It’s clear that the gig economy is thriving, and India is no exception. With a surge in digital connectivity and an increasing number of skilled professionals choosing to work on their own terms, freelancing has become a lucrative career choice. Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll discuss the top 10 freelancer companies operating in India.
These platforms aren’t just job boards; they represent bustling online marketplaces where clients meet freelancers ready to offer a wealth of services. Whether you’re seeking someone to design your new logo or aiming to hire an expert software developer for your next project – these platforms have got it all covered.
From tech gurus to creative wizards, from part-time gigs to big projects – there’s something for everyone. So whether you’re dipping your toes into the world of freelancing or looking for a place with endless possibilities, stay tuned as this list could be the key to unlocking your potential as a freelancer.
Freelancing Industry in India
- There are 15 million freelancers in India, and the market is growing exponentially
- 50% of individuals born in 1995 and later (Gen Z) are in the freelance industry
- The Philippines is the fastest-growing freelancing country, with 208% year-on-year revenue growth
- Nearly 50% of all freelancers offer skilled services
- Almost 80% of the workforce will move to a freelancing model by 2030
- 36% of total individuals in the freelance industry are full-time freelancers
- Indian freelancers earn an average hourly rate of $18, whereas the global average is $21
- India saw a 46% growth in new freelancers from Q1 to Q2 2020
- 60% of Indian freelancers are under 30 years old
- 23% of Indian freelancers earn over ₹40 lakh per year
- The freelance market in India is estimated to reach $20-30 billion by 2025
- Startups in India hire 50% of the total freelancing workforce
- Only 22% of Indian freelancers are women
Freelancer companies in India
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Freelancer.com
- Toptal
- Guru
- PeoplePerHour
- Flexjobs
- Truelancer
- Hubstaff Talent
- Gigster
| Company | Revenue (2022) |
|---|---|
| Fiverr | ₹2,738 crore ($273.8 million). |
| Upwork | ₹ 4714 crores |
| Freelancer.com | ₹ 6664 crores |
| Toptal | $1.3 billion (₹10,740 crores) |
| Guru | ₹900 crore |
| PeoplePerHour | Approx 164 crores INR or 16.9 million GBP |
| Flexjobs | INR 4,964 crore |
| Truelancer | ₹ 183 crores |
| Gigster | ₹ 216 crores |
- Fiverr
- Revenue (2022): ₹2,738 crore or $273.8 million.
- Upwork
- Revenue (2022): $566.6 million
- Freelancer.com
- Revenue (2022): €800.2 million
- Toptal
- Revenue (2022): $1.3 billion or ₹10,740 crores
- Guru
- Revenue (2022): ₹900 crore
- PeoplePerHour
- Revenue (2022): Approximately 164 crores INR or 16.9 million GBP
- Flexjobs
- Revenue (2022): INR 4,964 crore
- Truelancer
- Revenue (2022): $22 million
- Gigster
- Revenue (2022): $26.3 million
1. Fiverr
Fiverr, the online freelance services marketplace, has revolutionised the world of freelancing in India. It offers a platform for businesses to connect with freelancers across more than 500 categories including graphic design, digital marketing and programming, it’s one of the leading players in this sector. The company was founded back in 2010 by Micha Kaufman and Shai Wininger in Tel Aviv, Israel. Since then it’s seen incredible growth both globally and within India.
Fiverr’s key clients are as impressive as they come. Names like Unilever, MyHeritage, Samsung and Intel trust Fiverr to provide high-quality freelance services.
The company boasts an estimated revenue of ₹2,738 crore ($273.8 million) with a workforce of 15,85,22 employees helping drive its operations forward.
| Revenue | Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| ₹2,738 crore ($273.8m) | 15,85,22 |
In recent years there have been some major milestones for Fiverr too. In 2022 alone they managed to grow their active buyers from 2.7 million up to a staggering 4.2 million! Not only that but they expanded their service offering to over 500 categories giving users even more opportunities on their platform.
Also noteworthy is how they’ve launched ‘Fiverr Business’ which brings curated freelance talent directly to medium and large businesses.
With gross merchandise value nearing $700 million in 2022 alone proves without doubt that they’re a dominant force in the freelancing marketplace. It’s clear to see that Fiverr has made its mark on the freelance industry in India and continues to shape how businesses and individuals connect for digital services.
For freelancers specializing in logistics or looking for partnerships with shipping services, exploring shipping companies in India could provide valuable networking opportunities and expand your business capabilities.
2. Upwork
Let’s dive into Upwork, a major player in the Indian freelance market. It’s an online platform that connects businesses with professional freelancers and agencies from all around the globe. Founded in 2015 following the merger of Elance and oDesk, it has since grown to become the world’s largest online work marketplace.
