Freelance marketplaces are more important than ever in 2026. Upwork’s Freelance Forward study reports that 64 million Americans freelanced in 2023 (38% of the U.S. workforce), generating $1.27 trillion in earnings. That scale means platform choice isn’t just about where you find work—it affects your rates, client quality, and long‑term income.
Source: Upwork Freelance Forward (2023).
This guide compares 15 of the best freelance marketplaces in 2026. You’ll see clear use cases, documented fee structures, and practical tips so you can pick the right platform mix for your goals.
Quick Comparison: 15 Best Freelance Marketplaces (2026)
| Marketplace | Best For | Why It Stands Out |
|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | Productized services | Gig‑based listings, fast delivery |
| Freelancer.com | High volume | Large marketplace + contests |
| Toptal | Premium vetted talent | No‑risk trial + top‑tier screening |
| Guru | Structured projects | WorkRooms + invoice‑based flow |
| PeoplePerHour | UK/EU clients | Tiered commissions per client |
| Contra | Commission‑free earnings | Freelancers keep 100% |
| Braintrust | Enterprise clients | Client‑paid platform fee |
| UpStack | Vetted engineers | Top‑1% screening focus |
| 99designs | Designers | Contests + 1‑to‑1 projects |
| Codeable | WordPress work | Strict vetting + fixed estimates |
| Topcoder | Challenges | Competition‑based projects |
| Workana | LATAM market | Tiered freelancer commissions |
| Truelancer | Budget‑friendly | Lower fees by membership |
| Arc | Vetted remote talent | Fast matching + vetted pool |
| Gun.io | Senior developers | Custom matching + transparent pricing |
How We Picked These Marketplaces
We prioritized platforms that help freelancers or clients achieve a clear outcome: higher quality clients, better matching, fee transparency, or niche specialization. Some are open marketplaces, others are curated or vetted networks. The goal is not to use them all—it’s to choose the right mix.
How to Choose the Right Marketplace
Pick a mix based on your stage and goals:
- Need volume? Choose large marketplaces like Fiverr or Freelancer.com.
- Need premium clients? Choose vetted networks like Toptal, Braintrust, UpStack, or Gun.io.
- Need a niche focus? Use Codeable (WordPress) or 99designs (design).
- Want lower freelancer fees? Consider Contra or Workana’s tiered model.
Scam Avoidance (Quick Version)
Never pay to get hired, avoid off‑platform payments, and verify client details before sharing personal info. Trusted marketplaces already protect payments—use those protections.
The 15 Best Freelance Marketplaces in 2026
1) Fiverr
Fiverr is the most productized marketplace: freelancers sell pre‑defined “gigs” rather than bidding on proposals. It’s great for repeatable services (logos, editing, short‑form video, landing pages) where you can package scope and price clearly.
Fees are straightforward. Buyers pay a 5.5% service fee on each payment (plus a small‑order fee for low totals), and sellers earn 80% of the purchase amount, meaning Fiverr’s standard seller fee is effectively 20%.
Best for: Productized services and fast turnarounds. Fee details: Buyer fees and Seller earnings (80%).
2) Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is a high‑volume marketplace with bidding and contests. It’s ideal if you want a steady stream of opportunities and don’t mind competitive pricing.
Freelancer fees are clearly documented: fixed‑price and hourly projects have a 10% freelancer fee (or $5 minimum for fixed‑price), and clients pay a 3% fee.
Best for: High volume and contests. Fees: Freelancer.com Fees and Charges.
3) Toptal
Toptal is built for premium, vetted talent. It positions itself as a network of top‑tier freelancers and offers clients a no‑risk trial period. The screening is strict, so it’s best suited to senior professionals with strong portfolios and experience.
Best for: Senior talent seeking premium clients. How it works: Toptal no‑risk trial and process.
4) Guru
Guru combines a traditional marketplace with structured project management via WorkRooms. Employers pay a 2.9% handling fee per invoice, while freelancers pay a job fee that ranges from 5% to 9% depending on membership level.
Best for: Freelancers who want structured project workflows. Fees: Employer handling fee and Freelancer job fee.
5) PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is popular in the UK and EU markets. Its freelancer commission is tiered by lifetime billing per client: 20% on the first tier, 7.5% mid‑tier, and 3.5% after higher lifetime totals, which rewards long‑term relationships.
