Freelance Platform Fees Compared (2026): Upwork vs Fiverr vs Freelancer vs Toptal vs Contra
By ClauseAudit Research · 7 sources ·
How do freelance platform fees compare?
Contra charges freelancers a 0% commission. Upwork now charges 0% to 15% per new contract, set when the contract starts, and Freelancer.com takes 10% or $5.00, whichever is greater, on fixed-price work. Clients pay too: 5% per transaction on standard Upwork and 3% on Freelancer.com.
- Upwork service fee charged to freelancers on new contracts (Effective May 2025 (FY2025 10-K), Upwork Inc. (SEC filing))
- 0% to 15%
- Upwork client marketplace fee on each transaction (3% via ACH) (FY2025 10-K (filed February 2026), Upwork Inc. (SEC filing))
- 5%
- Freelancer.com fee on freelancers, fixed-price projects (whichever is greater) (Fees page as read 2026-10-18, Freelancer.com)
- 10% or $5.00
- Freelancer.com fee on employers, fixed-price projects (whichever is greater) (Fees page as read 2026-10-18, Freelancer.com)
- 3% or $3.00
- Fiverr marketplace take rate (marketplace revenue divided by GMV) (FY2025, Fiverr International Ltd. (SEC filing))
- 27.7%
- Upwork Marketplace take rate (Marketplace revenue divided by Marketplace GSV) (FY2025, Upwork Inc. (SEC filing))
- 18.7%
- Commission Contra charges freelancers on client payments (Pricing page as read 2026-10-18, Contra)
- 0%
- Toptal flat monthly subscription fee charged to clients (FAQ page as read 2026-10-18, Toptal, LLC)
- $79
Every freelance platform takes a cut, but they take it in different places. Some charge you, some charge your client, and some charge both and then add small fees on withdrawals, bids and faster payouts. The posted percentage is only the start of what you actually give up.
This page compares the fees Upwork, Freelancer.com, Contra and Toptal publish, plus what Fiverr and Upwork report keeping overall in their SEC filings. Below the numbers, you will find what they mean for your rate and what to put in your contract so the fees do not quietly eat your margin.
Posted fee charged to freelancers, by platform and contract type (%)
Chart data
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Upwork, new contracts (maximum) | up to 15% |
| Freelancer.com, Preferred Freelancer Recruiter projects | 15% |
| Upwork, contracts formed before May 2025 | 10% |
| Freelancer.com, fixed-price and hourly projects | 10% |
| Contra | 0% |
Upwork's bar shows the top of its range. Your actual fee on a new Upwork contract could be anywhere from 0% to 15%, so check the number shown when the contract opens rather than assuming 10%.
Download this chart (PNG)Posted percentage fee charged to clients, by platform and plan (%)
Chart data
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Upwork Business Plus (card) | 10% |
| Upwork Business Plus (ACH) | 8% |
| Upwork Marketplace (standard) | 5% |
| Upwork Marketplace (ACH, eligible clients) | 3% |
| Freelancer.com (fixed-price or hourly) | 3% |
Client fees matter to you because they raise the total cost of hiring you. A client on Upwork Business Plus pays 10% on top of your rate, which can make them push harder on price.
Download this chart (PNG)Upwork Marketplace take rate, 2023 to 2025 (%)
Chart data
| Label | Value (%) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 18.7% |
Upwork kept 15.4% of marketplace spend in 2023 and 18.7% in 2025. That share counts client fees, Connects and ads, so it runs higher than any single freelancer fee.
Download this chart (PNG)Fiverr marketplace take rate, 2023 to mid-2026 (%)
Chart data
| Label | Value (%) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 27.7% |
| 12 months to June 30, 2026 | 28.0% |
Fiverr's take rate has held between 27.4% and 28.0% since 2023. It is the platform's combined revenue from buyers and sellers, not the fee printed on one order.
