Finding the right freelance web designer can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But in 2025, the good news is we have more tools than ever to connect with talented U.S.-based designers working remotely. In this guide, we walk through 20 of the top platforms – from well-known marketplaces to specialized networks – that are ideal for hiring skilled web designers. We’ll keep things conversational and to the point, so you get a clear sense of what makes each platform tick and why it might fit your project. Let’s dive in!
1. Upwork
Let’s face it: when you think of a huge freelance marketplace, Upwork usually comes to mind first. It’s a giant platform with millions of freelancers, including many expert web designers. You can post a job or browse profiles of designers who list their skills, portfolios, and rates. The interface lets you filter by location (like U.S. only), skills, and hourly rate or project type.
What we really like about Upwork is the flexibility. You can hire on an hourly or fixed-price basis, and payments go through their escrow system (so everyone stays protected). Plus, Upwork offers features like talent badges (“Top Rated” or “Rising Talent”) to help you spot the most reliable pros. Yes, they charge a small service fee, but that comes with built-in payment protection and easy collaboration tools (like time tracking and messaging). In our experience, Upwork is a solid all-rounder – it’s not too formal, and you can often find great U.S.-based designers at very competitive rates.
2. Fiverr
Fiverr is a bit different – it’s based on “gigs.” Think of it as a menu of services offered by freelancers. Need a one-page website design? A new logo? A UX review? You’ll find Fiverr gigs starting as low as $5. (Of course, simpler gigs cost less, and complex ones cost more.) The platform is easy to use: buyers can search by keyword or category and see packages from sellers.
We appreciate Fiverr for quick, small to mid-size tasks. It’s conversational – many sellers even have fun profiles and video intros. One thing to note: Fiverr charges a processing fee on purchases (roughly 5–20%), so factor that into your budget. Also, since Fiverr is global, if you specifically want U.S. talent, you can filter by seller location or mention “US only” in your job description. Overall, Fiverr’s pocket-friendly prices and straightforward booking make it great for getting started or testing the waters with a designer.
3. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another long-running platform where you can post a project and receive bids from freelancers around the world. It works a lot like a job bidding site: you describe what you need (say, a custom website design), set your budget, and freelancers submit proposals. You can also browse freelancer profiles and invite specific designers to your project.
One neat feature is the option to run a design contest. For example, you might get 10-20 designers to submit different homepage mockups, and you pick the one you like best. The platform even offers a free plan so you can try it out, plus affordable freelancers. As clients, we should keep in mind that Freelancer.com makes portfolios public, so you can check past work easily. There’s a small fee for guaranteed projects, but overall it’s a budget-friendly way to scope a wide talent pool. Just be prepared to spend a little effort reviewing bids and samples to find the right fit.
4. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour (often written “People Per Hour”) is a global freelancing site that started in the UK but has become popular worldwide. Here, freelancers set hourly rates or project prices, and you can search specifically for web designers. The interface has helpful filters – for example, you can narrow results to U.S. freelancers only, or by expertise level.
From our standpoint, PeoplePerHour feels professional yet approachable. Freelancers build detailed profiles and “Hourlies” (pre-packaged services) you can buy directly, or you can post a custom job and have designers send proposals. Payments are secure through the platform, and PeoplePerHour handles billing too. Note that like others, they take a service fee (for freelancers), but for clients it’s fairly transparent. If you want someone who’s set up with strong tools (like invoice generation) and an hourly mindset, PeoplePerHour is a solid option. It’s not as massive as Upwork, so you often get a manageable number of high-quality proposals.
5. Toptal
Here’s the thing about Toptal: it’s a high-end talent network. They claim to accept only the top 3% of freelancers. What that means is if you’re looking for a truly exceptional web designer (especially for complex projects), Toptal will do the heavy lifting. You submit your project details, and Toptal quickly matches you with designers who have already passed rigorous screening (interviews, test projects, etc.).
We find Toptal very hands-off: a talent manager helps pair you with candidates. There’s no bidding or sifting through profiles yourself. You pay the designer’s rate plus a one-time $500 engagement fee (kind of like a deposit). The trade-off is that rates are higher (often $60–$200+ per hour depending on expertise) and there’s that deposit. But if time is tight and you want top-tier reliability, it can be worth it. You also get a two-week trial: if the match isn’t right, you won’t pay for that time. So for serious projects where quality is paramount, Toptal feels like hiring a boutique agency through a platform – and they do all the vetting.