Best for: UK/EU freelancers and long‑term clients. Fees: PPH freelancer fees.
6) Contra
Contra is commission‑free for freelancers—contractors keep 100% of earnings. Clients pay contract or invoice fees (currently $29 per contract or per month for ongoing projects) and processing fees by payment method.
Best for: Freelancers who want to keep 100% of earnings and use built‑in contracts/invoicing. Fees: Commission‑free model and Client fee details.
7) Braintrust
Braintrust targets enterprise clients and runs a client‑paid fee model. Talent fees are 0%, while clients pay a 15% platform fee on invoices.
Best for: Senior talent working with enterprise clients. Fees: Braintrust payments and fees.
8) UpStack
UpStack is a vetted marketplace focused on engineers. It highlights a top‑1% talent network and a structured screening process intended to improve match quality.
Best for: Engineers seeking vetted opportunities. Details: UpStack top‑1% screening.
9) 99designs
99designs is a design‑only marketplace with both contests and 1‑to‑1 projects. Clients pay a 5% platform fee, while designers pay a platform fee that ranges by level (15% entry, 10% mid, 5% top). There’s also a client introduction fee for new client relationships.
Best for: Designers who want design‑specific clients. Fees: Platform fee and Client introduction fee.
10) Codeable
Codeable is a WordPress‑only marketplace with strict vetting. It adds a 17.5% service fee on top of the expert’s estimate, and recommended rates typically fall in the $80–$120/hour range. Clients receive a single, balanced estimate rather than multiple bids.
Best for: WordPress projects with vetted experts. Fees: Codeable service fee and Pricing model.
11) Topcoder
Topcoder is a competition‑driven platform where freelancers win work through challenges and projects. It has a large global community and is a strong option for developers, data scientists, and designers who enjoy competitive problem‑solving.
Best for: Challenge‑based work and portfolio building. Details: Topcoder freelancer overview.
12) Workana
Workana is strong in Latin America and Spanish‑speaking markets. Clients pay a 4.5% service cost, while freelancers pay tiered commissions: 20% on the first $300 per client, 10% up to $3,000, and 5% beyond that.
Best for: LATAM markets and long‑term client relationships. Fees: Workana commission structure.
13) Truelancer
Truelancer is a budget‑friendly marketplace with lower fees for freelancers. Its fee schedule lists a service fee range of 8%–10% based on membership plan, plus optional proposal credits.
Best for: Cost‑sensitive freelancers and global clients. Fees: Truelancer fee schedule.
14) Arc
Arc is a vetted talent platform focused on remote roles. It emphasizes pre‑vetted candidates and faster matching, helping clients avoid long resume reviews and reach interview‑ready talent quickly.
Best for: Vetted remote talent and faster matching. Details: Arc platform overview.
15) Gun.io
Gun.io is a curated marketplace for senior developers. Its pricing page notes that developers set their own rates and keep 100%, while clients see the all‑in price up front. For full‑time hires, Gun.io charges 20% of first‑year salary.
Best for: Senior engineering talent and high‑touch matching. Pricing: Gun.io pricing.
FAQ: Freelance Marketplaces
Which marketplaces have the lowest freelancer fees?
Contra is commission‑free for freelancers. Workana and PeoplePerHour reduce fees as you build long‑term client relationships.
Which marketplaces are best for premium clients?
Toptal, Braintrust, UpStack, and Gun.io focus on vetted talent and higher‑budget clients.
Which marketplace is best for WordPress?
Codeable is the strongest WordPress‑only option due to strict vetting and standardized pricing.
Your Best Marketplace Is a Mix
The smartest freelancers use a mix: one high‑volume marketplace for steady lead flow, one vetted network for higher rates, and one niche platform for specialization. That combination reduces risk and builds a more predictable pipeline.
Clients should do the same in reverse: test two marketplaces with small trial projects to learn which delivers quality and speed for their budget.
Build Your Own Job Board (Bonus)
If you want to build a freelance marketplace or niche job board with WordPress, start simple: choose a job‑board‑ready theme, install a job board plugin, define categories and approval rules, and add email capture early. Once you have traffic, you can add paid listings or memberships. Wbcom Designs can help you build the right stack and monetize it. Contact them here: Wbcom Designs.
