Freelancer.com is one of the most famous freelancing platforms in the world. With more than 41 million users and 16 million job offers, the website has a lot of activity. Founded in 2009, the Australian company is headquartered in Sydney, although it also has offices in Vancouver, London, Buenos Aires, and Jakarta. You will find the greatest alternatives to Freelancer.com in this article, so you can make an educated decision and achieve the most success.
The way the website works is pretty straightforward. Clients post jobs they need to hire for, and freelancers can bid for a chance to complete the job. The fact that many jobs are available on the website is a great advantage. Nonetheless, freelancers have to compete for a chance to get the job. Furthermore, this model gives clients more power as they can choose their budgets and precisely what the job entails.
In terms of commission, Freelancer takes a 10% fee from freelancers. This fee can be lowered if freelancers subscribe to a monthly membership, but the minimum commission remains $5.
We have compiled information on different freelance marketplaces over the years and have decided to write the greatest alternatives to Freelancer.com article to provide helpful information so people can make the most informed decision when choosing a freelance marketplace to buy or sell services on. Below, you will find our recommended platforms if you’re looking for an alternative to Freelancer.
The 9 greatest alternatives to Freelancer.com
1. ComeUp
For Freelancers
On ComeUp, freelancers post their services online, and buyers can order them. Freelancers have more control as they can choose their rates and what their service entails. No more bidding for jobs in the hopes that the job poster will prefer your work above someone else’s. In terms of commission, the two companies have very different models. One of ComeUp’s best advantages is its $1-only commission option. With such a low commission, freelancers can maximize their earnings. With ComeUp, freelancers get paid on time for the work they complete, and they can withdraw their earnings whenever they want. Furthermore, the pricing is transparent for both clients and sellers. Everything is upfront, so both parties know what they are getting and for how much.
In 2023, ComeUp was voted the freelancing platform with the best working conditions by the Fairwork Cloudwork study conducted by the Oxford University Internet Institute. More information.
ComeUp continues to work on this, as they want to provide the best working conditions for their users. Whether you’re a freelancer or a business, using a platform that provides rights for its users feels better than using a platform that denies those rights. Freelancer.com has yet to be rated or included in the study. That’s why ComeUp is one of the greatest alternatives to Freelancer.com.
For Businesses
There are many advantages to using ComeUp. First of all, buyers can contact sellers before placing an order. So if you’re ever in doubt, you can contact sellers and ask them questions. You can also use the reviews left by previous buyers to decide if a service is the right one for you. Another benefit for buyers is that ComeUp is safe to use and has a well-thought-out ordering system that protects buyers. Sellers all have to verify their identity by submitting an identity document before they can sell services.
Other platforms are not as rigorous when it comes to verifying the identity of their users. There’s a safe and secure order system. When the order is completed, the buyer has to approve the order so the seller can be paid. The risks of being unsatisfied with what the seller delivers are much lower. As long as buyers carefully read what a seller’s services entail, they are guaranteed to get what they order.
If there’s a dispute, there’s a litigation process in place to protect both the seller and the buyer. Someone from ComeUp’s moderation team reviews the order and the delivered services before making an impartial decision. All disputes are handled by humans, so both parties have a chance to express themselves to the moderation team.
Pros
- Many opportunities for skilled freelancers.
- Many freelance professionals are available for hire.
- A wide selection of categories to sell and buy from.
- Safe, secure, and timely payment for freelance experts and clients.
- Responsive and human customer service that is always ready to help.
- Some of the best working conditions for platform workers (based on the Fairwork Cloudwork study conducted by the Oxford University Internet Institute in 2023).
Cons
- A subscription plan for freelancers. So, to succeed, they need to invest more time in the platform.
- Some transaction fees for buyers.
2. Fiverr
Similar to ComeUp, freelancers can also post their services on Fiverr, which gives them more control. Fiverr is one of the largest freelancing platforms, so they have many clients. Nonetheless, there’s also a lot of competition.
