Fees · Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com fees explained
Core project fees
| Who | Fixed price | Hourly | When charged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer | 3% or $3.00, whichever is greater | 3% of each payment | Fixed: at award. Overage payments also charged. |
| Freelancer | 10% or $5.00, whichever is greater | 10% of each payment | Fixed: when you accept the award. Overage also charged. |
| Freelancer (Preferred Freelancer Program, Recruiter projects) | 15% | Charged when payment is received | |
| Contest winner | 10% or $5.00, whichever is greater | When prize is released | |
Employers can cancel an awarded project from the dashboard for up to seven days after acceptance for a full refund of the employer fee, per the same page.
Worked examples (illustrative, before payment-method fees and tax)
- $50 fixed project: employer fee $3 (3% would be $1.50, so the $3 minimum applies); freelancer fee $5 (10% would be $5).
- $500 fixed project: employer fee $15; freelancer fee $50.
- $1,000 hourly over a month: employer pays 3% of each payment ($30 total); freelancer pays 10% ($100 total).
Fees freelancers often miss
- Bid balance: free members start with 6 bids per month, and a minimum account balance of $20 must be held to bid; Freelancer.com may set it higher for risk-based or high-value bids.
- Withdrawals: $1 for Express, PayPal, Skrill or Payoneer card; $25 for international wire; minimum withdrawal $50 after fees.
- Inactive accounts: maintenance fee of up to $14/month after six months without login (refundable on request after reactivation, per the page).
- Chargeback recovery: $25 or 10% of the milestone, whichever is higher, when the freelancer is found at fault.
- Verified by Freelancer badge: $99 regular application (non-refundable), $79 renewal.
Fees employers often miss
- Payment method: $0.30 + 2.3% for card, PayPal or Skrill (non-Australian transactions); local bank deposit free; international wire $15.
- Optional project upgrades: e.g. Featured, Urgent, Sealed $10.99; Private, NDA, IP Agreement $22.99; Full Time $240 (fee table).
- Australian transactions: Account Admin Fee AUD $0.75 + 0.99% (discounts possible at Freelancer’s discretion).
Disputes and going off-platform
- Milestone arbitration: $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. Either party may escalate after 4 days (14 days if the freelancer filed); the other side has 4 days to pay or loses the dispute; the fee is refunded to the winner.
- Offsiting penalty: users who communicate and transact outside the platform in violation of the terms may be charged 30% of the maximum project budget or agreed amount. See our off-platform payment rules guide.
How it compares
Freelancer.com’s 3% employer fee is lower than Fiverr’s 5.5% buyer fee, but its freelancer fee floor and paid-bid mechanics differ from Upwork’s per-contract Freelancer Service Fee. See the multi-platform fee comparison, membership plans compared, and hourly vs fixed-price contracts.
FAQ
What does Freelancer.com charge employers?
3% of the project value or $3.00 USD, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects (charged at award), and 3% of each payment on hourly projects, per the Fees and Charges page checked Nov 5, 2026. Payment-method fees and optional upgrades are extra.
What does Freelancer.com charge freelancers?
10% or $5.00 USD, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 10% of each hourly payment. Preferred Freelancer Program members pay 15% on Recruiter projects. A $20 minimum account balance is required to bid.
How much is Freelancer.com arbitration?
$5.00 USD or 5% of the disputed milestone, whichever is greater, refunded to the winner.
Sources
- Freelancer.com — Fees and Charges: www.freelancer.com/feesandcharges (checked Nov 5, 2026)
- Freelancer.com — User Agreement: www.freelancer.com/about/terms (checked Nov 5, 2026)
No affiliate links on this page. Figures change; re-check the official page before you rely on them.