The short version
Freelancer.com gives each account a monthly allowance of bids and sells memberships for more. It charges freelancers 10% or $5, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 10% on hourly work. On Open Lance a proposal costs the same number of bids whatever the budget, there is no monthly cap, and Ultra members pay 0% commission on that work (5% without).
| Open Lance | Freelancer.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on earnings | 0% with Ultra on fixed-price and hourly work, 5% without | 10% or $5, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects; 10% on hourly |
| Bidding | Bids per proposal, set by job type, with no monthly cap | A monthly bid allowance (6 on the free plan), with paid memberships for more |
| Cost to hire | Free to post; escrow handling and contract fees when you fund work | Free to post; a project fee of 3% or $3, whichever is greater |
| Ways to work | Fixed-price, hourly, Dedicated Hire, Drop-Ins | Fixed-price, hourly, contests |
| Existing reputation | Verified stats from other platforms count toward rank | Reputation starts on Freelancer.com |
Freelancer.com figures are from its own fees and membership pages, checked September 2026. Its terms can change, so check its current fees before deciding.
Bidding
This is the biggest everyday difference. On Freelancer.com, how many jobs you can bid on each month depends on your membership. On Open Lance a proposal costs the same number of bids whatever the budget, bids come in packs that never expire, and nothing can be bought to move a proposal up.
Commission
Freelancer.com takes 10% or $5, whichever is greater, from fixed-price projects and 10% from hourly work. On Open Lance, Ultra members pay 0% on fixed-price and hourly contracts and freelancers without Ultra pay 5%.
Four ways to work
Open Lance supports four kinds of engagement, so the contract can match the work:
- Fixed-price projects, split into milestones that are funded one at a time.
- Hourly contracts with a weekly hour limit and a work diary the client approves each week.
- Dedicated Hires, for ongoing monthly work with one freelancer.
- Drop-Ins, packaged services with a set price that clients buy directly.
Bring your track record
Moving platforms usually means starting from zero. On Open Lance you can add your stats from Upwork, Fiverr and other platforms. Our team verifies them, and verified experience counts toward your rank here, not just a line in your bio.
How payment works
On fixed-price work the client funds each milestone before it starts. When they approve the work it is released, either straight away or after a short review window, and if they do not respond it approves automatically after a set time.
On hourly work the client funds each week up front, up to the agreed weekly limit. The freelancer logs hours in a work diary, the client approves them at the end of the week, and approved hours are paid from that funding. Unused funding goes back to the client.
Released money clears for a short period before it can be withdrawn, because card payments can be reversed for a while after they are made.
What clients pay
Posting a job, reviewing proposals and messaging are free. When a client funds work, an escrow handling fee is added, plus a one-time initiation fee on each new contract. Both are shown before paying, and neither is taken from the amount that goes to the freelancer.
When Freelancer.com may suit you better
Freelancer.com lists a very high volume of projects, including contests. If sheer quantity of listings is what you need right now, it has more of them. Open Lance has fewer jobs today while it grows.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a monthly limit on bids?
- No. You use bids as you apply, and packs never expire. Ultra includes bids each billing cycle.
- Can other freelancers pay to rank above me?
- No. Nothing can be bought on Open Lance to move a proposal up.
- How does commission compare?
- Freelancer.com takes 10% or $5, whichever is greater, on fixed-price projects and 10% on hourly. Open Lance takes 0% from Ultra members on fixed-price and hourly contracts, and 5% from freelancers without Ultra.
- Can I bring my Freelancer.com reviews?
- You can add your stats to your profile. Once verified, they count toward your rank on Open Lance.