For Freelancers
One of the major differences with Freelancer is that the jobs offered on Fiverr are low-cost and less professional. If you’re a skilled freelancer, you may want to avoid Fiverr for a platform that focuses on quality more than cost.
Their commission is 20% on all jobs, so be prepared to pay a high commission.
For Businesses
Businesses have the luxury of choice on Fiverr. There are countless services and freelancers on the platform. However, this wide range of options can cause companies to find the wrong freelancers. It’s easy to create a seller profile on Fiverr. When creating a seller profile, Fiverr doesn’t ask for an identity document. The ID verification takes place later when Fiverr contacts a seller for them to verify their profile. This is one of the many reasons why so many scams are happening on Fiverr. So make sure to choose a seller who has been verified and has delighted past customers.
Fiverr charges 5.5% of the purchase amount as a service fee. This fee is quite high considering the quality of services on Fiverr and the high commission they take from sellers.
Pros
- One of the largest platforms with a lot of backing. There are many options for buyers.
- Uncomplicated process to find someone to complete a project.
- A modern site design that is easy to navigate.
Cons
- High transaction fees.
- A lot of competition for work.
- Many scams take place on the platform.
- High commission for freelancers.
3. Upwork
Another huge freelancing platform, Upwork, has a different system. Businesses post the services they need while freelancers bid for them. This can lead businesses to find cheaper prices for their projects, but cheaper does not always mean better.
For freelancers
Upwork’s commission system is easy to understand. They charge a 10% commission on all orders a freelancer completes. On Upwork, freelancers get paid as soon as the work is approved by clients. However, the funds earned cannot be withdrawn for the first five days after release.
This commission is much more advantageous than Fiverr and some other platforms. That is why you will find many freelancers competing on Upwork. But the steady flow of orders ensures that many freelancers find work on the platform.
For Businesses
You’ll find professional services on Upwork. But that does come at a cost, as Upwork charges a 5% Client Marketplace Fee in addition to a one-time contract initiation fee, adding up to an additional $4.95. This means profits from your purchase as well as the freelancer’s earnings.
If you’re posting a job on Upwork, you have to consider that freelancers will bid for a chance to get the opportunity to get the job. In most cases, that won’t be a problem as you’ll get multiple profiles to choose from. But it also means that you’re limiting yourself to a few choices instead of having more choices if you were to use a platform where you can order services directly.
Pros
- Possibility for clients to post a project on the site instead of directly hiring a freelance expert.
- The site has a slick and easy-to-navigate design.
Cons
- High commission is taken from freelancers.
- Some scams happen on the platform.
- Fees are high for buyers.
4. Toptal
Toptal is all about talent. They say that their community is composed of only the top 3% of freelance talents available. So they offer only high-quality freelance talent. But that comes at a hefty cost.
Toptal is one of the most expensive freelance platforms out there. Toptal connects businesses to a small range of talented workers for a high cost. On the plus side, you won’t have to worry about scams or badly completed work. The platform is secure and safe to use.
For Freelancers
Because they only have a few freelancers, there is no competition for jobs, and you can lower your rates on Toptal. It’s a great place to sell services if you’re a freelancer. But first, you need to get in. The screening process is long and complicated as it involves interviews, personality, and language tests. If you can’t rank amongst the top 3%, another platform may be better suited for you.
For Businesses
Not only is the platform secure and scam-free. But, there’s also some top talent on Toptal. If you need someone highly skilled, this may be the best platform to find highly skilled professionals. But this security and expertise come at a high cost. Services are sold for twice the freelancer’s hourly rate on Toptal. So, if you have no budget limitations, this may be the right platform for you, but if you need to consider a budget, there may be other platforms with more reasonable prices.
Pros
- You can hire talented freelance professionals.
- As a freelancer, you need to be accepted by the site so that there are more opportunities for accepted users.
Cons
- There is no transparency for clients and freelance talents.
- They only accept the top 3% of freelance users, so it’s almost impossible to become a seller on their site.
