Best Apps to Make Money as a Freelancer in the UK
Discover the best apps to make money online as a UK sole trader in 2026. Our guide covers features, fees, and things to note about each app.
Fiverr can be a handy way for UK freelancers to find international clients, sell packaged services, and build a profile without having to pitch from scratch every time. But before you rely on it for freelance income, it’s worth exploring how the platform works - and that's what we've covered in this article.
We've covered Fiverr fees, UK withdrawal options, Fiverr seller levels, Fiverr Pro, Fiverr Go and alternatives such as Upwork, Freelancer.com and PeoplePerHour, so you can decide whether the platform fits the way you freelance.
We've also explained how Wise Business can help UK freelancers manage international payments, hold multiple currencies and keep freelance finances separate.
*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.
| Topic | What UK freelancers should know |
|---|---|
| Fiverr seller fee | Fiverr currently says each successfully completed seller order credits the seller’s account with earnings equal to 80% of the purchase amount.1 |
| Buyer service fee | Fiverr currently states that the standard buyer service fee is 5.5% of the purchase price, and a $3.50 fee is added to orders under $200.2 |
| Payout timing | Fiverr currently says earnings are available for withdrawal after a safety clearance period of 14 days after the order is marked as complete, while Top Rated Sellers are eligible after 7 days.1 |
| Withdrawal methods | Fiverr withdrawal options currently include PayPal, Bank Transfer via Payoneer, Payoneer Account, and Payoneer Revenue Card. Fiverr says new users can no longer create a Fiverr Revenue Card, although existing registered users may continue using it.3 |
| Wise Business | Wise Business can help eligible UK freelancers receive overseas payments using local account details, hold multiple currencies, convert currencies at the mid-market exchange rate with fees shown before confirming, and keep freelance income separate from personal spending. Features, fees and account details vary by plan, country and currency. |
| Best for | Packaged services, repeatable digital work, testing a niche, and reaching international buyers. |
| Watch out for | Platform fees, competition, currency conversion costs, payout delays, and tax/admin obligations. |
Fiverr is an online freelance marketplace that UK freelancers can use to sell services to clients in the UK and overseas. These services are usually listed as gigs.
Fiverr’s term for a service listing that sets out what you offer, what’s included, how much it costs and how long delivery takes. Gigs can include anything from logo design and copywriting to web development, video editing, voiceover, translation, AI consulting and digital marketing.
Fiverr currently brings clients and freelancers together by letting buyers browse freelancers’ skills, packages, and reviews before placing an order.4
Trustpilot currently lists Fiverr as a Business-to-Business service and online marketplace, with 14,680 reviews and a 2.5 TrustScore.5
Unlike job-board-style platforms where UK freelancers mainly bid for posted projects, Fiverr is built around service listings. You create a profile, package what you offer, set prices and delivery times, and buyers can order directly or contact you for a custom offer.
| Step | What UK freelancers do | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create your freelancer profile | Add your skills, experience, portfolio, languages, and professional details. | Buyers can review your profile before ordering or contacting you. |
| 2. Create gigs or services | Build service listings with packages, prices, deliverables and delivery times. | Buyers can order a listed gig or ask for a custom offer. |
| 3. Client orders | A buyer places an order and pays through Fiverr. | Fiverr holds the payment while the work is completed. |
| 4. Deliver the work | You submit the agreed work through Fiverr. | The buyer can accept, request revisions, or the order may auto-complete. |
| 5. Funds clear | Fiverr applies the seller fee and clears earnings according to your account status. | Your funds become available after the relevant safety clearance period. |
| 6. Withdraw earnings | You withdraw using an available payout method. | UK freelancers may then receive, hold, convert or transfer funds using their chosen business account or payment provider. |
💡With Wise Business, UK freelancers working with overseas clients can hold money in 40+ currencies, which may help when managing earnings from clients or platforms in different currencies.
