Freelance + online marketplaces compared

How Gigwyn compares to other marketplaces

One flat commission, one flat buyer fee, escrow-style protection. Here is how that stacks up against the marketplaces you already know.

88%

seller take-home on every order

12%

flat seller commission

3%

flat buyer service fee

Freelance and services marketplaces

Commission and fee figures are approximate, from public sources, and change over time. Confirm current rates with each provider.

PlatformFocusSeller feeBuyer feePayment held until approval
GigwynUsFreelance services, gigs, jobs & custom offers12% flat — keep 88%3% flatYes — held until approval
FiverrProductized freelance services20% flat~5.5% + small-order feeYes — held until approval
UpworkFreelance contracts and hourly work10% flat (since 2023)~5% (varies)Yes — escrow / hourly protection
Freelancer.comBidding marketplace for projects10% or $5 min3% or $3Yes — milestone escrow
PeoplePerHourFreelance services and offersTiered, up to ~20%VariesYes — held until approval
ToptalVetted talent, elite networkNo direct % — built into client rateBuilt-in markupYes — managed contracts
99designsDesign contests and projectsVariable (~5–15%)Varies by packageYes — held until approval
Also worth knowing

General product marketplaces

These sell goods rather than services, so only the fee and protection columns are a fair comparison.

PlatformWhat it sellsTypical feeProtection
GigwynServices from freelancers12% seller / 3% buyerHeld until the buyer approves
AmazonPhysical and digital products~8–15% referral by categoryA-to-z Guarantee
eBayAuction and fixed-price goods~13% final value (varies)Money Back Guarantee
EtsyHandmade, vintage and craft goods6.5% transaction + payment + $0.20 listingEtsy Purchase Protection
ShopifyYour own storefront (not a marketplace)0% commission, monthly planMerchant's own policy

Where Gigwyn differs

Flat, published pricing

One number for each side: sellers keep 88% (a flat 12% commission) and buyers add a flat 3%. No tiering, no per-client fees, no listing or monthly charges.

Escrow-style by default

Payment is collected at checkout and held until the buyer approves delivery. The seller is only paid once the work is accepted, on gigs and milestones alike.

Built for services, not products

Gig packages, custom offers, job posts, proposals and milestone-based projects are first-class — not bolted onto a storefront built for physical goods.

Selling, hiring and disputes in one place

Reviews, order threads, revisions, disputes and payouts live together, so both sides have a single record of what was agreed.

The honest trade-off

Larger marketplaces bring more buyer traffic and brand recognition. Gigwyn is smaller and competes on take-home pay, clear pricing and payment protection — so sellers keep more of each order, and buyers only pay when they approve the work. If raw reach is your priority, a larger marketplace may suit you; if margin and control matter, Gigwyn is built for that.

Marketplace comparison questions

How is Gigwyn different from Fiverr or Upwork?+

Gigwyn charges a flat 12% seller commission and a flat 3% buyer fee with no listing or monthly fees. Fiverr charges sellers 20% and adds a buyer service fee, while Upwork charges a 10% freelancer fee plus a client fee. Gigwyn also supports gigs, custom offers, job posts and milestone projects in the same place.

Does Gigwyn charge buyers a fee?+

Yes, buyers pay a flat 3% service fee on top of the gig or project price. It is shown before payment is confirmed, along with the full order total.

Is Gigwyn cheaper than other freelance marketplaces?+

For sellers, the flat 12% commission is lower than Fiverr's 20% and simpler than tiered or variable pricing elsewhere, so sellers keep 88% of every completed order. Actual take-home depends on the marketplace and the order, so compare the current published rates before choosing.

How does Gigwyn compare to product marketplaces like Amazon, eBay or Etsy?+

Products marketplaces sell physical or digital goods and charge category-based referral or transaction fees. Gigwyn sells professional services, so it adds freelancer-specific tools — gig packages, custom offers, proposals, milestones and paid revisions — on top of escrow-style payment protection.

How are payments protected on Gigwyn compared to other marketplaces?+

Gigwyn holds the buyer's payment until they approve the delivery, similar to escrow on Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer. If a dispute is resolved in the buyer's favour, the buyer is refunded and no commission is kept. Payments are processed by Lemon Squeezy.

Are competitor fees shown here exact?+

No. Competitor figures are approximate, drawn from public sources, and change over time. Use them as a starting point and confirm current rates with each provider. Gigwyn's own rates are exact: a flat 12% seller commission and a flat 3% buyer service fee.

Keep more of every order

List free, keep 88%, and get paid when the buyer approves the work.