Freelance Websites to Find Work: How the Main Platforms Compare
Freelance platforms connect people who need work done with freelancers who can do it, and they handle the contract, payment and dispute process in between. In return, they take a fee. The platforms differ in how you find work, who the clients are, and how much of each payment you keep.
This guide explains how five of the main platforms work: Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, PeoplePerHour and Toptal. The fees below were checked against each platform’s own help pages, but platforms change their fees regularly, so always confirm the current figures before you sign up or quote a price.
Quick comparison
| Platform | How you get work | Freelancer fee (subject to change) | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | Send proposals to client job posts; clients can also invite you | 0% to 15% per contract, shown before you accept; proposals cost Connects | Most skills, from one-off tasks to long-term contracts |
| Fiverr | List fixed-price services (“Gigs”) that clients buy | You receive 80% of the client’s cleared payment | Clearly defined, repeatable services |
| Freelancer.com | Bid on projects and enter contests | 10% (minimum $5 USD on fixed-price projects) | Smaller projects and contests; wide range of categories |
| PeoplePerHour | Send proposals to projects or sell fixed-price “Offers” | Tiered by how much you have billed each client: 20%, 7.5% or 3.5% (excl. VAT) | UK and European clients; repeat work with the same clients |
| Toptal | Pass a screening process, then get matched with clients | No cut from your rate, according to Toptal | Experienced developers, designers, consultants and project managers |
What to look at before choosing a platform
A few questions will narrow the choice quickly:
- Do you want to pitch for jobs, or have clients come to you? On Upwork, Freelancer.com and PeoplePerHour you mostly respond to job posts. On Fiverr, and with PeoplePerHour Offers, clients browse your listed services.
- How much of each payment will you keep? Work out your take-home figure after the platform fee, payment processing and withdrawal costs.
- Does it cost anything to apply for work? Some platforms charge for proposals or limit free bids.
- How long until you can withdraw money? Some platforms hold funds for a clearing period after work is approved.
- Who are the clients? Some platforms attract small businesses with modest budgets; others focus on larger companies.
Upwork
Upwork is a general marketplace covering writing, design, development, marketing, admin, accounting and many other kinds of work. Clients post jobs and freelancers send proposals. Clients can also search for freelancers and invite them to apply.
How it works
- You create a profile with your skills, rate, work history and portfolio.
- You submit proposals to jobs. Each proposal costs a number of Connects, which are Upwork’s tokens for applying to jobs and for paid promotion features.
- Contracts can be hourly (with time tracked through Upwork’s app) or fixed-price with milestones.
Fees
- Upwork’s help centre says the freelancer service fee ranges from 0% to 15% per contract. You see the rate before you accept an offer or submit a proposal, and it stays fixed once the contract starts.
- Connects cost $0.15 USD each and are sold in bundles, according to Upwork’s Connects help page.
To work out what to charge, divide the amount you want to take home by (1 minus the fee). For example, at a 10% fee, billing $22.22 an hour leaves you about $20.
Good to know
Competition for entry-level jobs is high. A focused profile and short, specific proposals that address the client’s actual problem tend to do better than long generic ones.
Fiverr
Fiverr works the other way round. Instead of applying for jobs, you list services called Gigs at set prices, and clients buy them. A Gig might be “I will design a logo with three concepts” or “I will edit a 1,500-word article”.
How it works
- You create Gigs describing exactly what the client gets, how long it takes and what it costs. Many sellers offer basic, standard and premium packages.
- Clients order, you deliver through the order page, and the client has a set period to accept or ask for changes.
- Prices are set in US dollars, with a minimum starting price of $5 in most categories.
Fees
- Fiverr’s help centre page How Fiverr works for freelancers says you receive 80% of the client’s cleared payment, which means Fiverr keeps 20%.
- Earnings have a 14-day clearing period before you can withdraw them. Fiverr says some seller programmes, such as Top Rated and Fiverr Pro, have a shorter clearing period.
Good to know
Fiverr suits services you can define tightly in advance. Be precise about what is and is not included in each package, and how many revisions the client gets, so the scope does not grow after the order is placed.
Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is a bidding marketplace. Clients post projects, freelancers bid with a price and proposal, and the client chooses. It also runs contests, where several freelancers submit work (often design) and the client pays the winner.
