With an increasing number of people and households in Kenya having access to affordable internet connections, freelancing is increasingly becoming a viable option for many Kenyans looking to break from the monotony of traditional 9-to-5 jobs. Kenya has emerged as a powerhouse in Africa’s online gig scene, experiencing a staggering 216% growth in online freelancers over the past five years, positioning the country as the continent’s leader in the gig economy ahead of South Africa and Nigeria.
According to the latest data, 1,209,506 people (5% of the Kenyan population) are online workers, representing a dramatic shift from previous years. This growth has been influenced by factors such as the high unemployment gap and the desire to achieve work-life balance as early as possible. The numbers are even more impressive when you consider that Kenya now accounts for 0.37% of the global freelance market, significantly outperforming other African nations.
Moreover, freelancing is particularly suitable for the Kenyan population because of its flexibility, meaning that you can choose to work from anywhere and at any time. Additionally, compared to routine everyday jobs, depending on the projects you handle, it promises much higher pay. The average online worker in Kenya earns about $188 per month, though top performers can earn significantly more. However, with all the advantages that freelancing has to offer, choosing a reliable platform is what will determine your success rate.
A good freelance platform has a proven track record of offering legitimate jobs without scams. But finding these platforms can be challenging, especially for someone just wanting to get started. If you fall into this category, this guide has been made for you. It covers everything you need to know about the best platforms and what makes them stand out in 2025’s competitive landscape.
Top 10 Freelance Platforms for Kenyan Freelancers
While we don’t advocate putting money first when it comes to working online or remotely, earning well is still the end goal for most freelancers, myself included. Therefore, if you want to succeed in any of these business models of freelancing, then the choice of platforms you work with will highly influence your growth and long-term success.
There are so many platforms out there that offer various online jobs, but not all of them are totally worth your time. Before jumping to any remote site to look for work, you should analyze it based on various factors, including its fees, job categories, client testimonials, payment security, and market reputation, to find the right one that matches your expertise.
Below, we have gone through some of the best 10 platforms that we think you should give a try this year, each with updated information for 2025:
1. Upwork
Upwork is a platform that resonates with many Kenyan freelancers and is available globally. If you are just getting started with working remotely, then Upwork should be your ideal platform as it offers many jobs, including opportunities for those without any prior experience. To apply for jobs, you must register on the platform and bid for various advertised projects through their proposal system.
Why it’s great:
- Its large client base translates to many job opportunities if you have the necessary skills
- It features a built-in messaging system and video calling capabilities, allowing you to reach clients easily and build relationships
- Upwork offers payment protection through its escrow system, ensuring you get paid for completed work
- The platform provides skills tests and certifications that can boost your profile credibility
N/B:Upwork charges a sliding fee based on your lifetime billings with each client, whereby 20% for the first $500, 10% for $500.01-$10,000, and 5% for amounts over $10,000.
2. Fiverr
Fiverr is also a great and unique platform that operates on a different model from traditional bidding sites. It allows sellers or freelancers to showcase their work by creating Gigs through which clients can find and approach them directly if their work is good enough. While it is a great platform, its primary drawback is the 20% commission fee that is charged directly from your earnings, which can impact your profits, especially for those working on low-paying gigs.
Why it’s great:
- It allows you to showcase your portfolio directly to clients and market yourself effectively
- You can set your prices starting from $5 based on your experience and market demand
- Fiverr provides excellent seller analytics to help you optimize your gigs
- The platform offers Fiverr Pro for experienced professionals, which commands higher rates
3. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is one of the largest freelance sites globally, with an estimated freelancer base of over 50 million users. Like Upwork, it features a bidding system where you submit proposals on projects that match your skills and wait for clients to consider your application. It’s a comprehensive platform, but many users have reported issues with its arbitration processes and funds being locked during disputes.
