Upwork adds a 3-10% client service fee to every contract, plus, on the Basic plan, a contract initiation fee on each new contract, on top of what the freelancer charges. RemoteAI charges flat posting fees, and nothing is taken from what you pay your hire.
Comparing more options? See Toptal alternatives for hiring AI talent, compared.
| Category | RemoteAI | Upwork |
|---|---|---|
| Client fee per contract | None, flat platform pricing only | 3-10% depending on plan |
| Additional per-contract fee | None | $0.99-$14.99 per new contract (Basic plan) |
| Freelancer-side fee | None | 0-15% service fee on freelancer earnings |
| Talent focus | AI, ML, LLM and prompt engineering first | General freelance marketplace, all categories |
| Freelancer review | New profiles reviewed by our team | Upwork's own profile approval rules (not compared here) |
| Pricing model | $49 per post or $179 for 5 posts, paid once; one free job a month (open 14 days, reviewed first if your website is not verified) | Percentage of every contract, ongoing |
Upwork figures from Upwork's pricing page (upwork.com/pricing/client) and help center, read October 30, 2026. Terms can change; check with Upwork before deciding.
Why teams switch
0%
taken from your contract
No 3-10% marketplace fee on every payment you make.
AI-first
AI-focused talent pool
No filtering through unrelated categories to find AI specialists.
Manual
review of new profiles
Each new profile is checked by our team before it is listed: real name, clear description, own photo.
FAQ
No. Upwork charges clients a marketplace fee of 3-10% per contract (depending on plan) plus, on the Basic plan, a contract initiation fee of $0.99-$14.99 per new contract, on top of whatever the freelancer charges. RemoteAI charges a flat fee to access the platform: one job a month free (open 14 days, reviewed first if your website is not verified), $49 per job post, or $179 for 5 posts, paid once, with 0% taken from what you pay the freelancer.
Upwork is a large, general-purpose freelance marketplace covering every category from writing to design to development. RemoteAI is built specifically around AI, ML, LLM, and prompt engineering talent. New profiles are reviewed by our team with that focus, so you are not filtering through a general pool to find AI-specific expertise.
Upwork is a general marketplace for every category of freelance work, with its own profile approval rules. On RemoteAI, new profiles are reviewed by our team before they appear publicly: a real name, a clear description and an appropriate photo. Skills are not tested.
Indirectly, yes. Upwork also charges freelancers a service fee of 0-15% per contract, which freelancers may account for in their rates. Since RemoteAI does not take a cut of the contract on either side, freelancers on RemoteAI have no platform fee to price into their rate.
Yes. You contact candidates directly, agree on scope and rate together, and pay them however you arrange it. RemoteAI is not in the payment loop, so there is no percentage taken from the deal.
See how many AI specialists apply before you pay anything. Free jobs are open 14 days and reviewed first if your website is not verified.