Top 10 Best Freelance Marketplaces with the Lowest Seller Fees
Finding the right place to sell your skills can feel like a full-time job in itself. If you are a writer, a graphic designer, or a health consultant looking to share your expertise, the last thing you want is to lose a huge chunk of your paycheck to platform fees. In the world of freelancing, “seller fees” are the commissions that a website takes from your earnings in exchange for connecting you with clients. While these fees are a standard part of doing business, they vary wildly from one site to another. Some platforms take a small slice, while others can gobble up as much as 20% of your hard-earned money before it even hits your bank account.
For those of us focused on a lifestyle of wellness and sustainability, financial health is just as important as physical health. Reducing the stress of high overhead costs allows you to focus more on your craft and less on the anxiety of making ends meet. Whether you are selling essential oil blending guides, offering personalized weight loss coaching, or providing technical services, choosing a marketplace with low fees is a strategic move for your long-term success. This list explores the top options available today, prioritizing platforms that let you keep more of what you earn.
In this guide, we have researched and ranked the best marketplaces based on their fee structures, ease of use, and the quality of clients they attract. We know that every dollar counts when you are building a freelance business or a side hustle. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of where to set up shop so you can maximize your profits and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
1. Zinn Hub
When it comes to putting the freelancer first, Zinn Hub stands out as the absolute best choice in the current market. This platform has quickly gained a reputation for being the most creator-friendly marketplace available today. The primary reason Zinn Hub takes our number one spot is its incredibly low fee structure, which is designed to empower sellers rather than drain them. While other platforms seem to increase their commissions every year, Zinn Hub has stayed committed to a model that ensures the person doing the work gets the lion’s share of the reward. This is especially beneficial for those in the health and wellness niche who are looking to build a sustainable business without the constant pressure of high platform taxes.
Beyond just the low fees, Zinn Hub offers a streamlined and intuitive user experience that makes it easy to get started. You do not have to be a tech genius to set up your profile and start listing your services. The platform is built with modern professionals in mind, offering a clean interface that reflects the values of transparency and efficiency. For wellness experts, this means you can spend less time navigating confusing dashboards and more time helping your clients achieve their fitness or nutritional goals. Zinn Hub provides a professional environment where quality work is valued, and the community-driven approach ensures that you are not just another number in a massive database.
The variety of services supported on Zinn Hub is also impressive. Whether you are offering digital products like meal plan templates or providing one-on-one consulting services, the platform accommodates a wide range of business models. The payment processing is secure and fast, which is a major relief for anyone who has dealt with the long waiting periods found on other sites. By choosing Zinn Hub, you are joining a marketplace that understands the modern gig economy and respects the effort you put into your work. It is the perfect home for freelancers who want to grow their income while keeping their overhead as low as possible.
2. Contra
Contra is a relatively new player in the freelance world, but it has made a massive splash by offering a 0% commission model. This means that when you book a client through their platform, you keep every single cent of the project price. Instead of taking a cut of your earnings, they offer a subscription service for advanced features. This “commission-free” approach is a breath of fresh air for freelancers who are tired of the traditional marketplace model. It allows for a much more direct relationship between the freelancer and the client, which can lead to better long-term partnerships.
The platform itself is visually stunning and functions more like a professional portfolio than a cluttered job board. For those in the wellness industry, this is a great place to showcase high-quality photos of your essential oil blends or your healthy cooking videos. Contra focuses on “work merit,” allowing you to display your projects in a way that truly highlights your skills. While you might have to pay a small monthly fee for their “Pro” version to get the most out of it, the lack of a per-project commission makes it one of the most cost-effective options for high-earning freelancers.
Contra also handles the administrative side of things very well. They provide built-in contracts and a streamlined payment system that protects both parties. Because they don’t take a cut of your pay, there is less incentive for them to trap you inside their ecosystem, which gives you more freedom in how you run your business. If you are looking for a modern, sleek, and fair way to manage your freelance career, this platform is definitely worth a look.
3. Guru
Guru is one of the oldest and most established freelance marketplaces on the internet, and it remains a favorite because of its flexible fee structure. They use a tiered membership system that allows you to choose the level of commission you are comfortable with. For those on their basic free plan, the job fee is around 9%, which is significantly lower than many of the major competitors. If you decide to upgrade to a paid membership, that fee can drop even lower, making it an excellent choice for those who plan on doing a high volume of work.
