Every platform is checked against the same 14 achievements, worth 100 points in all, using only facts we verified on official pages, filings and public data. Nobody can pay for one. Points set the tier, and a separate rating out of 5 weighs fees, payouts, access, track record and proof of earnings.
What each one means, and how many platforms have it
Why it matters, how we check it, and the platforms that hold it, most points first.
Why it matters You can judge the pay from a real number instead of the platform's own promises.
How we check We need a figure for what earners are paid, earn typically, or how many people earn, with a link to the filing, pay page or study it came from.
Why it matters Most earning platforms only take people from a handful of countries. This one lets almost anyone join.
How we check The platform's own terms or sign-up pages say it accepts people worldwide, with no more than eight countries left out.
Why it matters Paying to join is a red flag on many work sites. This one costs nothing to start.
How we check The platform's sign-up and pricing pages show no fee to register as an earner.
Why it matters You can work out what you keep before you start.
How we check The platform publishes its cut as a percentage on its pricing or help pages, which we record as a range when it is tiered.
Why it matters More of every payment reaches you. Many marketplaces take 20% or more.
How we check The highest percentage the platform names in its published fees is 10% or less.
Why it matters Small earnings are not left stuck in your account waiting for a high threshold.
How we check The platform's published minimum withdrawal is $10 or less, or it has no minimum.
Why it matters Money arrives when you need it, not weeks later.
How we check The platform says payouts are instant, same-day, daily or on demand.
Why it matters Something stops you working for nothing, such as client money held before the work starts.
How we check The platform publishes how it protects earners' payments: escrow, guaranteed pay or a dispute process.
Why it matters A well-rated app usually means smooth day-to-day work and fewer payout problems.
How we check The platform's app is rated 4.5 or higher on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Why it matters Big platforms have more clients and buyers, and a lot to lose from treating earners badly.
How we check The site ranks in the world's 10,000 most visited on the Tranco list, a research-grade ranking.
Why it matters Platforms that have lasted a decade are less likely to vanish with your balance.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 10 years ago.
Why it matters Two decades of paying people is a strong track record.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 20 years ago.
Why it matters Listed companies publish audited accounts, so their finances and risks are public.
How we check The company has a stock ticker on a public exchange, with filings we can read.
Why it matters Everything you need to decide is verified here, not left as guesswork.
How we check Fees, payouts, minimum payout, who can join and the company details are all recorded from official pages.
A score out of 5 from the same facts, for every platform
The score is the average of the parts we can judge, shown only when at least three can be. It rates what we can verify, not service quality, and it moves when the facts change.
3 platforms, most points first
VrboA vacation rental marketplace focused on whole-home stays, part of Expedia Group. Homeowners list properties, set their prices, and are paid about a day after guests check in.
Fees 5% commission plus payment feevrbo.com
AirbnbA marketplace where anyone can list a spare room, home, or unique stay for short-term rental, and increasingly experiences and services too. Hosts set prices and availability, and guests book and pay through the platform…
Fees Host-only fee of about 15.5% for most hostsairbnb.com
PatreonThe leading membership platform, where fans pay creators monthly or per release for exclusive work. Creators of podcasts, video, art, and writing build recurring income.
Fees 10% platform fee plus processing (pages published after Aug 4, 2025)patreon.com35 platforms, most points first
FiverrA gig-based marketplace where freelancers package their services as fixed-price offers that clients can buy instantly. Strong for creative and digital services like logo design, video editing, voice over, and quick devel…
Fees 20% seller commissionfiverr.com
PreplyAn online tutoring marketplace where tutors teach languages and school subjects over video. Anyone can apply to tutor, set an hourly rate, and build a student base.
Fees 18-33% commission after the trial. Each new student's trial lesson is 100%preply.com
EtsyThe leading marketplace for handmade goods, craft supplies, and vintage items. Anyone can open a shop, list products, and sell to a global audience.
Fees 6.5% transaction fee + 3% + $0.25 payment processing (US) + $0.20 listing feeetsy.com
FreelancerA global freelance marketplace where clients post projects and freelancers bid on them, alongside contests for design and creative work. Covers a very wide range of skills and budgets, with milestone payments and optiona…
Fees 10% or $5 minimum on projectsfreelancer.com
GuruOne of the oldest freelance marketplaces, matching companies with freelancers across programming, design, writing, and business services. Work is managed through WorkRooms with SafePay escrow payments.
Fees 5% to 9% handling feeguru.com
KajabiAn all-in-one platform for knowledge businesses - courses, coaching, podcasts, and communities under your own brand, with marketing tools built in.
Fees $179-499/month, 0.5-2% other-gateway fee, no gateway fee on Kajabi Payments/PayPal, processing extrakajabi.com
Ko-fiA creator page for one-off tips, memberships, commissions, and shop sales. Donations carry no platform fee, and payments go straight to your PayPal or Stripe.
Fees 0% on donationsko-fi.com
RedbubbleA print-on-demand marketplace where artists upload designs and earn a margin on every product sold, from stickers to apparel. The platform handles printing, shipping, and support.
Fees Margin minus platform fee 50% Standard, 20% Premium, 0% Pro, max $150/moredbubble.com
ToptalA premium network that screens applicants and accepts only a small percentage of freelance developers, designers, finance experts, product and project managers. Aimed at companies that want senior, pre-vetted talent quic…
Fees 0% - no commission on freelancer's set ratetoptal.com
Tutor.comA US on-demand tutoring service (owned by The Princeton Review) offering 24/7 homework help across 300-plus subjects. Tutors are hired as contractors on an hourly wage, with students supplied through schools, libraries,…
Fees No fee - tutors earn an hourly wagetutor.com
99designsA design marketplace where clients launch contests that many designers enter, or hire a designer directly. Strong for logos, branding, and packaging, with money-back guarantees on contests.
