Best freelance, gig and earning platforms in Malaysia
In Malaysia, Grab offers ride-hailing plus GrabFood, GrabMart and GrabExpress delivery work, foodpanda runs food delivery, and Lalamove matches drivers of motorcycles, cars, vans and trucks with point-to-point delivery orders. Sellers can open online stores on Shopee and Lazada or list secondhand goods on Carousell. For payments from abroad, PayPal accounts in Malaysia can receive money and withdraw ringgit (MYR) to a local bank. Upwork pays to Malaysian bank accounts in MYR through Direct to Local Bank for USD 0.99 per withdrawal, and Fiverr pays through PayPal or Payoneer. Locally, DuitNow, operated by the national payments network PayNet, provides instant account-to-account transfers between participating banks and e-wallets, plus DuitNow QR payments. Practical tip: PayPal withdrawals to a Malaysian bank are free above MYR 400 but cost MYR 3 below that, so withdraw in larger amounts rather than after every small job.
Updated · how we verify platforms
Malaysia at a glance
Platform types: 2 big marketplaces, 1 marketplace, 1 ride platform, 1 shipping gig platform, 1 card processing platform and 1 delivery platform
How they pay out: Bank transfer (7)
On this page: Local platforms (7) How to get paid (8 confirmed) Global platforms that accept you (53)
Local platforms in Malaysia, compared
| Platform | Type | Fees / commission | Pays via | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carousell
|
Classifieds marketplace | Free listings for personal sellers, success fee on protected sales | Carousell Balance to bank, cash in person | 2012 |
Grab
|
Super-app platform | ~16-25% commission by market | Bank transfer, GrabPay | 2012 |
Lalamove
|
On-demand logistics platform | Commission deducted per order (varies by market) | Bank transfer | 2013 |
Lazada
|
Online marketplace | Category commission 1-8% + ~2% payment fee | Bank transfer | 2012 |
Shopee
|
Online marketplace | Category commission ~2-11% + ~2% transaction fee | Bank transfer (local) | 2015 |
Xendit
|
Payment processor | Cards ~3%, e-wallets ~2.7%, QRIS 0.7% | Bank transfer | 2015 |
foodpanda
|
Food delivery company | Paid per delivery + tiered bonuses | Bank transfer | 2012 |
CarousellA Southeast Asian classifieds marketplace where anyone sells goods locally via app.
carousell.com51 views
GrabSoutheast Asia leading super-app for rides, food delivery, and payments. Driver and delivery partners sign up per country and earn across se…
grab.com51 views
LalamoveAn on-demand logistics platform from Hong Kong where drivers with motorbikes, vans, and trucks deliver across Asian and Latin American citie…
lalamove.com54 views
LazadaSoutheast Asia major marketplace (Alibaba-owned) - sellers in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam reach t…
lazada.com46 views
ShopeeSoutheast Asia largest shopping platform (Sea Limited), with open seller sign-up across its markets and a huge affiliate program.
shopee.com48 views
XenditSoutheast Asia payment infrastructure - businesses in Indonesia, the Philippines, and neighbors accept cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers…
xendit.co42 views
foodpandaDelivery Hero food and grocery delivery brand across Asia, including Pakistan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Riders sign up per city and earn pe…
foodpanda.com48 viewsHow to get paid in Malaysia
Payment services whose official country lists include Malaysia. Check that the platform you join pays out to at least one of them, or to a local bank.
Store activation needs a questionnaire and ID check (about 2-3 business days), payouts go by bank in listed countries or by PayPal elsewhere.
Not available in Pakistan or Bangladesh, and in some listed countries accounts may only send or cannot withdraw locally, so check in the app.
You'll need: A bank account
Not open in Pakistan, Nigeria or Bangladesh, India and Indonesia are invite-only, and under-18s need a parent or guardian.
You'll need: A bank account
Individuals can join dLocal Go without a company. US-based sellers can only charge Latin American, Asian and African customers.
You'll need: A registered business, A bank account
Registered businesses only. Individuals are accepted in ID, PH and TH only as platform sub-accounts, and verification takes up to 14 working days.
Gives USD, GBP and EUR receiving accounts for foreign clients and platforms like Upwork, Deel and Payoneer, payments from sanctioned countries fail.
Only residents of listed countries can hold money and get account details, so Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and India cannot receive.
For software and digital products only, individuals can sell, and payouts go monthly by wire or Payoneer once you reach $100.
Not available for receiving money in Malaysia: NayaPay, bKash, CIH Bank, Mercado Pago, M-Pesa, PayPay, Paytm, Mollie, SadaPay, Razorpay, Bancontact Pay, PicPay, Tikkie, Paystack, Midtrans, MoMo, MTN MoMo, PayMongo, AlipayHK, ChapChap, Nequi, Tenpo, TrueMoney, Yoco, Chipper Cash, Easypaisa, Khalti, OPay, Telebirr, ExpressPay, GCash, Fawry, JazzCash, Revolut, Zalopay, CashPlus, Monobank, Square, Yape, Maya, Vipps, Wave, Daviplata, Flutterwave, Hubtel, Toss, Uala.
