Throughout history, humans have naturally gravitated towards forming groups. From the earliest civilizations to modern times, the desire to belong has been ingrained in our social fabric. Group affiliation not only ensures safety, as seen in ancient tribes providing food and shelter, but also facilitates knowledge exchange—an invaluable asset in today’s business landscape. Regardless of structure—be it hierarchical or egalitarian—every community involves interaction and reciprocity. Some contribute knowledge or skills while others benefit from them. This dynamic, whether gathering food in prehistoric times or collaborating on projects today, underscores the essence of community.
Having dedicated my career to supporting associations across various industries—from oil and gas to legal and accounting—for the past two decades, I’ve witnessed a common thread: the aspiration to unite people under a shared purpose. Associations, akin to modern tribes, aim to foster professional communities tailored to specific niches.
Long before “community” became a buzzword, associations sought member engagement—be it event participation, membership purchases, or support for research initiatives. In return, a well-functioning association promises to deliver tangible value.
Managing an association (or community) has evolved in the digital age. While technology has streamlined community administration and make it easier to create and manage one, it has also introduced complexities with myriad engagement options, social media platforms, and activation techniques. Innovations like artificial intelligence and blockchain further augment community building, offering sophisticated means to deliver relevant content, forge connections, and facilitate exchange.
No wonder it affects the creation and development of numerous freelance communities. When I asked ChatGPT to provide a list of freelance communities, half of which no longer exist (ChatGPT data is as of 2021). It illustrates how difficult it is to maintain an independent community and make it a financially viable activity
Drawing from my experience in association management, I’ve applied my insights to the Freelance Business Community, which I’ve overseen since 2018. My exploration of other freelance communities stems from a curiosity about the broader freelance ecosystem and its digital landscape.
In this guide, you’ll discover a curated selection of independent freelance communities — those not affiliated with freelance platforms. While major platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Malt or established startups to niche platforms catering to specific skill sets like software development (such as codecontrol or Gigged.AI ) or The Indie List – a community and an agency for marketing and creative professionals, or IDLance – specializing on instructional design freelancers, our focus is on independent initiatives.
These communities offer freelancers a diverse array of services. For each community listed, I’ve outlined their offerings, membership options (free or paid), and geographical coverage. You can download the full list and report here.
Download the Freelance Business Communities Guide
Let’s delve into a comprehensive overview of some prominent independent freelancer communities that we have on the market:
- Freelancing.eu: Positioned as an international freelance community hub, Freelancing.eu offers a diverse range of resources including a freelance directory, news updates, meetups, and a comprehensive collection of freelance-specific resources. Operating on a membership model, freelancers gain access to valuable networking opportunities and industry insights for an annual fee of 199 EUR, primarily serving the European Union (EU). Join here.
- Doerscircle: With a focus on empowering freelancers in Southeast Asia and expanding into Europe, Doerscircle offers incorporation services, accounting support, insurance options, and co-working space access. Their membership, priced at 45 EUR annually, provides a holistic suite of tools and resources to kickstart and nurture freelance businesses. Join Doerscircle here for free or for only 4 EUR per month as a Premium member.
- Freelancing Females: Catering specifically to freelance women worldwide, this community provides a directory listing, job board, templates, and fee benchmarking services for an annual membership fee of 120 USD, primarily serving the United States. Join here.
- Freelancers Union: As a non-profit organization based in New York City, Freelancers Union advocates for freelance workers through services such as a job directory, resource offerings, events, and lobbying efforts. Membership is donation-based, ranging from 1 to 300 USD annually. Join here.
- Freelance Pizza: Positioned as a learning platform, Freelance Pizza offers personalized courses, mentorship, and a resource library to enhance freelancers’ business skills, accessible for USD 19 per month or USD 190 annually, catering to a global audience. Join here.
- Freelance Network Italy: Focused on supporting independent freelancers in Italy, this association offers trainings, courses, events, and mentorship opportunities for an annual membership fee of 50 euros. Join here.
- Leapers: Prioritizing mental health support for freelancers in the UK, Leapers offers a resource library and tools at no cost to members. Join here.
- SAFREA South African Freelancers Association: Serving media professionals in South Africa, SAFREA provides resources, training, networking events, and a job board for a membership fee of R550 annually. Join here.
- Freelancer Club: Positioned as a leading community for freelancers in the UK, Freelancer Club offers job listings, masterclasses, coaching, and advocacy initiatives for a monthly fee ranging from 7.99 to 11.66 GBP or an annual fee of 112.8 to 164.4 EUR. Join here.
- The Freelance Qommunity: Based in the Netherlands, this community offers networking events, job postings, business support, and coaching services for a monthly fee of 19.50 EUR or 234 EUR annually, with additional options available. Join here.
- Peak Freelance: Geared towards freelance writers globally, Peak Freelance provides job opportunities, workshops, templates, and community interaction, accessible for free with optional premium courses priced at $549. Join here.
- Go4freelance: Tailored for freelancers in Flanders, Belgium, Go4freelance offers a directory, coaching, training, and job opportunities upon request. Join here.
- Being Freelance: This UK-based community offers a podcast, directory, live Q&As, virtual coworking sessions, and social events for a monthly fee ranging from 6 to 15 GBP. Join here.