To start selling on Fiverr from the UK, you’ll need to create a free account and create a Gig from the same account. Fiverr says users can buy and sell from the same account once they create a Gig.4
When creating your first Fiverr gig, focus on a repeatable service that is easy for buyers to understand. Strong gigs usually include:
For UK freelancers, it’s also worth planning your admin from the start. Keep records of income, platform fees, business expenses, and currency conversion costs. GOV.UK currently states that self-employed sole traders and partners must keep business records covering income and expenses.6
Fiverr currently says that, as a seller, each order you sell and successfully complete credits your account with earnings equal to 80% of the purchase amount.1
Fiverr also charges buyers. Fiverr currently states that the standard buyer service fee is 5.5% of the purchase price, and a $3.50 fee is added to orders under $200.2
That buyer fee does not reduce the seller’s listed earnings directly, but it can affect the total price the buyer sees. For example, a £100 gig may cost the buyer more than £100 after Fiverr buyer fees, while the seller’s earnings are calculated separately after the seller fee. This example is illustrative.
💡With Wise Business, UK freelancers can convert currencies anytime at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees, which may help when comparing what you earn in one currency with what you need to spend in GBP.
Once your Fiverr earnings are available, you can withdraw them using the payout methods available in your account. Fiverr’s current withdrawal guidance includes PayPal, Bank Transfer via Payoneer, Payoneer Account, and Payoneer Revenue Card options.3
Fiverr also notes that the Fiverr Revenue Card is no longer available for new users to create, although existing users with one registered can continue to use it.3
For UK freelancers, the best withdrawal method depends on:
| Scenario | Example |
|---|---|
| Client orders | £500 project |
| Fiverr seller fee | £100 |
| Seller earnings before payout/conversion | £400 |
| Withdrawal/conversion | Depends on the payout method and the currency route |
| UK freelancer admin | Record income, Fiverr fees, and conversion costs for tax records |
For a UK freelancer, the important number is not just the gig price. It’s the amount you receive after Fiverr’s seller fee, withdrawal costs, currency conversion and any business expenses.
💡With Wise Business, UK freelancers can create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates, which can help when working with direct overseas clients alongside Fiverr.
*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.
Fiverr currently uses freelancer levels to reward sellers who provide exceptional service and grow their business on the platform. Fiverr says the level system is designed to unlock benefits and tools as freelancers progress.7
For UK sellers, levels can affect how buyers view your profile and what tools you can access. Fiverr currently also has a Top Rated level for freelancers recognised for the highest level of quality and service.8
Levels are not the same as guaranteed earnings. A higher level may help with visibility and credibility, but your results still depend on demand, reviews, pricing, service quality, and how competitive your category is.
Fiverr Pro is currently Fiverr’s premium marketplace dedicated to connecting top clients and freelancers. Fiverr says every Pro freelancer is handpicked to ensure they offer the highest level of quality and service to business clients.9
For UK freelancers, Fiverr Pro may help with credibility and access to more serious buyers, but it also comes with higher expectations. Fiverr’s Pro guidance currently says Pro freelancers are expected to have extra high standards regarding professional ethics.10
Fiverr Pro is most relevant if you already have a strong portfolio, specialist expertise and the ability to handle demanding client work.
AI may create new Fiverr service opportunities for UK freelancers, such as AI consulting, prompt engineering, workflow automation, and AI-assisted design.
It may also increase competition in lower-complexity categories, so it’s worth focusing your gig on judgement, strategy, creative direction, niche knowledge or client-specific outcomes that are harder for buyers to replace with basic AI tools.
Fiverr Go currently includes a Personal Assistant designed to answer inquiries, qualify leads, and boost conversions.11
Fiverr Go’s Personal Assistant is described by Fiverr as powered by AI and trained by the freelancer. Fiverr says it filters out irrelevant requests, replies instantly in the freelancer’s preferred tone of voice, gathers the details needed to get started, and supports a global client base 24/7 and in multiple languages.11
For UK freelancers selling across time zones, tools like this may be useful for managing buyer enquiries while keeping the actual service delivery focused on your expertise.