Global platforms that accept people in Malaysia
Each one's official sign-up or terms pages list the countries it accepts, and Malaysia is on the list. Check them against your age and what you have →
Freelance sites 6
You'll need: A computer
You need a verified ID, an approved profile and a tax form (W-8BEN outside the US) before withdrawing. Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk are also restricted.
You'll need: A computer
Fiverr can ask any seller for a government ID to confirm you are 18+, and PayPal withdrawals arrive in about 24 hours with a $1 minimum.
You'll need: A computer, Good English, A skills test
Fewer than 3 percent pass the English interview, skills tests, live screening and 1-3 week test project.
You'll need: A computer
Free Basic plan gives 10 bids a month with a 9 percent job fee, paid plans from $11.95/mo add bids and lower fees.
You'll need: A computer
Profiles are reviewed within 2 business days and new earnings clear 14 days after the invoice is approved.
You'll need: A computer
Identity verification is required before withdrawing, and your first withdrawal can be held up to 15 days.
Creator platforms 4
Paid subscriptions run through Stripe, so you need to live in a Stripe-supported country to get paid.
You'll need: A bank account
Listed countries get bank payouts, others PayPal only (no Payoneer or Wise), $100 minimum payout, and US sellers need an SSN.
You'll need: A computer
Paid memberships need the Publisher plan or self-hosting plus a Stripe account, so countries follow Stripe coverage.
You'll need: A tax ID number
Under 18 needs a parent or guardian's permission, and you must give tax info or Patreon may withhold tax.
Music distribution platforms 4
There is no free plan now, the cheapest Artist plan costs $23.99 a year.
One-time $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album, payout within 15 business days of hitting your $25 default threshold, W-9 or W-8 required.
Ages 13-17 need parent or guardian consent, and you pay the annual fee by credit card.
Ages 13-17 need parent consent, artists outside the US sign with Believe International instead of TuneCore.
Ride platforms 3
You'll need: A smartphone, A car, A driver's licence
Operates in about 48 countries, and drivers can counter the passenger's offered fare in the app.
You'll need: A smartphone, A car, A driver's licence
Phone must run Android 9 or iOS 16 or newer, and Bolt partners can rent you a car if you do not own one.
You'll need: A smartphone, A car, A driver's licence, Vehicle insurance, A bank account
In Singapore you need a PDVL or TDVL vocational licence, commercial insurance and at least 1 year of driving experience.
Tutoring platforms 3
Free to publish an ad with no commission, students pay you directly, but you must win your own students from profile views.
You'll need: A computer, A webcam, A headset
Profiles reviewed within 3 business days, no certificate needed, but the first trial lesson with each new student pays 100% commission.
You'll need: A computer, A webcam, Native-level language skills, Good English
No degree or certificate needed but tutors must be native English speakers and cannot tutor from California, Massachusetts or New Jersey.
Big marketplaces 3
Local seller markets are from Wikipedia because official pages would not load, and seller requirements are unverified.
Countries are from Wikipedia because official seller pages need login, and seller requirements are unverified.
You'll need: A bank account
New private sellers get funds 2 to 7 days after delivery, and payouts go to a checking account or debit card, not PayPal.
Marketplaces 3
You'll need: A bank account
Etsy Payments needs 18+, a card on file and a bank account, and sellers in 16 countries incl. Pakistan and India are paid via Payoneer.
You'll need: Products to sell
Sellers must live in a StockX seller country (Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey cannot sell), and items ship to StockX for checks first.
You'll need: A smartphone
Must be 16+ (18 in China) and pass a Persona government ID check, and you must connect a payment account before listing.
Open source funding platforms 2
You'll need: A bank account, A tax ID number
Needs 2FA on GitHub, a bank account in the same supported region you live in and a W-9 or W-8BEN tax form, review takes a few days.
You'll need: A bank account
41 countries get Stripe bank payouts, the other 71 listed can only receive through PayPal, processor fees average 3 to 5 percent.
Social platforms 2
You'll need: An existing audience
Partner Program needs 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours (12 months) or 10M Shorts views (90 days), and an AdSense account.
You'll need: A smartphone, An existing audience
Snap Stars earn from ads on public content, eligibility depends on authenticity, engagement and quality (help centre would not load).
Stock marketplaces 2
You'll need: A tax ID number
You need an approved tax form before any payout, and contributors in some countries face a 90-day waiting period.
You'll need: A portfolio or work samples, A tax ID number
New author applications are paused until further notice, when open they need portfolio review (about 30 days), tax info and an ID check.
Template marketplaces 2
Official Envato author help blocked automated reading (HTTP 403) so eligibility could not be verified.
Official Envato author help blocked automated reading (HTTP 403) so eligibility could not be verified.
Print-on-demand platforms 2
You'll need: A computer
Paid monthly by the 15th once you pass the payment threshold, via PayPal or bank transfer (US, AU and UK banks), and inactive accounts can be charged a fee.
