Freelancer.com fees —
what you actually keep.
Freelancer.com charges 10% on fixed and hourly contracts, 15% on recruiter projects — with a $5 USD minimum. Both sides pay fees. This calculator shows your exact take-home and what your client is charged on top.
The client fee is charged separately to the client when they award the contract. It doesn't reduce your earnings — but it increases the total cost of the project for your client.
Know what you want to earn? Enter your target take-home and contract type — we'll tell you exactly what to bid on Freelancer.com.
Complete Freelancer.com fee schedule — verified from official sources, June 2026.
| Contract type | Freelancer fee | Minimum fee | Client fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-price project | 10% | $5.00 USD | 3% or $3.00 min |
| Hourly project (per billing) | 10% | Not published | 3% per payment |
| Recruiter / Preferred Freelancer | 15% | Not published | 3% or $3.00 min |
| Contest (on award) | 10% | $5.00 USD | 10% or $5.00 min |
| Referral contract (your own client) | 0% | None | Normal client fee |
Effective rate at different contract sizes
| Contract value | Your fee | Effective rate | You receive | Client pays total |
|---|
Other fees to know
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal (USD wire) | $25.00 | International wire transfer to bank account |
| Inactivity fee | Up to $14/mo | Charged after 6 months of account inactivity |
| Transaction fee on payments | 2.3% + $0.30 | Applied to payments received via credit card |
| Minimum Bid Balance | $20.00 USD | Required on account before bidding |
| Membership — Basic | $4.99/mo | More bids, basic features. Does not reduce commission. |
| Membership — Professional | $49.00/mo | More bids, priority support. Does not reduce commission. |
How Freelancer.com's fee structure works
Freelancer.com operates a simpler fee system than many competitors: a flat 10% commission on all fixed-price and hourly contracts, with a minimum charge of $5.00 USD. Unlike PeoplePerHour's tiered system or the old Upwork model, there are no discounts for billing history or relationship longevity. Whether you've earned $100 or $100,000 on the platform, you pay 10%.
The key thing most freelancers miss: Freelancer.com charges both sides. The freelancer pays up to 10% on their earnings, and the client pays an additional 3% (minimum $3) when awarding the contract. If a client is paying $500 for a project, they're actually paying $515 total — and you receive $450. The "true" take rate is 13% of what the freelancer receives, which is important to understand when negotiating rates.
The $5 minimum fee — who it affects
The $5 minimum only applies to fixed-price and contest contracts. On a $40 project, 10% would be $4 — but you pay $5 instead. This means projects under $50 have an effective fee rate higher than 10%. A $20 project costs you $5 (25% effective rate). A $10 project costs you $5 (50% effective rate). Freelancer.com is not economical for very small projects — the minimum fee eats a disproportionate percentage.
Recruiter and Preferred Freelancer program
Freelancer.com charges 15% (instead of 10%) on contracts sourced through their Recruiter service or the Preferred Freelancer Program. These are typically larger, enterprise-scale contracts where Freelancer.com has actively matched you with the client. Verify the contract type in your dashboard before accepting — the fee is shown before you confirm.