11 Best Websites to Find Freelance Jobs and Make Extra Money Need extra cash? Let these sites know you're available -- and ready to work.

Whether you're looking for another way to pay the bills, seeking more professional development opportunities or just love the freedom that freelancing offers, there's no question that millions of people have discovered the benefits of professional freelancing. As trends like the digital nomad lifestyle grow in popularity, the number of freelance resources out there has increased as well.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Freelancer

There are plenty of guides for striking out on your own, but as a freelancer, getting higher-paying gigs isn't just a matter of signing up on popular platforms. You'll have to branch out, establish a great portfolio of past work and maybe even prove yourself through tests that showcase your skills. Here's a list of 11 great sites to find work as a freelancer.

Upwork

With over 1.5 million clients, Upwork offers something for every type of freelancer. It accommodates both short- and long-term projects, hourly or per-project work and expert-level and entry-level engagements. Regardless of where you are in your career, Upwork is likely to have something for you.

Related: 8 Great Time-Tracking Apps for Freelancers

Toptal

With a distinctly different approach than the other services on this list, Toptal is for seasoned, talented freelancers. Passing Toptal's screening process gives you unparalleled access to meaningful projects with great clients (JPMorgan, Zendesk, Airbnb, etc.) and fair compensation (no low-bid contests). You'll also be able to join the Toptal community for frequent meetups and tech events.

Related: Hacking Elance: How to Make Money Freelancing

Freelancer

Unlike most other platforms, in addition to offering millions of projects, Freelancer allows you to compete with other freelancers in contests to prove your skills. If you're competitive and confident in your expertise, it's a great way to showcase your abilities and attract more clients.

Craigslist

Although most people see Craigslist as just a platform for buying and selling miscellaneous things, it's actually a great source of freelance jobs. You can easily browse for local offerings if you prefer something in-office, or you can search by major cities if you prefer working remotely.

Related: 25 Payment Tools for Small Businesses, Freelancers and Startups

Guru

This site lets you easily showcase your past work experience and offers a daily job-matching feature to make sure you don't miss out on any good opportunities. The Guru Work Room lets you easily manage all your work.

99designs

A platform for freelance designers, 99designs lets you compete in design contests and get feedback as clients choose the best ones. It's a great way for talented designers to prove their talents.

Related: Employers Are Paying Freelancers Big Bucks for These 25 in-Demand Skills

Peopleperhour

This is a great platform, focusing on freelancing for web projects. If you're a designer, web developer, SEO specialist, etc., peopleperhour is definitely worth checking out.

Freelance Writing Gigs

Whether you're a writer, editor, blogger, publisher or any combination of those, Freelance Writing Gigs is a great option for freelancers who have a way with words.

Related: 8 Great Time-Tracking Apps for Freelancers

Fiverr

Fiverr is a platform for creative types, including writers, filmmakers, producers, photographers and more. List your services for a price of your choosing, and business in need of content connect with you. It's super simple and can very profitable as you build a good reputation.

Related: 9 Ways These People Make Money at Home With Nothing But Their Laptops

College Recruiter

As the name might suggest, College Recruiter is for college students or recent graduates looking for freelance jobs of any type. In addition to being a source for part-time work, it can be a great way to jumpstart your career.

Related: 4 Tips on How to Make 6 Figures as a Full-Time Freelancer

Kolabtree

Kolabtree is a freelance platform for scientists and academics looking for help with research, writing and more. PhD-qualified freelancers typically find gigs writing, editing, consulting and analyzing data. Fees are agreed upon between the freelancer and the buyer once a suitable connection is made.