- While the platform offers interesting projects, they charge a 50% commission as they charge buyers double the rates.
- Long approval process.
5. Guru
This Freelancer alternative is known to be professional and focuses more on business services and needs like Freelancer. They only offer professional services. One of their main strengths is the low transaction fees. The websites also look similar. So, if you liked Freelancer but want to change because you had a bad experience with them. This might be the best alternative for you.
For Freelancers
The pricing on Guru is based on monthly memberships that allow freelancers to bid on more jobs, similarly to Freelancer. This bidding system and pricing approach are hard for freelancers because they can be disadvantageous. Imagine being a professional but being outbid for jobs by someone with less experience who has more money to spend to rank higher.
For businesses
You’ll get many freelancers who bid on your job posting, so you’re sure to find at least one freelancer who can get the job done. But this system can also be restrictive, as you have a limited number of freelancers to choose from.
In terms of pricing, Guru’s 2.9% handling fee per invoice is reasonable and most likely one of the cheapest fees for freelance marketplaces. The low handling fees make Guru one of the greatest alternatives to Freelancer.com.
Pros
- Low transaction fees.
- A process that enables companies to post their projects for people to apply to work on them
Cons
- A costly monthly subscription for freelancers.
- The bidding system doesn’t offer a fair chance.
- As a client, you can end up hiring a less skilled worker to complete your project.
6. PeoplePerHour
Founded in 2007, PeoplePerHour is based in London and boasts over 3 million freelancers. The site enables companies with projects to hire a freelance expert by the hour.
For Freelancers
Many freelancers offer their services on PeoplePerHour, making the competition fierce. But the commission fees seem more reasonable on the site compared to other platforms. It’s based on the lifetime spending of buyers with a particular freelancer. So, to pay less commission, freelancers need to try to work closely with the same client for a longer time and command higher rates. You can find the commission breakdown below:
– More than £5000-lifetime billing per buyer: 3.5% (excl. VAT) service fee.
– Between £250 and £5000-lifetime per buyer: 7.5% (excl. VAT) service fee.
– Under £250-lifetime billing per buyer: 20% (excl. VAT) service fee.
For businesses
PeoplePerHour is a platform that offers lots of flexibility and opportunities for companies to find freelance talent. There’s a large pool to choose from, and you can find different types of experts depending on your project. The possibility of hiring workers by the hour enables them to work on multiple tasks and projects easily. But, it’s a double-edged sword as a project can take longer than expected, and you might end up spending more than the budget you had planned.
For clients, the fees are 10% + £0.60 of the total amount paid. That’s a lot compared to other sites.
Pros
- A huge platform with a massive database.
- There’s a mobile app.
- It’s free to post jobs.
- They are developing an AI search system to help companies find the help they need more easily.
Cons
- Expensive fees for both parties.
- Mixed talent level.
- Unhelpful customer support.
7. Behance
Behance is a creative portfolio website owned by Adobe. It’s integrated with the Adobe Creative Cloud and enables people to highlight their visual work to network in the design community. The platform also has a built-in job board. It’s a solid resource for freelance designers to post their work and find projects.
For Freelancers
Behance is a design-focused alternative to many platforms. It enables freelancers to showcase their work, build a following around their talent, and generate interest among clients to find projects. It’s a good platform to develop a presence on if you’re a designer. Even if you don’t use it to find projects, you can grow your notoriety.
For businesses
The big advantage of using Behance to find freelance designers as a business is that you can discover the work of many skilled designers. It’s great to see the latest talents and what designers are gaining popularity. The negative part is that the platform is unidimensional as it’s only tailored to design. In addition, the trending or most popular designers are usually very expensive to work with as they leverage their popularity on the platform.
Pros
- Freelancers can get added visibility with the Adobe Creative Cloud integration.
- Good to attract clients who are more visually persuaded.
- A chance to interact with the creative community.
Cons
- The job board is full of competition, and there are not many interesting projects available.
- The platform is more optimized to present design work than to facilitate collaboration.