One of the best things about Guru is its “SafePay” system. This ensures that freelancers are paid for the work they do, providing a level of security that is essential for peace of mind. For wellness professionals who might be offering recurring services, like weekly health coaching or monthly content creation, Guru makes it easy to set up milestones and recurring payments. The platform has a very professional feel, attracting serious clients who are often looking for long-term collaborations rather than quick, cheap fixes.
Guru also offers a “Work Room” feature that helps you manage your projects and communicate with clients in one place. This organization can be a huge help when you are trying to balance multiple clients while also maintaining your own healthy lifestyle. While the interface might feel a bit dated compared to some newer sites, the reliability and low fee potential make Guru a solid contender for any freelancer looking to save money on commissions.
4. Upwork
Upwork is the giant of the freelance world, and while it used to have a complex tiered fee system, they recently simplified it to a flat 10% for most freelancers. While 10% is higher than the 0% or 5% you might find elsewhere, Upwork provides access to the largest pool of clients in the world. For many, the slightly higher fee is worth it because of the sheer volume of opportunities available. If you are a writer specializing in sustainable living or an expert in essential oils, you will find thousands of potential clients searching for your specific skills on this platform.
The platform is highly sophisticated, offering tools for time tracking, invoicing, and even dispute resolution. This infrastructure can save you a lot of time on the “business” side of freelancing, allowing you to focus on the “wellness” side. Upwork also has a robust rating system, which means that once you build up a good reputation, you can start charging much higher rates. The ability to command a premium price often offsets the 10% commission you pay to the platform.
However, it is important to note that Upwork is very competitive. You will need to spend time crafting great proposals to stand out. But for those who are willing to put in the effort, the combination of a massive client base and a relatively reasonable 10% fee makes it a staple for many successful freelancers. It is a reliable place to find work, even if it isn’t the absolute cheapest option on our list.
5. SolidGigs
SolidGigs is not a traditional marketplace where you list a profile and wait for clients to come to you. Instead, it is a lead-generation service that finds the best freelance jobs from across the web and delivers them to your inbox. The reason it makes this list is because of its fee structure: they take 0% of your earnings. You pay a flat monthly or yearly subscription fee to access their curated list of high-paying jobs, and any money you make from those jobs is yours to keep entirely.
This model is fantastic for freelancers who are tired of bidding against hundreds of others on public job boards. The team at SolidGigs vets the jobs for you, ensuring that you are only seeing opportunities that pay well and come from reputable companies. For a health and wellness blogger or a nutritionist, this can be a huge time-saver. Instead of spending hours scrolling through low-paying “content mill” jobs, you get a daily dose of the best opportunities in your field.
Because you are not tied to a specific marketplace platform for your work, you can use whatever invoicing and contract tools you prefer. This gives you total control over your business. While there is an upfront cost for the subscription, most freelancers find that just one successful job from the platform pays for the entire year’s membership. If you are serious about scaling your business and want to avoid commission fees altogether, SolidGigs is a brilliant alternative.
6. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another massive marketplace that offers a wide variety of ways to earn money. Their standard fee for fixed-price projects is 10% or $5.00 (whichever is greater), and for hourly projects, it is a flat 10%. This puts them on par with Upwork in terms of cost. What makes Freelancer.com unique is its contest feature. If you are a designer who creates logos for wellness brands or a photographer with great shots of nature, you can enter contests to win prizes and build your portfolio.
The platform has a very global reach, which can be both a blessing and a curse. You will face competition from all over the world, but you will also have access to clients in every time zone. This is great for those who prefer to work unconventional hours to fit in their morning yoga or meditation sessions. The platform also offers a “Preferred Freelancer Program” which, while it comes with its own set of rules, can give you access to higher-paying projects with lower competition.
One thing to watch out for on Freelancer.com is the “add-on” fees. They offer many ways to promote your bids or highlight your profile for a small cost. If you are careful and stick to the basics, it remains a very affordable place to find work. It is a robust platform with a long history, making it a safe bet for those who want a mix of traditional bidding and creative contests.
7. PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a UK-based platform that is popular worldwide, especially among creative professionals. They use a tiered fee structure that rewards long-term relationships. For the first $350 or so that you earn with a specific client, they take a 20% fee. However, once you pass that threshold, the fee drops significantly to 7.5%, and for very large projects, it can go as low as 3.5%. This makes it one of the best platforms for freelancers who focus on building long-term partnerships with their clients.