6. 99designs
99designs is tailor-made for creative work like web and graphic design. Instead of hiring one freelancer directly, you can launch a design contest or hire 1:1. For a contest, you give a brief (like “Design a website homepage”), set your budget (starting around $299 for basic contests), and multiple designers submit different concepts. You provide feedback, and one designer wins the prize. This crowdsourced approach is great if you want to see a variety of styles or ideas before choosing.
We’ve found that 99designs’ community is very design-focused: you’re dealing with pro-level graphic and web designers. They even have a money-back guarantee on contests. If you already know who you want, you can also browse designer portfolios or work one-on-one. Just be aware that their service fees are on the higher side compared to general marketplaces, and the entry price is more than “budget” gigs. In exchange, though, the quality tends to be higher and the results feel more polished. It’s like hiring a mini design firm for your website.
7. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd works similarly to 99designs, in that it’s contest-based for design work. You post a project (for example, web page design), set a budget, and hundreds of designers can submit proposals. A difference is that on DesignCrowd, you essentially “buy” a contest entry; your budget determines how many designs you’ll see. You can collaborate with designers for tweaks until you pick a winner.
From our perspective, DesignCrowd has a massive pool (over a million designers globally), so you’ll see plenty of ideas. They claim on average you might get 25–100+ concepts per project, which is great for variety. If none fit, you can get a 100% refund – so there’s low risk. It’s a bit more involved on the client’s end (you do have to review many entries), but many clients enjoy seeing lots of creative options. The pricing includes a posting fee (usually under $129 or so), so overall it’s quite budget-friendly for the number of designs. If you love a contest-style search for a fresh website look, DesignCrowd is worth checking out.
8. DesignHill
DesignHill is another crowdsourcing platform focused on design – think logos, branding, website design, the works. It’s very similar to DesignCrowd. You can start a design contest (they have packages from a few hundred to nearly $1000 for premium contests) or launch a one-on-one project. They also have a graphic design marketplace where you can buy pre-made designs, or a designer directory for direct hire.
We like DesignHill’s 100% money-back guarantee and unlimited revisions policy for contests – it shows confidence in their designers. Plus, they only charge clients (not designers) a commission. One thing to note is the variety is smaller than 99designs or DesignCrowd, but the talent pool is still solid (125,000+ creatives worldwide). If you want something between Fiverr and 99designs – a middle ground of quality and price – DesignHill might fit. Just remember to browse the designer profiles too, since you can hire someone directly if you see a style you like.
9. Guru
On Guru, the format is more like Upwork or Freelancer: you post a job or buy services, and freelancers can bid or offer. It has a simple, no-frills vibe. A big plus is that there’s no fee to post a job on Guru – you pay only when you hire a freelancer. As a client, you’ll pay a small processing fee (around 2.9%) on payments, which goes toward secure invoicing and support. Freelancers can choose hourly, fixed, or recurring payment terms.
We find Guru’s interface straightforward. Freelancers have trust scores and reviews, so you can vet them. Because it’s not as trendy as some others, the talent pool can feel a bit smaller, but that also means less competition for good freelancers’ attention. It might take a little more legwork to find the exact match, but on the flip side, the rates can be quite reasonable. For budget-conscious projects where you still want professional quality, Guru is a decent choice to consider.
10. Dribbble
Dribbble is best known as a design community – think of it like Instagram for designers. It’s an invite-only network (so designers often curate their best work here), which gives it a high-end feel. You can browse portfolios, follow designers whose style you love, and even buy design assets from their shop.
For hiring, Dribbble offers a designer search and a hiring section. You essentially post a job listing, and interested designers can apply. It’s a great place to find creative web designers, especially for UI/UX work. The platform’s social aspect means you’ll get a good sense of a designer’s style upfront. Note that to reach the talent pool, you might need a pro account (for posting and access). It does cost (plans start around $5–$15/month), but in return you get curated design talent. If you want to hand-pick from visually rich profiles and are willing to pay a bit for access, Dribbble can be very effective.
11. LinkedIn ProFinder
“If only there was a way to tap my own network,” we’ve thought before – and LinkedIn ProFinder was that idea (though as of 2024, LinkedIn phased it out in some regions). It originally let you post a freelance job, and LinkedIn would match you with professionals (often people in your extended network).
The concept was neat: up to five proposals from qualified designers came to your inbox, usually within a day. The upside was trust – you might even know someone’s former colleague or have mutual connections. The downside was that LinkedIn charged a monthly fee (around $60) for clients to post. Also, there was no integrated payment on the platform. If you still have access to something like this through LinkedIn, it can be useful for leveraging real connections. Otherwise, viewing LinkedIn profiles manually and reaching out is the alternative: check portfolios and recommendations to find U.S. web designers.
