Websites Like Fiverr: Better Options For Hiring In 2025
7 minutes
4 April 2025
Fiverr is a well-known platform if you’re looking to hire skilled freelancers quickly and affordably. But if you’ve used it extensively, you’ve likely run into some common issues like inconsistent work quality, high commission fees, and unresponsive customer support. Fiverr’s gig-based model also isn’t ideal if you need long-term hires or highly specialised expertise. Because of these challenges, many businesses are now looking for other websites like Fiverr that offer a more reliable hiring experience.
In this article, we’ll walk you through sites similar to Fiverr that provide better freelancers, transparent pricing, and stronger support, so you can hire with confidence and avoid the common pitfalls of Fiverr.
Below we cover,
Understanding Fiverr’s Model - Is Fiverr Worth It?
Fiverr operates on a gig-based system where freelancers list services with set prices, and you can purchase them instantly. It allows almost anyone to create an account and start offering services. While this makes hiring quick and easy, it also means there’s little vetting beyond user reviews and Fiverr’s internal performance metrics. You can browse freelancer profiles and check ratings, but there’s no built-in screening to guarantee quality.
Does Fiverr Take a Cut?
Yes, Fiverr takes a cut from both freelancers and clients. Freelancers pay a 20% commission on every order, meaning they only receive 80% of your pay. As a buyer, you’re charged a service fee of 5.5% on purchases above $75 and a flat $2.50 fee for orders below that amount. These fees can add up, making Fiverr less cost-effective if you rely on it frequently or require high-value services.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Freelance Platform
If Fiverr’s model isn’t working for you, it’s essential to evaluate other platforms based on key factors that impact the hiring experience. Here’s what to look for when choosing a freelance marketplace:
Quality and vetting of freelancers
Not all platforms hold freelancers to the same standards. Some platforms, like Fiverr, allow anyone to sign up, while others have strict screening processes to ensure only highly qualified professionals are available. If quality control matters, consider platforms that pre-vet talent or offer skill-based assessments.
Pricing and fee structure
Some freelance platforms take a percentage of each transaction you do, while others charge subscription fees or offer project-based pricing. Understanding these costs upfront can help you avoid unexpected expenses. If you hire frequently, you might save money by opting for a platform with transparent pricing that doesn’t take a cut from every transaction.
Hiring flexibility
Do you need a quick logo design, or are you looking for a long-term content writer or developer? Some platforms specialise in swift, transactional services, while others cater to ongoing engagements and dedicated remote professionals. Choosing the right one depends on the type of work you need.
Customer support and dispute resolution
If a project goes south, what happens next? A good platform will offer dedicated account managers, good refund policies, and hands-on customer support to ensure you’re not stuck with poor-quality work. If peace of mind matters, go for a platform that stands behind its freelancers and offers real solutions when things go wrong.
Platform tools and user experience
Hiring shouldn’t feel like a chore. While some platforms offer built-in tools like time tracking, messaging, and project management to streamline collaboration, others rely on third-party communication, leaving you to manage everything yourself. If you’re hiring regularly, a platform that makes the process seamless can save you hours of back-and-forth.
By considering these factors, you can avoid the pitfalls of low-quality freelancers, unclear pricing, and unreliable support. Now, look at the best websites like Fiverr that offer a better hiring experience.
Top Websites Like Fiverr for Hiring in 2025
If Fiverr’s gig-based model feels too limiting, Upwork offers a more flexible way to hire freelancers. Instead of purchasing pre-packaged services, you can post a job, review proposals, and choose the best candidate for your project. Upwork also allows hourly contracts and long-term engagements, making it a better option if you need ongoing work rather than one-off gigs.
Pricing: Clients pay a 5% service fee on all payments, while freelancers are charged a sliding commission, ranging from 10% to 20%, depending on their earnings with a particular client.
Best for:
Upwork is a solid choice if you need more control over hiring, want to build long-term relationships with freelancers, or require more advanced skills that don’t fit Fiverr’s gig structure. However, you’ll still need to vet candidates, as quality varies widely.
Check out our in-depth comparison of Fiverr vs Upwork to know more about how these two platforms compare.
