PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a freelance marketplace where buyers can purchase pre-packaged fixed-price Offers, post a project and receive proposals, or search for freelancers directly and request a custom proposal.
At a glance
- Best for
- UK and international small businesses that want a conventional freelance marketplace with escrow, proposals and a strong mix of creative, marketing, technical and business-service talent.
- Verified pricing / fees
- Buyer service fee £0.60 + 10% on PayPal/card payments
Overview
PeoplePerHour combines pre-packaged Offers with project posting and direct freelancer search. Buyers fund work through escrow, while the platform’s current terms charge buyers £0.60 plus 10% per PayPal or card payment. Freelancer service fees are tiered by lifetime billing with each buyer: 20% below £250, 7.5% from £250 to £5,000 and 3.5% above £5,000, excluding VAT. The model rewards long client relationships but can be expensive for small first engagements.
Payments are built around escrow. For an Offer, the full purchase price is funded; for custom projects, an agreed deposit is placed into escrow. Funds are released after work is accepted or according to the platform’s invoicing/dispute process.
The 2026 terms set a buyer service fee of £0.60 plus 10% for PayPal or card payments. Freelancer service fees decline as the lifetime billing relationship with the same buyer grows, which makes repeat clients much more economical than small one-off engagements.
Key features
- Fixed-price Offers for predefined services that can be purchased without running a full bidding process.
- Custom project posting with proposals and freelancer profile search.
- WorkStream collaboration environment for communication, files, invoicing and project history.
- Escrow protection for deposits and Offer payments.
- Freelancer reviews and repeat-work workflows.
- Tiered freelancer fee structure that rewards larger ongoing buyer relationships.
Pricing and fees
| Fee / plan | Current amount | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer fee | £0.60 + 10% | Current terms list this service fee for PayPal and credit/debit card payments. |
| Freelancer: under £250 | 20% excl. VAT | Applies to lifetime billing with a specific buyer below £250. |
| Freelancer: £250-£5,000 | 7.5% excl. VAT | Middle tier for lifetime billing with the same buyer. |
| Freelancer: over £5,000 | 3.5% excl. VAT | Lowest service-fee tier for long-running buyer relationships. |
| Proposal credits | 15 free/month | Freelancers can purchase extra proposal credits after the free monthly allowance. |
PeoplePerHour’s freelancer fee is relationship-based rather than project-based: the relevant threshold is lifetime billing with that particular buyer. VAT can apply to fees. Other transaction, withdrawal or proposal-credit charges can also exist.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Multiple ways to hire: Offers, open projects or direct freelancer search.
- Escrow provides payment protection and helps freelancers verify that funds are available.
- Tiered freelancer fees become much more favorable for repeat client relationships.
- Broad service categories suit small-business outsourcing.
- WorkStream centralizes communication, files, proposals and invoices.
Cons
- Buyer fee of £0.60 + 10% is high compared with several competing platforms.
- 20% freelancer fee on small/new buyer relationships is significant.
- Fee rules can feel complex because they depend on lifetime billing with each buyer.
- Quality varies more than on tightly curated premium networks.
Who is it for?
Who should use PeoplePerHour?
PeoplePerHour is best suited to buyers comfortable evaluating proposals and portfolios themselves, particularly UK SMEs and service businesses hiring for marketing, design, web, writing or business support. It is also more attractive when a buyer expects an ongoing relationship because freelancer fees decline materially as billing accumulates.
Who should consider an alternative?
Consider Toptal if rigorous vetting matters more than price, Contra if commission structure is a priority, or Freelancer.com if you want a very large open marketplace with lower employer project fees.
ToolRankers verdict
PeoplePerHour remains a capable general-purpose marketplace with useful escrow and a strong model for repeat work, but its fee structure deserves close attention.
For buyers, the 10% service fee is materially higher than Freelancer.com or Guru. For freelancers, the 20% starting tier is also substantial. The economics improve significantly when the same buyer and freelancer build a long-term relationship.
ToolRankers research on PeoplePerHour
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Sources and fact-checking
Product details and fees were checked against these official sources on 7 October 2026. Marketplace fees and terms can change; confirm the current terms with the provider.