- It can be difficult for designers to grow their following.
8. Dribbble
You’ll certainly like Dribbble if you found Behance interesting. Dribbble is a freelance website that works as a portfolio showcase, a design community, and a job board. The platform attracts visually driven clients, and there are also different tools to help designers get feedback or network with other designers. It focuses on graphic design, UI/UX, web, illustrations, and other design-related categories.
For Freelancers
Dribbble represents another opportunity for designers to showcase their work to the design community. It’s great to connect, get more recognition, and potentially find new projects to work on. Unfortunately, there is quite a lot of competition on Dribbble. Since it’s a design-focused platform, you’ll compete with high-quality designers.
For businesses
Businesses in need of skilled designers will find some on Dribbble. But they need a flexible budget as popular designers can cost a lot. In addition, Dribbble is similar to Behance because it has many skilled designers, but it is not a platform to enhance collaboration. In addition, clients will only be able to find designers there. So, they will need to use another platform if they have other needs.
Pros
- A wonderful website to showcase your work as a designer.
- An active design community to engage with to get feedback and learn new things.
- An integrated job board to find possible work opportunities.
Cons
- Very competitive due to a limited number of projects.
- Not the best platform to collaborate on for clients.
9. Workana
Launched in 2012, Workana is available worldwide, even though a large part of the user base is in Latin America, as the company is based in Argentina. This freelancing website connects businesses to a wide range of freelance professionals. Businesses can post projects or jobs on the website for free, and they can also invite freelancers to bid on their projects. The platform offers many benefits, but it also has some negative points that have decreased its Trustpilot score a lot. It is now 3.2 stars out of 5 (as of September 16, 2025).
For Freelancers
Freelancers can use Workana to optimize their profile pages and bid on projects they want to work on. The platform works best for newer freelancers who are starting out. They can access clients located in Latin America and other countries to get started. As freelancers complete projects and grow their careers, they can collect reviews, which is essential social proof for finding more work. Unfortunately, some freelancers complain that the bidding system brings prices down in a race to the bottom, as some freelancers are willing to be paid less to find work.
For Businesses
Companies can post projects and review bids for free on Workana. In addition, the platform has a safe and secure payment system that ensures collaborations go well and freelancers only get paid once they complete their work on a project and it is approved. Workana offers a wide variety of freelancers and affordable prices. Nonetheless, some businesses and companies have been displeased with the poor quality of work provided by some freelancers.
Pros
- A large range of talents.
- Businesses can post projects and review bids for free.
- The services are reasonably priced (sometimes even cheap).
Cons
- The platform has poor-quality freelancers.
- There’s a race to the bottom induced by the bidding system, which forces freelancers to lower their prices.
Conclusion: Find the greatest alternatives to Freelancer.com that works for you
There are many platforms out there, and they’re not one-size-fits-all, so at the end of the day, we’d recommend you consider what you value and what you’re looking for in a freelancing platform. With the greatest alternatives to Freelancer.com article, you know which platforms to turn to. Do some research and browse around. Make an educated decision that puts you in a position to succeed. Try a few different ones until you find the right one for you.
If you’re hiring, take the time to browse different platforms to see the talents and services offered.
Consider working conditions and Cloudwork worker’s rights
Whether you are a freelancer or a business looking to buy services. We can all agree that basic working conditions should be accessible to all workers. With the advancement of technology, we’ve seen business models emerge that disregard these rights. The Fairwork Cloudwork study, conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute, assigns scores to companies based on the fairness of the working conditions they offer.
Better working conditions for freelancers
At ComeUp, we’re always looking to improve the working conditions for our community’s sellers. That means fair pay, conditions, terms of service, and management.
In 2023, ComeUp was voted the freelancing platform with the best working conditions by the Fairwork Cloudwork study conducted by the Oxford University Internet Institute. More information.
But we don’t want to stop there. We still have work to do to achieve the ideal working conditions for our community, and we’ll continue doing everything we can to ensure the best working conditions possible for ComeUp sellers.
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