Best Fiverr alternatives for 2026
Here’s the average experience on Fiverr:
You’re excited to start making money online. Your Fiverr account is set up and gigs are listed. But then nothing happens. No one even sees your gig, let alone hires you. Until one day…
You finally make a sale. Everything goes great and the client is happy.
Then your heart drops again as you realize how little you’ve earned once Fiverr takes its ‘cut.’
What if I told you it doesn’t have to be like this?
Well, it doesn’t. It’s time to pick a Fiverr alternative. There are ways to earn more money waiting out there; all you need to do is pick the right platform. So keep reading to find the best freelance websites like Fiverr (but higher paying).
What makes a good Fiverr alternative?
Alternatives to Fiverr come in all sorts of formats. There are direct competitors to Fiverr who try to replicate a similar business model, profile-based high-end freelance platforms and innovative new tech solutions tailored to specific industries.
Here are the key selection criteria to keep in mind:
1. Fees and total cost of earnings
The biggest gripe for freelancers is being hit with continual fees. It's one of the big problems with Fiverr, with a 20% freelancer commission plus 5.5% client fee, which means costs spiral above 25% of the total transaction cost.
Even though you don't necessarily see the client fee, it affects the total budget available. When you're looking at gig websites like Fiverr, start with fees. Most platforms range between 0% and around 20%.
On the top talent platforms, you'll see a variable fee rate, which means the more you earn, the lower your fee becomes. This can be an attractive model if you stick to one platform and grow a good reputation there. Not only will your earnings significantly increase, but your fees will drop in the process.
2. Client quality and buyer pool
Let's talk about client quality, because it has a dramatic effect on how much you can earn and how much stress there is to deliver projects.
This is another issue with Fiverr. It tends to command low rates, which has two knock-on effects. Firstly, you need to deliver a high quantity of work to earn your wage. Two, cheap rates tend to attract the most troublesome clients.
As you gain more experience in the service industry, you'll learn that the smaller a client's budget, the more painful the client is to work with. They expect the earth but aren't willing to pay for it.
If you can gain access to a Fiverr alternative that boasts quality clients and great rates, then you're on to a real winner.
3. Visibility model
How clients find you varies dramatically between platforms. As you know, Fiverr is a marketplace. You post a productized service and hope that clients find you. The more reviews you have, the higher you tend to show up on the list. Think of it like the Amazon of freelance services.
The other most popular option is a job board scenario where clients post the project scope and budget. Then freelancers send proposals and bid on projects. It's closer to traditional job hunting.
4. Payment protection and reliability
The big name freelance platforms are favored by millions of freelancers for their reliability. Over the years, freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork have all built in systems to make sure clients get good work and freelancers get paid.
These can include milestone-based payments, escrow features and payment protections during disputes. Compared to working outside of these platforms directly with clients, you get a third party mediator to help ensure payments run smoothly.
5. Pricing flexibility
Control of project pricing is critical. Fiverr uses locked tiered pricing set by the freelancer, so it's up to clients to decide whether they want to hit their budgets. Other platforms go the other way and allow clients to set their project budgets.
In a way, both work effectively to balance market rates for talent. This means how much you earn is often reflected in the saturation and quality of the marketplace.
A wide open marketplace like Fiverr has millions and millions of sellers on there, allowing clients to pick cheap options. A high quality talent or high quality client platform with more stringent access rules will likely command better rates with less competition in the market.
The 12 best Fiverr alternatives
1. Upwork
Upwork is the second largest freelance marketplace behind Fiverr. Often, freelancers start their lives out on Fiverr and quickly explore Upwork.
It’s now a platform where you can find serious projects and professional clients, especially since its merger with Elance and oDesk.
Clients post their scope and potential budget, then freelancers send proposals with accompanying bids. All work and communication is fulfilled through Upwork, providing both sides with payment protection.
With its ability to handle custom project work, there are different ways of setting contracts. You can work for fixed fees, run milestone based projects or work on an hourly rate.
The downside with Upwork is that it can take months to build a strong portfolio and reputation. Common advice is to start off with some cheap jobs to build your review scores and metrics before landing some bigger contracts.
Getting paid on Upwork runs on a sliding fee scale, with new workers starting at 20% commission on the first $500, dropping to 10% up to $10,000 and 5% above that.
Pros:
Largest enterprise buyer pool with serious clients
Portfolios compound to improve income and reduce fees
The bidding system allows you to boost your proposals for jobs
Flexible contracts make billing for custom projects easy
Profile authority enables top freelancers to get featured for recommendations
Cons:
Saturated platform with most good jobs receiving 50+ proposals
Slow to get started with new accounts, taking several projects to build credibility
Variable commissions mean newer workers get stung
Client fees reduce project budgets, thereby reducing income
Platform fees keep creeping up annually, frustrating many users
In short, choose Upwork over Fiverr if you want to specialize in delivering a particular skill and are keen to grow a profile long term in your industry to attract better clients.
2. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another of the world's largest freelance marketplaces, boasting almost any job you can possibly think of. It was founded even before Upwork in 2012 and offers a similar hybrid job board and bidding platform.
The freelancer experience on the platform goes like this:
A client posts a project
Freelancers bid for the project
Clients choose their freelancers after comparing proposals and chatting in the message system.
Work is secured against milestone payment systems
Money is released when both sides are 100% satisfied
You'll find a mix of budget conscious startups and mid-market established companies on Freelancer.
The bidding model on Freelancer is interesting, allowing you to see what other contractors are bidding with their proposals so you can position yourself competitively against them or provide some differentiation.
One unique feature is its contests section. Entrepreneurs post jobs as contests (such as logo design or t-shirt design) and freelancers submit work in the hopes they get selected as the winner to get paid.
Fees on Freelancer are set at 10% for fixed price and hourly projects, plus there's another 3% client fee. Premium membership is also available to help reduce fees, which can cost upwards of $50 a month.
Pros:
Lower fees than Fiverr at 10%
Transparent bidding system for you to position competitively
A clear scope definition of projects is set against payment milestones
Diverse project types open up any industry for fixed, hourly or recurring jobs
Credibility over time increases visibility for inbound clients
Cons:
Intense competition pushes prices down, with hundreds of freelancers bidding
Quality is inconsistent on both sides, with a wide range of client expectations
Proposal time investment means you can spend 30-60 minutes writing proposals
Low-value projects litter the platform
Premium memberships can run $50 and eat into income
In short: Choose Freelancer.com over Fiverr if you want to compete on proposal quality, profile strength and industry expertise rather than fixed gig marketplaces
3. TopTal
TopTal is marketed as the top 3% of freelance talent. It's a gated platform for the top marketing experts, managers, consultants and professionals.
To become a freelancer on TopTal, the entry is rigorous.
You'll need significant job history at distinguished companies like Google, Uber or Meta. Essentially, you need to prove that leading brands and startups trust your expertise before being accepted.
While this does sound like a pain compared to the open marketplaces, there is a massive upside. TopTal works with enterprise level clients that are willing to pay premium rates for guaranteed quality and expertise.
So once you get access to this exclusive club, you could be working with some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies.
TopTal has come under fire for its fees and commissions. It's not as transparent as bigger marketplaces like Fiverr. They often add a 30-50% undisclosed markup between your freelance rate and the client rate.
So, as a freelancer, if you set a $50 an hour rate, the client might see a $75-$100 an hour rate, with TopTal keeping that difference. As a freelancer, this is not always transparent and you might only see the client facing rate after you've been hired.
Pros:
Extreme vetting reduces competition, meaning you're only competing against 3% of the market
Enterprise clients like Google, Airbnb and Uber are known to hire through TopTal
Freelancers can set high rates, often hundreds of dollars an hour, compared to $5 on Fiverr
No bidding process, with TopTal matching talents to clients
Serious clients aren't hunting for cheap projects or wasting time
Cons:
A hidden 30-50% markup takes the top off of what a freelancer potentially could be paid
Ruthless account banning has been reported for declining work or disputing projects
The slow vetting process can take 4-8 weeks to get approval
Low approval rates mean you need significant expertise and experience to join TopTal
In short, if you have an impressive resume, then there's no need to slum it on Fiverr when you could be accessing enterprise level clients on TopTal.
4. Ruul Space
Ruul is an innovative new platform that describes itself as a personal storefront. It's aimed towards creators and independent contractors who want to sell services, digital projects and subscriptions outside of these crowded marketplaces.
In many ways, it's a hybrid of link in bio and service based ecommerce shops.
On the platform, you can build your own space, which operates as a personalized shop. So if you have a social media following, a newsletter or other online presence, this is a seamless way to get hired.
You have one link and you can sell everything, all while getting paid through the platform. This means you can offer custom freelance services and projects on your space with a naturally integrated professional checkout.
Any headaches of billing and invoices are removed. Clients hire and pay upfront in 140+ currencies. You deliver the work. It even integrates with digital wallets and crypto for payouts.
Commissions are attractive too, at just 5% on all payments. There are no hidden fees, charges, added subscriptions or client costs. So if you were to earn $100 on Fiverr, you'd only take $80. On Ruul, you'd be keeping $95+.
For new freelancers, it's not ideal. If you don't have a social media following or distribution mechanism, then it's not going to help you find or connect with clients. There's no marketplace for jobs or bidding on proposals.
Pros:
Low commission rates of 5% or less make it several times cheaper than Fiverr
A product ecosystem allows you to sell services, courses and subscriptions to your clients
Your personal brand can take a step away from busy marketplaces with a link-in-bio setup
You can drive traffic from your own channels to own your audience
Setup is instant with free accounts and low approval processes
Cons:
A new platform means it has a small user base
No built-in discovery means you need to drive traffic and find clients yourself
A less mature payment infrastructure means any issues are less tested over time
There's no way to connect or find new clients
In short: Use Ruul Space if you want to provide services to an existing audience while building your personal brand.
5. 99designs
99designs caused a storm when it entered the freelance marketplace. It came with a completely new crowdsourced contest model.
Here's how it works:
Clients post their budget and design brief. Designers then complete the work and submit entries. The client then picks a winner and the winner gets paid for their work.
This removes the need to build profiles over time or be at the mercy of algorithms. Visibility isn't throttled and design talent can shine through in every contest.
However, it's pure speculative work. You can do the design and if you don't get picked, you don't earn.
So income can be unpredictable, but it is meritocratic. It presents an interesting conundrum for freelance designers. How long and how much effort should they put into their work? You could spend days or weeks on a project and not get picked. But rushing your work and quality also hinders your chances.
It's a useful platform for new freelancers to hone their skills on real briefs and get feedback as to whether they're best in class.
The fee structure varies depending on your level on the platform. New designers are hit with a 15% fee, but this reduces to 10% and 5% the more you win.
Competition is fierce for high budget contests as well, with 50+ entries being common.
Pros:
No algorithmic favoritism gives every designer an equal chance
Higher client budgets start at $300 minimum, not $5
Meritocratic competition means the best work wins, not the most experienced
Portfolio building can help winning designs get displayed more prominently
It's a great practice ground for new designers to test their skills against professionals
One on one project options allow clients to hire you for direct project work
Cons:
Pure speculative work means you'll only earn if you win; the majority lose and go unpaid
Competition is severe with 50+ entries for high-budget projects
Income is unpredictable, as you never know if you'll win your contests
Upfront time investment is intensive without a guarantee of payment
Fees are higher for entry level designers, but improve to 5% the more you win
In short: Use 99designs if you're a graphic designer who wants to practice on real design briefs or are confident you can out design the mass market.
6. Guru
Guru is a midmarket freelance platform. It sits somewhere between Upwork and TopTal. It was founded way back in 2000 and operates the standard job board setup. So clients post jobs and freelancers propose and bid on the projects.
It also has profile based discovery, meaning clients can pick from the top rated talent. Now, both its competitiveness and client base are smaller than those of Upwork or Fiverr. But you'll find it's more professional than those wide open platforms.
