Fiverr Review: All you need to know

Samuel Clennett

09.10.20 (updated more than 1 year ago)

4 minute read

Meta: Read our essential guide to the freelancing platform Fiverr, including fees, alternatives and low-cost ways to get paid.

If you’re looking for more freelance work, or are a business wanting to use the services of a freelancer, head to Fiverr.

Fiverr is a worldwide freelancing platform designed to connect employers and freelancers. And it’s a popular one too, with around 2.4 active employers and over 800,000 freelancers¹.

In this guide, we’ll give you the lowdown on Fiverr and how it works – whether you’re a freelancer or a business looking to outsource some work. We’ll cover fees, service categories and alternatives, along with the most cost-effective ways to get paid.

For example, open a Wise account for freelancers and you can receive payments from Fiverr in multiple currencies – without getting stung on currency conversion fees.

We’ll look at how this works later. Firstly, let’s cover the basics of using the Fiverr platform.

What is Fiverr?

Fiverr has been around since 2010². Since then, it’s become one of the most popular platforms for freelancers and outsourcing. It’s a huge marketplace spanning 160 countries³.

So, if you’re a business in Australia and you need to outsource a project, you can take your pick from thousands of talented, experienced professionals all over the world.

The opportunities are just as boundless for freelancers. They can increase their earning potential by taking on ‘gigs’ (as jobs are known on the platform) from far beyond the boundaries of their home country.

Fiverr isn’t just where all the worlds freelancers and outsourcing employers hang out. It also aims to be an intuitive, user-friendly way to commission jobs, making it simple to access online services, get work done and get paid.

Fiverr’s impressive features list includes⁴:

Multi-currency support
Secure payment gateways
Seller ratings, work samples and feedback from previous buyers
Private communication platform
Transparent fees
200 service categories⁵, across the Fiverr online catalogue
Free seller profile.

What type of work can you find on Fiverr?

Fiverr is commonly used by graphic design professionals, but the list of available service categories really is huge.

For example, freelancers on Fiverr can offer their expertise in⁶:

Social media and digital marketing – including SEO, PR and influencer marketing
Search engine optimisation
Music and audio – including mixing and mastering, songwriting, audiobook production and podcast editing
Programming and tech – including WordPress website development and game development
Writing and translation – including blog posts, white papers, proofreading and legal writing.

What fees are involved with using Fiverr?

If you’re a freelancer using Fiverr, it’s free to sign up and create your seller profile. But as soon as you take on any work, you’ll pay 20% of the total order value to Fiverr as commission⁷.

For employers looking to outsource work, the fee structure is ever so slightly more complicated. You can create a Fiverr account and have a look around the available services for free, but fees apply once you commission work. You’ll pay just $2 USD in service fees if the total order value is $40 USD or under, but this jumps to 5% for purchases over $40 USD⁸.

There are also fees related to withdrawing your money from Fiverr. The platform processes all payments for simplicity and security, and you can choose from PayPal, bank transfer or the Fiverr Revenue Card when it comes to withdrawing your money.

There are no fees for withdrawing to your PayPal account, but you will pay a $3 USD charge for depositing the funds in your bank account. The fee for withdrawing to your Fiverr Revenue Card range from $1-$3 USD depending on how quickly you want the money paid.⁹

On top of this, you need to watch out for currency conversion fees. If you’re withdrawing your money in any other currency than USD, conversion fees will apply¹⁰. There is a way around this though, which we’ll cover near the end of this guide.

How does it compare to the alternatives?

Fiverr may be a mega popular freelancer marketplace, but it’s far from the only one out there. Here are a couple of alternatives to check out:

Upwork¹¹

Another well-used global freelancer platform, Upwork focuses more on digital services. It’s free to post a job and has simple, transparent pricing and payment methods, including a choice of plans depending on your use. Service categories include design and creative, writing, sales and marketing, customer service, engineering and architecture.

Oneflare¹²

Oneflare is a platform connecting businesses and freelancers just within Australia. Although it may have more of a local focus, it does offer a wider range of services than competitors such as Upwork and Fiverr. Many of these are of a practical nature. For example, you can use the platform to find a plumber or a cleaner, as well as a web designer, accountant or conveyancer. Requesting quotes is free, and there’s a dynamic pricing system (including credit system for freelancers) to suit a range of needs¹³.

How to get your money out of Fiverr

You’ve completed a job for a delighted client and they’ve paid the project fee through the platform. Now it’s time for you to withdraw your money from Fiverr.

We’ve already looked at the possible withdrawal and currency conversion fees you may need to pay. You can use PayPal, as there is no withdrawal fee – but remember that you are still likely to be charged a currency conversion charge. Plus, you’re not going to get the most competitive exchange rate out there.

A better value option could be to choose bank transfer for your payout. There’s a $3 charge, but you don’t have to put up with the conversion fee if you’re outside the US – not if you use the local US bank details provided by your Wise account.

When you open a Wise Business account¹⁴, you’ll be given local bank details to use whenever you need to paid in a currency other than AUD. This means you can get paid by Fiverr in US dollars and avoid both the currency conversion fee and the rubbish exchange rate.

The money will come through to your Wise multi-currency account, rather than to your actual bank. You’ll then have the option to hold that money to cover future payments, or spend like a local using your linked business debit Mastercard.

You can also withdraw to your bank account, with the currency converted at the real exchange rate (with no mark-up added) and a tiny conversion fee.

If you use Fiverr a lot, you could find that this works out as the most cost-effective way to get paid.

So, that’s all the basics of Fiverr covered – from the services available to how to get paid, plus a choice of alternatives if the platform’s not right for you. Get out there and start winning some business!

Sources used:

Sources checked on 6-October 2020.

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