Contra

Contra is a professional network and marketplace for freelancers, launched in 2021 by the US startup of the same name. It targets independent creators — designers, developers, copywriters, marketers and video makers — and the companies that want to hire them. The core idea is simple: freelancers keep one hundred percent of what they earn, because the platform charges no commission on your fee.

Here is how it works: as a freelancer you set up a free portfolio profile, define your rates and a payment method, and start taking on projects. A client posts a project, you agree directly, and Contra pays you commission-free — the rate you set is the rate you receive. Instead of taxing your earnings, the service makes money through subscriptions and fees on the client side.