- Freelancer Talk: Centered around arts and culture freelancers in the Netherlands, Freelancer Talk provides community interaction, resources, and knowledge sharing for a monthly fee ranging from 5 to 25 EUR. Join here.
- Freelance Writers Den: Targeting freelance writers globally, this community offers a job board, newsletter, discussion forums, and premium content for a monthly fee of 40 USD. Join here.
- IPSE: A UK-based organization, IPSE offers freelance marketplace access, templates, cover for illness and jury service, networking opportunities, and lobbying efforts support for an annual membership fee ranging from 109 to 370 GBP. Join here.
- The Pop Club: Offering a monthly membership for freelance writers globally, The Pop up Club provides access to a Slack group, workshops, coaching, and a resource library for 33 USD per month. Join here.
- Freelancing Friends: Based in the UK, Freelancing Friends provides a Slack community, podcast, and optional donation-based membership. Join here.
- Freelance Business Community: Operating globally, this community offers a Slack platform, masterclasses, and publications to support freelance professionals, accessible for free. Join here.
- American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA): Targeting nonfiction writers in the USA, ASJA offers a directory, client networking, professional development resources, advocacy efforts, and discounted services for an annual membership fee. Join here.
- Freelancing for Good: This global community aims to unite freelancers committed to making a positive impact, offering a Slack group, guides, newsletters, and blog resources for free. Join here.
- Sales Marketing Group: Centered around marketing professionals in the Netherlands and Belgium, this community provides networking, personal branding advice, educational plans, mentorship, and events for a monthly fee of 100 EUR. Join here.
- The Old Girls Club: Focused on women and non-binary individuals in male-dominated industries, this US-based community offers a Slack group, resources, newsletter, and talent directory for a membership fee of 10 USD per month or 100 USD annually. Join here.
- All Things Freelance Writing: Geared towards freelance writers in the USA, this community offers a job board, newsletter, rates report, discussion forums, podcast, accessible for 1 USD per month. Join here.
- The Freelance Coalition For Developing Countries: Supporting BIPOC freelancers in developing countries, this community offers mentoring, tutorials, podcasts, guides, and Slack/Facebook groups for free. Join here.
- outside perspective: This global community for freelance strategists offers access to a job board at no cost per application. Join here.
- The Workstyle Revolution: Focused on transforming traditional work structures globally, this community offers a Slack platform, newsletter, and toolkit resources for free. Join here.
- Team Translator: Geared towards freelance translators worldwide, this community offers a Slack group, meet-ups, and resources for free. Join here.
- Social Declick: Centered in France, this community focuses on freelancers committed to social change, offering meet-ups, working groups, trainings, and a Slack platform for an annual fee of 360 EUR. Join here.
- The Society of Freelance Journalists: A global community for freelance journalists, offering work opportunities, networking, events, and advice at no cost. Join here.
- IMMA Collective: Tailored for freelancers focused on climate and social change globally, IMMA Collective offers jobs, peer support, and resources for 15 EUR per month. Join here.
These communities reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of freelancers worldwide, providing invaluable support systems to navigate the challenges and embrace the opportunities of independent work. Whether seeking networking opportunities, professional development resources, or a sense of community, freelancers can find solace and empowerment within these vibrant ecosystems.
There are undoubtedly countless freelance communities across the universe, and with a little searching, you’ll likely discover one in your own sphere. Perhaps you might even consider establishing one yourself (watch this video ‘How to grow a community)’?
There are regional and niche communities targeted toward specific freelance professional domains, as well as global communities like Freelance Business Communities that focus on education. Additionally, there are grassroots organizations, established by freelancers themselves, largely operated through volunteering efforts (and in some cases, collecting membership fees), and there are associations with larger funding and teams behind them, such as IPSE and the Freelancers Union. You can read about how to choose a community here.
Based on the overview provided, freelance communities can generally be categorized into four types, each offering specific services to freelancers:
- Lobbying Organizations: These groups advocate for and safeguard the rights and interests of freelancers. We only see a few of such organisation at the moment.
- Educational Institutions: These organizations furnish learning platforms and resources to enhance freelancers’ skills and knowledge. Most communities provide education in a form of masterclasses, videos, courses, trainings.
- Networking and Job Sharing Platforms: These forums, meet-ups, and events facilitate connections among freelancers and opportunities for job sharing. Some of the communities include job board or opportunities sharing as one of their membership benefits.
- Resource Providers: Offering toolkits, templates, checklists, books, and other valuable resources to assist freelancers in their endeavors.
Whether you opt to join a free or paid freelance community, the crucial factor is your level of activity within it. Joining a freelance community is akin to enrolling in a gym membership: you can invest in it, but unless you actively participate and engage, you won’t see the desired results.
“The best connections come from my network,” said Rachel H. Meltzer, founder of the Pop up Club. Indeed, your personal network contributes to the success of your business. According to our recent research on where freelancers find customers, 54% of freelancers are finding work via their personal network and 45% were recommended by someone in their network.
Interested to know how to get the best out of the community you joined, watch this video ‘How to harness the community power” from the Freelance Business Month session. Freelance Business Month is the largest event for freelancers happening every October. Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to book a discounted ticket.
Do you have questions or comments? Connect with me on LinkedIn.
Founder
Freelance Business
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