Upwork generated impressive revenue of $566.6 million in 2022, marking a robust growth of 23% from the previous year. However, it also reported a net loss of $60 million during this period.
The company is headquartered in San Francisco but its reach is global. India and Philippines are among their biggest markets outside the US. As for their client base, they’ve got some heavy hitters on board – about 30% of Fortune 100 companies use Upwork.
If we take a peek at its workforce numbers, as of December 2021, Upwork had around 650 employees on its payroll—a clear indication that it’s not just about connecting other companies with talent but also about creating jobs internally.
Their most notable services include ‘Upwork Enterprise’ which serves Fortune-500-level clients like Airbnb, Microsoft and Pinterest.
Here’s some key data:
| Key Figures | Data |
|---|---|
| Revenue (2022) | $566 million |
| Net Loss (2022) | $60 million |
| Employees (as of Dec ‘21) | ~650 |
In transactions alone, they clocked over $4 billion in 2022 while contributing to an astounding $1.35 trillion towards the US economy—an achievement made possible by over 60 million American freelancers using their platform throughout last year.
Each year they conduct a ‘Freelance Forward’ survey providing insights into freelancing trends—a tool that could prove valuable to both businesses and freelancers.
Well in 2022, Fast Company named them one of the Most Innovative Companies—a testament to their commitment towards innovation. They also acquired TalentDesk.io, a talent CRM startup in 2021.
And at the helm of this global freelancing platform is Hayden Brown—Upwork’s President & CEO—an individual worthy of note if we’re talking about key figures associated with the brand.
In nutshell, Upwork’s position as one of the top freelancer companies in India is hard earned and well deserved. With consistent growth and an impressive roster of clients, they’re definitely setting the pace for others to follow!
3. Freelancer.com
Let’s dive into the world of Freelancer.com. This giant platform has seen remarkable growth, with its revenue soaring to €800.2 million in 2022, a whopping 59% increase from the previous year.
The team behind this success consists of about 465 dedicated employees as of June 2022. Stationed at their headquarters in Sydney, Australia, these folks work tirelessly to run an online marketplace that connects businesses with freelance professionals ready to undertake various projects.
Freelancer.com is the largest one worldwide in terms of user and project numbers. The platform boasts over 50 million registered users globally .
And they’re not just focused on making profit; they’re keen on making a difference too! In 2022, Freelancer.com partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for a $1 million challenge aimed at crowdsourcing solutions for disaster resilience.
Since its birth in Australia in 2009 by founder Matt Barrie, Freelancer.com has gobbled up several competitors like GetAFreelancer.com and EUFreelance.com. It’s this strategic approach that makes them stand out amongst others.
Compared to Upwork’s 30 million users, Freelancer.com has nearly double. With its staggering number of registered users reaching up to 50 million people globally!
As a matter-of-fact, they are proud owners of twelve Webby awards – one could say they have a knack for impressing judges!
In addition to acquiring other platforms like GetAFreelancer.com and EUFreelance.com, Freelancer also owns Freightlancer and Loadshift – two successful freight marketplaces.
Compellingly led by founder Matt Barrie, Freelancer.com has established itself as an industry leader, offering a platform where ideas are ignited and projects are brought to life. With its continuous growth and strategic acquisitions, it’s clear that Freelancer.com is setting the pace in the freelancing world!
Freelancers in the educational sector may find enriching opportunities by collaborating with top education companies in India, enhancing the scope of educational projects and online tutoring services.
4. Toptal
Founded in 2010 by Taso Du Val and Breanden Beneschott, Toptal has grown exponentially over the years. Its revenue hit a whopping $1.3 billion (₹10,740 crores), while employee count increased by an impressive 827% in just 2021. This incredible growth landed them the top spot on LinkedIn’s Top Startups list in the U.S for 2022.
Toptal’s main offering revolves around their on-demand freelance talent network that connects businesses with an array of professionals such as software developers, designers, finance experts and project managers. They’ve developed a rigorous screening process to identify only the top 3% of talent in their field. A strategy that seems to be working wonders considering they have major clients like Airbnb, Boeing, Google, JPMorgan Chase among others hooked onto their services.
Based out of San Francisco, California – this pioneer company has made significant strides within its sector. In addition to dominating traditional fields, they’ve also expanded into new verticals such as blockchain engineers back in 2018.
One notable partnership that stands out is with Payoneer – a leading financial service company specialising in digital payments. This strategic alliance enables free and fast payments between companies and freelancers globally – further enhancing Toptal’s appeal to both parties involved.
Apart from being named a Leader in Ardent Partners’ Digital Staffing Report – they’ve also managed to acquire video production marketplace Skillbridge recently this year. All these achievements have positioned Toptal among the top freelance marketplaces globally along with Upwork, Fiverr and Turing.
