Contracted Work offers a platform for web designers, writers, software developers, and administrative freelancers, among other professionals, to find jobs and get paid via an escrow service. The site has thousands of listed providers,and it receives approximately 15,000 hits per month in the US. The webpage claims that 30% of their subscribers are international, and that they have plans to expand in that direction by featuring pages in different languages. The marketplace software is a bit basic and closed bids remain on display, helping attract search engine traffic - but making it hard to assess the usefulness and quality of the work available at any point in time.
Site Fees
The site is free to use for buyers, and it offers three levels of Subscription for providers. The basic plan costs $14.95 per month and $100.00 for a year, the Gold plan costs $24.95 per month and $160.00 per year, while the Gold Plus plan costs $34.95 per month, with no yearly plan discount for this option.
All the plans allow for bidding on projects and maintaning a profile and portfolio on the site. The Gold plan gives users a featured listing and Gold Plus members get profile rotation on the site´s front page.
Buyer & Provider Tips
In the past, there have been some issues with the site's escrow system and customer service. Therefore, it might be a good idea to start on a small project.
Our Verdict
The site has thousands of users, and it maintains a healthy level of activity. However, these days, on the Internet, one or two unsatisfied customers can surely cause big trouble. Especially in the case of a paid membership site, I would think twice before joining a marketplace where people have seen their money vanish into thin air in the past.