This is because Guru actually verifies freelancers, adding to your credibility as a worker. Your work feedback scores and transaction data get published on the profile so clients can identify credible workers.
There's nothing innovative or different about Guru. It's a good, solid alternative to Fiverr. You bid for projects, communicate directly with clients and use their payment systems when work is approved.
It's important to build a profile over time to showcase your portfolio and previous work and you'll attract clients as your profile grows. Once again, you might need to start with lower paid jobs to build up your reputation.
The basic fee is 9%, making it one of the most competitive platforms for Fiverr competitors. You can have membership plans to reduce fees to between 7% and 5%, but this will run you an extra $20-$50 a month.
Pros:
Low fees at 9% are significantly cheaper than Fiverr
Flexible payment methods allow fixed, hourly, recurring and milestone-type projects
Transparent fees mean you're not hit unexpectedly later down the line
Guru is known for strong dispute resolution that mediates fairly, not siding aggressively with clients
A global client pool means projects are available worldwide
Long term profile growth assists in increasing proposal victories and earning potential
Cons:
Memberships can add to ongoing costs, costing up to $50 a month for more proposals and reduced fees
Competition is high with multiple freelancers bidding on the same jobs
The client base is smaller than the bigger platforms like Upwork and Fiverr
Project values can vary from a few dollars to thousands of dollars
Writing proposals is an added time cost with no guarantee of work
In short: Choose Guru if you're looking for a more merit based proposal system that's slightly less competitive than big platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
7. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is another freelance job board platform. Its differentiation is its UK and European orientation, so it's not as global as Fiverr. Its regional focus means you're competing within the European market, a helpful bonus as it evades the global race to the bottom with rates.
You're less likely to be competing against freelance workers from lower cost of living countries. Plus, clients are local with better budgets.
A remarkable feature on PeoplePerHour is the AI matching ability, which helps you surface relevant jobs rather than having to sift through endless job boards.
It's got a strong, loyal community that enjoys its hourly work, subscriptions and part-time arrangements.
Its big claim is the lowest freelancer fees in the business. Some people do question these fee rates, as your first £250 is subject to a 20% commission. Above that, you drop to a 7.5% commission. So once you're off and running, the fees are attractive.
To join PeoplePerHour as a freelancer, you'll need to apply to become certified. The team reviews every application to ensure that legitimate freelancers are available for client projects.
To make yourself stand out, you'll need to build a strong profile. It's a valuable resource when pitching for jobs. Clients will take the time to pick someone who looks trustworthy and has expertise.
There are two ways to get hired: You can either go and bid for projects by submitting proposals or you can create bespoke packages for clients to purchase.
Pros:
Fees as low as 7.5% once you have earned £250
No client fees means project budgets aren't hit upfront
Regional focus means there's less global competition for people in the UK
Hourly work emphasis is built for part time, ongoing work
Faster payouts compared to 14-day holds on other platforms
Cons:
High first job commission at 20%, but this is reduced quickly
Smaller client base focuses on the UK/EU, so fewer jobs to bid for
Competition is high with dozens of freelancers competing
Limited international reach means you're unlikely to find North American clients
In short, if you're based in the UK and looking for a less competitive job board, then PeoplePerHour is a strong geographic alternative to the global competition.
8. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit takes a different turn. So far, we've focused on digital services. TaskRabbit is an on demand local service for people looking for workers to fulfill physical tasks.
These are often services in your neighborhood, such as furniture assembly, moving help, cleaning, handyman, yard work and similar. So it's not a platform for remote work. It requires your physical presence in a customer's location.
So if you don't have digital skills, TaskRabbit is a good way to earn money.
Fees are interesting with TaskRabbit. As a worker, you might not feel like you're paying much, but they can hit up to 40% in some instances.
For example, as a ‘tasker’, you set a $100 an hour rate, but a client ends up paying $141.25 when all combined fees are taken into account. As a tasker, you earn 100% of your set rate, but the client absorbs other fees. So this does create budget constraints that limit how much you can earn.
Pros:
No bidding competition on individual tasks; once you're booked, it's yours to complete
Workers earn 100% of their rate while clients absorb fees
Same-day payment means there's no long weekly or monthly holds on funds
A geographic moat means you're only competing against people in your area
Recurring work is available for tasks needed on a weekly or monthly basis for long-term bookings
A large, established platform is trusted by millions of clients and workers
Cons:
Clients can end up paying a 41% markup, which can put a ceiling on prices for taskers
Geographic limitation means you can only work in your physical metro area
It is not remote work, requiring physical presence at your customer location, so there is a time and commute cost
Ratings are everything, so a bad review can tank trust in future bookings
Weather and seasonal variability can affect work available, such as yard work in the winter
In short, choose TaskRabbit if you want to complete physical work in your local neighborhood as opposed to selling digital services remotely on Fiverr.
9. Thumbtack
Thumbtack is all about home services. It's known as a ‘pay per lead system’. This means local service providers, such as home improvement, beauty and event planning, pay to access leads.
As a business, you purchase credits and use them to unlock customer contact information. Then it's up to you to reach out to the client and close the deal. You're essentially buying warm leads.
It's an interesting way of working that can help escape the mass market challenges of Fiverr. Competition is reduced by geographic location and the number of local businesses willing to spend on these leads.
Generally, you'll find a lead will cost anywhere between $10 and $100, depending on the service type and size of the job. The pricing is dynamic, so it changes based on supply and demand.
Even if you don't win a job, you pay for a lead when contact with a customer is made.
Lead quality can be variable, with a large number of tire kickers who are looking to compare prices. There's no refund if a customer disappears on you after paying for a lead.
Pros:
No subscription model; it's purely cost based on credits and leads
High-intent customers mean you're buying warm leads that are actively seeking your service
Budget controls allow you to set a max price per lead with weekly spending limits
A geographic moat allows you to pick potential prospects in your specific service area
No bidding or proposals means you can contact your leads directly
Local business service makes it perfect for service based home businesses
Cons:
Lead quality can be unpredictable with a mix of serious buyers and tire kickers
Shared leads mean three to five of your competitors are often contacting the same customer
No guarantee of response means prospects might not engage with you after paying for a lead
Auction pricing means inflation occurs in popular categories during busy periods
ROI requires a strong sales technique, with you needing to close a strong percentage of leads to be profitable
In short: If you're a local service provider with strong sales skills, then Thumbtack gives you leads on tap compared to chancing it with Fiverr's digital algorithms.
10. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd is a competitor to 99designs with its crowdsourced design model. It works in a similar way, with clients posting design contests with budgets and specs. Then, designers do the work and submit their entry. You only get paid if you're picked as the winner.
It tends to be seen as a more budget-friendly version than 99designs, so it's probably a more direct competitor to Fiverr. Customers will look to book similar design work, such as logos, business cards, websites, posters and Facebook covers, among other things.
Competition is fierce in a global community. However, it provides an opportunity to work with real job specs and understand whether you're good enough to compete in the market.
Pros:
A wide range of design tasks makes it a similar option to Fiverr
Meritocratic competition means the best quality often wins, not profile or seniority
Portfolio building allows winning designers to showcase their profiles to get hired
Global reach means you can enter contests from clients worldwide
A variety of design types offers accessibility for all types
Cons:
Pure spec work means you don't get paid unless you win, so there's a big time cost
Extreme competition means you're competing against 50-100+ designers every time
Income unpredictability means you can win big one day and earn nothing the next
DesignCrowd retains a 15% commission on design charges for winners, although this is cheaper than Fiverr
In short: Use DesignCrowd if you're a designer looking for a more budget friendly contest platform compared to 99designs, but be prepared for high competition and speculative work.
11. Bark
Bark is another pay per lead platform, but it spans home service providers, physical jobs and digital providers. So it's useful for remote workers and agencies too. You can find leads for almost anything on there, from dog grooming to SEO specialists.
As a worker, you register for the platform and buy credits. Once you have credits, you can start looking for the best leads and unlock them by spending credits.
Once you respond to a lead, your credits are spent, even if you book the job or not. This means you might be competing against several other service providers in your industry or area.
As a newbie in the market, this might not be attractive, as you're having to fork out money just to acquire leads. You'll need a decent level of sales skills to win jobs. Plus, you need to balance the cost of leads and sales against the profitability of your service.
You'll find prospects of all shapes and sizes here, from small one off jobs to decent sized businesses hiring on long term contracts. You might even find larger businesses like Deliveroo hiring here.
Pros:
No subscription means the cost is purely on credits and leads
UK focus means it's less global for digital workers compared to Fiverr, Upwork and similar
High-intent leads mean prospects are actively searching for your service
Geographic targeting means you can work with leads specific to your service area
The established platform is well known in the UK trade and service industry
Strong advantage for people with sales skills and experience
Cons:
Leads are not exclusive, so you're competing against other industry competitors
Lead quality is unpredictable, with some serious and some casual inquiries
No response guarantee once you pay for a lead
Auction pricing will inflate prices on popular trades and busy periods
Speed is critical, with the first responder often winning the job
Cost per booking can kill margins for smaller projects
In short: Use Bark instead of Fiverr if you're a UK based tradesperson or service provider with strong sales skills. You'll get access to less competitive clients without crippling 20% fees.
12. Arc.dev
Arc.dev was originally a developer specific platform. It had a focus on senior and experienced software developers. This was combined with a rigorous vetting process, which meant only the top 2% of applicants were accepted.
Similar to TopTal, but perhaps without the hidden markups, so freelancers keep 100% of negotiated rates.
In recent times, Arc has expanded to include design, marketing, project management and administrative jobs. You’ll find jobs for UX design, SEO, content marketing and operations manager.
While it does support a global company and workforce, it has a heavy US startup and tech-based orientation. Top companies like Spotify, Splice and Automatic have all been known to hire through Arc.
Freelance jobs are available on Arc for flexible one off projects and long-term engagements based on a preferred hourly rate. There are also full time roles listed on the job board, so you can gain access to hiring managers at global companies offering attractive salaries.
The vetting process is more stringent, with verification of English skills and 5+ years of industry experience required to gain access.
Fees are attractive with a 0% commission, so you keep 100% of your negotiated rates.
Pros:
No commissions mean you keep 100% of negotiated hourly rates
Tech specific means it's strong for developers, marketers and product managers
Premium rates hit $60-$100+ an hour
Top 2% selectivity means you're competing against a smaller set of talent
Freelance and full time jobs are available with quality clients
Cons:
Only 2% of talent can access the platform
Industry focus means it's more favored for developers and surrounding skills
You need to demonstrate a strong portfolio with significant industry experience to pass vetting
A smaller client pool means there are fewer but high quality projects available
In short: Choose Arc.dev if you're a highly skilled developer (or similar industry preferred role) with a strong 5+ year industry track record.
Acctual simplifies invoicing for freelancers who use sites like Fiverr
If you’re a freelancer who’s fed up with the fees and payment restrictions of sites like Fiverr, then try Acctual.
It is built for freelancers to invoice and get paid internationally. You’ll love the complete flexibility and low fees.
The free invoice generator allows you to get going in seconds. In a few clicks, add the key business details, service items and pricing.
Then select payment methods. You can enable your client to pay in their preferred method while you receive funds in your chosen bank or crypto wallet… All automatically for a 1% flat fee. No hidden costs.
Here’s an example:
You create an invoice that enables your client to pay in US Dollars, but you choose to get paid out in Great British pounds. No problem. The client pays and money arrives in your local bank account the same day.
Or choose stablecoins like USDT or USDC. So your client can pay fiat and you receive funds straight to your crypto wallet.
In addition, everything integrates with your accounting system, like Xero or QuickBooks, to make reconciliation easy.
Best Fiverr alternatives for 2026
Here’s the average experience on Fiverr:
You’re excited to start making money online. Your Fiverr account is set up and gigs are listed. But then nothing happens. No one even sees your gig, let alone hires you. Until one day…
You finally make a sale. Everything goes great and the client is happy.
Then your heart drops again as you realize how little you’ve earned once Fiverr takes its ‘cut.’
What if I told you it doesn’t have to be like this?
Well, it doesn’t. It’s time to pick a Fiverr alternative. There are ways to earn more money waiting out there; all you need to do is pick the right platform. So keep reading to find the best freelance websites like Fiverr (but higher paying).
What makes a good Fiverr alternative?
Alternatives to Fiverr come in all sorts of formats. There are direct competitors to Fiverr who try to replicate a similar business model, profile-based high-end freelance platforms and innovative new tech solutions tailored to specific industries.
Here are the key selection criteria to keep in mind:
1. Fees and total cost of earnings
The biggest gripe for freelancers is being hit with continual fees. It's one of the big problems with Fiverr, with a 20% freelancer commission plus 5.5% client fee, which means costs spiral above 25% of the total transaction cost.
Even though you don't necessarily see the client fee, it affects the total budget available. When you're looking at gig websites like Fiverr, start with fees. Most platforms range between 0% and around 20%.
On the top talent platforms, you'll see a variable fee rate, which means the more you earn, the lower your fee becomes. This can be an attractive model if you stick to one platform and grow a good reputation there. Not only will your earnings significantly increase, but your fees will drop in the process.
2. Client quality and buyer pool
Let's talk about client quality, because it has a dramatic effect on how much you can earn and how much stress there is to deliver projects.
This is another issue with Fiverr. It tends to command low rates, which has two knock-on effects. Firstly, you need to deliver a high quantity of work to earn your wage. Two, cheap rates tend to attract the most troublesome clients.
As you gain more experience in the service industry, you'll learn that the smaller a client's budget, the more painful the client is to work with. They expect the earth but aren't willing to pay for it.
If you can gain access to a Fiverr alternative that boasts quality clients and great rates, then you're on to a real winner.
3. Visibility model
How clients find you varies dramatically between platforms. As you know, Fiverr is a marketplace. You post a productized service and hope that clients find you. The more reviews you have, the higher you tend to show up on the list. Think of it like the Amazon of freelance services.
The other most popular option is a job board scenario where clients post the project scope and budget. Then freelancers send proposals and bid on projects. It's closer to traditional job hunting.
4. Payment protection and reliability
The big name freelance platforms are favored by millions of freelancers for their reliability. Over the years, freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork have all built in systems to make sure clients get good work and freelancers get paid.
These can include milestone-based payments, escrow features and payment protections during disputes. Compared to working outside of these platforms directly with clients, you get a third party mediator to help ensure payments run smoothly.
5. Pricing flexibility
Control of project pricing is critical. Fiverr uses locked tiered pricing set by the freelancer, so it's up to clients to decide whether they want to hit their budgets. Other platforms go the other way and allow clients to set their project budgets.
In a way, both work effectively to balance market rates for talent. This means how much you earn is often reflected in the saturation and quality of the marketplace.
A wide open marketplace like Fiverr has millions and millions of sellers on there, allowing clients to pick cheap options. A high quality talent or high quality client platform with more stringent access rules will likely command better rates with less competition in the market.
The 12 best Fiverr alternatives
1. Upwork
Upwork is the second largest freelance marketplace behind Fiverr. Often, freelancers start their lives out on Fiverr and quickly explore Upwork.
It’s now a platform where you can find serious projects and professional clients, especially since its merger with Elance and oDesk.
Clients post their scope and potential budget, then freelancers send proposals with accompanying bids. All work and communication is fulfilled through Upwork, providing both sides with payment protection.
With its ability to handle custom project work, there are different ways of setting contracts. You can work for fixed fees, run milestone based projects or work on an hourly rate.
The downside with Upwork is that it can take months to build a strong portfolio and reputation. Common advice is to start off with some cheap jobs to build your review scores and metrics before landing some bigger contracts.
Getting paid on Upwork runs on a sliding fee scale, with new workers starting at 20% commission on the first $500, dropping to 10% up to $10,000 and 5% above that.
Pros:
Largest enterprise buyer pool with serious clients
Portfolios compound to improve income and reduce fees
The bidding system allows you to boost your proposals for jobs
Flexible contracts make billing for custom projects easy
Profile authority enables top freelancers to get featured for recommendations
Cons:
Saturated platform with most good jobs receiving 50+ proposals
Slow to get started with new accounts, taking several projects to build credibility
Variable commissions mean newer workers get stung
Client fees reduce project budgets, thereby reducing income
Platform fees keep creeping up annually, frustrating many users
In short, choose Upwork over Fiverr if you want to specialize in delivering a particular skill and are keen to grow a profile long term in your industry to attract better clients.
2. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another of the world's largest freelance marketplaces, boasting almost any job you can possibly think of. It was founded even before Upwork in 2012 and offers a similar hybrid job board and bidding platform.
The freelancer experience on the platform goes like this:
A client posts a project
Freelancers bid for the project
Clients choose their freelancers after comparing proposals and chatting in the message system.
Work is secured against milestone payment systems
Money is released when both sides are 100% satisfied
You'll find a mix of budget conscious startups and mid-market established companies on Freelancer.
The bidding model on Freelancer is interesting, allowing you to see what other contractors are bidding with their proposals so you can position yourself competitively against them or provide some differentiation.
One unique feature is its contests section. Entrepreneurs post jobs as contests (such as logo design or t-shirt design) and freelancers submit work in the hopes they get selected as the winner to get paid.
Fees on Freelancer are set at 10% for fixed price and hourly projects, plus there's another 3% client fee. Premium membership is also available to help reduce fees, which can cost upwards of $50 a month.
Pros:
Lower fees than Fiverr at 10%
Transparent bidding system for you to position competitively
A clear scope definition of projects is set against payment milestones
Diverse project types open up any industry for fixed, hourly or recurring jobs
Credibility over time increases visibility for inbound clients
Cons:
Intense competition pushes prices down, with hundreds of freelancers bidding
Quality is inconsistent on both sides, with a wide range of client expectations
Proposal time investment means you can spend 30-60 minutes writing proposals
Low-value projects litter the platform
Premium memberships can run $50 and eat into income
In short: Choose Freelancer.com over Fiverr if you want to compete on proposal quality, profile strength and industry expertise rather than fixed gig marketplaces
3. TopTal
TopTal is marketed as the top 3% of freelance talent. It's a gated platform for the top marketing experts, managers, consultants and professionals.
To become a freelancer on TopTal, the entry is rigorous.
You'll need significant job history at distinguished companies like Google, Uber or Meta. Essentially, you need to prove that leading brands and startups trust your expertise before being accepted.
While this does sound like a pain compared to the open marketplaces, there is a massive upside. TopTal works with enterprise level clients that are willing to pay premium rates for guaranteed quality and expertise.
So once you get access to this exclusive club, you could be working with some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies.
TopTal has come under fire for its fees and commissions. It's not as transparent as bigger marketplaces like Fiverr. They often add a 30-50% undisclosed markup between your freelance rate and the client rate.
So, as a freelancer, if you set a $50 an hour rate, the client might see a $75-$100 an hour rate, with TopTal keeping that difference. As a freelancer, this is not always transparent and you might only see the client facing rate after you've been hired.
Pros:
Extreme vetting reduces competition, meaning you're only competing against 3% of the market
Enterprise clients like Google, Airbnb and Uber are known to hire through TopTal
Freelancers can set high rates, often hundreds of dollars an hour, compared to $5 on Fiverr
No bidding process, with TopTal matching talents to clients
Serious clients aren't hunting for cheap projects or wasting time
Cons:
A hidden 30-50% markup takes the top off of what a freelancer potentially could be paid
Ruthless account banning has been reported for declining work or disputing projects
The slow vetting process can take 4-8 weeks to get approval
Low approval rates mean you need significant expertise and experience to join TopTal
In short, if you have an impressive resume, then there's no need to slum it on Fiverr when you could be accessing enterprise level clients on TopTal.
4. Ruul Space
Ruul is an innovative new platform that describes itself as a personal storefront. It's aimed towards creators and independent contractors who want to sell services, digital projects and subscriptions outside of these crowded marketplaces.
In many ways, it's a hybrid of link in bio and service based ecommerce shops.
On the platform, you can build your own space, which operates as a personalized shop. So if you have a social media following, a newsletter or other online presence, this is a seamless way to get hired.
You have one link and you can sell everything, all while getting paid through the platform. This means you can offer custom freelance services and projects on your space with a naturally integrated professional checkout.
Any headaches of billing and invoices are removed. Clients hire and pay upfront in 140+ currencies. You deliver the work. It even integrates with digital wallets and crypto for payouts.
Commissions are attractive too, at just 5% on all payments. There are no hidden fees, charges, added subscriptions or client costs. So if you were to earn $100 on Fiverr, you'd only take $80. On Ruul, you'd be keeping $95+.
For new freelancers, it's not ideal. If you don't have a social media following or distribution mechanism, then it's not going to help you find or connect with clients. There's no marketplace for jobs or bidding on proposals.
Pros:
Low commission rates of 5% or less make it several times cheaper than Fiverr
A product ecosystem allows you to sell services, courses and subscriptions to your clients
Your personal brand can take a step away from busy marketplaces with a link-in-bio setup
You can drive traffic from your own channels to own your audience
Setup is instant with free accounts and low approval processes
Cons:
A new platform means it has a small user base
No built-in discovery means you need to drive traffic and find clients yourself
A less mature payment infrastructure means any issues are less tested over time
There's no way to connect or find new clients
In short: Use Ruul Space if you want to provide services to an existing audience while building your personal brand.
5. 99designs
99designs caused a storm when it entered the freelance marketplace. It came with a completely new crowdsourced contest model.
Here's how it works:
Clients post their budget and design brief. Designers then complete the work and submit entries. The client then picks a winner and the winner gets paid for their work.
This removes the need to build profiles over time or be at the mercy of algorithms. Visibility isn't throttled and design talent can shine through in every contest.
However, it's pure speculative work. You can do the design and if you don't get picked, you don't earn.
So income can be unpredictable, but it is meritocratic. It presents an interesting conundrum for freelance designers. How long and how much effort should they put into their work? You could spend days or weeks on a project and not get picked. But rushing your work and quality also hinders your chances.
It's a useful platform for new freelancers to hone their skills on real briefs and get feedback as to whether they're best in class.
The fee structure varies depending on your level on the platform. New designers are hit with a 15% fee, but this reduces to 10% and 5% the more you win.
Competition is fierce for high budget contests as well, with 50+ entries being common.
Pros:
No algorithmic favoritism gives every designer an equal chance
Higher client budgets start at $300 minimum, not $5
Meritocratic competition means the best work wins, not the most experienced
Portfolio building can help winning designs get displayed more prominently
It's a great practice ground for new designers to test their skills against professionals
One on one project options allow clients to hire you for direct project work
Cons:
Pure speculative work means you'll only earn if you win; the majority lose and go unpaid
Competition is severe with 50+ entries for high-budget projects
Income is unpredictable, as you never know if you'll win your contests
Upfront time investment is intensive without a guarantee of payment
Fees are higher for entry level designers, but improve to 5% the more you win
In short: Use 99designs if you're a graphic designer who wants to practice on real design briefs or are confident you can out design the mass market.
6. Guru
Guru is a midmarket freelance platform. It sits somewhere between Upwork and TopTal. It was founded way back in 2000 and operates the standard job board setup. So clients post jobs and freelancers propose and bid on the projects.
It also has profile based discovery, meaning clients can pick from the top rated talent. Now, both its competitiveness and client base are smaller than those of Upwork or Fiverr. But you'll find it's more professional than those wide open platforms.
This is because Guru actually verifies freelancers, adding to your credibility as a worker. Your work feedback scores and transaction data get published on the profile so clients can identify credible workers.
There's nothing innovative or different about Guru. It's a good, solid alternative to Fiverr. You bid for projects, communicate directly with clients and use their payment systems when work is approved.
It's important to build a profile over time to showcase your portfolio and previous work and you'll attract clients as your profile grows. Once again, you might need to start with lower paid jobs to build up your reputation.
The basic fee is 9%, making it one of the most competitive platforms for Fiverr competitors. You can have membership plans to reduce fees to between 7% and 5%, but this will run you an extra $20-$50 a month.
Pros:
Low fees at 9% are significantly cheaper than Fiverr
Flexible payment methods allow fixed, hourly, recurring and milestone-type projects
Transparent fees mean you're not hit unexpectedly later down the line
Guru is known for strong dispute resolution that mediates fairly, not siding aggressively with clients
A global client pool means projects are available worldwide
Long term profile growth assists in increasing proposal victories and earning potential
Cons:
Memberships can add to ongoing costs, costing up to $50 a month for more proposals and reduced fees
Competition is high with multiple freelancers bidding on the same jobs
The client base is smaller than the bigger platforms like Upwork and Fiverr
Project values can vary from a few dollars to thousands of dollars
Writing proposals is an added time cost with no guarantee of work
In short: Choose Guru if you're looking for a more merit based proposal system that's slightly less competitive than big platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
7. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is another freelance job board platform. Its differentiation is its UK and European orientation, so it's not as global as Fiverr. Its regional focus means you're competing within the European market, a helpful bonus as it evades the global race to the bottom with rates.
You're less likely to be competing against freelance workers from lower cost of living countries. Plus, clients are local with better budgets.
A remarkable feature on PeoplePerHour is the AI matching ability, which helps you surface relevant jobs rather than having to sift through endless job boards.
It's got a strong, loyal community that enjoys its hourly work, subscriptions and part-time arrangements.
Its big claim is the lowest freelancer fees in the business. Some people do question these fee rates, as your first £250 is subject to a 20% commission. Above that, you drop to a 7.5% commission. So once you're off and running, the fees are attractive.
To join PeoplePerHour as a freelancer, you'll need to apply to become certified. The team reviews every application to ensure that legitimate freelancers are available for client projects.
To make yourself stand out, you'll need to build a strong profile. It's a valuable resource when pitching for jobs. Clients will take the time to pick someone who looks trustworthy and has expertise.
There are two ways to get hired: You can either go and bid for projects by submitting proposals or you can create bespoke packages for clients to purchase.
Pros:
Fees as low as 7.5% once you have earned £250
No client fees means project budgets aren't hit upfront
Regional focus means there's less global competition for people in the UK
Hourly work emphasis is built for part time, ongoing work
Faster payouts compared to 14-day holds on other platforms
Cons:
High first job commission at 20%, but this is reduced quickly
Smaller client base focuses on the UK/EU, so fewer jobs to bid for
Competition is high with dozens of freelancers competing
Limited international reach means you're unlikely to find North American clients
In short, if you're based in the UK and looking for a less competitive job board, then PeoplePerHour is a strong geographic alternative to the global competition.
8. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit takes a different turn. So far, we've focused on digital services. TaskRabbit is an on demand local service for people looking for workers to fulfill physical tasks.
These are often services in your neighborhood, such as furniture assembly, moving help, cleaning, handyman, yard work and similar. So it's not a platform for remote work. It requires your physical presence in a customer's location.
So if you don't have digital skills, TaskRabbit is a good way to earn money.
Fees are interesting with TaskRabbit. As a worker, you might not feel like you're paying much, but they can hit up to 40% in some instances.
For example, as a ‘tasker’, you set a $100 an hour rate, but a client ends up paying $141.25 when all combined fees are taken into account. As a tasker, you earn 100% of your set rate, but the client absorbs other fees. So this does create budget constraints that limit how much you can earn.
Pros:
No bidding competition on individual tasks; once you're booked, it's yours to complete
Workers earn 100% of their rate while clients absorb fees
Same-day payment means there's no long weekly or monthly holds on funds
A geographic moat means you're only competing against people in your area
Recurring work is available for tasks needed on a weekly or monthly basis for long-term bookings
A large, established platform is trusted by millions of clients and workers
Cons:
Clients can end up paying a 41% markup, which can put a ceiling on prices for taskers
Geographic limitation means you can only work in your physical metro area
It is not remote work, requiring physical presence at your customer location, so there is a time and commute cost
Ratings are everything, so a bad review can tank trust in future bookings
Weather and seasonal variability can affect work available, such as yard work in the winter
In short, choose TaskRabbit if you want to complete physical work in your local neighborhood as opposed to selling digital services remotely on Fiverr.
9. Thumbtack
Thumbtack is all about home services. It's known as a ‘pay per lead system’. This means local service providers, such as home improvement, beauty and event planning, pay to access leads.
As a business, you purchase credits and use them to unlock customer contact information. Then it's up to you to reach out to the client and close the deal. You're essentially buying warm leads.
It's an interesting way of working that can help escape the mass market challenges of Fiverr. Competition is reduced by geographic location and the number of local businesses willing to spend on these leads.
Generally, you'll find a lead will cost anywhere between $10 and $100, depending on the service type and size of the job. The pricing is dynamic, so it changes based on supply and demand.
Even if you don't win a job, you pay for a lead when contact with a customer is made.
Lead quality can be variable, with a large number of tire kickers who are looking to compare prices. There's no refund if a customer disappears on you after paying for a lead.
Pros:
No subscription model; it's purely cost based on credits and leads
High-intent customers mean you're buying warm leads that are actively seeking your service
Budget controls allow you to set a max price per lead with weekly spending limits
A geographic moat allows you to pick potential prospects in your specific service area
No bidding or proposals means you can contact your leads directly
Local business service makes it perfect for service based home businesses
Cons:
Lead quality can be unpredictable with a mix of serious buyers and tire kickers
Shared leads mean three to five of your competitors are often contacting the same customer
No guarantee of response means prospects might not engage with you after paying for a lead
Auction pricing means inflation occurs in popular categories during busy periods
ROI requires a strong sales technique, with you needing to close a strong percentage of leads to be profitable
In short: If you're a local service provider with strong sales skills, then Thumbtack gives you leads on tap compared to chancing it with Fiverr's digital algorithms.
10. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd is a competitor to 99designs with its crowdsourced design model. It works in a similar way, with clients posting design contests with budgets and specs. Then, designers do the work and submit their entry. You only get paid if you're picked as the winner.
It tends to be seen as a more budget-friendly version than 99designs, so it's probably a more direct competitor to Fiverr. Customers will look to book similar design work, such as logos, business cards, websites, posters and Facebook covers, among other things.
Competition is fierce in a global community. However, it provides an opportunity to work with real job specs and understand whether you're good enough to compete in the market.
Pros:
A wide range of design tasks makes it a similar option to Fiverr
Meritocratic competition means the best quality often wins, not profile or seniority
Portfolio building allows winning designers to showcase their profiles to get hired
Global reach means you can enter contests from clients worldwide
A variety of design types offers accessibility for all types
Cons:
Pure spec work means you don't get paid unless you win, so there's a big time cost
Extreme competition means you're competing against 50-100+ designers every time
Income unpredictability means you can win big one day and earn nothing the next
DesignCrowd retains a 15% commission on design charges for winners, although this is cheaper than Fiverr
In short: Use DesignCrowd if you're a designer looking for a more budget friendly contest platform compared to 99designs, but be prepared for high competition and speculative work.
11. Bark
Bark is another pay per lead platform, but it spans home service providers, physical jobs and digital providers. So it's useful for remote workers and agencies too. You can find leads for almost anything on there, from dog grooming to SEO specialists.
As a worker, you register for the platform and buy credits. Once you have credits, you can start looking for the best leads and unlock them by spending credits.
Once you respond to a lead, your credits are spent, even if you book the job or not. This means you might be competing against several other service providers in your industry or area.
As a newbie in the market, this might not be attractive, as you're having to fork out money just to acquire leads. You'll need a decent level of sales skills to win jobs. Plus, you need to balance the cost of leads and sales against the profitability of your service.
You'll find prospects of all shapes and sizes here, from small one off jobs to decent sized businesses hiring on long term contracts. You might even find larger businesses like Deliveroo hiring here.
Pros:
No subscription means the cost is purely on credits and leads
UK focus means it's less global for digital workers compared to Fiverr, Upwork and similar
High-intent leads mean prospects are actively searching for your service
Geographic targeting means you can work with leads specific to your service area
The established platform is well known in the UK trade and service industry
Strong advantage for people with sales skills and experience
Cons:
Leads are not exclusive, so you're competing against other industry competitors
Lead quality is unpredictable, with some serious and some casual inquiries
No response guarantee once you pay for a lead
Auction pricing will inflate prices on popular trades and busy periods
Speed is critical, with the first responder often winning the job
Cost per booking can kill margins for smaller projects
In short: Use Bark instead of Fiverr if you're a UK based tradesperson or service provider with strong sales skills. You'll get access to less competitive clients without crippling 20% fees.
12. Arc.dev
Arc.dev was originally a developer specific platform. It had a focus on senior and experienced software developers. This was combined with a rigorous vetting process, which meant only the top 2% of applicants were accepted.
Similar to TopTal, but perhaps without the hidden markups, so freelancers keep 100% of negotiated rates.
In recent times, Arc has expanded to include design, marketing, project management and administrative jobs. You’ll find jobs for UX design, SEO, content marketing and operations manager.
While it does support a global company and workforce, it has a heavy US startup and tech-based orientation. Top companies like Spotify, Splice and Automatic have all been known to hire through Arc.
Freelance jobs are available on Arc for flexible one off projects and long-term engagements based on a preferred hourly rate. There are also full time roles listed on the job board, so you can gain access to hiring managers at global companies offering attractive salaries.
The vetting process is more stringent, with verification of English skills and 5+ years of industry experience required to gain access.
Fees are attractive with a 0% commission, so you keep 100% of your negotiated rates.
Pros:
No commissions mean you keep 100% of negotiated hourly rates
Tech specific means it's strong for developers, marketers and product managers
Premium rates hit $60-$100+ an hour
Top 2% selectivity means you're competing against a smaller set of talent
Freelance and full time jobs are available with quality clients
Cons:
Only 2% of talent can access the platform
Industry focus means it's more favored for developers and surrounding skills
You need to demonstrate a strong portfolio with significant industry experience to pass vetting
A smaller client pool means there are fewer but high quality projects available
In short: Choose Arc.dev if you're a highly skilled developer (or similar industry preferred role) with a strong 5+ year industry track record.
Acctual simplifies invoicing for freelancers who use sites like Fiverr
If you’re a freelancer who’s fed up with the fees and payment restrictions of sites like Fiverr, then try Acctual.
It is built for freelancers to invoice and get paid internationally. You’ll love the complete flexibility and low fees.
The free invoice generator allows you to get going in seconds. In a few clicks, add the key business details, service items and pricing.
Then select payment methods. You can enable your client to pay in their preferred method while you receive funds in your chosen bank or crypto wallet… All automatically for a 1% flat fee. No hidden costs.
Here’s an example:
You create an invoice that enables your client to pay in US Dollars, but you choose to get paid out in Great British pounds. No problem. The client pays and money arrives in your local bank account the same day.
Or choose stablecoins like USDT or USDC. So your client can pay fiat and you receive funds straight to your crypto wallet.
In addition, everything integrates with your accounting system, like Xero or QuickBooks, to make reconciliation easy.
Best Fiverr alternatives for 2026
Here’s the average experience on Fiverr:
You’re excited to start making money online. Your Fiverr account is set up and gigs are listed. But then nothing happens. No one even sees your gig, let alone hires you. Until one day…
You finally make a sale. Everything goes great and the client is happy.
Then your heart drops again as you realize how little you’ve earned once Fiverr takes its ‘cut.’
What if I told you it doesn’t have to be like this?
Well, it doesn’t. It’s time to pick a Fiverr alternative. There are ways to earn more money waiting out there; all you need to do is pick the right platform. So keep reading to find the best freelance websites like Fiverr (but higher paying).
What makes a good Fiverr alternative?
Alternatives to Fiverr come in all sorts of formats. There are direct competitors to Fiverr who try to replicate a similar business model, profile-based high-end freelance platforms and innovative new tech solutions tailored to specific industries.
Here are the key selection criteria to keep in mind:
1. Fees and total cost of earnings
The biggest gripe for freelancers is being hit with continual fees. It's one of the big problems with Fiverr, with a 20% freelancer commission plus 5.5% client fee, which means costs spiral above 25% of the total transaction cost.
Even though you don't necessarily see the client fee, it affects the total budget available. When you're looking at gig websites like Fiverr, start with fees. Most platforms range between 0% and around 20%.
On the top talent platforms, you'll see a variable fee rate, which means the more you earn, the lower your fee becomes. This can be an attractive model if you stick to one platform and grow a good reputation there. Not only will your earnings significantly increase, but your fees will drop in the process.
2. Client quality and buyer pool
Let's talk about client quality, because it has a dramatic effect on how much you can earn and how much stress there is to deliver projects.
This is another issue with Fiverr. It tends to command low rates, which has two knock-on effects. Firstly, you need to deliver a high quantity of work to earn your wage. Two, cheap rates tend to attract the most troublesome clients.
As you gain more experience in the service industry, you'll learn that the smaller a client's budget, the more painful the client is to work with. They expect the earth but aren't willing to pay for it.
If you can gain access to a Fiverr alternative that boasts quality clients and great rates, then you're on to a real winner.
3. Visibility model
How clients find you varies dramatically between platforms. As you know, Fiverr is a marketplace. You post a productized service and hope that clients find you. The more reviews you have, the higher you tend to show up on the list. Think of it like the Amazon of freelance services.
The other most popular option is a job board scenario where clients post the project scope and budget. Then freelancers send proposals and bid on projects. It's closer to traditional job hunting.
4. Payment protection and reliability
The big name freelance platforms are favored by millions of freelancers for their reliability. Over the years, freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork have all built in systems to make sure clients get good work and freelancers get paid.
These can include milestone-based payments, escrow features and payment protections during disputes. Compared to working outside of these platforms directly with clients, you get a third party mediator to help ensure payments run smoothly.
5. Pricing flexibility
Control of project pricing is critical. Fiverr uses locked tiered pricing set by the freelancer, so it's up to clients to decide whether they want to hit their budgets. Other platforms go the other way and allow clients to set their project budgets.
In a way, both work effectively to balance market rates for talent. This means how much you earn is often reflected in the saturation and quality of the marketplace.
A wide open marketplace like Fiverr has millions and millions of sellers on there, allowing clients to pick cheap options. A high quality talent or high quality client platform with more stringent access rules will likely command better rates with less competition in the market.
The 12 best Fiverr alternatives
1. Upwork
Upwork is the second largest freelance marketplace behind Fiverr. Often, freelancers start their lives out on Fiverr and quickly explore Upwork.
It’s now a platform where you can find serious projects and professional clients, especially since its merger with Elance and oDesk.
Clients post their scope and potential budget, then freelancers send proposals with accompanying bids. All work and communication is fulfilled through Upwork, providing both sides with payment protection.
With its ability to handle custom project work, there are different ways of setting contracts. You can work for fixed fees, run milestone based projects or work on an hourly rate.
The downside with Upwork is that it can take months to build a strong portfolio and reputation. Common advice is to start off with some cheap jobs to build your review scores and metrics before landing some bigger contracts.
Getting paid on Upwork runs on a sliding fee scale, with new workers starting at 20% commission on the first $500, dropping to 10% up to $10,000 and 5% above that.
Pros:
Largest enterprise buyer pool with serious clients
Portfolios compound to improve income and reduce fees
The bidding system allows you to boost your proposals for jobs
Flexible contracts make billing for custom projects easy
Profile authority enables top freelancers to get featured for recommendations
Cons:
Saturated platform with most good jobs receiving 50+ proposals
Slow to get started with new accounts, taking several projects to build credibility
Variable commissions mean newer workers get stung
Client fees reduce project budgets, thereby reducing income
Platform fees keep creeping up annually, frustrating many users
In short, choose Upwork over Fiverr if you want to specialize in delivering a particular skill and are keen to grow a profile long term in your industry to attract better clients.
2. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another of the world's largest freelance marketplaces, boasting almost any job you can possibly think of. It was founded even before Upwork in 2012 and offers a similar hybrid job board and bidding platform.
The freelancer experience on the platform goes like this:
A client posts a project
Freelancers bid for the project
Clients choose their freelancers after comparing proposals and chatting in the message system.
Work is secured against milestone payment systems
Money is released when both sides are 100% satisfied
You'll find a mix of budget conscious startups and mid-market established companies on Freelancer.
The bidding model on Freelancer is interesting, allowing you to see what other contractors are bidding with their proposals so you can position yourself competitively against them or provide some differentiation.
One unique feature is its contests section. Entrepreneurs post jobs as contests (such as logo design or t-shirt design) and freelancers submit work in the hopes they get selected as the winner to get paid.
Fees on Freelancer are set at 10% for fixed price and hourly projects, plus there's another 3% client fee. Premium membership is also available to help reduce fees, which can cost upwards of $50 a month.
Pros:
Lower fees than Fiverr at 10%
Transparent bidding system for you to position competitively
A clear scope definition of projects is set against payment milestones
Diverse project types open up any industry for fixed, hourly or recurring jobs
Credibility over time increases visibility for inbound clients
Cons:
Intense competition pushes prices down, with hundreds of freelancers bidding
Quality is inconsistent on both sides, with a wide range of client expectations
Proposal time investment means you can spend 30-60 minutes writing proposals
Low-value projects litter the platform
Premium memberships can run $50 and eat into income
In short: Choose Freelancer.com over Fiverr if you want to compete on proposal quality, profile strength and industry expertise rather than fixed gig marketplaces
3. TopTal
TopTal is marketed as the top 3% of freelance talent. It's a gated platform for the top marketing experts, managers, consultants and professionals.
To become a freelancer on TopTal, the entry is rigorous.
You'll need significant job history at distinguished companies like Google, Uber or Meta. Essentially, you need to prove that leading brands and startups trust your expertise before being accepted.
While this does sound like a pain compared to the open marketplaces, there is a massive upside. TopTal works with enterprise level clients that are willing to pay premium rates for guaranteed quality and expertise.
So once you get access to this exclusive club, you could be working with some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies.
TopTal has come under fire for its fees and commissions. It's not as transparent as bigger marketplaces like Fiverr. They often add a 30-50% undisclosed markup between your freelance rate and the client rate.
So, as a freelancer, if you set a $50 an hour rate, the client might see a $75-$100 an hour rate, with TopTal keeping that difference. As a freelancer, this is not always transparent and you might only see the client facing rate after you've been hired.
Pros:
Extreme vetting reduces competition, meaning you're only competing against 3% of the market
Enterprise clients like Google, Airbnb and Uber are known to hire through TopTal
Freelancers can set high rates, often hundreds of dollars an hour, compared to $5 on Fiverr
No bidding process, with TopTal matching talents to clients
Serious clients aren't hunting for cheap projects or wasting time
Cons:
A hidden 30-50% markup takes the top off of what a freelancer potentially could be paid
Ruthless account banning has been reported for declining work or disputing projects
The slow vetting process can take 4-8 weeks to get approval
Low approval rates mean you need significant expertise and experience to join TopTal
In short, if you have an impressive resume, then there's no need to slum it on Fiverr when you could be accessing enterprise level clients on TopTal.
4. Ruul Space
Ruul is an innovative new platform that describes itself as a personal storefront. It's aimed towards creators and independent contractors who want to sell services, digital projects and subscriptions outside of these crowded marketplaces.
In many ways, it's a hybrid of link in bio and service based ecommerce shops.
On the platform, you can build your own space, which operates as a personalized shop. So if you have a social media following, a newsletter or other online presence, this is a seamless way to get hired.
You have one link and you can sell everything, all while getting paid through the platform. This means you can offer custom freelance services and projects on your space with a naturally integrated professional checkout.
Any headaches of billing and invoices are removed. Clients hire and pay upfront in 140+ currencies. You deliver the work. It even integrates with digital wallets and crypto for payouts.
Commissions are attractive too, at just 5% on all payments. There are no hidden fees, charges, added subscriptions or client costs. So if you were to earn $100 on Fiverr, you'd only take $80. On Ruul, you'd be keeping $95+.
For new freelancers, it's not ideal. If you don't have a social media following or distribution mechanism, then it's not going to help you find or connect with clients. There's no marketplace for jobs or bidding on proposals.
Pros:
Low commission rates of 5% or less make it several times cheaper than Fiverr
A product ecosystem allows you to sell services, courses and subscriptions to your clients
Your personal brand can take a step away from busy marketplaces with a link-in-bio setup
You can drive traffic from your own channels to own your audience
Setup is instant with free accounts and low approval processes
Cons:
A new platform means it has a small user base
No built-in discovery means you need to drive traffic and find clients yourself
A less mature payment infrastructure means any issues are less tested over time
There's no way to connect or find new clients
In short: Use Ruul Space if you want to provide services to an existing audience while building your personal brand.
5. 99designs
99designs caused a storm when it entered the freelance marketplace. It came with a completely new crowdsourced contest model.
Here's how it works:
Clients post their budget and design brief. Designers then complete the work and submit entries. The client then picks a winner and the winner gets paid for their work.
This removes the need to build profiles over time or be at the mercy of algorithms. Visibility isn't throttled and design talent can shine through in every contest.
However, it's pure speculative work. You can do the design and if you don't get picked, you don't earn.
So income can be unpredictable, but it is meritocratic. It presents an interesting conundrum for freelance designers. How long and how much effort should they put into their work? You could spend days or weeks on a project and not get picked. But rushing your work and quality also hinders your chances.
It's a useful platform for new freelancers to hone their skills on real briefs and get feedback as to whether they're best in class.
The fee structure varies depending on your level on the platform. New designers are hit with a 15% fee, but this reduces to 10% and 5% the more you win.
Competition is fierce for high budget contests as well, with 50+ entries being common.
Pros:
No algorithmic favoritism gives every designer an equal chance
Higher client budgets start at $300 minimum, not $5
Meritocratic competition means the best work wins, not the most experienced
Portfolio building can help winning designs get displayed more prominently
It's a great practice ground for new designers to test their skills against professionals
One on one project options allow clients to hire you for direct project work
Cons:
Pure speculative work means you'll only earn if you win; the majority lose and go unpaid
Competition is severe with 50+ entries for high-budget projects
Income is unpredictable, as you never know if you'll win your contests
Upfront time investment is intensive without a guarantee of payment
Fees are higher for entry level designers, but improve to 5% the more you win
In short: Use 99designs if you're a graphic designer who wants to practice on real design briefs or are confident you can out design the mass market.
6. Guru
Guru is a midmarket freelance platform. It sits somewhere between Upwork and TopTal. It was founded way back in 2000 and operates the standard job board setup. So clients post jobs and freelancers propose and bid on the projects.
It also has profile based discovery, meaning clients can pick from the top rated talent. Now, both its competitiveness and client base are smaller than those of Upwork or Fiverr. But you'll find it's more professional than those wide open platforms.
This is because Guru actually verifies freelancers, adding to your credibility as a worker. Your work feedback scores and transaction data get published on the profile so clients can identify credible workers.
There's nothing innovative or different about Guru. It's a good, solid alternative to Fiverr. You bid for projects, communicate directly with clients and use their payment systems when work is approved.
It's important to build a profile over time to showcase your portfolio and previous work and you'll attract clients as your profile grows. Once again, you might need to start with lower paid jobs to build up your reputation.
The basic fee is 9%, making it one of the most competitive platforms for Fiverr competitors. You can have membership plans to reduce fees to between 7% and 5%, but this will run you an extra $20-$50 a month.
Pros:
Low fees at 9% are significantly cheaper than Fiverr
Flexible payment methods allow fixed, hourly, recurring and milestone-type projects
Transparent fees mean you're not hit unexpectedly later down the line
Guru is known for strong dispute resolution that mediates fairly, not siding aggressively with clients
A global client pool means projects are available worldwide
Long term profile growth assists in increasing proposal victories and earning potential
Cons:
Memberships can add to ongoing costs, costing up to $50 a month for more proposals and reduced fees
Competition is high with multiple freelancers bidding on the same jobs
The client base is smaller than the bigger platforms like Upwork and Fiverr
Project values can vary from a few dollars to thousands of dollars
Writing proposals is an added time cost with no guarantee of work
In short: Choose Guru if you're looking for a more merit based proposal system that's slightly less competitive than big platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
7. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is another freelance job board platform. Its differentiation is its UK and European orientation, so it's not as global as Fiverr. Its regional focus means you're competing within the European market, a helpful bonus as it evades the global race to the bottom with rates.
You're less likely to be competing against freelance workers from lower cost of living countries. Plus, clients are local with better budgets.
A remarkable feature on PeoplePerHour is the AI matching ability, which helps you surface relevant jobs rather than having to sift through endless job boards.
It's got a strong, loyal community that enjoys its hourly work, subscriptions and part-time arrangements.
Its big claim is the lowest freelancer fees in the business. Some people do question these fee rates, as your first £250 is subject to a 20% commission. Above that, you drop to a 7.5% commission. So once you're off and running, the fees are attractive.
To join PeoplePerHour as a freelancer, you'll need to apply to become certified. The team reviews every application to ensure that legitimate freelancers are available for client projects.
To make yourself stand out, you'll need to build a strong profile. It's a valuable resource when pitching for jobs. Clients will take the time to pick someone who looks trustworthy and has expertise.
There are two ways to get hired: You can either go and bid for projects by submitting proposals or you can create bespoke packages for clients to purchase.
Pros:
Fees as low as 7.5% once you have earned £250
No client fees means project budgets aren't hit upfront
Regional focus means there's less global competition for people in the UK
Hourly work emphasis is built for part time, ongoing work
Faster payouts compared to 14-day holds on other platforms
Cons:
High first job commission at 20%, but this is reduced quickly
Smaller client base focuses on the UK/EU, so fewer jobs to bid for
Competition is high with dozens of freelancers competing
Limited international reach means you're unlikely to find North American clients
In short, if you're based in the UK and looking for a less competitive job board, then PeoplePerHour is a strong geographic alternative to the global competition.
8. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit takes a different turn. So far, we've focused on digital services. TaskRabbit is an on demand local service for people looking for workers to fulfill physical tasks.
These are often services in your neighborhood, such as furniture assembly, moving help, cleaning, handyman, yard work and similar. So it's not a platform for remote work. It requires your physical presence in a customer's location.
So if you don't have digital skills, TaskRabbit is a good way to earn money.
Fees are interesting with TaskRabbit. As a worker, you might not feel like you're paying much, but they can hit up to 40% in some instances.
For example, as a ‘tasker’, you set a $100 an hour rate, but a client ends up paying $141.25 when all combined fees are taken into account. As a tasker, you earn 100% of your set rate, but the client absorbs other fees. So this does create budget constraints that limit how much you can earn.
Pros:
No bidding competition on individual tasks; once you're booked, it's yours to complete
Workers earn 100% of their rate while clients absorb fees
Same-day payment means there's no long weekly or monthly holds on funds
A geographic moat means you're only competing against people in your area
Recurring work is available for tasks needed on a weekly or monthly basis for long-term bookings
A large, established platform is trusted by millions of clients and workers
Cons:
Clients can end up paying a 41% markup, which can put a ceiling on prices for taskers
Geographic limitation means you can only work in your physical metro area
It is not remote work, requiring physical presence at your customer location, so there is a time and commute cost
Ratings are everything, so a bad review can tank trust in future bookings
Weather and seasonal variability can affect work available, such as yard work in the winter
In short, choose TaskRabbit if you want to complete physical work in your local neighborhood as opposed to selling digital services remotely on Fiverr.
9. Thumbtack
Thumbtack is all about home services. It's known as a ‘pay per lead system’. This means local service providers, such as home improvement, beauty and event planning, pay to access leads.
As a business, you purchase credits and use them to unlock customer contact information. Then it's up to you to reach out to the client and close the deal. You're essentially buying warm leads.
It's an interesting way of working that can help escape the mass market challenges of Fiverr. Competition is reduced by geographic location and the number of local businesses willing to spend on these leads.
Generally, you'll find a lead will cost anywhere between $10 and $100, depending on the service type and size of the job. The pricing is dynamic, so it changes based on supply and demand.
Even if you don't win a job, you pay for a lead when contact with a customer is made.
Lead quality can be variable, with a large number of tire kickers who are looking to compare prices. There's no refund if a customer disappears on you after paying for a lead.
Pros:
No subscription model; it's purely cost based on credits and leads
High-intent customers mean you're buying warm leads that are actively seeking your service
Budget controls allow you to set a max price per lead with weekly spending limits
A geographic moat allows you to pick potential prospects in your specific service area
No bidding or proposals means you can contact your leads directly
Local business service makes it perfect for service based home businesses
Cons:
Lead quality can be unpredictable with a mix of serious buyers and tire kickers
Shared leads mean three to five of your competitors are often contacting the same customer
No guarantee of response means prospects might not engage with you after paying for a lead
Auction pricing means inflation occurs in popular categories during busy periods
ROI requires a strong sales technique, with you needing to close a strong percentage of leads to be profitable
In short: If you're a local service provider with strong sales skills, then Thumbtack gives you leads on tap compared to chancing it with Fiverr's digital algorithms.
10. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd is a competitor to 99designs with its crowdsourced design model. It works in a similar way, with clients posting design contests with budgets and specs. Then, designers do the work and submit their entry. You only get paid if you're picked as the winner.
It tends to be seen as a more budget-friendly version than 99designs, so it's probably a more direct competitor to Fiverr. Customers will look to book similar design work, such as logos, business cards, websites, posters and Facebook covers, among other things.
Competition is fierce in a global community. However, it provides an opportunity to work with real job specs and understand whether you're good enough to compete in the market.
Pros:
A wide range of design tasks makes it a similar option to Fiverr
Meritocratic competition means the best quality often wins, not profile or seniority
Portfolio building allows winning designers to showcase their profiles to get hired
Global reach means you can enter contests from clients worldwide
A variety of design types offers accessibility for all types
Cons:
Pure spec work means you don't get paid unless you win, so there's a big time cost
Extreme competition means you're competing against 50-100+ designers every time
Income unpredictability means you can win big one day and earn nothing the next
DesignCrowd retains a 15% commission on design charges for winners, although this is cheaper than Fiverr
In short: Use DesignCrowd if you're a designer looking for a more budget friendly contest platform compared to 99designs, but be prepared for high competition and speculative work.
11. Bark
Bark is another pay per lead platform, but it spans home service providers, physical jobs and digital providers. So it's useful for remote workers and agencies too. You can find leads for almost anything on there, from dog grooming to SEO specialists.
As a worker, you register for the platform and buy credits. Once you have credits, you can start looking for the best leads and unlock them by spending credits.
Once you respond to a lead, your credits are spent, even if you book the job or not. This means you might be competing against several other service providers in your industry or area.
As a newbie in the market, this might not be attractive, as you're having to fork out money just to acquire leads. You'll need a decent level of sales skills to win jobs. Plus, you need to balance the cost of leads and sales against the profitability of your service.
You'll find prospects of all shapes and sizes here, from small one off jobs to decent sized businesses hiring on long term contracts. You might even find larger businesses like Deliveroo hiring here.
Pros:
No subscription means the cost is purely on credits and leads
UK focus means it's less global for digital workers compared to Fiverr, Upwork and similar
High-intent leads mean prospects are actively searching for your service
Geographic targeting means you can work with leads specific to your service area
The established platform is well known in the UK trade and service industry
Strong advantage for people with sales skills and experience
Cons:
Leads are not exclusive, so you're competing against other industry competitors
Lead quality is unpredictable, with some serious and some casual inquiries
No response guarantee once you pay for a lead
Auction pricing will inflate prices on popular trades and busy periods
Speed is critical, with the first responder often winning the job
Cost per booking can kill margins for smaller projects
In short: Use Bark instead of Fiverr if you're a UK based tradesperson or service provider with strong sales skills. You'll get access to less competitive clients without crippling 20% fees.
12. Arc.dev
Arc.dev was originally a developer specific platform. It had a focus on senior and experienced software developers. This was combined with a rigorous vetting process, which meant only the top 2% of applicants were accepted.
Similar to TopTal, but perhaps without the hidden markups, so freelancers keep 100% of negotiated rates.
In recent times, Arc has expanded to include design, marketing, project management and administrative jobs. You’ll find jobs for UX design, SEO, content marketing and operations manager.
While it does support a global company and workforce, it has a heavy US startup and tech-based orientation. Top companies like Spotify, Splice and Automatic have all been known to hire through Arc.
Freelance jobs are available on Arc for flexible one off projects and long-term engagements based on a preferred hourly rate. There are also full time roles listed on the job board, so you can gain access to hiring managers at global companies offering attractive salaries.
The vetting process is more stringent, with verification of English skills and 5+ years of industry experience required to gain access.
Fees are attractive with a 0% commission, so you keep 100% of your negotiated rates.
Pros:
No commissions mean you keep 100% of negotiated hourly rates
Tech specific means it's strong for developers, marketers and product managers
Premium rates hit $60-$100+ an hour
Top 2% selectivity means you're competing against a smaller set of talent
Freelance and full time jobs are available with quality clients
Cons:
Only 2% of talent can access the platform
Industry focus means it's more favored for developers and surrounding skills
You need to demonstrate a strong portfolio with significant industry experience to pass vetting
A smaller client pool means there are fewer but high quality projects available
In short: Choose Arc.dev if you're a highly skilled developer (or similar industry preferred role) with a strong 5+ year industry track record.
Acctual simplifies invoicing for freelancers who use sites like Fiverr
If you’re a freelancer who’s fed up with the fees and payment restrictions of sites like Fiverr, then try Acctual.
It is built for freelancers to invoice and get paid internationally. You’ll love the complete flexibility and low fees.
The free invoice generator allows you to get going in seconds. In a few clicks, add the key business details, service items and pricing.
Then select payment methods. You can enable your client to pay in their preferred method while you receive funds in your chosen bank or crypto wallet… All automatically for a 1% flat fee. No hidden costs.
Here’s an example:
You create an invoice that enables your client to pay in US Dollars, but you choose to get paid out in Great British pounds. No problem. The client pays and money arrives in your local bank account the same day.
Or choose stablecoins like USDT or USDC. So your client can pay fiat and you receive funds straight to your crypto wallet.
In addition, everything integrates with your accounting system, like Xero or QuickBooks, to make reconciliation easy.
Best Fiverr alternatives for 2026
Here’s the average experience on Fiverr:
You’re excited to start making money online. Your Fiverr account is set up and gigs are listed. But then nothing happens. No one even sees your gig, let alone hires you. Until one day…
You finally make a sale. Everything goes great and the client is happy.
Then your heart drops again as you realize how little you’ve earned once Fiverr takes its ‘cut.’
What if I told you it doesn’t have to be like this?
Well, it doesn’t. It’s time to pick a Fiverr alternative. There are ways to earn more money waiting out there; all you need to do is pick the right platform. So keep reading to find the best freelance websites like Fiverr (but higher paying).
What makes a good Fiverr alternative?
Alternatives to Fiverr come in all sorts of formats. There are direct competitors to Fiverr who try to replicate a similar business model, profile-based high-end freelance platforms and innovative new tech solutions tailored to specific industries.
Here are the key selection criteria to keep in mind:
1. Fees and total cost of earnings
The biggest gripe for freelancers is being hit with continual fees. It's one of the big problems with Fiverr, with a 20% freelancer commission plus 5.5% client fee, which means costs spiral above 25% of the total transaction cost.
Even though you don't necessarily see the client fee, it affects the total budget available. When you're looking at gig websites like Fiverr, start with fees. Most platforms range between 0% and around 20%.
On the top talent platforms, you'll see a variable fee rate, which means the more you earn, the lower your fee becomes. This can be an attractive model if you stick to one platform and grow a good reputation there. Not only will your earnings significantly increase, but your fees will drop in the process.
2. Client quality and buyer pool
Let's talk about client quality, because it has a dramatic effect on how much you can earn and how much stress there is to deliver projects.
This is another issue with Fiverr. It tends to command low rates, which has two knock-on effects. Firstly, you need to deliver a high quantity of work to earn your wage. Two, cheap rates tend to attract the most troublesome clients.
As you gain more experience in the service industry, you'll learn that the smaller a client's budget, the more painful the client is to work with. They expect the earth but aren't willing to pay for it.
If you can gain access to a Fiverr alternative that boasts quality clients and great rates, then you're on to a real winner.
3. Visibility model
How clients find you varies dramatically between platforms. As you know, Fiverr is a marketplace. You post a productized service and hope that clients find you. The more reviews you have, the higher you tend to show up on the list. Think of it like the Amazon of freelance services.
The other most popular option is a job board scenario where clients post the project scope and budget. Then freelancers send proposals and bid on projects. It's closer to traditional job hunting.
4. Payment protection and reliability
The big name freelance platforms are favored by millions of freelancers for their reliability. Over the years, freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork have all built in systems to make sure clients get good work and freelancers get paid.
These can include milestone-based payments, escrow features and payment protections during disputes. Compared to working outside of these platforms directly with clients, you get a third party mediator to help ensure payments run smoothly.
5. Pricing flexibility
Control of project pricing is critical. Fiverr uses locked tiered pricing set by the freelancer, so it's up to clients to decide whether they want to hit their budgets. Other platforms go the other way and allow clients to set their project budgets.
In a way, both work effectively to balance market rates for talent. This means how much you earn is often reflected in the saturation and quality of the marketplace.
A wide open marketplace like Fiverr has millions and millions of sellers on there, allowing clients to pick cheap options. A high quality talent or high quality client platform with more stringent access rules will likely command better rates with less competition in the market.
The 12 best Fiverr alternatives
1. Upwork
Upwork is the second largest freelance marketplace behind Fiverr. Often, freelancers start their lives out on Fiverr and quickly explore Upwork.
It’s now a platform where you can find serious projects and professional clients, especially since its merger with Elance and oDesk.
Clients post their scope and potential budget, then freelancers send proposals with accompanying bids. All work and communication is fulfilled through Upwork, providing both sides with payment protection.
With its ability to handle custom project work, there are different ways of setting contracts. You can work for fixed fees, run milestone based projects or work on an hourly rate.
The downside with Upwork is that it can take months to build a strong portfolio and reputation. Common advice is to start off with some cheap jobs to build your review scores and metrics before landing some bigger contracts.
Getting paid on Upwork runs on a sliding fee scale, with new workers starting at 20% commission on the first $500, dropping to 10% up to $10,000 and 5% above that.
Pros:
Largest enterprise buyer pool with serious clients
Portfolios compound to improve income and reduce fees
The bidding system allows you to boost your proposals for jobs
Flexible contracts make billing for custom projects easy
Profile authority enables top freelancers to get featured for recommendations
Cons:
Saturated platform with most good jobs receiving 50+ proposals
Slow to get started with new accounts, taking several projects to build credibility
Variable commissions mean newer workers get stung
Client fees reduce project budgets, thereby reducing income
Platform fees keep creeping up annually, frustrating many users
In short, choose Upwork over Fiverr if you want to specialize in delivering a particular skill and are keen to grow a profile long term in your industry to attract better clients.
2. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another of the world's largest freelance marketplaces, boasting almost any job you can possibly think of. It was founded even before Upwork in 2012 and offers a similar hybrid job board and bidding platform.
The freelancer experience on the platform goes like this:
A client posts a project
Freelancers bid for the project
Clients choose their freelancers after comparing proposals and chatting in the message system.
Work is secured against milestone payment systems
Money is released when both sides are 100% satisfied
You'll find a mix of budget conscious startups and mid-market established companies on Freelancer.
The bidding model on Freelancer is interesting, allowing you to see what other contractors are bidding with their proposals so you can position yourself competitively against them or provide some differentiation.
One unique feature is its contests section. Entrepreneurs post jobs as contests (such as logo design or t-shirt design) and freelancers submit work in the hopes they get selected as the winner to get paid.
Fees on Freelancer are set at 10% for fixed price and hourly projects, plus there's another 3% client fee. Premium membership is also available to help reduce fees, which can cost upwards of $50 a month.
Pros:
Lower fees than Fiverr at 10%
Transparent bidding system for you to position competitively
A clear scope definition of projects is set against payment milestones
Diverse project types open up any industry for fixed, hourly or recurring jobs
Credibility over time increases visibility for inbound clients
Cons:
Intense competition pushes prices down, with hundreds of freelancers bidding
Quality is inconsistent on both sides, with a wide range of client expectations
Proposal time investment means you can spend 30-60 minutes writing proposals
Low-value projects litter the platform
Premium memberships can run $50 and eat into income
In short: Choose Freelancer.com over Fiverr if you want to compete on proposal quality, profile strength and industry expertise rather than fixed gig marketplaces
3. TopTal
TopTal is marketed as the top 3% of freelance talent. It's a gated platform for the top marketing experts, managers, consultants and professionals.
To become a freelancer on TopTal, the entry is rigorous.
You'll need significant job history at distinguished companies like Google, Uber or Meta. Essentially, you need to prove that leading brands and startups trust your expertise before being accepted.
While this does sound like a pain compared to the open marketplaces, there is a massive upside. TopTal works with enterprise level clients that are willing to pay premium rates for guaranteed quality and expertise.
So once you get access to this exclusive club, you could be working with some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies.
TopTal has come under fire for its fees and commissions. It's not as transparent as bigger marketplaces like Fiverr. They often add a 30-50% undisclosed markup between your freelance rate and the client rate.
So, as a freelancer, if you set a $50 an hour rate, the client might see a $75-$100 an hour rate, with TopTal keeping that difference. As a freelancer, this is not always transparent and you might only see the client facing rate after you've been hired.
Pros:
Extreme vetting reduces competition, meaning you're only competing against 3% of the market
Enterprise clients like Google, Airbnb and Uber are known to hire through TopTal
Freelancers can set high rates, often hundreds of dollars an hour, compared to $5 on Fiverr
No bidding process, with TopTal matching talents to clients
Serious clients aren't hunting for cheap projects or wasting time
Cons:
A hidden 30-50% markup takes the top off of what a freelancer potentially could be paid
Ruthless account banning has been reported for declining work or disputing projects
The slow vetting process can take 4-8 weeks to get approval
Low approval rates mean you need significant expertise and experience to join TopTal
In short, if you have an impressive resume, then there's no need to slum it on Fiverr when you could be accessing enterprise level clients on TopTal.
4. Ruul Space
Ruul is an innovative new platform that describes itself as a personal storefront. It's aimed towards creators and independent contractors who want to sell services, digital projects and subscriptions outside of these crowded marketplaces.
In many ways, it's a hybrid of link in bio and service based ecommerce shops.
On the platform, you can build your own space, which operates as a personalized shop. So if you have a social media following, a newsletter or other online presence, this is a seamless way to get hired.
You have one link and you can sell everything, all while getting paid through the platform. This means you can offer custom freelance services and projects on your space with a naturally integrated professional checkout.
Any headaches of billing and invoices are removed. Clients hire and pay upfront in 140+ currencies. You deliver the work. It even integrates with digital wallets and crypto for payouts.
Commissions are attractive too, at just 5% on all payments. There are no hidden fees, charges, added subscriptions or client costs. So if you were to earn $100 on Fiverr, you'd only take $80. On Ruul, you'd be keeping $95+.
For new freelancers, it's not ideal. If you don't have a social media following or distribution mechanism, then it's not going to help you find or connect with clients. There's no marketplace for jobs or bidding on proposals.
Pros:
Low commission rates of 5% or less make it several times cheaper than Fiverr
A product ecosystem allows you to sell services, courses and subscriptions to your clients
Your personal brand can take a step away from busy marketplaces with a link-in-bio setup
You can drive traffic from your own channels to own your audience
Setup is instant with free accounts and low approval processes
Cons:
A new platform means it has a small user base
No built-in discovery means you need to drive traffic and find clients yourself
A less mature payment infrastructure means any issues are less tested over time
There's no way to connect or find new clients
In short: Use Ruul Space if you want to provide services to an existing audience while building your personal brand.
5. 99designs
99designs caused a storm when it entered the freelance marketplace. It came with a completely new crowdsourced contest model.
Here's how it works:
Clients post their budget and design brief. Designers then complete the work and submit entries. The client then picks a winner and the winner gets paid for their work.
This removes the need to build profiles over time or be at the mercy of algorithms. Visibility isn't throttled and design talent can shine through in every contest.
However, it's pure speculative work. You can do the design and if you don't get picked, you don't earn.
So income can be unpredictable, but it is meritocratic. It presents an interesting conundrum for freelance designers. How long and how much effort should they put into their work? You could spend days or weeks on a project and not get picked. But rushing your work and quality also hinders your chances.
It's a useful platform for new freelancers to hone their skills on real briefs and get feedback as to whether they're best in class.
The fee structure varies depending on your level on the platform. New designers are hit with a 15% fee, but this reduces to 10% and 5% the more you win.
Competition is fierce for high budget contests as well, with 50+ entries being common.
Pros:
No algorithmic favoritism gives every designer an equal chance
Higher client budgets start at $300 minimum, not $5
Meritocratic competition means the best work wins, not the most experienced
Portfolio building can help winning designs get displayed more prominently
It's a great practice ground for new designers to test their skills against professionals
One on one project options allow clients to hire you for direct project work
Cons:
Pure speculative work means you'll only earn if you win; the majority lose and go unpaid
Competition is severe with 50+ entries for high-budget projects
Income is unpredictable, as you never know if you'll win your contests
Upfront time investment is intensive without a guarantee of payment
Fees are higher for entry level designers, but improve to 5% the more you win
In short: Use 99designs if you're a graphic designer who wants to practice on real design briefs or are confident you can out design the mass market.
6. Guru
Guru is a midmarket freelance platform. It sits somewhere between Upwork and TopTal. It was founded way back in 2000 and operates the standard job board setup. So clients post jobs and freelancers propose and bid on the projects.
It also has profile based discovery, meaning clients can pick from the top rated talent. Now, both its competitiveness and client base are smaller than those of Upwork or Fiverr. But you'll find it's more professional than those wide open platforms.
This is because Guru actually verifies freelancers, adding to your credibility as a worker. Your work feedback scores and transaction data get published on the profile so clients can identify credible workers.