Fees Platform fee from 5% to 15%99designs.com
BraintrustA user-owned talent network that connects vetted freelancers with enterprise clients. Talent pays 0% fees and earns ownership in the network through tokens.
Fees 0% for talent, clients pay 10%usebraintrust.com
DoorDashA food and goods delivery platform where independent couriers (Dashers) sign up, choose their own hours, and earn per delivery plus tips. Restaurants and stores list on the marketplace and customers order through the app…
Fees Paid per offer: $2-10+ base + 100% tipsdoordash.com
HoneygainThe best-known bandwidth sharing app - install and earn passively as verified businesses route traffic through your connection. 20 dollar payout threshold.
Fees Free to joinhoneygain.com
KryptexA mining app and pool that uses your GPU or CPU to mine crypto and pays out in bitcoin, stablecoins or dollars via Volet.
Fees 1.95% for Volet USD/EUR payoutskryptex.com
PeoplePerHourPeople Per Hour Limited is a British online freelance marketplace that connects businesses with freelance professionals for project-based and hourly work. It is headquartered in London and has an additional office in Ath…
Fees Tiered, 20% down to 3.5% per clientpeopleperhour.com
StripeThe standard for accepting card payments online - anyone with a business (even a sole proprietor) can register and start charging customers, invoicing, and selling with payment links.
Fees Around 2.9% plus 30 cents per card charge (US)stripe.com
SuperprofA French tutoring marketplace active in dozens of countries, covering school subjects, music, sports, and hobbies. Tutors keep 100% of their lesson rate.
Fees Tutors keep 100% when students pay them directly, 10% on payments made through Superprof (0% with Premium)superprof.com
TaskRabbitA marketplace for local tasks like furniture assembly, moving help, and handyman work, owned by IKEA. Taskers set their own hourly rates and keep 100% of them.
Fees 0% - clients pay the service feetaskrabbit.com
TeachableA course platform where creators build and sell courses and coaching under their own brand. Creators set prices and keep their audience, paying a plan fee to the platform.
Fees Monthly plans plus transaction feesteachable.com
TutorfulA UK tutoring marketplace covering school subjects, music, and languages, online or in person. Tutors set their own hourly rate and keep most of it, and the platform handles finding students and payments.
Fees No tutor commission, service fee added to students' lesson pricestutorful.co.uk
UberThe largest ride-hailing platform, where anyone who meets local licensing and vehicle requirements can sign up to drive. Drivers keep a share of each fare and can cash out earnings quickly, while riders book trips throug…
Fees Service fee varies by tripuber.com
UdemyThe largest open course marketplace, where anyone can publish a video course and reach learners worldwide. Instructors earn a revenue share that depends on how the sale was made.
Fees Revenue share by sale channel (37%-97%)udemy.com
UpworkOne of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world, covering everything from development and design to writing, marketing, and admin support. Clients post jobs and freelancers submit proposals, with hourly and fixed-…
Fees 0-15% variable service fee per contract (5% on Direct Contracts, 0% with Freelancer Plus)upwork.com
eBayThe original online marketplace, where anyone can sell new or used items by auction or fixed price. Sellers ship worldwide and are paid through managed payouts.
Fees 13.6% final value fee + $0.30-0.40 per order (most categories)ebay.com
italkiThe largest language tutoring marketplace, with professional teachers and community tutors across 150+ languages. Teachers set their own rates and schedules.
Fees 21% on single lessons, 15-19% on packages, 30% on group classes, trial lessons commission-freeitalki.com
EnvatoA marketplace network for digital assets like website themes, templates, graphics, video, and audio. Authors sell on Envato Market or earn from subscriptions on Envato Elements.
Fees Author share varies by exclusivityenvato.com
Pear Deck TutorOn-demand academic tutoring for schools and libraries (formerly TutorMe), covering 300-plus subjects around the clock. Tutors are paid hourly and matched to students by the platform.
Fees No fee - paid hourlypeardecktutor.com
ShutterstockOne of the largest stock content marketplaces, with open contributor sign-up for photos, vectors, video, and music. Contributors earn royalties every time their work is licensed.
Fees Royalties 15%-40% by contributor levelshutterstock.com
SkillshareA subscription learning community focused on creative skills, where teachers publish classes and earn from a royalty pool based on watch time. Class creation is open to anyone.
Fees Royalty pool based on watch timeskillshare.com
SquareTake card payments in person or online - free card reader, invoices, and an online store, popular with local services and small sellers.
Fees 2.6% plus 15 cents per in-person charge (US Free plan)squareup.com
StudypoolA microtutoring marketplace where tutors bid to answer student questions and complete study help sessions.
Fees Service fee starting at 20%studypool.com
TutorooA platform connecting students with native-speaker language tutors for in-person and online lessons.
Fees Direct pay from studentstutoroo.co
WyzantA large US tutoring marketplace covering academic subjects, test prep, and professional skills. Tutors set hourly rates and meet students online or in person.
Fees Platform fee about 25%wyzant.com
YouTubeThe largest video platform, where the Partner Program shares ad revenue with creators and adds memberships, Super Thanks, and Shorts monetization.
Fees Partner Program - 55% ad share, plus membershipsyoutube.com
Amazon Mechanical Turk
Lyft