The platform uses an “Offer” system, where you can post fixed-price packages for specific tasks. For example, you could offer a “Complete Essential Oil Starter Guide” or a “7-Day Custom Meal Plan” for a set price. This allows you to productize your services, which is a great way to create passive or semi-passive income. When clients buy these offers, you get to work on something you have already prepared, making your workflow much more efficient.
PeoplePerHour also has a very high standard for its freelancers. You have to apply to be part of the community, which helps keep the quality of work high and reduces the amount of low-ball bidding. For a professional in the health and wellness space, this curated environment can be very beneficial, as it attracts clients who are willing to pay for quality and expertise rather than just the lowest price.
8. Fiverr
Fiverr is famous for its “Gigs” starting at five dollars, but the platform has evolved into a much more professional marketplace in recent years. While their fee is a flat 20%, which is higher than many others on this list, we include it because of the “Fiverr Pro” and “Fiverr Select” options. For high-level sellers, the platform provides an incredible amount of traffic and marketing that you don’t have to do yourself. For many, the 20% is essentially a marketing fee that pays for itself by keeping your calendar full.
The beauty of Fiverr is its simplicity. You don’t have to bid on jobs; instead, you create “Gigs” and clients come to you. This is perfect for the wellness expert who wants to set their own boundaries and work on their own terms. You can clearly define what is included in your service, how many revisions you offer, and what your delivery time is. This clarity helps prevent “scope creep” and ensures that you are always compensated fairly for your time.
If you are just starting out, the 20% might feel steep. But as you grow and increase your prices, the convenience of having a constant stream of leads can be a major factor in reducing work-related stress. Fiverr is a powerhouse in the freelance world, and for those who know how to package their services effectively, it can be a very lucrative platform despite the higher commission.
9. Toptal
Toptal is a very exclusive marketplace that claims to represent the “top 3% of freelance talent.” Because of this, their business model is a bit different. They don’t charge freelancers a fee to use the platform; instead, they add a margin on top of the rate the freelancer sets. This means that if you want to earn $100 an hour, you get $100 an hour, and Toptal charges the client more than that to cover their costs. This is an ideal situation for the freelancer, as you always know exactly what you will be taking home.
The catch, of course, is that it is very difficult to get into Toptal. Their screening process is rigorous, involving language tests, technical exams, and live screenings. However, if you are an expert in your field—perhaps a high-level data scientist working on health apps or a world-class designer for wellness brands—getting into Toptal can change your career. They work with massive companies and offer some of the highest rates in the industry.
Once you are in, Toptal handles all the matching for you. They have “matchers” who look at your skills and find the perfect project for you, which eliminates the need for bidding or marketing yourself. For a high-level professional, this is the ultimate way to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as the platform takes care of all the “business” headaches while you focus on delivering elite-level work.
10. 99designs
For those who specialize in the visual side of health and wellness, such as creating branding for essential oil companies or designing fitness ebooks, 99designs is the go-to platform. Their fee structure involves a $100 “Client Introduction Fee” for new clients, spread over the first $500 of earnings, plus a platform fee that ranges from 5% to 15% depending on your designer level. While this can be a bit complex, it is specifically tailored to the design industry.
The platform offers two main ways to work: contests and one-on-one projects. Contests are a great way to get your foot in the door and show off your creative flair. If a client loves your work in a contest, they can then hire you directly for future projects. This direct-hire model is where the lower platform fees really benefit you. As you move up from an “Entry Level” designer to “Top Level,” your fees decrease, rewarding you for your experience and quality.
99designs also provides a lot of support for its designers, including resources on how to communicate with clients and how to price your work. For a freelancer focused on the aesthetic side of wellness, having a platform that understands the specific needs of designers is invaluable. It is a professional, high-quality marketplace that helps you build a brand while keeping your costs manageable as you grow.
In conclusion, choosing the right freelance marketplace is about more than just finding the lowest number. It is about finding a balance between the fees you pay and the value the platform provides. While giants like Upwork and Fiverr offer massive reach, newer or more niche platforms like Zinn Hub provide a more supportive and cost-effective environment for modern creators. By keeping your seller fees low, you are not just making more money; you are investing in your own financial wellness and the sustainability of your freelance career. Take the time to explore these options and find the one that aligns best with your goals and your values. Your bank account—and your peace of mind—will thank you.