Fiverr can be worth it in the UK if you sell a clear, repeatable service, price your work with the 20% seller fee in mind, and use Fiverr as one of several routes to clients.
It may be less suitable if you need predictable income quickly, work in a highly saturated category, or rely on low-priced gigs where the platform fee takes a large share of your margin.
| Advantages for UK freelancers | Limitations for UK freelancers |
|---|---|
| Access to international buyers | Seller fee reduces your take-home pay |
| No need to build a full website before selling | New sellers may struggle to get visibility |
| Good for packaged services and fixed deliverables | Some categories are very competitive |
| Built-in ordering, messaging, reviews, and payment flow | Payouts are not instant |
| Potential to build repeat client relationships | Currency conversion and withdrawal costs can reduce earnings |
| Useful as one route to clients alongside direct work | Platform rules limit how you communicate and get paid |
| Platform | Fees and payouts | Best for & watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | Fees: commonly, a 20% seller fee. Payout: PayPal, Payoneer, and bank transfer options, depending on eligibility. | Best for: productised gigs, digital services, repeatable work. Watch out for: high seller fees, competition, and payout clearance. |
| Upwork | Fees: Upwork’s Freelancer Service Fee currently ranges from 0% to 15% per contract.12 Payout: check current Upwork fee guidance; bank transfer and other payout options, depending on location. | Best for: longer-term client work, hourly and fixed-price projects. Watch out for: proposal competition, connects, and variable fees. |
| Freelancer.com | Fees: Freelancer.com currently publishes project and contest fees, including percentage/minimum fees depending on project type.13 Payout: different withdrawal methods depending on the country. | Best for: bidding on a wide range of projects. Watch out for: bidding competition and optional paid upgrades. |
| PeoplePerHour | Fees: PeoplePerHour currently charges tiered service fees based on lifetime billing per buyer: 20% below £250, 7.5% between £250 and £5000, and 3.5% over £5000, excluding VAT.14 Payout: withdrawal options vary by account/country. | Best for: UK and European freelancers, project and offer-based work. Watch out for: service fees, buyer competition, platform rules. |
For UK freelancers earning through international platforms or working with clients overseas, managing income across currencies can mean checking payout options, exchange rates, fees and account-detail availability before you choose how to get paid.
This is where Wise Business can help.
With Wise Business, you can:
Make the wise choice when selecting a business account for all your domestic and global needs.
Be Smart, Get Wise.
*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.
No. Fiverr can be used by new UK freelancers, experienced specialists and Pro freelancers, but the right fit depends on your services, pricing, portfolio, and ability to compete in your category.
Compare the seller fee, payout timing, withdrawal options, buyer demand in your category, competition level, and any currency conversion costs before deciding how much to rely on Fiverr.
Yes. Many UK freelancers use marketplaces alongside direct clients, referrals, a portfolio website, and repeat work so they are not dependent on one platform.
Before using Fiverr, UK freelancers should price with fees in mind. If you want to take home $400 before conversion and tax, a $400 gig will not be enough after Fiverr’s seller fee. Build the platform fee, revision time, and admin into your pricing. This example is illustrative.
It can also help to keep business and personal finances separate, even if you’re a sole trader and not legally required to have a separate business account. Keeping freelance income separate can make record-keeping easier.
Track Fiverr fees, withdrawal fees, currency conversion costs, and software costs, as these can affect your profit. If you’re paid in USD but spend in GBP, check the exchange rate and fee before converting.
Fiverr provides order and earnings information, but UK freelancers should still keep clear business records for tax purposes. GOV.UK currently states that self-employed sole traders and partners must keep records of business income and expenses.6
Sources:
Sources last checked on 9 June 2026
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