Freelancer
Freelancer is a global crowdsourcing marketplace that connects you with millions of independent professionals to complete projects in software development, writing, design, engineering, and data entry services.
Malt
Malt is a comprehensive freelancer marketplace and management platform that connects businesses with independent consultants, developers, and creative professionals to streamline project sourcing, administrative tasks, and secure payments.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Freelancer | Malt |
|---|---|---|
| Website | freelancer.com | malt.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2009 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Paris, France |
Overview
Freelancer
Freelancer is a massive online marketplace where you can hire expert help for any project imaginable. Whether you need a website built, a mobile app developed, or a logo designed, you can post your requirements and receive competitive bids from professionals worldwide within minutes. You can browse portfolios, chat with candidates in real-time, and select the best fit for your specific budget and timeline.
The platform simplifies remote work by providing tools to track progress and manage communications in one place. You only release payments when you are 100% satisfied with the work delivered through their milestone system. It serves everyone from solo founders needing a quick task finished to large enterprises looking to scale their technical teams quickly without the overhead of traditional hiring.
Malt
Malt is a centralized platform designed to help you find, hire, and manage independent talent for your business projects. Instead of juggling multiple job boards and manual invoices, you get access to a curated community of over 700,000 freelancers across Europe. You can search for specific skills, view detailed consultant profiles, and initiate projects directly through a secure interface that handles the administrative heavy lifting for you.
The platform simplifies the entire lifecycle of working with external talent by automating contracts, insurance, and payments. Whether you are a small startup looking for a part-time designer or a large enterprise managing hundreds of independent consultants, you can track all your external spend and project progress in one dashboard. It eliminates the compliance risks often associated with freelancing by providing standardized legal frameworks and automated tax documentation.
Overview
Freelancer Features
- Milestone Payments Release funds only when you are satisfied with the completed work to ensure your project stays on track.
- Real-time Chat Communicate directly with your freelancers through instant messaging to clarify requirements and share feedback immediately.
- Time Tracking Monitor hourly work with the desktop app that captures screenshots and logs active hours for accurate billing.
- Contest Hosting Crowdsource your creative projects by letting multiple freelancers submit designs so you can pick your favorite entry.
- Mobile Management Manage your projects and message freelancers on the go using the native iOS and Android mobile applications.
- Bid Management Compare quotes, reviews, and portfolios from multiple experts side-by-side to find the perfect match for your budget.
Malt Features
- Direct Talent Search. Find the perfect expert by filtering through 700,000+ profiles based on skills, experience, and real-time availability.
- Malt Strategy. Access a curated network of high-level independent consultants specifically vetted for complex digital transformation and management projects.
- Automated Contracting. Generate legally compliant contracts automatically for every project to protect your business and ensure clear deliverables.
- Centralized Payments. Pay all your freelancers through one system with consolidated invoicing to simplify your accounting and tax reporting.
- Project Management Tools. Communicate with your freelancers, share documents, and track project milestones directly within the secure platform workspace.
- Professional Insurance. Protect your projects with built-in professional liability insurance provided through Malt's partnership with Hiscox for every mission.
Pricing Comparison
Freelancer Pricing
- Post projects for free
- Receive bids from freelancers
- 6 bids per month
- Unlimited project bookmarks
- Basic profile features
- Everything in Free, plus:
- 15 bids per month
- Monthly rewards
- Free project extensions
- Custom profile cover
Malt Pricing
- Free account creation
- Access to 700,000+ profiles
- Direct messaging with talent
- Standardized legal contracts
- Secure payment processing
- Professional liability insurance
- Everything in Community, plus:
- Centralized dashboard for teams
- Advanced spend reporting
- Custom onboarding workflows
- Dedicated account management
- Consolidated monthly invoicing
Pros & Cons
Freelancer
Pros
- Access to a massive global pool of diverse talent
- Fast turnaround times with bids arriving in minutes
- Milestone system protects your payments until work is done
- Affordable options for small tasks and simple projects
Cons
- High volume of low-quality automated bids to filter
- Fees apply to both clients and freelancers
- Customer support response times can be slow
- Steep learning curve for navigating the complex interface
Malt
Pros
- High-quality talent pool with verified reviews
- Streamlined administrative and payment processes
- Excellent customer support for project mediation
- Intuitive interface makes searching very simple
- Automatic insurance coverage provides peace of mind
Cons
- Service fees can be high for clients
- Primarily focused on the European market
- Limited features for very small budgets
- Search filters can sometimes be too broad