/ Real Earnings Index / Guru

Guru

Freelance Professional · Bid-based marketplace, 5-9% sliding take rate
C

Mixed (C) — Real Earnings Grade

One of the oldest freelance marketplaces, with a lower take rate than peers and a less aggressive bidding culture. Lower traffic produces fewer opportunities than Upwork or Fiverr, but the platform is less commodified and complaint volume is materially lower per active user.

62
Composite / 100
/ Subscore Breakdown · 5 Dimensions

Where this grade comes from.

Take Rate Transparency
B
Worker Protection
B-
Payment Reliability
B-
Talent Vetting
C
Real Earnings
C
/ Public-Record Events

Key events & disclosures.

  • Operating since 1999 — among oldest active freelance platforms
  • Lower take rate than Upwork/Fiverr
  • Lower complaint volume per active user
  • Limited traffic relative to top-tier platforms

/ Best for

Freelancers seeking lower-volume but higher-quality client relationships, particularly in writing and design.

/ Watch out for

Lower platform traffic means fewer opportunities; freelancers should treat Guru as a supplemental platform rather than primary.