The best freelance marketplaces, and what each takes in fees
Where to find paid work online, and how much of each payment the platform keeps.
By Working Wikily NewsroomUpdated Prices checked on each maker's site
This list covers nine places to find paid freelance work online, and how much of each payment the platform keeps. It is for freelancers choosing where to look for clients who want to know the cost of each platform before they sign up.
We built it from the platforms' own published fee pages. For each platform we read the fee page on October 5, 2026, and every fee and claim below was found on those pages. A platform whose page could not be read, or did not print a fee, was dropped. Fees are what the platform takes from the freelancer, as printed; the entries are not hands-on reviews.
Each entry shows who the platform suits, the fee in percent or US dollars, what the free plan includes, and its good and bad points. The table near the top puts all nine side by side.
The quick list
Freelancer for freelancers seeking projects and entering contests
Contra for creative freelancers
DesignCrowd for freelance designers
Codeable for WordPress developers and freelancers
Reedsy for editors, designers, marketers, ghostwriters, web designers and translators
Designhill for graphic designers and artists
goLance for freelancers who want a fully managed platform
Workana for Freelancers who can search for jobs in their area of expertise
Dribbble for freelancers and agencies offering design and development services
At a glance
App
Best for
Price from
Free to start
Site
Freelancer
freelancers seeking projects and entering contests
10% or $5.00 USD, whichever is greater, on fixed price projects; 10% on hourly projects
Every price is read on the maker's own pricing page on the day we update.
Each tool's screenshot is taken from its public site.
Every price and claim in an entry is checked against the maker's own page, saved on the day of writing. An entry that fails the check is dropped.
1. Best for freelancers seeking projects and entering contests
Freelancer
Screenshot: Freelancer
Price from
10% or $5.00 USD, whichever is greater, on fixed price projects; 10% on hourly projects, checked Oct 5
Free plan
Yes: free members receive initially 6 bids per month
Best for
freelancers seeking projects and entering contests
What we like+ Freelancer is free to sign up, create a profile, select skills, upload a portfolio, receive project notifications and discuss project details.+ The fee for fixed price projects is 10% or $5.00 USD, whichever is greater, and 10% for hourly projects.+ Submitting entries to a contest is free. Contest fee applies when you are awarded a contest prize.+ Get work done in over 4000 different categories, including Proofreading, Article Writing, Graphic Design, Website Design and Data Entry.
What we don't− Free members receive initially 6 bids per month.− A minimum balance of $20.00 USD is required before placing any bid for Standard accounts.− If you are in the Preferred Freelancer Program, you will be charged 15% project fee when you are awarded and accept a Recruiter project.
Freelancer is a marketplace where freelancers can find projects and enter contests. It suits freelancers seeking work in categories including Proofreading, Article Writing, Graphic Design, Website Design and Data Entry. Fixed-price project fees are 10% or $5.00 USD, whichever is greater, and hourly project fees are 10%.
Commission-free for creatives; optional Pro plan $29 / month or $199 / year, checked Oct 5
Free plan
Yes: the free plan includes standard payouts
Best for
creative freelancers
What we like+ Commission-free for all creatives.+ Post a job for free - creatives apply directly.+ Sign contracts and send invoices.+ Free plan includes standard payouts.
What we don't− Free plan: Job opportunities Limited.− Free plan client payment fees: $15 or $29 per payment >$500 client payment fee.− Faster payouts have a 2% fee.
Contra is a network for creative intelligence. It suits creative freelancers who want to find jobs, get discovered, sign contracts, send invoices, and get paid commission-free.
What we like+ It is free to register a designer account on DesignCrowd.+ DesignCrowd lists logo design, web design, business card design, graphic design and more.+ DesignCrowd has 1,342,858 freelance designers and 537,050 completed projects.
What we don't− DesignCrowd retains a 15% commission on design charges.
DesignCrowd is a custom design marketplace for freelance designers. It lists design work including logo design, web design, business card design and graphic design. Designer account registration is free, and DesignCrowd retains a 15% commission on design charges.
17.5% service fee on top of the expert’s estimate, checked Oct 5
Free plan
Not shown
Best for
WordPress developers and freelancers
What we like+ Submit a project and get matched with an Expert who specializes in exactly what you’re looking for.+ Get critical issues fixed within hours, have a new site or store built, or embed developers in your team for months.+ Meet Codeable’s 500+ vetted WordPress developers.+ Prices are displayed in USD.
What we don't− Codeable adds a 17.5% service fee on top of the expert’s estimate.− The service fee is included in the total price and is not refundable.
Codeable matches clients with WordPress developers for one-off projects and long-term partnerships. Clients can submit a project and get matched with an Expert. Codeable adds a 17.5% service fee on top of the expert’s estimate.
