How to Start Selling on Contra
Best for freelancers who want zero commission
Contra is a commission-free freelance platform. You keep 100% of what you earn. It's newer and smaller than Fiverr/Upwork, but growing fast thanks to its freelancer-first model and modern UI.
Seller Fees
0% commission on your rate, but a small tiered per-payment platform fee applies ($2–$29 depending on payment size, roughly halved on the $29/mo Pro plan)
Avg Earnings
$300–$2,000/mo for active freelancers
Difficulty
easy
First Sale
2–4 weeks
Best For
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Zero commission — keep 100% of earnings
- ✓Beautiful portfolio profiles
- ✓Modern, clean UX (feels like LinkedIn for freelancers)
- ✓Growing client base, especially startups
- ✓Built-in contract and invoicing tools
- ✓No bidding wars — clients browse profiles and reach out
Cons
- ✗Much smaller client base than Fiverr/Upwork
- ✗Fewer job postings overall
- ✗Discovery is harder (less organic buyer traffic)
- ✗Limited dispute resolution compared to established platforms
- ✗Pro plan ($29/mo, or $199/yr) needed for reduced platform fees and some features
Getting Started on Contra
Create your portfolio profile
Sign up and build your profile with projects, skills, and rates. Contra profiles look like personal websites.
Tip: Add 5+ case studies with visuals. Contra is very portfolio-focused.
Set your services and rates
Define what you offer and your pricing. Be specific — 'Brand Identity Package' beats 'Graphic Design'.
Tip: Price at your full rate since there's no commission to account for.
Share your Contra profile
Use your contra.com/username link on LinkedIn, Twitter, and your website. Contra's organic traffic is limited, so bring your own clients.
Tip: Contra works best as a portfolio + invoicing tool. Pair it with your own client acquisition.
Pro Tips
Best used alongside other platforms — use Contra for direct clients, Fiverr/Upwork for platform traffic
Your Contra profile is essentially a free portfolio website
Share your profile link everywhere — LinkedIn, Twitter, email signatures
The zero-commission model means you can price lower than on Fiverr and still earn more
What You Can Sell on Contra
Best Niches for Contra
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Contra make money if it's free?
Contra doesn't take a cut of your rate, but it isn't purely fee-free either: freelancers on the Free plan pay a small tiered per-payment platform fee (up to $29 on payments of $1,000+). A Pro plan ($29/mo, or $199/yr) cuts those per-payment fees roughly in half and adds features like priority support and analytics.
Is Contra big enough to find clients?
It's growing but still much smaller than Fiverr/Upwork. Use Contra for your portfolio and direct clients, not as your sole income source. It's a great complement to other platforms.
Some clients prefer to DIY
Not every client will hire on Contra. Some try to do it themselves using free or low-cost tools. Knowing what they use helps you explain why your work delivers better results.
Canva Pro
$12.99/mo (free tier)
Figma
$15/mo (free tier)
Claude (Anthropic)
$20/mo (free tier)
Ready to start on Contra?
Create your account and start earning.
Join Contra →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.