How PeoplePerHour fees actually work in 2026
The tiered fee — and the part most guides miss
PPH charges 20% on your first £350 earned with any given client. Once you cross that threshold, the rate drops to 7.5% — permanently for that client relationship. This isn't per project; it's per client. A £500 project with a new client pays 20% on £350 and 7.5% on the remaining £150 — an effective 16.25%. On a £500 project with a new client, after each platform's fee, 2% processing, and a 19% tax reserve:
The costs beyond the service fee
A flat £1.80 Members Fee is charged per invoice — regardless of size. Payment via bank transfer is typically free; PayPal adds ~2%. PeoplePerHour operates in GBP. If you're billing in pounds but spending in euros or dollars, every withdrawal goes through currency conversion — typically 1–3% at standard bank rates, or 0.4–0.6% via Wise.
Stream Credits — PPH's version of Connects
Applying to jobs on PPH costs Stream Credits. Free accounts get around 15 proposals per month. Additional credits can be purchased or unlocked via paid membership plans (from ~£4.99/mo). Each proposal spends credits — competitive jobs require more. Check PPH's current pricing page for exact credit allowances, as these change periodically. Budget roughly £5–10/month in proposal costs if you're actively bidding.
Who PPH actually works for
PeoplePerHour's client base is predominantly UK-based businesses in design, development, marketing, and writing. Average project values are smaller than Malt or Contra, but the volume of available work is higher for UK-based freelancers. Non-UK freelancers can win projects, but will encounter geographic filtering and more currency friction on every withdrawal.
Calculate Your PeoplePerHour Payout
Estimates only · Actual platform fees may vary · Not financial or tax advice
PeoplePerHour insider knowledge
Repeat clients are your most profitable PPH relationships
The fee structure rewards client loyalty. Your first £350 with any client costs 20%. Everything above drops to 7.5%. A client relationship worth £2,000 total pays a blended rate of ~9.2% — nearly half the starting rate. Pitch retainers and ongoing work to existing PPH clients. The economics improve with every invoice.
Batch your work — the £1.80 fee compounds fast
Every invoice carries a fixed £1.80 Members Fee regardless of size. Five separate £100 invoices cost £9 in flat fees alone — 1.8% on top of the 20% service fee. One £500 invoice costs £1.80 — 0.36%. Consolidate deliverables and milestones into single invoices wherever possible.
Non-UK freelancers: use Wise, not your bank
PPH pays in GBP. If your expenses are in EUR, USD, or another currency, every withdrawal loses 1–2% at standard bank rates. Using Wise for the conversion typically cuts this to 0.4–0.6%. On £1,000 withdrawn monthly, that's £6–16 saved — small per transaction, meaningful over a year.
Set up Houries like product listings, not pitches
A Hourie is PPH's version of a Fiverr gig — a pre-packaged service clients can buy directly from search. Most freelancers only apply to job posts and miss this entirely. Build 3–5 Houries for your most repeatable services, write them for search intent, and update them regularly. A well-optimized Hourie generates leads for months without any active bidding.
PPH vs Upwork vs Fiverr — honest comparison
| PPH | Upwork | Fiverr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission (repeat client) | 7.5% | 10% | 20% |
| UK market access | Strong | Limited | Limited |
| Gig-style listings | Houries | No | Gigs |
| Payment protection | Escrow | Escrow | None |
| Global reach | EU/UK only | Global | Global |
| Commission (new client) | 20% initially | 10% flat | 20% flat |
| Per-invoice fee | £1.80 | None | None |
Based on publicly documented fee structures. Features subject to change — verify with each platform's official documentation.
Turn Insight into Income
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Estimates based on publicly available fee structures. Not tax advice. Adjust calculations to your specific situation.