12. Behance
Adobe’s Behance isn’t a traditional freelance marketplace, but it’s the world’s largest design portfolio site. Tens of thousands of designers display their work here – including web designers. While you can’t directly hire through Behance, it’s a treasure trove for discovery.
In practice, we’d browse Behance for styles we like and then reach out to designers. Many profiles include contact info or a link to the designer’s website. Behance also has a “Hire” section for Featured Freelancers, where you can pay through Behance’s system (via Stripe). Plus, there’s a job board showing opportunities (though most are jobs or internships, not one-off gigs). The best part is seeing real work – so you get a concrete sense of a designer’s skill. For hiring U.S. talent, you can filter by location tags. Think of Behance as a creative gallery: not an automated platform, but the quality and volume of portfolios make it worth a look.
13. Crowdspring
Crowdspring operates like 99designs and DesignCrowd – it’s another contest-based design marketplace. They mainly focus on branding (logos, names) but also offer web design projects. You launch a contest, set your budget, and designers submit ideas. Like the others, you can give feedback and pick a winner.
What we appreciate about Crowdspring is the simplicity: their interface is clean and they have flat contest fees (often a few hundred dollars). The designers are reasonably vetted (though not elite like Toptal), and the competition format often yields creative options quickly. Crowdspring takes a 100% money-back guarantee approach on contests as well, so you’re covered if nothing clicks. For full custom websites, it’s not as common as other types of projects, but for landing pages, concept mockups, or graphics, it’s useful. It’s a nice extra arrow in the quiver if you want a crowdsourced approach without going to the larger 99designs.
14. Coroflot
Coroflot is a design portfolio and job board platform. It’s been around a long time (since 1997!) and is geared toward industrial and graphic designers, but you’ll find web designers there too. The key feature is “Designer Search” – a recruiting tool where employers can search profiles by skill (like “web design”) and location.
Using Coroflot feels like a mix between LinkedIn and a job site. Designers upload portfolios, and you can filter for U.S. candidates with certain expertise. While it’s not a “gig site” (you can’t pay on Coroflot directly), it’s handy for finding resumes and portfolios. We’d use it if we wanted to reach out personally to designers, maybe hiring them on a contract basis outside of a platform. It’s especially good for finding creative talent in U.S. cities. If you don’t mind doing the contacting and contracting offline, Coroflot can be a stealthy way to get top-quality designers who might not be on mainstream marketplaces.
15. Hubstaff Talent
Looking for something 100% free? Hubstaff Talent is a free directory of remote talent, no fees at all. It’s run by Hubstaff (the time-tracking folks). You can browse thousands of profiles of developers, marketers, and yes – designers. The advantage here is, as a client, you’re not paying any platform fees.
It’s a simple listing site: designers post their hourly rates and skills, and you can filter by country, including the U.S. Many have portfolios linked. When you find a candidate, you contact them directly (via email or chat), and arrange terms yourself. You won’t get in-platform support or escrow since it’s just a listing service, but for budget-conscious projects, that can be fine. We’d say Hubstaff Talent is a great supplemental resource: check it if you want a wide net and don’t mind handling the hiring logistics. Since you can filter by location, finding U.S.-based remote designers here is straightforward.
16. FlexJobs
FlexJobs isn’t exactly “hire-a-freelancer” – it’s a subscription job board for remote, part-time, and flexible work. However, many companies posting on FlexJobs are looking for contract or freelance web designers. You’ll find U.S. companies there, and FlexJobs vets the employers (no scams).
We like FlexJobs for its curated feel. As an employer, you could post a listing (it’s not free; they charge fees, depending on the plan). But as a client, sometimes it’s easier just to browse “remote web design” jobs and make an offer. One downside is that FlexJobs has a membership model, so freelancers also pay to see listings (which can limit applicants). The upside is the talent pool tends to be serious professionals who value flexibility. In short, FlexJobs is a good source if you’d prefer traditional postings over gigs – you might end up hiring someone as a contractor or part-timer, but many employers are open to freelance terms if it’s clear in the listing.
17. We Work Remotely
We Work Remotely is a classic remote-job board, very popular in the tech and design communities. You post a job (for example, “Remote Web Designer”), and since they target remote work, you get a lot of visibility. Many startups and companies use it to find designers who can work from anywhere.
Using We Work Remotely is straightforward: there’s no profile system. You write a compelling job posting (they give some tips), pay a flat fee (usually around $299 for 30 days as of 2025), and your ad goes live. You then handle applications via email or your own site. We find the competition on WWR can be fierce – top talent sees all the listings – so you’ll want a strong pitch and perks. But it’s very US-friendly; many posts are from U.S. companies or pay in USD. If you prefer an audience that lives the remote-work lifestyle, this site is a great way to reach them directly.
