differently from typical freelance platforms. It functions more as a directory and resource center that connects influencers with brands and agencies looking for partnerships. The site offers a database where you can create a profile showcasing your social media reach, engagement rates, and the types of campaigns you’re interested in. Brands can then search for influencers based on niche, audience size, and platform.

This marketplace works best if you already have an established following on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. Brands typically look for influencers who can demonstrate real engagement and align with their target demographics. The platform doesn’t charge influencers to create profiles, but you’ll need to actively maintain your information and respond to inquiries to get the most out of it.

Influencer Marketing Hub also provides educational content, case studies, and tools for calculating engagement rates and estimating campaign costs. This makes it useful not just for finding work but also for staying informed about industry standards and pricing. If you’re an influencer looking to professionalize your approach and connect with serious brands, this platform offers a solid starting point.

PeoplePerHour is a UK-based freelance marketplace that has grown to serve a global audience, with a strong presence in social media and digital marketing categories. The platform uses a hybrid model where clients can either post projects that freelancers bid on or browse pre-packaged services that freelancers offer at fixed prices. This gives you more control over how you present your services compared to bid-only platforms.

One feature that stands out is the ability to create “Hourlies,” which are essentially service packages with set deliverables and prices. For example, you might offer a Hourlie for setting up and optimizing five social media profiles for a fixed fee. This approach works well for social media managers who want to streamline their offerings and avoid lengthy back-and-forth negotiations with every potential client.

PeoplePerHour takes a commission on each project, similar to other marketplaces, but the percentage decreases as you complete more work through the platform. The site also has a workstream feature that helps you manage communications, files, and payments all in one place. If you prefer a mix of fixed-price packages and custom project work, this platform gives you the flexibility to do both.

Aspire is a platform designed specifically for influencer marketing, connecting content creators with brands that want to run campaigns. Unlike general freelance marketplaces, Aspire focuses exclusively on influencer collaborations, which means the clients you encounter are already familiar with how influencer partnerships work. The platform handles campaign management, content approval, and payments, making the process smoother for both parties.

To join Aspire, you’ll need to apply and get accepted into their network. The platform looks at your social media presence, engagement metrics, and content quality before approving your profile. Once you’re in, you can browse available campaigns, apply to those that match your niche, and work directly with brands through the platform’s tools. Brands typically provide detailed briefs outlining what they’re looking for, which helps reduce confusion about deliverables.

Aspire works best for influencers who have a consistent content style and an audience that trusts their recommendations. The platform emphasizes long-term relationships between creators and brands rather than one-off posts, so if you’re looking to build sustained partnerships, this marketplace aligns well with that goal. Payment terms vary by campaign, but Aspire handles all transactions and provides tracking for content performance.

Guru is another established freelance marketplace with a solid selection of social media management and influencer marketing opportunities. The platform allows you to create a profile showcasing your skills, portfolio, and work history, and clients can either invite you to projects or you can submit proposals for posted jobs. Guru uses a workroom feature that centralizes all project communications, files, and invoices, which helps keep everything organized.

One advantage of Guru is its flexible payment options. You can choose to work on a fixed-price basis, hourly rates, or even task-based payments depending on what makes sense for a particular project. The platform also offers SafePay, an escrow system that holds client funds until work is completed and approved. This provides some security that you’ll get paid for the work you deliver.

Guru charges a membership fee with different tiers that affect how many proposals you can submit each month and what percentage the platform takes from your earnings. The basic tier is free but comes with higher fees per transaction, while paid memberships reduce those percentages. Many social media managers find Guru useful as a secondary platform alongside others, giving them access to a different pool of clients and project types.

Collabstr operates as a direct marketplace connecting influencers with brands without the need for agencies or middlemen. The platform is designed to be straightforward: influencers create profiles with their rates, audience demographics, and content examples, and brands can browse, compare, and book collaborations directly. This transparency around pricing helps both sides avoid lengthy negotiations and get to work faster.

The platform supports influencers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter, making it useful if you maintain a presence on multiple channels. You set your own rates for different types of content, such as Instagram stories, feed posts, or TikTok videos, and brands can see exactly what they’ll pay before reaching out. Collabstr takes a service fee from transactions, but the straightforward pricing model means you know what to expect.

Collabstr works particularly well for micro-influencers and creators who want more control over their rates and partnerships. The platform doesn’t require a massive following to join, focusing instead on engagement quality and niche relevance. If you’re tired of going through agencies or dealing with unclear payment terms, this marketplace offers a more direct path to brand collaborations.