Hiring a web developer can be a tricky job if you're unsure where to start your search.
You need a skilled developer to work on your valuable projects, so you don't just want to look anywhere and throw money away.
Perhaps you’re looking for a web developer who can:
There is a vast amount of hiring platforms for entrepreneurs looking to hire freelancers. This is both a blessing and a curse. It's easy to give in and choose whichever comes up first in the Google results with so many choices.
Fortunately, you found us. We're here to help you find a freelancer for your web development needs.
We know how important it is for you to find quality developers to support you in your project goals, so we've rounded up 9 of the best sites for hiring freelance web developers. They each have their benefits and drawbacks, but overall, these are good choices for entrepreneurs who need to find reliable developers to join their team.
Toptal is a business owner's dream. Why? Because they make it easy to find and hire the best web developers. Through Toptal, you have access to the top 3% of freelancers who apply and make it through the challenging screening process.
The company gives potential hires language and personality tests, skill assessments, live screenings, and test projects to ensure that applicants consistently deliver high-quality results.
Another benefit of using Toptal is that they make the hiring process easy. You don't have to do any of the hard work, like take time out of your busy schedule to find an experienced web developer, figure out the best pay rates, or worry about whether or not you've hired a quality freelancer.
The platform strives to match your needs with a highly qualified web developer. Furthermore, to put their money where their mouth is, they offer a risk-free, two-week trial period. During this time, you get to work with the developer without paying the full fee. If it's not a good match, you can walk away at the end of the trial period, no questions asked.
Toptal is an ideal solution for entrepreneurs who want to take the guesswork out of hiring a freelance web developer.
The highly popular OnlineJobs.ph is a job board that allows you to outsource work to the Philippines. With over half a million members, you can hire a web developer with the same qualifications as a developer in the U.S., but at a fraction of the cost.
The website offers three pricing options, from free to $99 per month, and you're never charged a commission fee unless you purchase the Recruiting Service from OnlineJobs. This service costs and includes sourcing, screening, and candidate matching.
OnlineJobs.ph is a great low-risk option for entrepreneurs who want to outsource their work to skilled web developers at a lower rate than what they might pay for a comparable U.S. or European freelancer.
If you've read our extensive Fiverr review, then you know the website offers an eclectic mix of freelancers doing everything from reading tarot cards to creating ads. Fortunately, Fiverr makes it easy to search through the trail mix of services to find who and what you need to get your work done fast and affordably.
You can use the platform's filters to search for specific services, industry expertise, qualifications, delivery time, budget, and pro services. You'll likely find loads of low-fee workers, which isn't always a bad thing, but as we recommended in our dedicated review, consider hiring a Fiverr Pro for strategic work.
Most gigs on Fiverr will start at $5, but Fiverr Pro is an exclusive freelance service that vets talent and gives them professional status. The verification allows web developers and other pro freelancers to charge between $500 and $10,000.
When you hire a freelancer, Fiverr will charge you $2 for work that costs up to $40. Any jobs above $40 will incur a 5% fee.
Fiverr has something for everyone, so it's worth checking out, especially if you have tedious work you want to check off your to-do list.
Stack Overflow is a public platform where web developers, coders, and technologists come together to talk, learn, collaborate, and build their careers.
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone else looking to hire a freelance web developer can also use the website to find the ideal candidate to add to their technical team. Reach developers across the globe by posting your open position on the job board.
You can also specify on the job board that you'd like a web developer with specific experience, whether you need a full or part-time developer, and other relevant information to help you find the best web developer.
X-Team brings together successful developers who are screened and vetted before joining the platform. Not only that, but the company ensures employee morale by motivating and engaging developers through professional development opportunities.
The fee structure is more expensive than other platforms (around $40-50 per hour), but if you're looking for a long-term hire or have a heavy workload, then the investment is justified.
X-Team works with you to find the freelance web developer who fits your needs. If you're looking for someone in a specific timezone or with extensive industry knowledge, be assured that the company will strive to find the best match for you and your business.
If you're an entrepreneur who is willing to invest more upfront in finding a quality, long-term freelance web developer, then X-Team is a good fit.
Upwork is one of the largest freelancing platforms, with over 14 million freelancers. It's easy to find web developers with that many users, but finding top talent is another story.