Freelancer operates on a bidding system, giving you access to a global pool of freelancers who compete for your project. Unlike Fiverr, where you select a pre-priced gig, Freelancer.com lets you post a job, set your budget, and receive bids from freelancers willing to take on the work. This setup can be beneficial if you want more control over pricing and are open to negotiating rates.
Pricing: Freelancer charges a 3% to 5% fee for clients, depending on the type of project.
Best for:
Freelancer is a good option if you want flexibility in pricing and prefer to negotiate directly with freelancers. However, the quality of talent varies widely, so if you don’t have the time to filter through bids, a platform with more vigorous vetting might be a better fit.
If you’re willing to pay a premium in return for high-quality talent, Toptal is a strong alternative to Fiverr. Toptal specialises in software developers, designers, finance experts, and project managers, making it ideal for complex or high-stakes projects. It has a rigorous screening process, accepting only the top 3% of applicants. While this ensures you’re hiring highly skilled professionals, it also means fewer options and higher rates.
Pricing: Toptal requires an initial $500 deposit (refundable if you don’t move forward) and charges hourly or project-based rates, typically ranging from $60 to $200+ per hour.
Best for:
Toptal is best suited for businesses that need elite talent and are willing to pay a premium to avoid the hassle of filtering through lower-quality freelancers.
If you like Toptal’s quality but want more budget-friendly alternatives, we’ve covered the best Toptal alternatives in a separate guide – check it out to see how other platforms compare.
Wishup is a platform that specialises in providing pre-vetted virtual assistants for administrative support, bookkeeping, social media management, and customer service. Unlike Fiverr, Wishup focuses specifically on remote assistants who work as an extension of your team. It provides training to its assistants, ensuring they meet specific skill requirements before being assigned to clients, which can be helpful if you’re looking for ongoing support rather than one-off projects.
Pricing: Wishup offers tailored plans based on workload, starting at $9.99 per hour.
Best for:
Wishup is best suited for businesses that need dedicated virtual assistants for administrative and operational tasks rather than project-based freelancers. It provides a structured alternative to Fiverr for companies looking for ongoing support rather than short-term gig work.
Guru operates similarly to Fiverr but offers more flexibility in how you can engage with freelancers. Instead of buying predefined gigs, you can post a job and receive proposals, allowing for more negotiation on scope and pricing. Guru categorises freelancers by skill level, and assigns “Top-Rated” and “All-Star” badges to high-performing professionals. However, like Fiverr, anyone can create a profile, so you may need to screen candidates carefully to ensure quality.
Pricing: Guru supports various work arrangements, including fixed-price, hourly, task-based, and recurring payments and charges a 2.9% transaction fee for clients.
Best for:
Guru is a good option if you want more control over pricing and contract terms while accessing a broad freelancer marketplace. It balances Fiverr’s gig-based model and Upwork’s bidding system, making it a viable alternative to get more flexibility while hiring.
FreeUp provides pre-vetted freelancers across various industries, including marketing, e-commerce, customer support, and development. Instead of browsing through profiles, you can submit job requests, and FreeUp matches you with a shortlist of freelancers within 24 hours. It screens its freelancers before allowing them onto the platform, reducing your time filtering through unqualified candidates.
Pricing: FreeUp freelancers set their own rates, typically ranging from $10 to $75+ per hour. The platform does not charge clients a service fee but includes a built-in markup in freelancer rates.
Best for:
FreeUp is ideal when you want access to a pre-vetted talent pool without spending time manually reviewing freelancer profiles. It provides a structured alternative to Fiverr when you are looking for a faster and more selective hiring process.
Conclusion
Fiverr is a popular choice for hiring freelancers, but it’s not always the most effective option, especially if you need better vetting, long-term hires, or more control over pricing and contracts. The platforms mentioned above offer different alternatives, whether you’re looking for more flexibility, pre-vetted talent, or dedicated support while hiring freelancers.
Or if you’ve ever wished your best freelancer would just stick around full-time, GrowthBuddy makes that happen (minus the payroll headaches). We embed full-time remote talent directly into your business, without the unpredictability of gig-based hiring and save you at least 55% in payroll costs per hire compared to hiring locally.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to freelance platforms, chat with us to know more about how we work.