Fiverr is the name everyone knows. It’s also the platform that takes 20% of everything you earn. For a beginner building reviews that’s manageable – but as your income grows, that cut becomes a serious number.
There are solid alternatives. Some have lower fees, some have better clients, some charge nothing at all. Here’s the honest breakdown of what’s actually worth your time.
Why Look Beyond Fiverr?
Fiverr works well for certain things – packaged gigs, creative work, quick one-off projects. But it has real limitations:
- The 20% commission fee applies to every single transaction with no reduction over time.
- The algorithm heavily favors established sellers, making the slow start for new profiles particularly painful.
- Quality varies wildly, which means buyers are increasingly skeptical – and that skepticism hits new sellers hardest.
None of this makes Fiverr bad. It makes it worth comparing before you commit all your energy to one platform.
1. Upwork – Best Overall for Long-Term Work
Upwork is the largest freelance marketplace in the world and the most direct Fiverr alternative for anyone doing ongoing or higher-value work.
1 in 3 freelancers on Upwork earns $50 or more per hour. The fee structure is tiered: 20% on the first $500 with a client, dropping to 10% up to $10,000, then 5% beyond that. Build a long-term relationship with a few good clients and your effective commission drops significantly.
Best for: Writing, design, development, marketing, virtual assistance – almost any category. Especially good for ongoing projects rather than one-off gigs. Not ideal for: Complete beginners with no portfolio – competition is significant.
Full guide: How to Make Money on Upwork
2. Freelancer.com – Best for Competitive Bidding
Freelancer.com is one of the oldest platforms in the space with over 50 million registered users. The auction-style bidding model means you compete directly for jobs by submitting proposals – which gives motivated beginners a real shot at landing work if they pitch well.
Fees are 10% or $5 minimum per project. Contests are available for design work where you submit work upfront and win if the client picks yours.
Best for: Beginners willing to pitch actively, competitive pricing, short-term projects. Not ideal for: Anyone who dislikes the proposal hustle or wants a storefront-style setup like Fiverr.
Full guide: How to Make Money on Freelancer.com
3. PeoplePerHour – Best for European Markets
PeoplePerHour combines Fiverr-style fixed-price service listings (called “Hourlies”) with a traditional project posting model. It has a strong European client base and works well for creative, content, digital marketing, and technical services.
Fee structure: 20% on the first £250 earned per client, dropping to 7.5% up to £5,000, then 3.5% beyond that. Rewards loyalty – the more repeat business you build, the less you pay.
Best for: UK and European freelancers, creative and marketing work, building long-term client relationships. Not ideal for: US-centric work or heavy technical development.
Full guide: How to Make Money on PeoplePerHour
4. Jobbers.io – Best for Keeping 100% of Your Earnings
Jobbers.io is the most interesting newcomer on this list. It operates on a zero-commission model – freelancers and clients negotiate rates directly and keep 100% of agreed payments.
The platform is legitimate – verified business registration, transparent revenue model based on advertising and optional premium features, standard SSL security. Revenue comes from optional paid proposal credits rather than cutting your earnings.
The trade-off: it’s newer and smaller than the established platforms, so client volume isn’t at Upwork or Fiverr levels yet. That said, it’s proven the zero-commission model is viable with 300,000+ daily visits.
Best for: Experienced freelancers who already know how to close clients and want to stop paying commission. Also good to run alongside an established platform account. Not ideal for: Complete beginners who need a built-in buyer pool to find their first clients.
Full guide: How to Make Money on Jobbers.io
5. Guru.com – Best for Long-Term Relationships
Guru.com has been around since 1998 and focuses on building ongoing client-freelancer relationships rather than one-off transactions. Fees range from 5-9% depending on membership tier – significantly lower than Fiverr’s flat 20%.
The platform uses a WorkRoom system that keeps all communication, milestones, and payments organized in one place – useful for complex or ongoing projects.
Best for: Ongoing client work, lower fees than Fiverr, structured project management. Not ideal for: Quick one-off gigs or beginners without an established work history.
Full guide: How to Make Money on Guru.com
6. 99designs – Best for Designers
99designs is design-only and proud of it. Unlike general platforms where design is one category among hundreds, 99designs is built entirely around visual work – logos, branding, web design, packaging, illustration.
It’s ideal for branding and design contests, starting at $299 on the client side. As a designer you can enter contests where multiple designers submit concepts and the client picks a winner – or work on direct one-to-one projects once your reputation is established.
Best for: Designers who want to specialize and command premium rates. Logo and branding work especially. Not ideal for: Writers, developers, or anyone outside the design space.
Full guide: How to Make Money on 99designs
7. Toptal – Best for Elite Professionals
Toptal is not for everyone – and that’s exactly the point. It targets the top 3% of talent through a rigorous vetting process, and connects them with Fortune 500 clients at rates of $80-230/hour.
The application process involves multiple screening rounds including live interviews and test projects. Most applicants don’t make it through. If you do, the client quality and rates are in a different league from any other platform on this list.
Best for: Senior developers, designers, finance professionals, and project managers with strong portfolios and interview skills. Not ideal for: Beginners or anyone without a proven, demonstrable track record.
Full guide: How to Make Money on Toptal
Which One Should You Choose?
| Platform | Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Upwork | 5-20% | Best overall, long-term work |
| Freelancer.com | 10% | Competitive bidding, beginners |
| PeoplePerHour | 3.5-20% | European markets, creative work |
| Jobbers.io | 0% | Keeping 100% of earnings |
| Guru.com | 5-9% | Ongoing relationships, low fees |
| 99designs | Varies | Designers only |
| Toptal | 0% from freelancer | Elite talent, premium rates |
The honest answer: most successful freelancers don’t rely on just one platform. Start with one that fits your skill level, build reviews, then expand to a second. A zero-commission platform like Jobbers.io makes most sense once you already know how to close clients.
Related: How to Make Money on Fiverr – A Beginner’s Honest Guide