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Job board or marketplace: who hires and who pays?
Compare job boards with freelance marketplaces: applications and direct employer pay on one side, proposals, held funds, service fees and payouts on the other.
Drawn in 7 stages, the way an illustrator fills a field sketchbook. Press play to watch it drawn.
Job board or marketplace: who hires and who pays? FreelanceSites sketchbook
$ JOB BOARD MARKETPLACE You apply Employer hires Pays you directly Usually no fee to you No board escrow Proposal + contract Escrow Fee Payout Funded fixed-price example Other contract models vary Same goal. Different paths for the money. Finished sketch: 7 stages, 138 pencil marks
Watch it drawn 1× Skip to finished Blocking in two routes to work Two workstations outlined, with a wash Details: applications and direct employment Details: proposals, escrow, fees and payout Texture: board grain and contract fine print Shading away from the upper left Caption
What the sketch shows
A job board is a noticeboard with a search box. It lists opportunities, then usually sends you to the employer's application process. You apply, interview and agree terms with that organisation. If hired, the employer pays you directly under your employment or contractor agreement. The board generally does not hold your wages in escrow or settle payment disputes.
Many boards let job seekers apply without paying. Others charge for access, subscriptions or extra tools, so read the service's pricing rather than assuming every listing site is free. A job posted on a board can still be fraudulent; verify the employer independently.
A freelance marketplace usually stays involved after the introduction. You may submit a proposal or sell a defined service, agree a contract inside the platform, deliver the work and receive a platform payout after applicable fees and release conditions.
Follow the money, then compare
The right-hand drawing illustrates a funded fixed-price arrangement: the client funds escrow before work begins, and money is released under the contract's rules. That is a common model, not a description of every marketplace job. Hourly contracts can use time tracking and different payment protections; some services do not use escrow at all. Choose a board when direct employer relationships suit you and you can assess the contract yourself. Choose a marketplace when its client access, payment tools and support justify its costs. Neither route guarantees work. Check country eligibility, employer credibility, payment terms and the amount you will actually keep before committing your time.
Key points
A job board usually introduces you to an employer rather than handling your pay. Many boards are free to applicants, but subscriptions and paid extras exist. Marketplaces commonly manage contracts and payments and charge service fees. Escrow and payment protection depend on the service and contract type.
