How do you find the right SEO talent? It’s a question I hear from many all the time, and for good reason: the world of online marketing is constantly shifting. Businesses post job listings on multiple platforms, while freelancers showcase skills across portfolios and profiles.

There are several good platforms to find SEO experts; some are very popular. In minutes, you might browse dozens of profiles, reviews, and proposals, all while trying to identify the expert who can truly elevate your search visibility.

Read more 7 Best SEO Agencies in 2025

1. Upwork – Best for Global SEO Talent

Here’s my situation: I needed to hire more talent for my SEO and link-building projects. That’s when I turned to Upwork. In my experience, Upwork is one of the best platforms, and I highly recommend it.

First, it offers a sheer variety of SEO talent. From technical experts, content strategists, and link-building pros, there’s someone for every type of project and budget. You can choose freelancers at all experience levels: entry-level, Top Rated Plus, and Expert-Vetted.

In addition, the job posting is straightforward. Upwork lets you write a detailed post or generate one with AI, which immediately gives you a curated list of proposals. 

The platform’s built-in vetting features are very useful. You can read past client reviews, check portfolios, and view a Job Success Score. Also, the payment system is secure. Funds stay in escrow until you approve the work.

Another thing I love is flexibility. The platform supports both hourly and fixed-price arrangements. Integrated project management tools like messaging, milestone tracking, and time monitoring make the process organized.

That said, sifting through dozens of proposals may take time, and be careful to avoid freelancers offering quick-fix, spammy SEO tactics. 

Upwork
(Source: Upwork)

Pricing:

  • Marketplace: 5% fee after hiring
  • Business Plus: 10% fee after hiring 
  • Enterprise: Custom

To hire an SEO specialist with solid experience on Upwork, I found rates ranging from roughly $25 to $43 per hour. If you’re just starting small projects, you can find affordable talent.

2. Fiverr – Best for Quick, Affordable Tasks

I thought when I hire someone, especially a long-term strategist, it’s because I want him/her for the long haul. Then I discovered Fiverr, which has a gig-based system that lets you hire freelancers for specific tasks rather than having to commit to a huge contract.

The biggest appeal for me is affordability. Each service is offered as a “gig,” so you can pick what you need without paying for anything extra. Many SEO “gigs” start at a very low price point, often just $5. 

The platform is very user-friendly. You can search for services, compare freelancer portfolios, and read reviews all within a few minutes. Fiverr also provides the security of paying only when you’re happy with the work.

However, quality varies wildly, and due to the low barrier to entry, anyone can offer SEO services, even without the expertise to back it up. Communication is limited, too; you often can’t have detailed pre-project discussions, so you need to be very clear in your instructions. 

And, of course, Fiverr is not ideal for comprehensive, ongoing SEO strategies. You’re paying for isolated tasks rather than a holistic approach.

Fiverr
(Source: Fiverr)

Pricing:

  • Fiverr: Free to use, Global freelance talent
  • Fiverr Pro Essential: Eligibility-based (Maintain by spending $1,000+ on services annually)
  • Fiverr Pro Advanced: $129/month 
  • Enterprise: Custom

Prices can range from $5 for simple gigs to $100 or more for more detailed work. 

  • Important:
Many low-cost services, especially those offering mass link-building or guaranteed high rankings, use risky “black-hat” SEO techniques. While these tactics may provide short-term gains, they often result in severe, long-term penalties from search engines like Google. Always thoroughly vet freelancers by asking about their strategies and ensuring they focus on sustainable, “white-hat” SEO practices.

3. Toptal – Best for Elite, Strategic SEO Expertise

The biggest advantage is access to elite, proven professionals. Unlike open marketplaces, Toptal matches you with highly vetted SEO experts who have a track record of success. You don’t have to sift through hundreds of proposals. A dedicated matching specialist will listen to your goals and present a shortlist of candidates who are already pre-screened.

The platform is also impressive with its strategic, holistic approach. Toptal freelancers provide guidance on comprehensive SEO plans. Flexible engagement models let you hire them hourly, part-time, or full-time, depending on your needs. Dedicated support, including invoicing, payments, and conflict resolution, also made the experience stress-free.

Toptal
(Source: Toptal)

Pricing

 $79/month flat fee (billed when starting a talent search). Refund if no talent is provided.

Toptal is a premium platform. Hourly rates for top SEO experts generally start around $100 to $200/hour and can go higher depending on experience and specialization. 

4. LinkedIn – Best for Direct Access to Top SEO Professionals

Primarily recognized as a networking platform, LinkedIn is a valuable asset for locating SEO specialists who have the specific skills that you need.

On LinkedIn, you can search for SEO specialists by skills like technical SEO, content strategy, or link building, and filter by location, industry, or years of experience. LinkedIn lets you see a person’s full work history, recommendations from colleagues or clients, and content they’ve published. This makes it easy to verify credibility.

