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Guru vs Lemon.io
Guru and Lemon.io are both freelance sites. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $910–$950 on Guru and $1,000 on Lemon.io, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Updated · from each platform’s published fees and payout terms · how we verify
Key differences
- On a $1,000 payment you keep about $910–$950 on Guru and $1,000 on Lemon.io, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Lemon.io screens providers before they can join, while Guru is open to anyone.
- Only Guru lists built-in payment protection (SafePay escrow).
- Guru is the older platform — founded in 1998, 17 years before Lemon.io (2015).
- Guru is based in United States, Lemon.io in Ukraine.
Which should you choose?
Choose Guru if…
- You are just starting out and want to sign up without a screening.
- You want built-in payment protection.
- You prefer a long track record (since 1998).
Choose Lemon.io if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
- You are an experienced professional ready to pass a screening.
Side by side
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Guru
One of the oldest freelance marketplaces, matching companies with freelancers across programming, design, writ…
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Lemon.io
A vetted network matching startups with senior software developers, mainly from Europe and Latin America.
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|---|---|---|
| Type | Freelance sites like Upwork | Freelance sites like Upwork |
| Category | General Marketplace | General Marketplace |
| Vetted | No | Yes |
| Work from home | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | 5% to 9% handling fee | 0% explicit fee, margin built into client rate |
| Payment protection | SafePay escrow | — |
| Withdraw via | PayPal, Payoneer, Wire transfer, Direct deposit | — |
| Availability | Worldwide | Europe and Latin America developers |
| Founded | 1998 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Popularity | 48 views · 0 likes | 48 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Guru or Lemon.io?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $910–$950 on Guru and $1,000 on Lemon.io, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Where are Guru and Lemon.io available?
Guru: Worldwide. Lemon.io: Europe and Latin America developers.
Which is easier to join, Guru or Lemon.io?
Guru — anyone can sign up, while Lemon.io screens providers before accepting them.