Web Development, Especially No-Code/Low-Code Platforms
Why it’s hot: Web development has been a top freelance category for years, but what’s changing is how sites are built and who needs them. In 2025, no-code and low-code platforms like Webflow, Wix, WordPress (with builders), and Framer are enabling faster site development. This doesn’t eliminate developers – instead it shifts the skills toward combining design and development and customizing these platforms.
Specific in-demand sub-skills: - Webflow Developers: Webflow has emerged as a powerful tool to create responsive, animated websites without heavy coding. Companies love it for marketing sites and startups use it to prototype. Freelancers who can design and build in Webflow are in high demand, often effectively serving as both designer and front-end dev. The NY Weekly Journal listed “Webflow Development” as #3 in top skills, noting high-converting landing pages and full sites built in Webflow are fetching top-tier rates. - Framer Site Builders: Framer (originally a prototyping tool) now offers web building capabilities with sleek design and animations. It’s popular among startups for quick, visually impressive sites. Those who mastered Framer are sought after (#5 on the NYWJ list). - Full-Stack JavaScript (Node + React/Vue): Traditional coding isn’t gone. Many businesses still need web apps, custom backends, etc. Full-stack development remains the #1 most in-demand in Coding category. MERN stack (Mongo, Express, React, Node) and similar are common requests. But there’s a twist: with more boilerplate and frameworks, ability to integrate with cloud services (AWS, serverless functions) is key. - E-commerce Dev: Building/optimizing Shopify stores, WooCommerce, etc. E-commerce boomed and skilled freelancers who can customize templates or build features (like a subscription service or custom checkout) are valuable. Upwork’s top 10 lists e-commerce website development (#6 in coding). - CMS and Automation (Scripting & Automation): Businesses want websites that link with other tools. Upwork highlighted “Scripting & Automation” as fastest-growing coding skill #1. That implies using code to connect systems (like a script to sync a form to a Google Sheet, or automate content migration). In freelancing, being able to say “I can automate that process for you” is golden.
Example: A freelance Webflow expert might rebuild a B2B company’s old HTML site into a slick Webflow site, improving conversion. They’d handle design tweaks, interactions, maybe even integrate a CMS for blog content – skills combining design eye and technical knack. Meanwhile, a full-stack dev might be hired to build a custom web portal for a client’s customers, using React for front-end and Node.js for an API, and deploy it on AWS.
Skill level & pay: Web development is a broad field; pay scales with specialization and experience. Webflow designers often charge $50-$100/hr or project-based fees in the thousands for full sites (especially if they handle design). Full-stack devs range $60-$120/hr on average on platforms, with experts higher. Notably, Full-Stack, Front-End, Back-End dev are all top 5 in-demand on Upwork by volume, so there’s plenty of work. But no-code specialists are rising because they deliver quickly and still require skill to use effectively.