General marketplaces — the big four
Upwork
The largest general freelance marketplace, covering 130+ categories. Hourly, fixed-price, and packaged contracts.
- Fees: 10% on contracts up to $1,000 total, 5% above that. Client pays a separate fee.
- Payment protection: Strong. Hourly contracts have time-tracking with payment guarantee; fixed-price uses escrow.
- Best for: Developers, writers, marketers, virtual assistants. Anyone targeting US clients.
- Watch out for: "Connects" cost money to bid — around $0.15 each, and competitive projects cost 6–16 Connects.
Fiverr
Fixed-price "gigs" where you list a service and buyers purchase directly. No bidding.
- Fees: 20% of every order. Flat.
- Payment protection: Strong. Funds held until delivery.
- Best for: Designers, video editors, voiceover artists, logo designers, quick-turnaround work.
- Watch out for: 20% is the highest standard commission in the industry. Buyers see 5-star reviews more than portfolios.
Freelancer.com
Bidding + contests platform with 1,350+ categories.
- Fees: 10% or $5 minimum per project.
- Payment protection: Milestone-based escrow. Dispute process exists but slower than Upwork.
- Best for: Developers, writers, designers, data entry.
- Watch out for: More low-budget projects and lowball bids than Upwork. Quality varies widely.
PeoplePerHour
UK-founded, with strong UK client base.
- Fees: Sliding rate — 20% on first £250 with a client, drops to 7.5% after £5,000 lifetime with that same client.
- Payment protection: Escrow-based. Good.
- Best for: UK-focused freelancers, especially in design, writing, marketing.
- Watch out for: Smaller project volume than Upwork or Fiverr.
Premium / vetted platforms
Toptal
Top 3% of applicants. Vetted network for tech, finance, design, and consulting.
- Fees: 0% to freelancers. Toptal bills clients directly and takes its cut from the client side.
- Rates: Typically $60–$200+/hour.
- Best for: Senior developers, consultants, designers with strong portfolios.
- Watch out for: Difficult screening process (multiple interviews, live coding). Worth it if you pass.
Codeable
WordPress-only expert network. Strict vetting (~2% acceptance).
- Fees: 17.5% to freelancer.
- Best for: Experienced WordPress developers. Consistent flow of high-quality clients.
Braintrust
Talent-owned network. No freelancer fee — the network is owned by its users.
- Fees: 0% to freelancers (10% to clients).
- Best for: Tech, design, product roles targeting US companies.
UK-specific platforms
YunoJuno
UK-focused network for creative and tech contractors. Strong for freelance management, IR35 support.
- Fees: 0% to freelancers (client pays).
- Best for: UK-based designers, developers, project managers targeting agencies and brands.
Twine
UK creative marketplace — music, film, design, illustration.
- Fees: Varies by project.
- Best for: Creative freelancers who want UK-focused projects.
Where you should actually start
If you're a beginner:
- Upwork — biggest volume of work, reasonable fees
- Fiverr — good for building a portfolio fast, despite 20% fee
- PeoplePerHour — if you're UK-based and want UK clients
If you're experienced:
- Toptal — highest rates but hardest entry
- Braintrust — 0% fee, US clients
- YunoJuno — UK clients, no fee
Fee comparison
| Platform | Freelancer fee | Payment protection |
|---|---|---|
| Upwork | 10% (5% over $1k) | Strong |
| Fiverr | 20% | Strong |
| Freelancer.com | 10% / $5 min | Milestone |
| PeoplePerHour | 20% → 7.5% | Escrow |
| Toptal | 0% | N/A (bill via Toptal) |
| Braintrust | 0% | Escrow |
| YunoJuno | 0% | Client pays direct |
| Codeable | 17.5% | Escrow |
The honest advice
Don't spread yourself across five platforms. Pick two: one general (Upwork or Fiverr), one premium (Toptal or Braintrust if you qualify). Focus 80% of your time on one.
The freelancers who make real money aren't the ones on the most platforms — they're the ones who built a strong profile on one, earned reviews, and got repeat clients.
See the full list in our freelancing directory with current trust scores.