Top Fiverr Alternatives for Freelancers in 2026 (Where to Find Better Clients)

Last week, I watched a talented designer friend celebrate landing a $3,500 project.

Her excitement lasted about five minutes until she remembered Fiverr was about to take $700 of it. Twenty percent. Gone. Just like that.

And that's when she asked me the question I hear constantly: "Alex, where else can I actually make money as a freelancer without getting destroyed by fees?"

Fiverr is great for getting started, terrible for getting serious. The 20% commission eats your profits. The pricing makes it nearly impossible to charge what you're actually worth.

Let me break down the top freelance platforms that are Fiverr alternatives that are actually worth your time in 2026 and, more importantly, which ones will help you find better clients willing to pay what you deserve.

‍

Why Most Freelancers Eventually Leave Fiverr

Before we dive into alternatives, let's talk about why you're probably reading this article in the first place.

Fiverr worked initially. You set up some gigs, maybe landed a few clients, and got some reviews. But then you hit a wall. Either your Success Score dropped for no apparent reason, and your visibility disappeared, or you realized that after Fiverr's 20% cut, you're barely making minimum wage on projects that took hours to complete.

The platform's business model is built around volume and competitive pricing. Which means you're constantly competing with freelancers willing to work for less, often from countries with lower costs of living. That's not a sustainable way to build a business.

The biggest issue is that you don't own the client relationship. Everything happens inside Fiverr's ecosystem, and if they decide to change the algorithm or increase fees, that’s going to end up bad for you. You can't even take clients off-platform without risking account suspension.

I learned this the hard way when a client I'd worked with for months on Fiverr wanted to hire me for a bigger project. We couldn't even discuss rates outside the platform without both of us risking penalties.

That's not freedom but just trading one boss for another.

‍

The Alternatives to Fiverr That Actually Work

Upwork

When I transitioned away from Fiverr, Upwork was my first stop. And honestly, it's where I built the foundation of my six-figure freelance business.

With Upwork, you're not waiting for clients to discover your service packages. You're actively proposing on projects that match your expertise. It's more work upfront, but it gives you control over positioning and pricing.

The fee structure is also way better. Upwork starts at 10% (half of Fiverr) and drops to 5% once you've earned $10K from a single client. That's a massive difference when you're doing $5K+ projects.

The platform attracts more serious clients too. According to their data, 145,000 clients spend at least $5,000 annually.

The downside is that you need to buy "Connects" to submit proposals. But you get 10 free monthly, and honestly, the investment pays off when you're landing clients who actually value your work.

Ruul Space

This is one of the newer platforms, and it's honestly refreshing because it's built around what freelancers actually need.

Ruul charges just 5% (four times less than Fiverr). You can sell services, digital products, and even subscriptions all from one link. Plus, they handle all the VAT compliance and invoicing automatically, which is huge if you're working internationally.

What I really like about Ruul is the flexibility. You're not locked into service packages or hourly rates. You can structure your offerings however makes sense for your business. Want to sell a course alongside your consulting services? Done. Want to accept crypto payments? They've got that too.

However, there's no built-in marketplace, so you need to drive your own traffic. But honestly, this is how you build a real business anyway. Relying on platform traffic is a short-term strategy that leaves you vulnerable.

Toptal

If you're established and have a strong portfolio, Toptal is where the serious money is. They only accept the top 3% of applicants through a rigorous screening process. That sounds intimidating, but the payoff is zero platform fees. On this one of the best freelance websites, you keep 100% of what you earn.

The clients on Toptal are VC-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies. We're talking $10K+ projects as the norm. These are decision-makers who care about expertise over cost.

Getting in is tough. Expect multiple interviews, skill tests, and live project assessments. But if you're already charging premium rates and have the portfolio to back it up, the effort is worth it.

I know several freelancers who use Toptal for their anchor clients and still maintain other platforms for smaller projects. It's a smart strategy if you can pull it off.

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is UK-based, with about 60% of freelancers from the region, which means access to higher-paying European clients.

The platform takes the same 20% as Fiverr, so there's no fee advantage. But they've recently upgraded their interface and added AI matching that actually seems to work. Plus, they manually review freelancer profiles, which filters out some of the noise you get on other platforms.

What makes PPH interesting is the blend of hourly and package-based work. You're not locked into one model, and the client base tends to be more business-focused than Fiverr's mix of bargain hunters and serious buyers.

You only get 15 free proposals monthly, and you have to wait for profile approval before you can start applying. Not ideal if you need to make it run.

‍

The Platform Nobody Talks About

Want to know the best Fiverr alternative that nobody's talking about? Your own network and referrals.

I built Betterly specifically because the best freelancers I know get most of their work from referrals. Once you've landed a few good clients and delivered solid results, those clients become your best marketing channel.

Platforms are training wheels. They're brilliant for getting started and proving your skills. But the freedom comes when you're not dependent on any single platform's algorithm or fee structure.

That's why I recommend building your presence on platforms that let you own the client relationship. Upwork and Ruul both allow this. Fiverr actively prevents it. It taught you how to package and sell your services. That's valuable. But now it's time to take those skills somewhere that doesn't eat 20% of every dollar you earn.