Download this chart (PNG)Freelance platform fees compared: who pays what (as published, read 2026-10-18)
| Platform | Freelancer pays | Client pays | Other published fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | 0% to 15% per new contract (since May 2025); 10% on contracts formed before May 2025 | 5% per transaction (3% via ACH); Business Plus 10% (8% via ACH) | Contract initiation fee on new contracts; Connects required to bid (amounts not stated in 10-K) |
| Freelancer.com | 10% or $5.00 (greater) fixed-price; 10% hourly | 3% or $3.00 (greater) fixed-price; 3% hourly | Withdrawals $1.00 (Express, PayPal, Skrill, Payoneer), $25.00 international wire; dispute arbitration $5.00 or 5% (greater) |
| Contra | 0% commission | Free plan: "$15 or $29 per payment >$500"; none on Pro | Pro $29/month or $199/year; faster payouts 2% (Free); crypto payouts 2% (Free) or 1% (Pro) |
| Toptal | Not published on FAQ | $79 flat monthly subscription | Trial period of up to two weeks; invoices typically twice a month |
| Fiverr | Not verified (help pages inaccessible) | Not verified (help pages inaccessible) | Reported marketplace take rate 27.7% (FY2025) |
Source: Upwork Inc. (SEC filing), Upwork Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025; Freelancer.com, Freelancer Fees and Charges; Contra, Contra Pricing; Toptal, LLC, Toptal FAQ; Fiverr International Ltd. (SEC filing), Fiverr International Ltd. Form 20-F for fiscal year 2025. Download as image
Freelancer.com withdrawal fees by method
| Withdrawal method | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Express Withdrawal | $1.00 |
| PayPal | $1.00 |
| Skrill (Moneybookers) | $1.00 |
| Payoneer Debit Card | $1.00 |
| International Wire | $25.00 |
| Minimum withdrawal, after fees | $50 |
Source: Freelancer.com, Freelancer Fees and Charges. Download as image
Contra Free vs Pro plan fees
| Fee | Free | Pro ($29/month or $199/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer commission | 0% | 0% |
| Client payment fees | $15 or $29 per payment >$500 | No fees |
| Digital product fees | Capped 5% (min $3 - max $29) | No fees |
| Standard payouts | Free | Free |
| Faster payouts | 2% fee | Free |
| Crypto payouts | 2% fee | 1% fee |
Source: Contra, Contra Pricing. Download as image
Which freelance platform has the lowest fees?
On posted fees alone, Contra wins for freelancers. It charges a 0% commission on client payments. The catch is on the client side: on Contra's Free plan, clients pay a payment fee listed as "$15 or $29 per payment >$500". If you pay for Contra Pro at $29/month or $199/year, that client fee goes away.
Freelancer.com is simple to predict. You pay 10% or $5.00, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 10% on hourly ones. Your client pays 3% or $3.00 on fixed-price work. That $5.00 floor hurts on small jobs, so a quick logo tweak or a one-hour fix costs you more in percentage terms than a large build.
Upwork is now the hardest to predict. Since May 2025, its fee on new contracts can be anything from 0% to 15%, set contract by contract based on supply and demand. Older contracts keep a flat 10%. So two jobs from the same client could carry different fees.
Toptal works differently. Clients pay a $79 flat monthly subscription, and Toptal does not publish its talent-side fees or its markup on hourly rates on its FAQ page. Fiverr's posted seller and buyer fees could not be verified from its own help pages, so we do not quote them here.
How much does Upwork take from freelancers in 2026?
The honest answer is: it depends on the contract. Upwork's FY2025 10-K says each new contract carries a fixed fee between 0% and 15% of your earnings. The fee is shown when the contract starts and stays the same for the life of that contract.
That has two practical effects. First, you cannot quote a client a rate until you know which fee applies, because the same rate leaves you with less money at 15% than at 10%. Second, a long contract locks in whatever fee it opened with, good or bad. If you have an older contract formed before May 2025, it stays at 10%, which can be a reason to keep it running rather than closing it and opening a new one.
Upwork also charges clients. Standard clients pay a 5% marketplace fee on each transaction, or 3% via ACH if eligible. Business Plus clients pay 10%, or 8% via ACH. The 10-K also mentions a contract initiation fee and Connects for bidding, without stating the amounts.
What is a take rate, and why is Fiverr's so much higher?