You can also post a traditional job listing, which is great for reaching candidates actively looking for new opportunities.

All in all, LinkedIn is best for a strategic, professional hire. It’s less suited for small, one-off tasks, but for long-term SEO projects, it’s unmatched in transparency, access, and credibility.

LinkedIn

(Source: LinkedIn)

Expert opinion

The best SEO is to love your customers.

Seth Godin

Read more Top 25+ SEO Experts to follow

5. MarketerHire – Best for Curated, High-Impact SEO Experts

The platform’s standout feature is its rigorous vetting process. Every expert is pre-screened. Within 48 hours of submitting your project brief, an account manager matches you with a curated list of candidates. 

You can hire SEO experts part-time, hourly, or on a project basis without committing to a long-term contract. The experts also bring high-level, strategic guidance. 

MarketerHire is a premium service: rates are higher than marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork, and pricing isn’t always fully transparent. 

You’re also presented with a limited selection of candidates, so if you prefer browsing a wide range of profiles yourself, this model can feel restrictive. 

MarketerHire
(Source: MarketerHire)

Pricing:

  • Starter: $5,000+/month
  • Growth: $10,000+/month
  • Scale: $15,000+/month
  • Custom: Custom pricing 

6. PeoplePerHour – Best for Vetted Freelancers

PeoplePerHour is a UK-based platform that is also popular in the US. It is a freelance marketplace like Upwork and Fiverr; however, many do claim that it is much less crowded than the others. 

The platform combines a vetted freelancer community with transparent pricing. Every freelancer is hand-reviewed, and their CERT score and “Top Cert” designation give you confidence in their experience and reliability. 

You can browse profiles for SEO specialists, compare portfolios, read reviews, and quickly find someone suited for your project. The platform also offers “Hourlies,” which are fixed-price packages for specific tasks like keyword research, backlinks, or site audits.

PeoplePerHour also has project management and communication tools. Messaging, file sharing, and escrow payments all work smoothly.

PeoplePerHour
(Source: PeoplePerHour)

7. SEOClerk – Best for Hyper-Specific, Low-Cost SEO Tasks

SEOClerk is a niche marketplace dedicated entirely to SEO. Pricing is extremely affordable. Many gigs start as low as $1, perfect for small businesses or individuals on a tight budget.

The platform is also very user-friendly: searching for services, comparing sellers, and placing orders is quick and straightforward. Seller ratings, reviews, and levels help you gauge credibility before spending a dollar.

SEOClerk is not suitable for comprehensive campaigns. You’ll likely need multiple freelancers for different tasks, which can lead to a disjointed approach. Buyer protection exists but is limited.

SEOClerk
(Source: SEOClerk)

  • Summary

It’s important to remember that there can be such a wide range of rates because of multiple reasons. Experience will always matter a lot. Location also affects prices, since freelance specialists in high-demand or high-cost locations may be able to set higher rates. According to Ahrefs, SEO professionals located in India, Central America, and South America typically offer the most affordable rates. 


If someone has a specialized expertise, like technical SEO or ecommerce SEO, that is going to increase the costs even more. Finally, top-performing freelancers can charge higher fees because of their reputation and the sales and leads they’ve been able to achieve for other companies.

Conclusion

Anyhow, each of these platforms has its own strengths and trade-offs. The main reason we’re confident these seven platforms make the list is that they cover the full spectrum of SEO hiring needs, from affordable micro-tasks to premium, results-driven expertise, helping businesses find the right expert for any project.

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost to hire an SEO expert varies widely based on several factors, including their experience, location, and the scope of work.

  • Freelancers: Range from $25 to $150 per hour.
  • Agencies: Typically charge $1,500 to $10,000+ per month for comprehensive services.
  • One-time projects: Cost $1,000 to $30,000+, depending on complexity.

For hiring professional freelancers, look into Upwork and Fiverr great for finding freelancing experts at almost any budget and level of expertise. For a more custom and high-end experience, MarketerHire or Toptal are fabulous. Of the top comprehensive SEO software, Semrush and Ahrefs are by far the top two.

WordPress’s open-source nature provides flexibility and customization. Plugins like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack offer tools for everything from on-page optimization to creating XML sitemaps. Wix has made significant improvements to its SEO capabilities, but its closed ecosystem has limitations. You have less control over the code and site structure.

Google doesn’t offer SEO services, and you cannot pay Google directly to improve your organic SEO rankings. However, you can pay Google for advertising through Google Ads. These paid ads appear at the top or bottom of the search results page, clearly labeled as “Sponsored.” 

Yes, you can definitely do SEO on your own. With modern website builders and abundant online resources, many small-business owners handle their own search visibility effectively. Tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics are invaluable for tracking performance. Keep in mind that SEO is a long-term process.