What FreeUp Is
FreeUp is a freelance marketplace founded in 2015 that differentiates itself through pre-vetting: the company screens all freelancers before they join the platform, claiming to accept only the top 1% of applicants. This means you browse a pre-screened talent pool rather than sorting through unvetted candidates as you would on Upwork or Fiverr.
See also: what is a virtual assistant, virtual assistant pricing, 50 tasks to delegate.
FreeUp covers a wide range of freelance categories — virtual assistants, e-commerce specialists, digital marketers, developers, and more — with a particular focus on the e-commerce and Amazon FBA niche where it originated.
FreeUp's Pricing Model
FreeUp operates on a direct-hire marketplace model where freelancers set their own rates:
Freelancer Rate Tiers
FreeUp organizes its talent into three entry-level tiers:
- Entry-Level (0–3 years experience): $5–$20/hour
- Mid-Level (3–5 years): $20–$50/hour
- Expert (5+ years): $50+/hour
VA rates on FreeUp typically fall:
- General administrative VA: $8–$18/hour
- Specialized VA (e-commerce, digital marketing, executive support): $15–$40/hour
No Subscription Fee
FreeUp charges no subscription or posting fee. You only pay when you hire. FreeUp adds a service fee on top of the freelancer's rate (typically built into their displayed hourly rate rather than added separately).
Dedicated to Long-Term Relationships
FreeUp encourages long-term direct relationships. Once you've worked with a freelancer for a period, you can negotiate direct arrangements with reduced platform fees. This is a notable advantage over Upwork, which has restrictions on taking relationships off-platform.
FreeUp's Vetting Process
FreeUp's claimed 1% acceptance rate is the central differentiator. The vetting process includes:
- Application screening — Resume and experience review against minimum standards
- Skills assessment — Testing relevant to the applicant's stated specialization
- Video interview — Evaluating communication, professionalism, and background
- Attitude and work ethic assessment — FreeUp emphasizes cultural fit alongside skill
The result is a meaningfully higher baseline quality than unvetted platforms — you can still get a poor match, but the probability of a completely unqualified freelancer slipping through is lower.
FreeUp's E-Commerce Strength
FreeUp's origin in e-commerce and Amazon FBA means their talent pool is particularly strong in:
- Amazon FBA VAs: Product listing, PPC management, review management, Seller Central operations
- Shopify/WooCommerce VAs: Store management, product uploads, order processing
- eBay and Etsy VAs: Listing management, customer service, inventory
- E-commerce customer service: Returns management, inquiry handling, review responses
If your business has an e-commerce component, FreeUp's specialized talent pool is a meaningful advantage.
Non-E-Commerce VA Support on FreeUp
Beyond e-commerce, FreeUp also covers standard VA services:
- Administrative support (email, calendar, data entry)
- Digital marketing (social media, SEO, email marketing)
- Content creation (writing, graphic design, video editing)
- Customer service
- Research and analysis
Quality in non-e-commerce categories is generally competitive with other vetted platforms.
FreeUp vs. Upwork: Key Differences
| Factor | FreeUp | Upwork |
|---|---|---|
| Vetting | Pre-vetted (1% claim) | Not pre-vetted |
| Talent pool size | Smaller (curated) | Very large (open) |
| Your screening burden | Lower | Higher |
| E-commerce specialization | Strong | Mixed |
| Freelancer rates | Similar | Similar |
| Off-platform transitions | Encouraged after period | Restricted |
| Subscription required | No | No |
FreeUp trades pool size for baseline quality — you get fewer candidates, but they're more consistently qualified.
Getting Started with FreeUp
- Create a free account — No subscription required
- Post a job — Describe your needs, tasks, and desired hours
- Receive matched candidates — FreeUp surfaces pre-vetted applicants
- Interview and select — Still evaluate candidates; pre-vetting doesn't eliminate the need for your own assessment
- Start with a trial — Paid test task or first week before committing to ongoing work
FreeUp's account management team also actively helps match you with appropriate candidates — providing some of the guided experience of an agency alongside the flexibility of a marketplace.
Common User Feedback
Positive: Higher baseline quality than Upwork, strong e-commerce talent, responsive account management, good for finding dedicated long-term freelancers.
Negative: Smaller talent pool means fewer candidates for very specialized needs; some users note rates are similar to Upwork without fully matching the quality of curated agency options.
Ready to Hire?
FreeUp offers a strong middle ground between raw marketplaces and full-service agencies. For businesses that want agency-level vetting combined with dedicated VA relationships and comprehensive support infrastructure, Virtual Assistant VA provides pre-vetted virtual assistants matched to your specific operational and skill needs.