Why it’s great:
- Offers access to numerous projects across more than 2,000 job categories
- Features one of the most intuitive user interfaces, making it easy to search and apply for jobs
- Has an active support team that you can easily reach for assistance when you encounter issues as a freelancer
- Provides various payment options, including milestone payments for larger projects
Take note: Freelancer.com charges between 10% to 20% depending on your membership level, with lower fees for premium members.
4. PeoplePerHour
If you are a freelancer looking for hourly work or project-based tasks, PeoplePerHour champions this approach effectively. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to match freelancers to projects that align with their expertise, saving you the hassles of browsing through hundreds of irrelevant projects. What makes their payment protection system particularly appealing is that clients pay for work through an escrow system before you begin working on any project, and funds are released after satisfaction from both parties.
Why it’s great:
- Uses AI to match you with projects that fit your skills, reducing unnecessary competition from irrelevant bidders
- The escrow payment system secures your earnings before you work on any project
- Offers both hourly and fixed-price project options to suit different working preferences
- Features a streamlined proposal process that saves time compared to other platforms
5. Toptal
Established in 2010, Toptal has positioned itself as a trusted platform globally by only admitting freelancers with top talent through a rigorous vetting process. Suppose you have exceptional talent and are willing to undergo various tests and interviews. In that case, this platform is among the best to consider as it significantly reduces competition and promises consistent job opportunities with premium clients.
Why it’s great:
- Provides clients with high-quality professionals, as it only admits the top 3% of talent through thorough screening
- Offers significantly higher pay rates, with freelancers commanding $60-$200+ per hour on various projects
- Manages all billing and invoicing operations, allowing you to focus entirely on your work without administrative distractions
- Connects you with Fortune 500 companies and funded startups for prestigious projects
6. FlexJobs
FlexJobs focuses on quality assurance to ensure that only legitimate jobs are posted on the platform, making it completely free from scams. For this reason, the platform operates on a subscription-based model, meaning you have to pay a membership fee to access job listings. This can be a turnoff for some freelancers but proves beneficial for many, as there are consistently over 30,000 vetted job opportunities available.
Why it’s great:
- All jobs posted on the platform are thoroughly vetted and free from scams, offering complete peace of mind to freelancers
- Provides valuable career resources such as resume reviews, skills tests, and professional webinars for skill development
- Allows you to apply directly to companies without going through competitive bidding systems
- Offers various membership tiers with different access levels and support features
Subscription cost: FlexJobs offers monthly, quarterly, and annual membership options with prices starting around $24.95 per month.
7. Behance
Behance is a specialized platform focused exclusively on creative and design-related fields. You can showcase your previous work through its comprehensive portfolio system while simultaneously searching for new opportunities. The platform also allows users to monetize their work by directly selling downloadable assets and offering subscription plans to followers, creating multiple revenue streams.
Why it’s great:
- Enables users to create professional portfolios and display their services effectively to potential clients
- Users can sell their creative assets and offer subscription plans to monetize their work beyond client projects
- Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud provides a seamless workflow for creative professionals
- Features a strong community aspect with opportunities for networking and collaboration
Best for: Graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, web designers, and other creative professionals looking to build their brand.
8. Guru
Guru stands out for allowing sellers to create detailed profiles showcasing past projects they have worked on, which can give you a significant competitive edge if clients are seeking proven expertise in specific fields. What makes it particularly attractive is its SafePay system, which holds funds securely for freelancers and releases payment when work is completed, similar to how escrow systems work. However, a significant drawback is its complex fee structure, which ranges from 4.95% to 8.95% depending on your membership plan.
Why it’s great:
- Offers multiple payment structures that you can choose from, including hourly rates, fixed-price contracts, and milestone-based payments
- The SafePay system allows you to focus on your work without worrying about potential payment issues or scams
- Provides comprehensive collaboration tools such as Workroom, which allows seamless communication with clients throughout project development
- Features detailed freelancer profiles that help establish credibility and expertise
9. Truelancer
Truelancer stands out from other platforms because it is specifically designed for freelancers in developing countries like Kenya, making it particularly relevant for our market. It offers numerous job opportunities across various categories, including writing, design, programming, digital marketing, and many more specialized fields. Like Guru, it implements the SafePay system, giving you complete peace of mind while working without worrying about payment security. However, when considering this platform, you should be aware that it features a comparison tool that allows clients to evaluate multiple freelancers based on their skills, experience, and past projects before selecting the best fit.