18. RemoteOK
RemoteOK is another huge remote job board. It has specific channels for different fields – they even list “Design” separately, which covers web, UX, graphic, etc. Like We Work Remotely, it’s not a freelancing marketplace per se, but tech companies frequently use it to hire remote designers, sometimes on freelance or contract terms.
Posting on RemoteOK is easy: you submit a job (with details like “Contract” or “Freelance” in the title if applicable). You can also browse resumes and contact designers directly if you find their info. Many companies appreciate RemoteOK’s global reach and tech-focused audience. For clients in the U.S., it’s a familiar name and often yields candidates very quickly. The downside is it’s essentially a big job board, so you’ll have to manage the screening yourself. But if you want maximum exposure – and you’re okay sorting through a pile of applicants – RemoteOK is powerful. Our tip: stand out by selling why your project is exciting and remote-first.
19. Arc
Arc (formerly CodementorX) is a bit of a hybrid: it’s known for developers, but they also list designers and product roles. The key selling point is “top 2% talent.” Arc’s model is to match you with pre-vetted freelancers (including web designers, UI/UX pros, etc.) who meet your needs. It feels like a recruiting agency wrapped into a platform.
From what we’ve seen, Arc is particularly useful for finding designers familiar with startups and tech culture (many jobs connect you to Silicon Valley companies, even if you’re remote). When you submit requirements, Arc’s team reaches out to candidates, or you can browse profiles. Hiring is flexible: you can pay hourly or monthly, and Arc handles contracts and invoicing (with a percentage fee). If you want to tap into the network of “flexible startup hires” – especially U.S. tech scene – Arc is solid. We’d use it when quality and culture fit are key; it’s not the cheapest, but the vetting is a time-saver.
20. Wellfound (AngelList Talent)
Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent) is a platform for startups and tech companies, connecting them with candidates. While it’s often used for full-time jobs, many startups list contract or freelance gigs there too – especially in 2025’s gig-friendly landscape. The focus is on tech and design roles at startups (many of which are U.S.-based).
If you set your company up as a startup on Wellfound, you can post remote-friendly roles. Designers on the platform often have portfolios or links included in their profiles. A nice thing about Wellfound is that it shows you salary and equity ranges upfront, so freelancers know exactly what to expect. They also have a system where you can “feature” a job or “become a verified company” to attract talent. For hiring web designers, this means you get to pitch your project to a community of entrepreneurial, U.S.-oriented designers. It’s best when you want people excited about startups and don’t mind longer engagement (often these gigs turn into longer contracts).
Choosing the right platform: Each site above has its own flavor. Some are marketplaces with bids and portfolios (Upwork, Fiverr, Guru), some are contest-style (99designs, DesignCrowd), and others are job boards (WeWorkRemotely, RemoteOK). Others are curated networks (Toptal, Arc) or portfolio hubs (Behance, Dribbble). We recommend thinking about your needs: Do you want quick, inexpensive design work, or top-tier talent? Do you prefer to see lots of options via contests, or hire one expert directly? Most of us use a mix – for example, post a job on Upwork and check Dribbble for passive candidates.
Here’s a quick recap of what to consider:
- Budget vs. Quality: Sites like Fiverr and Guru can get you started on a budget. Toptal, Arc, and Dribbble Pro lean toward the higher end.
- Workflow: If you want hand-holding, try Toptal or Arc. If you like managing multiple bids or designs yourself, Upwork or a contest site works.
- Talent Pool: For U.S. talent specifically, use location filters or mention “U.S. designer only” in your post. Sites like Upwork and PeoplePerHour let you easily filter by country. Job boards like FlexJobs, WeWorkRemotely, and Wellfound naturally attract U.S.-based startup talent.
- Project Type: Contest platforms (99designs, DesignCrowd) are great for initial concepts or logo/branding-heavy sites. Dedicated marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr) work well for full site builds and long-term projects.
Remember, wherever you post, writing a clear, concise job description is key. Introduce who you are, what you want built or designed, and any must-have skills (e.g., “WordPress experience” or “UI/UX design”). Engaging language (“We need a fresh redesign and would love someone creative and proactive”) helps too.
At the end of the day, these 20 platforms give us plenty of avenues to find remote U.S. web design talent in 2025. Now it’s up to you to choose a couple and start reaching out. With so many options, chances are you’ll discover a designer who not only delivers a great site but also feels like a partner in your project. Happy hunting!