A take rate is the share of total marketplace spending a platform keeps as revenue. It adds up everything: fees from both sides, ads, paid bidding tools and other services. It is not the fee on any single order.
Fiverr reported a take rate of 27.7% for FY2025 and 28.0% for the 12 months to June 30, 2026. Upwork's was 18.7% for FY2025. In plain terms, out of every dollar a buyer spends on Fiverr, the company keeps more than a quarter once both sides are counted.
For you, the useful lesson is the trend. Upwork's take rate climbed from 15.4% in 2023 to 18.0% in 2024 and 18.7% in 2025. Platforms tend to add paid extras over time, such as boosted bids or premium plans. Budget for the full cost of finding work, not just the headline commission.
Which platform is cheapest for businesses hiring freelancers?
If you are the client, the math flips. Freelancer.com charges employers 3% or $3.00, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 3% on hourly payments. Standard Upwork clients pay 5% per transaction, or 3% via ACH if eligible, which puts the two level for ACH payers, although Freelancer.com adds a $3.00 minimum on fixed-price work.
Upwork Business Plus costs more per payment at 10%, or 8% via ACH. The higher fee pays for the extra features on that plan, so it makes sense only if you use them.
Contra and Toptal charge clients in flat amounts rather than percentages. On Contra's Free plan, the payment fee listed as "$15 or $29 per payment >$500" is a flat amount, not a percentage, so work out what it adds to your typical invoice. Toptal's $79 monthly subscription is a fixed overhead, and its markup on hourly rates is not published on its FAQ, so ask for the full billed rate in writing before you start the trial period of up to two weeks.
Whichever you choose, compare the total you will pay, not just the freelancer's quoted rate.
The small fees that add up
Commission is the big number, but it is rarely the only one. Freelancer.com charges $1.00 per withdrawal through Express Withdrawal, PayPal, Skrill or Payoneer, $25.00 for an international wire, and a minimum withdrawal of $50 after fees. If a client disputes your work there, arbitration costs $5.00 or 5%, whichever is greater.
Contra's Free plan charges 2% for faster payouts and 2% for crypto payouts. On Pro, faster payouts are free and crypto payouts drop to 1%. Digital product sales on the Free plan carry a fee capped at 5%.
None of these is large alone. Together, on lots of small jobs, they can shave a real slice off your income. Batch your withdrawals, pick the cheapest payout method, and avoid paying for speed unless you need the cash that week.
How should freelancers price around platform fees?
- Work out your rate after fees, not before. Decide what you need to take home, then gross it up for the fee on that specific contract.
- On Upwork, check the fee shown at contract start before you agree a fixed price. If it lands at the high end of the 0% to 15% range, adjust your quote.
- On Freelancer.com, avoid tiny fixed-price jobs where the $5.00 minimum takes a big bite. Bundle small tasks into one project.
- Remember the client is paying fees too. A client paying 5% or 10% on top of your rate may have less room to negotiate, so lead with value rather than a discount.
- Once a client relationship is steady, read the platform's terms on moving work off-platform before you suggest it. Many marketplaces restrict it.
- Keep records of every fee. Platform fees are generally a deductible business expense, and a clean log makes tax time easier.
How ClauseAudit helps
Platform fees are one cost. The contract you sign with the client decides the rest: when you get paid, what counts as done, and who covers the fees. ClauseAudit's automated review reads your freelance agreement and flags the terms that cut into your rate.
Upload the contract, or paste it in, and you get each risky clause explained in plain English with a suggested fix you can send back.
- Rate and fees: whether the agreed rate is gross or net of platform and payment processing fees
- Payment terms: due dates, milestones and whether payment depends on vague client approval
- Late payment: whether there is a late fee or interest when the client pays late
- Kill fee and cancellation: what you are owed if the client ends the project early
- Revisions and scope: whether the contract caps revision rounds or allows unlimited changes
- Off-platform and non-solicitation terms: how long you are barred from working with the client directly
Frequently asked questions
Does Upwork still charge freelancers 10%?
