Contra Fee Calculator

Contra publicly indexes freelancer portfolios — they show up in Google for "[your name]", "[your skill] freelancer", and similar searches. Upwork and Fiverr actively block Google from indexing most profiles. A well-built Contra portfolio generates inbound leads from Google without bidding on a single project. Treat it like a product page, not a signup form.

The 0% commission is real, but most companies pay invoices by card — and Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, deducted automatically before payout. US freelancers with ACH transfers avoid this entirely. International freelancers pay ~$25 per wire withdrawal on top. On a $2,500 card payment that's $72.80 in processing — still a fraction of Upwork's $250 on the same project, but not zero.

On a $200 gig the savings are negligible. On a $5,000 project you keep $500 more than on Upwork. On a $50,000 annual client relationship that's $5,000 back in your pocket — without negotiating rates or gaming fee tiers. The 0% model isn't built for gig volume. It's built for senior freelancers with high-value retainers.

Contra's clients are mostly US-based funded startups and tech companies expecting $100+/hr rates. Non-US freelancers can use it — but will find fewer relevant projects than on Upwork or Malt. The platform makes most sense if you already have a network, can command senior rates, and want to stop giving 10% to Upwork. If you're building a client base from scratch, start elsewhere and add Contra later.