5. Best for editors, designers, marketers, ghostwriters, web designers and translators
Reedsy
Screenshot: Reedsy
Price from
10% service fee charged to professionals, checked Oct 5
Free plan
Yes: Sign up and create a free Reedsy profile.
Best for
editors, designers, marketers, ghostwriters, web designers and translators
What we like+ Receive requests from clients, respond with quotes, and work together using an online collaboration toolkit.+ Clients can only request quotes from 5 professionals at a time.+ Automated contracts & invoices, scheduled payments, easy quoting, messaging, calls & file sharing.+ Create a free Reedsy profile to advertise skills, host a portfolio, and showcase previous work experience.
What we don't− Reedsy charges professionals a 10% service fee.− Only around 1% of freelancer applications are accepted to become listed on the marketplace.− Your profile is made available on the Reedsy Marketplace if your application is accepted.
Reedsy connects publishing professionals with authors who hire help for manuscripts and books. It suits editors, designers, marketers, ghostwriters, web designers, and translators. Professionals can create a free profile, receive client requests, send quotes, and manage work online.
Yes: It's free to join Designhill. There is no subscription required or fees to list your services.
Best for
graphic designers and artists
What we like+ Participate in hundreds of design contests and compete with the best designers.+ Create and list your design services for sale on your own terms.+ Clients will find you through your design portfolio on Designhill.+ You can set any price starting from $5 and specify your own deliverables and timelines.
What we don't− To become eligible to sell a service, you must create a design portfolio that needs approval by the team.− Only 5% designers are given a pro-status.
Designhill is a marketplace for graphic designers and artists to enter design contests, sell design services, and work on one-to-one projects. It suits designers who want to set their own prices and showcase a portfolio.
7. Best for freelancers who want a fully managed platform
goLance
Screenshot: goLance
Price from
0% in service fees for freelancers, checked Oct 5
Free plan
Not shown
Best for
freelancers who want a fully managed platform
What we like+ You keep 100% of what you bill.+ There are no connects, no pay-to-apply systems, and no tiered membership plans.+ Built-in time tracking, milestone payments, and multiple withdrawal options, including crypto.+ Flexible contract options include hourly, milestone-based, and fixed-price.
What we don't− The platform charges a flat 7.95% fee to the client.
goLance is a freelance marketplace with over 1,000,000 freelancers on its platform. It suits freelancers who want a fully managed platform without giving up a percentage of every payment. Freelancers pay 0% in service fees.
8. Best for Freelancers who can search for jobs in their area of expertise
Workana
Screenshot: Workana
Price from
A commission on projects you are hired for; it can drop to 5% with a long-term client, checked Oct 5
Free plan
Yes: creating a profile and sending proposals are free of charge
Best for
Freelancers who can search for jobs in their area of expertise
What we like+ The freelancer can search for jobs in his area of expertise.+ Freelancers can create their profile for free to start offering their services, if the profile is approved at Workana.+ Creating a profile, creating a project and or sending proposals to the projects are free of charge.+ Workana lists IT & Programming, Design & Multimedia, Writing & Translation, Sales & Marketing and Admin Support.
What we don't− There will be a commission cost from Workana if freelancers are hired on projects.− A freelancer has the possibility to hire a benefit plan.− For 1 USD a day, the explorer plan includes 52 extra connections per week.
Workana connects freelancers and clients for projects. Freelancers can search for jobs in their area of expertise. Creating a profile and sending proposals are free of charge, while commission applies when there is a contract in projects.
9. Best for freelancers and agencies offering design and development services
Dribbble
Screenshot: Dribbble
Price from
10% on the first $500, 7% on the next $500, and 4% on any amount above that of the service provider’s payout, checked Oct 5
Free plan
Yes: Create a public profile, share examples of their client work, and offer their services; receive work inquiries and communicate over text and video; send proposals, accept payments, and deliver work through the platform.
Best for
freelancers and agencies offering design and development services
What we like+ Create a public profile, share examples of client work, and offer services.+ Receive work inquiries from clients and communicate with them over text and video.+ Send proposals to clients, accept payments, and deliver work through the platform.+ Pro Standard (annual) and Pro Plus subscribers are exempt from fees on payouts.
What we don't− The Platform Fee is 10% on the first $500, 7% on the next $500, and 4% above that.− Pro Standard (annual) and Pro Plus subscribers are exempt from any fees on their payouts.− Non-subscribers can only be contacted directly by a client.
Dribbble lets service providers create profiles, receive work inquiries, send proposals, accept payments, and deliver work. It suits freelancers and agencies offering design and development services. Service providers pay a graduated Platform Fee on payouts unless they have Pro Standard (annual) or Pro Plus.
