Upwork vs Braintrust
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
Upwork ranks higher on Top 11 (#2 vs #6) for Startups and SMBs hiring freelancers for design, dev, and marketing. The biggest marketplace with the widest talent variety and budget flexibility.
At a glance
| Upwork | Braintrust | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #2 / The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent | #6 / The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9 | 8.2 |
| Best for | Largest talent marketplace | Web3 talent network |
| Pricing | $$ (5% fee on payments) | $$$ (10% client fee) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2015 | 2018 |
Upwork
The biggest marketplace with the widest talent variety and budget flexibility.
www.upwork.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent
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
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.