Hiring skilled developers to work on strategic projects will require a bit more work on your end. To filter through the vast amounts of applications you'll likely receive, it helps to write a detailed job description and ask applicants to provide samples of previous work. Additionally, you can get a feel for the freelancer by conducting a video interview and requesting a small test project.
Overall, Upwork is an okay option if you have small jobs to hand over to an entry-level web developer. Otherwise, you'll have more success finding highly skilled developers on sites like Toptal.
Triplebyte is a job search platform dedicated to software engineers, computer scientists, engineers, and technologists with specific skills.
An extensive screening process involving multiple tests and coding challenges ensures the company only brings on the best web developers. This is excellent news for business owners looking to find highly skilled developers to join their team. The only drawback to this vetting level is that the freelancer's fees may be too expensive for some employers.
Triplebyte charges up to 25% of the developer's first-year salary, which is competitive pricing, considering the elite talent offered. For those who have financial resources, Triplebyte is an excellent hiring solution.
Startups or entrepreneurs with little cash to invest may find more success using other websites from this list.
Lemon.io is perfect for anyone looking to hire an experienced web developer without having to deal with the hiring process. The platform offers benefits like free estimates, fast turnaround times, fixed rates, and a matchmaking system they say is more satisfying than Tinder.
The platform promises to find a suitable freelance web developer for your project in 24 hours or less. According to the website, 98% of their customers decide to work with the first match they receive.
In the case that you don't like the freelancer they choose, Lemon will keep searching until your needs are met. Additionally, if your freelancer cannot continue working on your project, Lemon will replace them free of charge.
Gigster is all about creating supportive teams for startups, so if you're looking for more than just a freelancer to help you bring your projects to life, this may be the platform for you.
With Gigster, you'll receive a complete team of web developers, plus a project manager who communicates between you and the rest of your team. Having a management and development team by your side ensures your projects get completed quickly and efficiently.
Hiring a team through Gigster may cost you more than $52,000, but you'll be guaranteed to get the most talented people working on your applications.
Here are some of the most common questions about hiring a freelance web developer.
A freelance website developer is a self-employed developer who builds websites using programming languages such as PHP, CSS, HTML, Python, Java, and JavaScript.
Freelance web developers work with clients on website design and maintenance. Web developers need to understand technical code, graphic design, web design principles, and everything that it takes to keep a website running.
As you’ve seen in this review, there are many platforms where you can hire freelance web developers. The nine platforms we’ve included in our review connect you to freelance web developers who have the knowledge and experience required to help you bring your website visions to life.
Using freelance hiring platforms allows you to find exactly what you need in a web developer or web designer. Some of the platforms we’ve included in our review offer things like vetting services and project management, while others give you ultimate freedom in searching and hiring freelancers.
Consider what your project needs are. What is your budget? Will you need a full-time or part-time freelancer? How large is the workload?
Asking these kinds of questions can help you determine the best hiring platform for your situation.
Freelance web developer rates vary from platform to platform. On some sites, you may be able to find a web developer charging hourly rates between $15 and $75. On others, you may find solo freelancers charging between $1000 and $3000, and teams of full-stack developers charging up to $15,000.
In general, you should expect to pay about $75 per hour for a quality freelance web developer who can improve your site’s functionality.
When it's time to hire a web developer, there are many things to think about. From skill levels to standard fees, several factors go into deciding who to hire. Plus, with so many talented developers available, it can be overwhelming to find the one who best suits your company's needs.
Fortunately, job websites like the ones we've reviewed above help guide you in the hiring process. You'll find some that offer full recruitment packages and others that give you the freedom to place the sorting hat.
Whatever your needs may be, you're sure to find a hiring platform that helps you discover a highly skilled freelance web developer.
According to PayScale, web developers earn an average hourly rate of $20 per hour.
However, many estimates are higher. ZipRecruiter estimates that web developers in the United States make an average of $36 per hour.
Some estimates are even higher. According to Arc, web developers make an average hourly rate between $61 and $80 per hour.
According to CareerExplorer, the average salary for web developers in the USA is roughly $69,000 per year.
ZipRecruiter reports a slightly higher salary. They estimate that web developers make an average of just over $75,000 per year.
Similarly, Indeed estimates that the average salary for web developers is nearly $78,000 per year, plus $2,000 in cash bonuses annually.
Here are 10 skills you might consider looking for in a web developer:
Here are 10 interview questions you might consider asking when hiring a web developer: