Upwork is one of the biggest freelance marketplaces, with more than 18 million freelancers by its own count, but it is not the right tool for every hire. Some businesses want lower fees, some want pre-screened candidates instead of a flood of proposals, and some want a long-term team member rather than a freelancer. This guide explains how Upwork works and compares eight other sites like Upwork, using each company’s own published fees and terms as of October 2026.
How Upwork works and what it costs
On Upwork, you post a job and freelancers send proposals, which they pay for with “Connects”. Upwork says it has more than 18 million freelancers across 180 countries. You review profiles, interview and hire, and Upwork handles payments and contracts.
- Client fee on the Basic plan: Upwork’s pricing page lists a service fee of 5%, with a lower rate for some US clients paying by bank account, and says the fee can vary.
- Contract initiation fee: a one-time fee of $0.99 to $14.99 per contract.
- Business Plus plan: a 10% service fee (8% for some US clients paying by bank account), with access to what Upwork calls its “Expert-Vetted” talent, the “top 1%” of its freelancers.
- Freelancer side: freelancers pay a fee that Upwork says ranges from 0% to 15% per contract, which affects the rates they quote.
Why people look for sites like Upwork
- Too many proposals to screen: an open marketplace means you do the vetting.
- Fees on both sides: client and freelancer fees add up over a long engagement.
- Short-term focus: freelancers often juggle several clients, which can be hard for ongoing work.
- Specific needs: some businesses want only senior developers, only designers or a dedicated full-time person.
Upwork alternatives at a glance
| Site | Type | Client fees (as published) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | Gig marketplace | 5.5% of the purchase, plus a small fee on smaller orders | Fixed-price tasks |
| Freelancer.com | Bidding marketplace | 3% or $3, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects | Budget projects and contests |
| Toptal | Vetted network | $79 monthly subscription when matching; rates quoted per match | Senior freelancers |
| Arc | Vetted network | Freelancers from $15 to $110+ an hour; 20% of salary for full-time hires | Remote developers |
| PeoplePerHour | Marketplace (UK-based) | £0.60 plus 10% per payment by card or PayPal | UK projects and hourly work |
| Contra | Commission-free marketplace | $15 or $29 per payment on the free client plan, $0 on Pro | Creative and independent work |
| We Work Remotely | Job board | $299 per 30-day listing | Hiring remote employees yourself |
| DigiWorks | Dedicated remote staff | Quoted per role; pay and fee shown separately | Long-term, full-time team members |
Fees are taken from each company’s website in October 2026 and can change, so check the current terms before you hire.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr works the other way round from Upwork: freelancers list fixed-price “Gigs” and you order them, a bit like an online shop. Fiverr charges buyers 5.5% of the purchase amount plus a small extra fee on smaller orders, and freelancers keep 80% of the order value. Fiverr Pro is described by Fiverr as “a hand-vetted group of professionals”.
Choose it for: clearly defined tasks such as a logo, a landing page or a video edit.
2. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is a bidding marketplace: you post a project and freelancers bid on it. For fixed-price projects, employers pay 3% or $3, whichever is greater, and hourly projects carry a 3% fee. Freelancers pay 10% or $5, whichever is greater. You can also run contests, which carry no employer fee.
Choose it for: budget projects where you are happy to compare many bids.
3. Toptal
Toptal is a vetted network that says it accepts about 3% of applicants after a multi-step screening. Instead of browsing proposals, you describe the role and Toptal matches you. Its FAQ lists a flat monthly subscription of $79 if you go ahead with matching and a trial period of up to two weeks. Hourly rates are not published. For more options in this category, see our guide to Toptal alternatives.
Choose it for: senior freelance developers, designers or finance experts when budget is less of a concern.
4. Arc
Arc focuses on remote developers and also lists designers, marketers and assistants. It describes its talent as the “top 2%” and says it has 450,000 people in 190 countries. Arc publishes its prices: freelancers from $15 to over $110 an hour, a trial period of up to two weeks, and a fee of 20% of annual salary for full-time hires.
Choose it for: an Upwork alternative for developers with clear, published rates.
5. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a UK-based marketplace for freelancers in development, design, marketing and writing. According to its terms, buyers pay £0.60 plus 10% when paying by card or PayPal. Freelancer fees step down as the work with one client grows, from 20% to 3.5%.
Choose it for: UK businesses and projects priced in pounds.
6. Contra
Contra says it is “always commission-free” for freelancers, which can mean lower quotes. Clients on its free plan pay a platform fee of $15 per payment under $500 and $29 above that, plus card processing, while the paid Pro plan removes the platform fee.
Choose it for: working with independent creatives and designers who want to keep their full rate.
7. We Work Remotely
We Work Remotely is a job board, not a marketplace. You pay $299 for a 30-day listing and handle screening, contracts and payroll yourself. It suits companies that want to hire remote employees directly and have the time to run their own process.
Choose it for: hiring a remote employee onto your own payroll.
8. DigiWorks
DigiWorks is built for businesses that want a dedicated team member rather than a freelancer. We place pre-vetted remote professionals full-time, in roles such as virtual assistants, software developers, social media managers and bookkeepers. You interview the candidates we put forward and choose who joins. We handle the contract and monthly payments, and you see what the person is paid and what we charge as separate amounts.
Choose it for: ongoing roles where you want one person who learns your business, without screening hundreds of proposals.
How to choose between them
- Project or person? For a one-off task, a marketplace like Fiverr or Upwork is fine. For a role that never ends, a dedicated hire usually works out better.
- Who does the vetting? Open marketplaces leave it to you; vetted networks and staffing services do much of it for you.
- Total cost: add client fees, contract fees, subscriptions and the freelancer’s own fees, which show up in their rates.
- Working hours: confirm how many hours will overlap with your team each day.
- Exit terms: check trials, replacement policies and what it costs to end the arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest site to Upwork?
Freelancer.com and PeoplePerHour work most like Upwork: you post work and freelancers respond. Fiverr is similar in size but uses fixed-price gigs instead of proposals.
Which Upwork alternative is best for developers?
If you want pre-screened developers, look at vetted networks such as Arc or Toptal, or at a dedicated staffing service such as DigiWorks for a full-time developer. Each describes its own screening on its website, so compare those steps and the trial terms.
Are there sites like Upwork with lower fees?
On published fees, Freelancer.com charges clients 3% (minimum $3) on fixed-price work, Contra charges freelancers no commission, and a job board like We Work Remotely charges a flat listing price. Compare the total over the whole engagement, not only the headline percentage.
Is hiring a dedicated remote employee cheaper than a freelancer?
For ongoing work it often is, because you stop paying for new people to learn your business and you avoid per-project fees. For a short, defined task, a freelancer is usually simpler.
Want help comparing your options for a specific role? Read our freelance vs remote assistant comparison or see how to hire a virtual assistant through DigiWorks.
Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Toptal, Arc, PeoplePerHour, Contra and We Work Remotely are trademarks of their owners. Details are taken from each company’s website in October 2026 and may change.