There's nothing innovative or different about Guru. It's a good, solid alternative to Fiverr. You bid for projects, communicate directly with clients and use their payment systems when work is approved.
It's important to build a profile over time to showcase your portfolio and previous work and you'll attract clients as your profile grows. Once again, you might need to start with lower paid jobs to build up your reputation.
The basic fee is 9%, making it one of the most competitive platforms for Fiverr competitors. You can have membership plans to reduce fees to between 7% and 5%, but this will run you an extra $20-$50 a month.
Pros:
Low fees at 9% are significantly cheaper than Fiverr
Flexible payment methods allow fixed, hourly, recurring and milestone-type projects
Transparent fees mean you're not hit unexpectedly later down the line
Guru is known for strong dispute resolution that mediates fairly, not siding aggressively with clients
A global client pool means projects are available worldwide
Long term profile growth assists in increasing proposal victories and earning potential
Cons:
Memberships can add to ongoing costs, costing up to $50 a month for more proposals and reduced fees
Competition is high with multiple freelancers bidding on the same jobs
The client base is smaller than the bigger platforms like Upwork and Fiverr
Project values can vary from a few dollars to thousands of dollars
Writing proposals is an added time cost with no guarantee of work
In short: Choose Guru if you're looking for a more merit based proposal system that's slightly less competitive than big platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
7. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is another freelance job board platform. Its differentiation is its UK and European orientation, so it's not as global as Fiverr. Its regional focus means you're competing within the European market, a helpful bonus as it evades the global race to the bottom with rates.
You're less likely to be competing against freelance workers from lower cost of living countries. Plus, clients are local with better budgets.
A remarkable feature on PeoplePerHour is the AI matching ability, which helps you surface relevant jobs rather than having to sift through endless job boards.
It's got a strong, loyal community that enjoys its hourly work, subscriptions and part-time arrangements.
Its big claim is the lowest freelancer fees in the business. Some people do question these fee rates, as your first £250 is subject to a 20% commission. Above that, you drop to a 7.5% commission. So once you're off and running, the fees are attractive.
To join PeoplePerHour as a freelancer, you'll need to apply to become certified. The team reviews every application to ensure that legitimate freelancers are available for client projects.
To make yourself stand out, you'll need to build a strong profile. It's a valuable resource when pitching for jobs. Clients will take the time to pick someone who looks trustworthy and has expertise.
There are two ways to get hired: You can either go and bid for projects by submitting proposals or you can create bespoke packages for clients to purchase.
Pros:
Fees as low as 7.5% once you have earned £250
No client fees means project budgets aren't hit upfront
Regional focus means there's less global competition for people in the UK
Hourly work emphasis is built for part time, ongoing work
Faster payouts compared to 14-day holds on other platforms
Cons:
High first job commission at 20%, but this is reduced quickly
Smaller client base focuses on the UK/EU, so fewer jobs to bid for
Competition is high with dozens of freelancers competing
Limited international reach means you're unlikely to find North American clients
In short, if you're based in the UK and looking for a less competitive job board, then PeoplePerHour is a strong geographic alternative to the global competition.
8. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit takes a different turn. So far, we've focused on digital services. TaskRabbit is an on demand local service for people looking for workers to fulfill physical tasks.
These are often services in your neighborhood, such as furniture assembly, moving help, cleaning, handyman, yard work and similar. So it's not a platform for remote work. It requires your physical presence in a customer's location.
So if you don't have digital skills, TaskRabbit is a good way to earn money.
Fees are interesting with TaskRabbit. As a worker, you might not feel like you're paying much, but they can hit up to 40% in some instances.
For example, as a ‘tasker’, you set a $100 an hour rate, but a client ends up paying $141.25 when all combined fees are taken into account. As a tasker, you earn 100% of your set rate, but the client absorbs other fees. So this does create budget constraints that limit how much you can earn.
Pros:
No bidding competition on individual tasks; once you're booked, it's yours to complete
Workers earn 100% of their rate while clients absorb fees
Same-day payment means there's no long weekly or monthly holds on funds
A geographic moat means you're only competing against people in your area
Recurring work is available for tasks needed on a weekly or monthly basis for long-term bookings
A large, established platform is trusted by millions of clients and workers
Cons:
Clients can end up paying a 41% markup, which can put a ceiling on prices for taskers
Geographic limitation means you can only work in your physical metro area
It is not remote work, requiring physical presence at your customer location, so there is a time and commute cost
Ratings are everything, so a bad review can tank trust in future bookings
Weather and seasonal variability can affect work available, such as yard work in the winter
In short, choose TaskRabbit if you want to complete physical work in your local neighborhood as opposed to selling digital services remotely on Fiverr.
9. Thumbtack
Thumbtack is all about home services. It's known as a ‘pay per lead system’. This means local service providers, such as home improvement, beauty and event planning, pay to access leads.
As a business, you purchase credits and use them to unlock customer contact information. Then it's up to you to reach out to the client and close the deal. You're essentially buying warm leads.
It's an interesting way of working that can help escape the mass market challenges of Fiverr. Competition is reduced by geographic location and the number of local businesses willing to spend on these leads.
Generally, you'll find a lead will cost anywhere between $10 and $100, depending on the service type and size of the job. The pricing is dynamic, so it changes based on supply and demand.
Even if you don't win a job, you pay for a lead when contact with a customer is made.
Lead quality can be variable, with a large number of tire kickers who are looking to compare prices. There's no refund if a customer disappears on you after paying for a lead.
Pros:
No subscription model; it's purely cost based on credits and leads
High-intent customers mean you're buying warm leads that are actively seeking your service
Budget controls allow you to set a max price per lead with weekly spending limits
A geographic moat allows you to pick potential prospects in your specific service area
No bidding or proposals means you can contact your leads directly
Local business service makes it perfect for service based home businesses
Cons:
Lead quality can be unpredictable with a mix of serious buyers and tire kickers
Shared leads mean three to five of your competitors are often contacting the same customer
No guarantee of response means prospects might not engage with you after paying for a lead
Auction pricing means inflation occurs in popular categories during busy periods
ROI requires a strong sales technique, with you needing to close a strong percentage of leads to be profitable
In short: If you're a local service provider with strong sales skills, then Thumbtack gives you leads on tap compared to chancing it with Fiverr's digital algorithms.
10. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd is a competitor to 99designs with its crowdsourced design model. It works in a similar way, with clients posting design contests with budgets and specs. Then, designers do the work and submit their entry. You only get paid if you're picked as the winner.
It tends to be seen as a more budget-friendly version than 99designs, so it's probably a more direct competitor to Fiverr. Customers will look to book similar design work, such as logos, business cards, websites, posters and Facebook covers, among other things.
Competition is fierce in a global community. However, it provides an opportunity to work with real job specs and understand whether you're good enough to compete in the market.
Pros:
A wide range of design tasks makes it a similar option to Fiverr
Meritocratic competition means the best quality often wins, not profile or seniority
Portfolio building allows winning designers to showcase their profiles to get hired
Global reach means you can enter contests from clients worldwide
A variety of design types offers accessibility for all types
Cons:
Pure spec work means you don't get paid unless you win, so there's a big time cost
Extreme competition means you're competing against 50-100+ designers every time
Income unpredictability means you can win big one day and earn nothing the next
DesignCrowd retains a 15% commission on design charges for winners, although this is cheaper than Fiverr
In short: Use DesignCrowd if you're a designer looking for a more budget friendly contest platform compared to 99designs, but be prepared for high competition and speculative work.
11. Bark
Bark is another pay per lead platform, but it spans home service providers, physical jobs and digital providers. So it's useful for remote workers and agencies too. You can find leads for almost anything on there, from dog grooming to SEO specialists.
As a worker, you register for the platform and buy credits. Once you have credits, you can start looking for the best leads and unlock them by spending credits.
Once you respond to a lead, your credits are spent, even if you book the job or not. This means you might be competing against several other service providers in your industry or area.
As a newbie in the market, this might not be attractive, as you're having to fork out money just to acquire leads. You'll need a decent level of sales skills to win jobs. Plus, you need to balance the cost of leads and sales against the profitability of your service.
You'll find prospects of all shapes and sizes here, from small one off jobs to decent sized businesses hiring on long term contracts. You might even find larger businesses like Deliveroo hiring here.
Pros:
No subscription means the cost is purely on credits and leads
UK focus means it's less global for digital workers compared to Fiverr, Upwork and similar
High-intent leads mean prospects are actively searching for your service
Geographic targeting means you can work with leads specific to your service area
The established platform is well known in the UK trade and service industry
Strong advantage for people with sales skills and experience
Cons:
Leads are not exclusive, so you're competing against other industry competitors
Lead quality is unpredictable, with some serious and some casual inquiries
No response guarantee once you pay for a lead
Auction pricing will inflate prices on popular trades and busy periods
Speed is critical, with the first responder often winning the job
Cost per booking can kill margins for smaller projects
In short: Use Bark instead of Fiverr if you're a UK based tradesperson or service provider with strong sales skills. You'll get access to less competitive clients without crippling 20% fees.
12. Arc.dev
Arc.dev was originally a developer specific platform. It had a focus on senior and experienced software developers. This was combined with a rigorous vetting process, which meant only the top 2% of applicants were accepted.
Similar to TopTal, but perhaps without the hidden markups, so freelancers keep 100% of negotiated rates.
In recent times, Arc has expanded to include design, marketing, project management and administrative jobs. You’ll find jobs for UX design, SEO, content marketing and operations manager.
While it does support a global company and workforce, it has a heavy US startup and tech-based orientation. Top companies like Spotify, Splice and Automatic have all been known to hire through Arc.
Freelance jobs are available on Arc for flexible one off projects and long-term engagements based on a preferred hourly rate. There are also full time roles listed on the job board, so you can gain access to hiring managers at global companies offering attractive salaries.
The vetting process is more stringent, with verification of English skills and 5+ years of industry experience required to gain access.
Fees are attractive with a 0% commission, so you keep 100% of your negotiated rates.
Pros:
No commissions mean you keep 100% of negotiated hourly rates
Tech specific means it's strong for developers, marketers and product managers
Premium rates hit $60-$100+ an hour
Top 2% selectivity means you're competing against a smaller set of talent
Freelance and full time jobs are available with quality clients
Cons:
Only 2% of talent can access the platform
Industry focus means it's more favored for developers and surrounding skills
You need to demonstrate a strong portfolio with significant industry experience to pass vetting
A smaller client pool means there are fewer but high quality projects available
In short: Choose Arc.dev if you're a highly skilled developer (or similar industry preferred role) with a strong 5+ year industry track record.
Acctual simplifies invoicing for freelancers who use sites like Fiverr
If you’re a freelancer who’s fed up with the fees and payment restrictions of sites like Fiverr, then try Acctual.
It is built for freelancers to invoice and get paid internationally. You’ll love the complete flexibility and low fees.
The free invoice generator allows you to get going in seconds. In a few clicks, add the key business details, service items and pricing.
Then select payment methods. You can enable your client to pay in their preferred method while you receive funds in your chosen bank or crypto wallet… All automatically for a 1% flat fee. No hidden costs.
Here’s an example:
You create an invoice that enables your client to pay in US Dollars, but you choose to get paid out in Great British pounds. No problem. The client pays and money arrives in your local bank account the same day.
Or choose stablecoins like USDT or USDC. So your client can pay fiat and you receive funds straight to your crypto wallet.
In addition, everything integrates with your accounting system, like Xero or QuickBooks, to make reconciliation easy.
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Love you, pay me
Get paid “same day” by sending customers the most flexible invoice on the planet.
Love you, pay me
Get paid “same day” by sending customers the most flexible invoice on the planet.
Love you, pay me
Get paid “same day” by sending customers the most flexible invoice on the planet.
Love you, pay me
Get paid “same day” by sending customers the most flexible invoice on the planet.