Only on older contracts. Contracts formed before May 2025 keep a flat 10% fee. New contracts carry a fee between 0% and 15%, set per contract based on supply and demand and shown to you when the contract starts. That fee then stays fixed for the life of the contract.
Which freelance platform charges freelancers nothing?
Contra charges freelancers a 0% commission on client payments. Clients on its Free plan pay a payment fee listed as "$15 or $29 per payment >$500", which goes away if you upgrade to Contra Pro at $29/month or $199/year. Third-party payment processing fees are not included in that 0%.
What does Freelancer.com charge?
Freelancers pay 10% or $5.00, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 10% on hourly ones. Employers pay 3% or $3.00, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 3% on hourly payments. Preferred Freelancer Program members pay 15% on Recruiter projects. Withdrawals cost $1.00 for most methods and $25.00 by international wire.
What is Fiverr's fee for sellers?
Fiverr's own fee help pages could not be accessed for verification, so we do not quote a posted seller fee. What we can confirm is Fiverr's reported marketplace take rate of 27.7% for FY2025. That figure combines revenue from both buyers and sellers, so it is higher than any single fee on an order.
How much does Toptal charge clients?
Toptal's FAQ lists a $79 flat monthly subscription fee for clients. It does not publish talent-side fees or the markup it adds to hourly rates. New engagements start with a trial period of up to two weeks, and invoices typically go out twice a month.
What is the difference between a fee and a take rate?
A fee is what you see charged on a specific contract or payment. A take rate is the share of all marketplace spending the platform keeps as revenue, including client fees, ads and paid bidding tools. Upwork's take rate was 18.7% in 2025, higher than many individual freelancer fees because it counts every revenue source.
Do clients pay fees on Upwork too?
Yes. Standard clients pay a 5% marketplace fee on each transaction, or 3% if they pay by ACH and are eligible. Clients on Business Plus pay 10%, or 8% via ACH. These sit on top of your rate, so the client's total cost is higher than the number you quoted.
Should my freelance contract mention platform fees?
It helps. State whether your rate is what you receive or what the client pays, and who covers payment processing costs. If you work off-platform, spell out payment due dates and a late fee. Clear terms stop a fee from turning into a dispute over a short payment.
Use this data
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Stat cards
Key findings card
Infographic
Posted fee charged to freelancers, by platform and contract type (%)
Posted percentage fee charged to clients, by platform and plan (%)
Upwork Marketplace take rate, 2023 to 2025 (%)
Fiverr marketplace take rate, 2023 to mid-2026 (%)
Freelance platform fees compared: who pays what (as published, read 2026-10-18)
Freelancer.com withdrawal fees by method
Contra Free vs Pro plan feesEmbed the infographic
Free to share on your site, blog or slides under CC BY 4.0. Please keep the credit link.
Sources and method
Every number on this page comes from the sources below, each opened and read on or before October 18, 2026. A second, independent review checked every figure against its source and corrected anything that did not match. Figures that could not be confirmed were left out.
- Upwork Inc. (SEC filing), Upwork Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 (February 13, 2026)
- Fiverr International Ltd. (SEC filing), Fiverr International Ltd. Form 20-F for fiscal year 2025 (March 12, 2026)
- Fiverr International Ltd. (SEC filing), Fiverr International Ltd. Form 20-F for fiscal year 2024 (February 19, 2025)
- Fiverr International Ltd. (SEC filing), Fiverr second quarter 2026 results (press release, Exhibit 99.1 to Form 6-K) (July 29, 2026)
- Freelancer.com, Freelancer Fees and Charges (Undated page, read 2026-10-18)
- Contra, Contra Pricing (Undated page, read 2026-10-18)
- Toptal, LLC, Toptal FAQ (Undated page (copyright 2010 - 2026), read 2026-10-18)
Cite this page
ClauseAudit, “Freelance Platform Fees Compared (2026): Upwork vs Fiverr vs Freelancer vs Toptal vs Contra”, updated October 18, 2026, https://clauseaudit.com/data/freelance-platform-fees-comparison. Free to reuse with a link back (CC BY 4.0).
This page summarises published data and law as checked on October 18, 2026. Figures are updated as new editions are released, and your own situation may differ. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.