Freelancers with expertise in consumer product design, marketing, or research could benefit from exploring partnerships with leading consumer durable companies in India, expanding their client base in this dynamic sector.
5. Guru
Established in Pittsburgh by brothers Angsar and Dekel Guglani, Guru has steadily grown into one of the top global online freelancing platforms. Founded in 1998, this company began with a focus on computer programming but quickly expanded to offer services across various fields such as design and writing.
Guru’s financial performance is impressive, with ₹900 crore in revenue and a profit margin of ₹180 crore. This success is achieved through the dedication of their 1,550 employees who work tirelessly to connect businesses with skilled freelancers for projects.
| Revenue | Profit |
|---|---|
| ₹900 crore | ₹180 crore |
Their client base is vast and varied, serving small businesses, agencies, and enterprises across numerous industries including technology, marketing, design to name a few.
A notable partnership for Guru has been with PayPal for payment processing which has facilitated over $250 million in freelancer earnings globally. In fact, they’ve registered over 2 million users worldwide!
Determined not to rest on their laurels, Guru continually invests in Research & Development. Their proprietary algorithm stands as testament to this commitment – it ranks freelancers based on performance ensuring quality service delivery.
Despite stiff competition from other big players like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com among others; Guru holds its own quite well in terms of market share.
Over the years there have been some major achievements: winning Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service consecutively in 2018 and 2019 being prime examples. Additionally, they are also known for their strategic decisions such as acquiring Elance – another freelancing site – back in 2006 which was later merged into Upwork in 2013.
Based out of Pittsburgh USA yet reaching out all across India (and beyond), it’s no wonder that Guru features prominently among Top Freelancer Companies operating today!
For those freelancers who focus on retail business development, marketing, or e-commerce, connecting with the prominent retail companies in India might open up new avenues for professional growth.
6. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour sits comfortably among the top freelancer companies in India, though it’s actually a global enterprise with its headquarters nestled in London. It’s an online freelancing marketplace that connects businesses with freelancers from all over the world, dealing mainly in service categories such as IT, design, marketing and admin work to name but a few.
Founded by Xenios Thrasyvoulou and Michalis Kekatos back in 2007, PeoplePerHour has certainly made waves in the freelancing industry. By 2022, the company had managed to generate revenue of approximately 164 crores INR (16.9 million GBP), making it one of the largest freelance marketplaces after Upwork.
After receiving seed funding back in 2008 and further venture capital backing from Index Ventures two years later, PeoplePerHour went on to develop an AI-powered matching system which significantly improved how clients connected with relevant freelancers. This kind of innovation has been instrumental to their success.
Their achievements haven’t gone unnoticed either. On multiple occasions they’ve found themselves named on Deloitte’s Fast 50 list and have taken home awards for Best New Business and Best Business Enabler at the Growing Business Awards.
Not only are they successful, but they’re also expansive. In 2016, they acquired web development marketplace Codementor as part of their growing portfolio.
Here’s some key data about PeoplePerHour:
| Key Data | Information |
|---|---|
| Revenue | Approx 164 crores INR or 16.9 million GBP |
| Number of Employees | 112 |
| Main Products/Services | Online Freelancing Marketplace |
| Key Clients | Small and Medium Sized Businesses |
| Headquarters Location | London |
| Major Achievements | Paid over £100M to freelancers since beginning |
Yet despite their success, at heart they remain dedicated to providing a platform for freelancers. Boasting over 3 million rated freelancers on their books and having paid out over £100M to these hard-working individuals since they started, it’s clear that PeoplePerHour are invested in the people who make up their online community. They’ve also forged important partnerships with Amazon Web Services, PayPal, and Stripe to ensure reliable payment services for their users.
7. Flexjobs
Let’s delve into the specifics of Flexjobs, a trailblazer in the remote work space. Boasting impressive revenue of INR 4,964 crore and profit amounting to INR 2,094 crore, it’s evident that this platform is no small player in the industry.
Its a job board that bridges the gap between freelancers and a plethora of remote, flexible and home-based jobs spanning across more than 50 career categories. It’s no surprise then that heavy hitters such as Apple, Dell, UnitedHealth Group and eBay are amongst their top clients.
Although headquartered far from India in Boulder, Colorado USA, Flexjobs has managed to make an immense impact worldwide since its inception back in 2007 by Sara Sutton and her husband. Over its lifespan it has:
- Assisted over 5 million people in finding jobs
- Vetted over 57,000 companies for their remote job listings
- Currently hosts over 50k job listings spread across numerous industries
Continuing with notable partnerships; they’ve joined forces with Great Places to Work to pinpoint top-notch remote-friendly employers.
Flexjobs isn’t just about connecting professionals with flexible roles though; they also partake regularly in surveys and research on remote work trends. These findings are used wisely to enhance their platform while informing content creation.
