Best Marketplaces to Hire Social Media Managers: Smart Platforms for Growing Teams

Finding the right social media manager can make or break your online presence. Whether you need someone to handle daily posts, craft campaigns, or build a community around your brand, choosing the right hiring platform matters just as much as finding the right person. This list walks you through eight different marketplaces where you can connect with skilled social media professionals. Each platform offers something different, from budget-friendly options to specialized talent pools. By the end, you’ll know exactly where to start your search based on your needs, timeline, and budget.

1. Legiit

   Legiit connects you with vetted freelancers who specialize in digital marketing, including social media management. The platform focuses on transparency, with detailed service descriptions and clear pricing upfront so you know exactly what you’re getting before you commit.

   What sets Legiit apart is its community of experienced freelancers who offer fixed-price packages rather than hourly rates. This makes budgeting simpler and eliminates surprise costs. You can browse through portfolios, read genuine reviews from other clients, and compare different service levels to find someone who matches your needs. The platform also includes escrow protection, which means your payment is held securely until you’re satisfied with the work delivered. For businesses that want straightforward pricing and reliable digital marketing talent without the guesswork, Legiit provides a solid foundation.

2. PeoplePerHour

   PeoplePerHour operates on a project-based model that appeals to businesses looking for specific deliverables. You can post your project requirements and receive proposals from interested social media managers, or browse through profiles and reach out directly.

   The platform includes a workstream feature that helps you manage communication, files, and payments all in one place. Social media managers on PeoplePerHour often package their services into hourlies, which are fixed-price offerings for specific tasks like creating a week’s worth of content or setting up a new Instagram strategy. This structure works well if you need someone for recurring tasks but aren’t ready to commit to a long-term contract. The rating system is straightforward, and you can filter candidates by experience level, hourly rate, and location if time zones matter for your collaboration.

3. Guru

   Guru has been around long enough to build a substantial pool of freelance talent across various specialties. The platform lets you create detailed job posts and review applications from social media managers who think they’re a good fit for your project.

   One practical feature is the workroom system, which centralizes all project activity including timesheets, invoices, and file sharing. This becomes especially useful when you’re working with someone on an ongoing basis and need to track hours or maintain organized records. Guru also offers flexible payment options, including hourly, fixed-price, and task-based arrangements. Their SafePay system holds funds in escrow until milestones are completed, providing security for both parties. If you value organized project management tools alongside your hiring process, Guru delivers a well-structured environment that reduces administrative friction.

4. Toptal

   Toptal positions itself at the premium end of the freelance market by maintaining a rigorous screening process. Only about three percent of applicants pass their evaluation, which includes skills assessments, live screenings, and test projects.

   This selectivity means you’re paying more, but you’re also getting access to highly experienced social media managers who have proven their abilities. Toptal matches you with candidates based on your specific requirements, and you can typically start a trial period within 24 to 48 hours of your initial request. The platform works best for companies that need senior-level talent quickly and are willing to invest in quality over cost savings. If your social media strategy requires someone who can hit the ground running with minimal supervision and contribute strategic thinking alongside execution, Toptal’s curated talent pool removes much of the vetting burden from your shoulders.

5. Mayple

   Mayple takes a matchmaking approach by pairing your business with pre-vetted marketing professionals based on your industry and specific needs. Rather than sorting through hundreds of profiles yourself, you submit your requirements and Mayple’s team suggests candidates who have relevant experience.

   Each social media manager on the platform has been screened for both skills and past performance. The platform focuses specifically on marketing roles, which means you’re not competing with web developers or graphic designers for attention. Mayple also provides ongoing project management support, helping facilitate communication and ensure deliverables stay on track. This guided approach works particularly well for small business owners who might feel overwhelmed by larger freelance marketplaces or who lack experience hiring for marketing roles. The trade-off is less control over the selection process, but you gain expertise and time savings in return.

6. Hubstaff Talent

   Hubstaff Talent operates as a completely free platform for both clients and freelancers, which is rare in this space. There are no fees, commissions, or markups on either side of the transaction.

   You can browse profiles of social media managers from around the world, filtering by skills, location, and hourly rate. Because there’s no platform fee, freelancers can often offer more competitive rates than they would on commission-based sites. The catch is that you handle all payment arrangements directly, outside the platform, which means you lose the protection of escrow services. This model works well if you have some experience hiring freelancers and feel comfortable managing contracts and payments independently. Hubstaff Talent gives you direct access to a global talent pool without the middleman costs, but it requires more hands-on management from your end.

7. We Work Remotely

   We Work Remotely functions as a job board rather than a traditional freelance marketplace. You post your social media manager position, and candidates apply directly to you with their resumes and cover letters.

   This platform attracts professionals specifically looking for remote work arrangements, which tends to include people who are organized, self-motivated, and comfortable with digital communication tools. The audience skews toward full-time or part-time contract positions rather than one-off projects. If you’re looking to bring someone on for several months or longer, this approach lets you conduct a more traditional hiring process with applications, interviews, and reference checks. The posting fees are straightforward and significantly lower than recruiter commissions. We Work Remotely works best when you have a clear job description and the bandwidth to review applications and conduct your own vetting process.

8. Bark

   Bark flips the typical marketplace model by having service providers compete for your business. You submit details about your social media management needs, and Bark sends your request to relevant professionals who then reach out to you with proposals and pricing.

   This reverse bidding approach means you receive multiple quotes without having to search through profiles individually. It’s particularly efficient if you have a clear project scope and want to compare different approaches and price points quickly. Bark covers a wide range of services beyond just social media, so you’re accessing a broad network of local and remote professionals. The platform charges service providers to respond to requests rather than taking a commission from completed projects. This model works well for businesses that prefer to have options brought to them rather than spending time on active searches. You maintain full control over which proposals to consider and can ask follow-up questions before making a decision.

Each of these platforms brings something different to the table, whether it’s curated talent, transparent pricing, flexible work arrangements, or hands-off matchmaking. Your best choice depends on factors like your budget, how much control you want over the hiring process, whether you need a one-time project or ongoing help, and how quickly you need someone to start. Consider trying a smaller project first on your chosen platform to test both the marketplace and the professional you hire. Once you find a social media manager who understands your brand and delivers consistent results, you’ll have more time to focus on running your business while your online presence grows.