Braintrust vs Contra
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent. Last verified June 17, 2026.
The short answer
Braintrust ranks higher on Top 11 (#6 vs #11) for Startups and SMBs hiring freelancers for design, dev, and marketing. A decentralized network with vetted tech talent and lower fees.
At a glance
| Braintrust | Contra | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #6 / The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent | #11 / The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.2 | 7.1 |
| Best for | Web3 talent network | Commission-free talent network |
| Pricing | $$$ (10% client fee) | $ (Commission-free) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2018 | 2019 |
Braintrust
A decentralized network with vetted tech talent and lower fees.
www.braintrust.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent
Contra
An emerging, commission-free platform popular with independent creative talent.
contra.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.