Is PeoplePerHour legit? An in-depth explanation

Freelance work is not showing any signs of slowing down, which only increases the importance of freelance sites like PeoplePerHour.

However, is PeoplePerHour the best option out of all the other sites available? Is it worth availing of its services, or is it best to look elsewhere?

This article dives into the legitimacy of PeoplePerHour and what it has to offer.

What is PeoplePerHour?

PeoplePerHour is a freelance website where you can find remote workers. It is where freelancers and gig workers can search for jobs and earn extra income.

Created in 2007, it is one of the largest and longest-running gig economy platforms in the United Kingdom, with over 1.1 million job postings in over 89 countries.

The site offers a diverse range of freelance jobs that anyone can apply for, such as:

• Content writing
• Graphic design
• Technology and programming
• Digital marketing
• Music
• Business
• Social media
• Photography
• Videography

How does PeoplePerHour work?

PeoplePerHour allows anyone to freely post what services they offer, while clients can search for the right person for the job. 

Freelancers can get started by doing the following:

Create a profile

Like with other freelance sites, to get started on PeoplePerHour, you must first create an account and profile. The site will ask whether you want to hire a freelancer or work as a freelancer.

Make sure that your profile is enticing enough for clients to check out. Create a short description of yourself, and list your expertise and what you offer.

After making your profile, you may have to wait seven days to be approved by PeoplePerHour. However, you can be instantly approved, but for a specific fee.

Check out the competition

It is recommended to look at what other freelancers in your niche are doing. While scoping out the competition, you can ask yourself the following questions:

• How much are they charging?
• What do their outputs look like?
• What are clients saying about them?
• Are there any potential gaps that you can fill with your services?

Analyzing the competition gives beginners a clearer idea of what more experienced freelancers are doing. You can set your prices more competitively and determine the kind and amount of output that is doable for you.

You also get an understanding of what clients are looking for and the kind of services that are in demand. Take a look at the highest-rated freelancers and the projects they have taken on.

Look for projects

Both freelancers and businesses can search for projects by clicking on the Search bar and clicking on either:

• Search offers (for businesses)
• Search freelancers (for businesses)
• Search projects (for freelancers)

For freelancers

For freelancers, depending on your expertise, you can look at the different projects that you would like to apply to.

You can also see how many freelancers applied for the same project, giving you an idea of how competitive it is. You can find many projects with other details, such as:

• Prices
• Experience level
• Duration of the project 
• When the project was posted

If you would like to apply, click on the project and enter a proposal. The downside here is that you have a limited number of proposal credits. 

You start with 15 free credits, but you must buy more if you run out.

For buyers

On the other hand, if you are looking to hire a freelancer, you have the option to view the profiles of various freelancers. This gives you access to the following information:

• Their services
• Ratings (out of 5 stars)
• Rates (hourly or fixed rate)
• Portfolio
• Offers they have posted
• Reviews left by previous clients

If there is a specific project you like to buy, simply click the “Buy Now” button or you can contact the freelancer directly.

Post offer

Freelancers can post an offer on PeoplePerHour once they are confident in their skills and rates.

As mentioned earlier, your first step will be to create a profile. This is where you will list down your skills and expertise and how much you will charge, either by the hour or at a fixed price.

When creating your profile, you want to attract as many clients as possible, meaning you must come up with a unique and compelling description of yourself.

How do you get paid on PeoplePerHour?

Payments are made easy with PeoplePerHour. You can add a withdrawal account on the website and withdraw from PayPal, Payoneer, or through bank transfer.

However, there is a catch, as the freelancer will not get paid immediately after completing the job. The money will be placed in escrow, meaning a third party will handle it before it is handed over to the freelancer.

The client must agree that the job has been completed before the freelancer can receive the payment. The client is given seven days to do this.

One thing to note is that PeoplePerHour charges quite high service fees. The service fee breakdown is as follows:

• First $350 earned with a Buyer (excl. VAT) – 20%
• $350 – $7,000 earned with a Buyer – 7.5%
• Over $7,000 earned with a Buyer – 3.5%

Advantages of using PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour has a lot of benefits that help both freelancers and buyers:

Wide range of services

There is something for everyone, regardless of what your niche is. 

One of PeoplePerHour’s strengths is its wide range of services. The amount of work you can have is very extensive, with many possible job opportunities in different fields.

For businesses, there are a lot of available freelancers, so there are a lot of potential candidates for the job.

Choice of buyer or seller

A unique option gives you the choice of being the buyer or seller. While this site is catered to freelance workers, business leaders, and employers can also use this platform to search for talent.

Even if you initially applied as a freelancer, you can change it if you decide to hire instead.

Flexibility for freelancers

Freelancers have a lot of flexibility when using this site as they can choose to work on their own hours and can set their own prices.

This gives them a lot of freedom and time to manage their workload, especially if they have a lot of clients.

Convenient features

PeoplePerHour is an intuitive site that has a lot of convenient features. For example, the mobile app makes it easy for on the go applications.

Invoicing is done automatically and freelancers and buyers can chat easily using the instant messaging feature.

Access to other freelancers

Having access to profiles of other freelancers is important as it allows you to see what they are doing and how they are conducting their work

In a sense, new freelancers can learn from those who are more experienced. They can learn how to price their services and see how their skills compare.

Additionally, this is great for businesses as all the freelancers’ profile information is easily accessible, making it easier to find the best person for the job.

Disadvantages of using PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour has its share of disadvantages, which new freelancers must be aware of:

Long waiting time

For new freelancers, it may take a while to land just their first job since they have not established themselves on the platform and have not built their reputation yet.

In a sea of freelancers, it is difficult to get spotted, especially when there is a lot competing for the same job.

High competition

Freelancing is a competitive industry, and it is no different on PeoplePerHour.

With a lot of freelancers vying for the same job, there is a low chance of beginners getting hired when others are more experienced or are first in line for a job.

Platform fees

PeoplePerHour charges several additional fees, such as high service fees and for additional proposal credits.

It costs a lot for new freelancers to use this site as they have to keep shelling out money in order to land new jobs.

However, service fees decrease the more freelancers get paid, which is a fair trade-off, but it would still require a lot of work on the freelancer’s part.

Fake project invitations

One of PeoplePerHour’s biggest flaws is that people can send suspicious project invitations. This is when people claiming to be buyers reach out to freelancers but are very vague about certain details.

These may come in the form of different job postings, but each has the same description or a specific phrase repeated.

Other signs include the buyer addressing the freelancer by a different name, prices being higher than normal, and the buyer asking them to contact them on a different platform.

These are all red flags to watch out for when posting offers to the site, as freelancers must be wary of these illegitimate buyers.

Is PeoplePerHour worth it or a scam?

PeoplePerHour is a legitimate site as it provides a multitude of real opportunities for freelancers to earn extra income through side hustles. Plus, this freelancing marketplace is a great place for businesses to scope out potential talent.

It does have a few things that put new freelancers at a disadvantage, but they are not impossible to overcome.

With a little patience and gaining experience, beginner freelancers can eventually enjoy the site’s perks.