Why it’s great:
- Uses the SafePay system to ensure secure transactions by holding payments until project completion and client satisfaction
- Clients can compare freelancers comprehensively, but this also means quality work gets properly recognized and rewarded
- Focuses specifically on developing market needs, making it more accessible for Kenyan freelancers
- Offers competitive fee structures designed for emerging market economies
10. LinkedIn ProFinder
LinkedIn ProFinder, as its name suggests, is built on top of the extensive LinkedIn professional network. It allows you to directly reach out to businesses and professionals within your network and submit tailored proposals to them. To get started effectively, you need to create a comprehensive ProFinder profile that highlights your expertise and then proactively reach out to potential clients who match your service offerings.
Why it’s great:
- Allows you to leverage your existing LinkedIn network to discover opportunities and build professional relationships
- Provides access to a professional audience that typically values quality work and pays premium rates
- Integration with LinkedIn profiles adds credibility through professional recommendations and endorsements
- Focus on service-based businesses rather than one-off projects creates opportunities for long-term client relationships
How Can You Maximize Your Earnings on These Platforms?
Even after you have joined these various platforms, your end goal should be to provide exceptionally high-quality work based on the different projects or roles assigned to you. This is the fundamental way that you can quickly boost your earnings and build a sustainable freelancing career. Beyond quality work, several other strategic factors can significantly impact your success:
- Build a Strong Professional Profile that comprehensively highlights all your relevant skills, showcases your best past projects with detailed case studies, and clearly communicates your unique value proposition to win more clients.
- Master Professional Communication Skills to help you communicate effectively with clients, thoroughly understand their needs and expectations, and consistently deliver exactly what they want.
- Actively Request Client Feedback after every project you complete successfully. Reviews and testimonials are what many potential clients on these platforms consider first when evaluating freelancers, and having consistently positive feedback will significantly increase your chances of being selected by premium clients who pay higher rates.
- Specialize in High-Demand Skills that align with current market trends. Based on current data, the most in-demand skills for Kenyan online workers include digital marketing (461,253 workers), article writing (250,000 workers), transcription (141,021 workers), software development (76,291 workers), and data science (64,100 workers). However, emerging areas like AI prompt engineering, social media management, and e-commerce optimization are also showing strong growth.
- Set Competitive Yet Profitable Rates by researching what other successful freelancers in your field charge and positioning yourself appropriately based on your experience level and the value you provide. Don’t undervalue your work, but be realistic about market rates when starting out.
- Maintain Consistent Availability and develop a reputation for meeting deadlines reliably. Clients highly value dependable freelancers who communicate proactively about project progress and potential challenges.
Which payment methods work best for Kenyan freelancers?
Most international platforms support PayPal, Payoneer, and direct bank transfers. Many Kenyan freelancers prefer Payoneer due to its local withdrawal options and competitive exchange rates.
How long does it take to establish a successful freelancing career?
Most freelancers see their first paid projects within 2-4 weeks of actively applying, but building a sustainable income typically takes 3-6 months of consistent effort. However, success depends heavily on your skill level, chosen niche, and how effectively you market yourself on chosen platforms.
Conclusion
Well, if you are hoping to get started with Freelancing in Kenya, the time to get started is not tomorrow but rather right now. As we have covered in the article, several Platforms offer online and remote Jobs, even for Kenyan freelancers, that you can apply for and get paid handsomely. Some of these platforms include Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, etc. Therefore, this marks the end of the article, but remember, if you have any questions that you need clarification on, let us interact in the comment section below.