How it works
- Bidding is free, but free members get a limited number of bids each month (Freelancer.com’s fees page says 6 to start with). Paid membership plans offer more.
- Projects can be fixed-price, paid through milestone payments, or hourly.
Fees
According to Freelancer.com’s fees and charges page:
- Fixed-price projects: 10% or $5 USD, whichever is greater, charged when you accept the project.
- Hourly projects: 10% of each payment.
- Contests: 10% or $5 USD, whichever is greater, charged when the prize is released.
- Withdrawal fees and optional paid extras (such as sponsored or highlighted bids) also apply.
Good to know
Because the fixed-price fee is charged when you accept the project, read the brief carefully and clarify the scope before you accept. Contests mean doing work that may not be paid, so weigh the time against your chances of winning.
PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a UK-based marketplace with many clients in the UK and Europe. Clients post projects and freelancers send proposals, and freelancers can also list fixed-price services called Offers.
How it works
- You build a profile and apply to projects, or create Offers that clients can buy directly.
- Payments are handled through the platform, including hourly work.
Fees
PeoplePerHour’s freelancer commission fees page sets the fee by your total lifetime billing with each client:
- Below £250 with a client: 20% (excl. VAT)
- Between £250 and £5,000: 7.5% (excl. VAT)
- Over £5,000: 3.5% (excl. VAT)
The page also lists a minimum service fee of £1 (excl. VAT) per invoice.
Good to know
Because the fee drops as you bill more with the same client, PeoplePerHour rewards long-term client relationships. Keeping repeat clients on the platform becomes cheaper over time.
Toptal
Toptal is not an open marketplace. Freelancers apply, go through a screening process, and if accepted are matched with client projects by Toptal’s team. It focuses on software developers, designers, management consultants, product managers and project managers.
How it works
- Toptal’s screening process has several stages: a communication and personality interview, a skills review, a live screening with domain experts and a test project. Toptal says the process takes 3 to 8 weeks and that fewer than 3% of applicants are accepted.
- Engagements can be full-time, part-time or hourly.
Fees
Toptal’s talent FAQ says members set their own hourly rate and that Toptal does not take a cut from it. Toptal charges the client separately. Payments are made in US dollars.
Good to know
Toptal is aimed at experienced professionals. If you are starting out, an open marketplace is a more realistic first step.
Tips for getting work on any platform
Build a focused profile
Say clearly what you do and who you do it for, such as “WordPress developer for small online shops” rather than “web developer”. Add a portfolio with real examples. If you do not have client work yet, create sample projects that show the kind of work you want to be hired for.
Price with the fees in mind
Work out your rate from what you need to earn, then add the platform fee on top. Remember payment processing, withdrawal fees and currency conversion if you are paid in US dollars or pounds and spend in another currency.
Write short, specific proposals
Show you have read the brief. Mention one or two relevant examples, ask a sensible question about the project, and say how you would approach it. Avoid copying the same proposal to every job.
Communicate clearly and keep records
Agree the scope, deadline and number of revisions in writing on the platform. Keep messages and files on the platform too: if there is a dispute, that record is what the platform will look at.
Follow the platform’s rules on off-platform contact
Many platforms restrict moving a client you met there off the platform to avoid fees, and some restrict sharing contact details before a contract starts. Breaking these rules can get your account suspended, so read the terms of service for the platform you use.
Watch out for scams
Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay to start a job, to move payment outside the platform, or to download unusual files or software. Our guide to protecting your business from phishing covers the warning signs.
Building something beyond the platforms
Platforms are a good way to find first clients, but relying on one platform leaves you exposed if its fees, rules or search ranking change. Many freelancers use platforms alongside their own channels:
- A simple website with your portfolio, services and contact details. See how to build an online presence.
- A professional email address on your own domain rather than a free webmail address. Our post on using Gmail or Hotmail for business explains why it matters.
- Staying in touch with past clients, for example through a short newsletter. See how email marketing helps freelancers.
Summary
Upwork and Freelancer.com suit freelancers who are happy to pitch for jobs. Fiverr suits clearly packaged services. PeoplePerHour suits freelancers working with UK and European clients, especially repeat clients. Toptal is for experienced professionals who can pass its screening. Whichever you choose, check the current fees on the platform’s own help pages, price your work with those fees included, and build your own website and client list alongside it.