You'll need: A computer, A PayPal account
Royalties are paid by PayPal (from $50) or check (from $100) within 45 days after month end, and tax forms are needed.
Bug bounty platforms 2
You'll need: A computer
Under 18 needs parental consent, and payouts need a Veriff ID check plus an approved tax form.
You'll need: A computer
A Jumio ID check is required before reporting to managed programs, and payouts need a tax form plus bank transfer or PayPal.
Mentorship platforms 2
Expert applications are reviewed on background, demand and profile completeness, and Clarity keeps a 15% fee on every call.
Mentoring is unpaid volunteer work, applicants need 5+ years of industry experience and only about 30% are approved.
Photography gig platforms 2
You'll need: A camera, A portfolio or work samples, Good English
Needs 2+ years of paid lifestyle photography experience and conversational English, and only about 3% of applicants are accepted.
You'll need: A camera, A portfolio or work samples, Good English
Needs 3+ years of experience, professional gear with backups, very good English, and you must live in the destination you shoot.
Passive income apps 2
Must be 18+ on your own home network (no shared or work networks) and payouts start at a $20 minimum.
You'll need: A computer
Terms bar minors and sanctioned regions (list not itemised) and rewards are points or tokens with no promised cash value.
Course platforms 2
You'll need: A computer, A portfolio or work samples
First-time teachers must be approved (English-language applications only) and earnings are forfeited while Tipalti payment setup is incomplete.
You'll need: A computer, A bank account
No free plan (7-day trial), the Starter plan adds a 7.5% transaction fee, payouts can arrive within minutes of a sale.
Ticket resale platforms 2
Official pages blocked automated reading so eligibility is unverified.
Official seller pages blocked automated reading so eligibility is unverified.
Shipping gig platforms 1
You'll need: A smartphone, A driver's licence, A car, A motorbike or scooter
Rules are set per city, in Hong Kong you must be 18+ with a local licence and HKID and own or rent a van, truck or motorbike.
Delivery platforms 1
Country list from Wikipedia because the official site blocks automated reading.
Paid blogging platforms 1
Official Medium pages blocked automated reading (HTTP 403) so Partner Program eligibility could not be verified.
Prize competitions 1
You'll need: A computer
Quebec, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk are also barred, winners pass an ID check and file a W-9 or W-8BEN, prizes paid within 90 days.
Microtask sites 1
You'll need: A computer, A tax ID number
MTurk is closing on September 30 2026, so new workers should not sign up, and US persons living abroad were never supported.
Not available to people in Malaysia (65)
Their official pages list the countries they accept, and Malaysia isn't one of them right now: Coople, GoStudent, Glovo, Angkas, Swagbucks, Hipcamp, Outschool, Tutor.com, Prolific, bol, Airtasker, Awign, Rappi, iFood, Instacart, Uber, Bykea, Jumia, Mrsool, Deliveroo, Uklon, 1111 Job Bank, Bark, Belay, Kickstarter, Lyft, Talabat, TaskRabbit, DoorDash, Flipkart, Gojek, MercadoLibre, Talkspace, Zomato, Boldly, Urban Company, Varsity Tutors, Vinted, Daraz, DiDi, Getir, Pathao, Thumbtack, TikTok, Turo, 104 Job Bank, Ola, Swiggy, Allegro, Depop, Poshmark, Whatnot, Grubhub, Wolt, Amazon Flex, BetterHelp, Getaround, Coupang, Kiva, Mercari, Rover, OfferUp, Vivid Seats, Walmart Marketplace, GoFundMe.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best freelance and gig platforms in Malaysia?
Grab for ride-hailing, food and courier jobs, foodpanda for food delivery, Lalamove for van and truck delivery work, Shopee and Lazada for online selling, and Carousell for secondhand sales. Upwork and Fiverr cover remote freelance work for overseas clients.
How do freelancers in Malaysia get paid by international clients?
Upwork pays to Malaysian bank accounts in MYR through Direct to Local Bank for USD 0.99 per withdrawal, and also offers PayPal and Payoneer. Fiverr pays through PayPal (no fee, USD 1 minimum) or Payoneer. PayPal balances withdraw to a Malaysian bank for free above MYR 400.
Does PayPal work in Malaysia?
Yes. Malaysian PayPal accounts can send and receive payments, and receiving personal payments is free when no currency conversion is involved. Withdrawals to a Malaysian bank account are free above MYR 400 and cost MYR 3 for smaller amounts.
Can people in Malaysia work on Upwork and Fiverr?
Yes. Upwork lists Malaysia (MYR) for Direct to Local Bank withdrawals and requires the bank account name to match your verified Upwork name. To apply for US-only or UK-only jobs, Upwork asks for identity verification and 35 Connects for its badge. Fiverr sellers must be at least 18 to withdraw.
Which delivery and ride-hailing apps can you work for in Malaysia?
Grab covers ride-hailing plus GrabFood, GrabMart and GrabExpress deliveries. foodpanda also runs food delivery in Malaysia, and Lalamove connects drivers of motorcycles, cars, vans and trucks with point-to-point delivery orders.