Upwork Alternatives: 5 Places to Hire Freelancers (With Fees)

Why people switch

Upwork is the biggest general freelance marketplace, but its fees add up on both sides. As of October 2026:

• Clients on the free Basic plan pay a marketplace fee of up to 7.99% on every payment (3% for eligible US clients paying by bank account), plus a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99 per new contract.
• Freelancers pay a variable service fee of 0% to 15%, and buy “Connects” at $0.15 each to apply for jobs.

Small businesses switch because fees eat into small budgets, because sorting through many proposals takes time, or because they want a fixed-price menu instead of a job post. Freelancers often pass their fees on in their rates, so platform fees affect you either way.

The alternatives

Fiverr

Who it suits: Owners who want a clearly defined task (a logo, a landing page, a video edit) at a set price, without writing a job post.

Fees: Clients pay a 5.5% service fee, plus $3.50 on orders under $200. Each extra or tip carries its own fee. Freelancers keep 80% of each order.

The catch: Packages look simple, but scope creep turns into paid extras. Read the package details before you order. See our Fiverr Business review and Fiverr vs Upwork.

Freelancer.com

Who it suits: Budget-minded clients who want many bids fast, or who want to run a design contest.

Fees: Posting is free. Clients pay 3% or $3, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 3% on hourly payments. Freelancers pay 10% or $5. Optional upgrades cost extra, such as $10.99 to feature a project.

The catch: Expect a high volume of bids of mixed quality. Card and PayPal payments carry a $0.30 + 2.3% transaction fee. Read our Freelancer review and Freelancer vs Upwork.

Toptal

Who it suits: Businesses hiring for serious technical, design or finance work where vetting matters more than price.

Fees: Toptal charges a flat $79 monthly fee once you proceed with talent matching. Each engagement starts with a trial of up to two weeks, and you aren’t billed if you’re not satisfied. Toptal says it accepts about 3% of applicants.

The catch: Toptal doesn’t publish hourly rates on its FAQ, and screened experts cost more than marketplace freelancers. It’s overkill for small one-off jobs.

Contra

Who it suits: Clients hiring designers, writers and other independents who want to keep their full rate.

Fees: Contra is commission-free for freelancers. Its pricing page lists a $15 or $29 per-payment fee for clients under its Free plan, which Contra’s Pro membership ($29/month or $199/year) removes.

The catch: It’s a smaller pool than Upwork or Fiverr, with a focus on creative work. Third-party payment processing charges are extra.

PeoplePerHour

Who it suits: Businesses hiring for marketing, design and web work, especially with UK and European freelancers.

Fees: PeoplePerHour’s help center lists freelancer fees of 20% on the first £250 billed per client, 7.5% up to £5,000, and 3.5% above that. That page was last updated in 2021, and it doesn’t list the client fee, so check current price.

The catch: Fees are quoted in pounds, and the freelancer pool leans toward the UK.

Side-by-side table

Fees as of October 2026.

Platform	Client fee	Freelancer fee	Best for
Upwork (Basic)	Up to 7.99% + $0.99–$14.99 per contract	0–15%, variable	Ongoing or hourly work
Fiverr	5.5% (+$3.50 under $200)	20%	Fixed-price packages
Freelancer.com	3% or $3	10% or $5	Many bids, contests
Toptal	$79/mo matching fee; rates not published	Not published	Vetted experts
Contra	$15 or $29 per payment (Free plan)	0%	Creative independents
PeoplePerHour	Check current price	20% / 7.5% / 3.5% tiers	UK/EU talent

What a $500 job costs you in fees

Here’s the client-side platform fee on a $500 fixed-price job, using each site’s published rates. The freelancer’s own fee comes out of their side.

• Upwork (Basic): up to $39.95 (7.99%), plus a $0.99–$14.99 contract initiation fee. Eligible US bank payments drop the fee to $15.
• Fiverr: $27.50 (5.5%). The $3.50 small-order fee doesn’t apply at $200 and up.
• Freelancer.com: $15 (3%), plus $0.30 + 2.3% if you pay by card or PayPal.
• Contra (Free plan): a flat $15 or $29 per payment.
• Toptal: the $79 monthly matching fee, plus the expert’s rate.

How to switch without losing data

1. Finish or close open contracts first. Pay out and close milestones so nothing is left in escrow.
2. Download your records. Save invoices and payment history from Upwork for your bookkeeping and tax filings.
3. Save your best job posts. Copy the descriptions that worked. You’ll reuse them.
4. Check the rules on moving off-site. Read Upwork’s terms before asking a freelancer you met there to work with you on another platform or directly.
5. Start with a small paid test. Hire on the new platform for a short task before moving bigger work.

If you’re not sure what to outsource, read 5 tech tasks small businesses should outsource, or browse the outsourcing category.

Our take

For a defined, one-off task, Fiverr is the easiest switch: pick a package and order. For the lowest client fees, Freelancer.com costs less per project, but plan time to sort bids. For high-stakes technical work, Toptal’s vetting can be worth the price. Upwork is still a strong choice for ongoing hourly work, so compare the total cost, fees included, before you move.

If you’d rather skip the hiring step for website, email or tool setup, we can get it set up for you.

Questions people ask

What does Upwork charge clients?

On the free Basic plan, Upwork’s client marketplace fee is up to 7.99% of payments, or 3% for eligible US clients paying by bank account. A one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99 applies to new contracts.

Which freelance site has the lowest fees for clients?

Of the sites here, Freelancer.com charges clients the least on most projects: 3% or $3, whichever is greater. Contra charges clients a flat per-payment fee on its free plan, which can be cheaper on large payments.

Is Fiverr cheaper than Upwork?

For clients, Fiverr’s fee is 5.5% plus $3.50 on orders under $200. Upwork’s Basic fee is up to 7.99% plus a contract initiation fee. On small orders the difference is small, so compare the total at checkout.

Is Toptal worth it for a small business?

Toptal suits larger, technical projects where screening matters more than price. It charges a $79 monthly fee for talent matching and doesn’t publish hourly rates, so it’s rarely the cheapest option for small tasks.

Can I hire a freelancer outside these platforms?

Yes, but you lose the platform’s payment protection and dispute help. Use a written contract, pay by milestone, and keep invoices for taxes.

Sources

• What is the Client Marketplace Fee? — Upwork Help
• What is the Contract Initiation Fee on Upwork? — Upwork Help
• Is Upwork Free To Join? Our Pricing Breakdown (2026)
• Paying for orders, extras, or custom offers — Fiverr Help
• Your earnings page — Fiverr Help
• Freelancer — Fees and Charges
• Toptal — Frequently Asked Questions
• Contra — Pricing
• PeoplePerHour — Freelancer commission fees