ErdiBuilds vs Upwork: fees and how it works (2026)
ErdiBuilds is free for clients and funds each milestone before work starts. Upwork charges clients a marketplace fee and lets freelancers apply with paid Connects, according to its own pages checked on 6 November 2026.
Last updated:
Both platforms bring clients and freelancers together. This page puts the facts that differ side by side, each with the page it came from. It does not rate either platform. If you are choosing for an app, SaaS, website or game project, the table shows what you would pay and how applying works.
At a glance
| Topic | ErdiBuilds | Upwork |
|---|---|---|
| Fee for clients | Free for clients. | A marketplace fee of 7.99% on the Basic plan or 10% on Business Plus, plus a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99 per contract on BasicSource: Upwork pricing for clients. Checked on |
| Cost to apply | Applying is free, with no paid bids. | Freelancers use Connects to submit proposals. Connects cost $0.15 (USD) each, and the number needed varies per jobSource: Upwork Help: Understanding and using Connects. Checked on |
| How payment works | Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. | Fixed-price and hourly contractsSource: Upwork pricing for clients. Checked on |
Fee for clients
- ErdiBuilds
- Free for clients.
- Upwork
- A marketplace fee of 7.99% on the Basic plan or 10% on Business Plus, plus a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99 per contract on Basic
Cost to apply
- ErdiBuilds
- Applying is free, with no paid bids.
- Upwork
- Freelancers use Connects to submit proposals. Connects cost $0.15 (USD) each, and the number needed varies per job
How payment works
- ErdiBuilds
- Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks.
- Upwork
- Fixed-price and hourly contracts
The Upwork pricing page names 7.99% for Basic in its plan summary and its FAQ, and uses 5% in one worked example further down the same page. The row shows the 7.99%. The checkout shows the exact amount for your contract.
For fairness: Upwork states that freelancers pay a service fee of 0% to 15% per contract, shown before a proposal is sent. On ErdiBuilds the fee works like this: Developers pay 8 percent plus payment processing.
What you get with ErdiBuilds
- Free for clients.
- Milestones are from 50 to 2,000 each in your project currency.
- Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks.
- Developers come from the 27 EU countries. Clients can join from anywhere in the world.
- Unless both sides agree otherwise in writing on the platform, the rights to the result of a milestone pass to the client once that milestone is paid in full.
- Developers are independent professionals, not our employees.
How it works on ErdiBuilds
- Describe your project: the kind of project, the kind of help and your goals. You can start without an account.
- Review proposals: independent developers who match your project send proposals with fixed price milestones, sorted by match score with plain reasons.
- Fund one milestone at a time. Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. You approve the delivery, then the developer is paid.
Sources and notes
Upwork is a brand of Upwork Global Inc., the operator named in its own terms or legal pages. ErdiBuilds is not affiliated with Upwork. Information checked on 2026-11-06, see sources.
- Upwork Legal Center, checked on 2026-11-06
- Upwork pricing for clients, checked on 2026-11-06
- Upwork Help: Freelancer Service Fee, checked on 2026-11-06
- Upwork Help: Understanding and using Connects, checked on 2026-11-06
Frequently asked questions
Is ErdiBuilds free for clients?
Free for clients. You pay the milestone amount you agreed on and nothing on top. Milestones are from 50 to 2,000 each in your project currency.
Link to this answerDo developers pay to send proposals on ErdiBuilds?
Applying is free, with no paid bids. Developers pay 8 percent plus payment processing only when they get paid.
Link to this answerCan I hire for an app, SaaS, website or game project?
Yes. ErdiBuilds is an open marketplace where clients post app, SaaS, website and game projects, see which independent developers from the EU fit best based on what they have already built, and pay per milestone. See the build guides for each kind of project.
Link to this answerWho are the developers on ErdiBuilds?
Developers come from the 27 EU countries. Developers are independent professionals, not our employees. Verified means an ErdiBuilds admin has reviewed the developer and approved the profile by hand.
Link to this answerWho owns the result?
Unless both sides agree otherwise in writing on the platform, the rights to the result of a milestone pass to the client once that milestone is paid in full. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Link to this answerRelated pages
- Upwork alternatives for app and SaaS buildsUpwork alternatives for app, SaaS, website and game projects: ErdiBuilds, Fiverr, Toptal, Malt, Freelancer.com and Contra, with sourced facts.
- Upwork alternatives for developersErdiBuilds for developers: apply to app, SaaS, website and game projects for free, with every milestone funded before you start. Open to the EU.
- PricingWhat ErdiBuilds costs for clients and developers.
- How it worksFrom idea to finished project, step by step.
- Freelancer vs Agency vs MarketplaceA neutral comparison of hiring a freelancer, an agency or a marketplace for your app, SaaS, website or game: cost, speed, risk and control.