Accolades have not been sparse for Flexjobs either. It has been named one of the Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs. They’ve also featured on lists applauding Best Work-Life Balance Jobs along with being recognised among the Top Companies offering Remote Jobs.
Moreover in recent years they expanded their reach even further by acquiring Remote.co back in 2021.
Finally you can’t mention FlexJobs without acknowledging founders Sara Sutton and Brett Good who continue to steer this pioneering vessel through the ever-evolving world of work. So,Flexjobs is a beacon in the remote work landscape; bridging the gap between freelancers and an expansive array of vetted remote opportunities across an impressive range of industries.
8. Truelancer
Dipping into the flourishing freelancing market, Truelancer has carved out a place for itself as one of India’s leading freelancer companies. With its headquarters nestled in New Delhi, the heart of India, it’s no surprise that this company has rapidly grown to be a significant player in the Asian market.
At a glance, you might think Truelancer is just like any other online freelance marketplace. But there’s more than meets the eye. The platform not only connects businesses with freelancers but also offers an array of services spanning IT, design, writing, translation, finance and marketing – making it a one-stop-shop for all your outsourcing needs.
Within just six months of launching back in 2014 by Dipesh Garg , they had already amassed over 600k registered freelancers on their platform. And they’re not showing any signs of slowing down.
According to recent data:
- Annual revenue: $22 million
- Number of employees: 857
They’ve managed to attract investors from both USA and India who provided seed funding back in 2015. It seems clear that people are willing to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting this innovative company.
Freelancers involved in transportation, logistics planning, or supply chain management can enhance their expertise by exploring collaborations with established transportation companies in India.
9. Hubstaff Talent
Taking the remote work world by storm, Hubstaff Talent is a key player in India’s freelancer community. With its headquarters based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, the company has developed a strong reputation for providing top-quality software solutions.
Established back in 2012 by Dave Nevogt and Jared Brown, this dynamic duo had one clear vision – to transform how companies and freelancers connect and work together. Since then they’ve grown their team to over 90 employees scattered across the globe.
Here’s what you can expect from them:
- A comprehensive management package including time tracking and reporting systems.
- Simplified payment processes for ease of use.
- An intuitive project management suite designed to streamline workflow.
They also offer a free service called ‘Hubstaff Talent’. It acts as a virtual job board allowing businesses to find the perfect freelancer for their needs.
Their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed either. Back in 2015, they were nominated for Techpoint’s Mira Awards under ‘Best of Tech’ category in Indiana. Following that up with an impressive listing on Inc 5000 not once but twice! First making it onto this prestigious list in 2018 and again in 2019.
It’s no surprise that Hubstaff Talent has made its mark within India’s freelance environment. It provides practical solutions tailored towards remote work which makes it stand out above other platforms offering similar services. With such strong foundations already laid down, there is no doubt we’ll continue to see great things from Hubstaff Talent moving forward into the future!
10. Gigster
Making a significant mark in the world of software development, Gigster’s prowess shines through its notable revenue figures. In 2022, it generated an impressive annual revenue of $26.3 million (₹196.67 crores). Gigster also boasts a robust team of 134 talented individuals who contribute to the company’s success.
| Year | Revenue ($) | Revenue (₹ Crore) | No. Of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 26.3 M | 196 | 134 |
Specialising in software development services, Gigster connects businesses with top-tier talent for customised software solutions, digital experiences and AI advancements. It has had the privilege of serving big names like IBM and MasterCard – testament to its quality offerings and trustworthiness in the industry.
Based out of San Antonio, Texas, this dynamic company was founded back in 2014 as Liquid Labs but later rebranded to Gigster after being part of Y-Combinator’s Summer class in 2015.
They’ve managed to raise a whopping $20 million during their series B funding round which was led by Redpoint Ventures.
Serving over 500 clients with a satisfaction rate soaring at an admirable rate of 93%, they’ve surely made quite an impact on their clientele base over the years.
What sets them apart is their unique approach towards research and development that involves blending top developers, designers and product managers with artificial intelligence for project execution truly sets them apart from traditional freelance platforms.
Conclusion on Freelancer Companies in India
You’ve journeyed through the list of top 10 freelancer companies in India. Each offers unique benefits and opportunities for both employers and freelancers.
The Indian freelance market is booming with professionals who are ready to work on diverse projects while offering high-quality results at competitive prices. Finding the right freelancer or project isn’t always easy but these platforms have made strides to simplify this process for you: from vetting freelancers to providing secure payment gateways.
In essence, these platforms are changing how businesses operate by removing geographical barriers and allowing access to talent without the constraints of traditional employment models.
It’s an exciting time to be involved in the freelance industry as it continues its rapid growth trajectory fuelled by technological advancements and evolving workforce preferences. You’re now equipped with all you need to navigate this dynamic landscape.
