The Simple Sasquatch Review of

For employers it's free to set up an account and post jobs — plus they claim they have the lowest handling fee in the industry — 2.9% of the invoice amount. If you’re posting a job and want it to be featured you pay $29.99 but other than that, just the percentage on the invoice. For freelancers, there is a $4.95 ID verification fee. When a job is complete, the “job fee” is calculated based on your membership and can range from 5-9%. Each freelancer gets 10 free bids a month and additional bids can be purchased

It’s pretty easy to use and the design can be interpreted as spare, which can be a bonus for minimalists or if you’re used to looking at trees like me, a bit boring. Job postings are easily searchable for keywords as are freelancers. Like some other sites, Guru offers a “SafePay” feature so that freelancers know the client has the cash to pay for their work and the client knows they can review the work before paying — it all goes back to the community of trust. Disputes with employers about SafePay amounts can go to arbitration through Guru.com. They also offer a somewhat old-school invoicing option but for those contracts, there is no financial protection for either party.

It’s easy to set up for both freelancers and those hiring — just a few answers to some questions and a confirmation email and you’re all set. It can be time consuming to completely set up your profile if you’re a freelancer or to fully describe your job post, but even a simple Sasquatch expects it to be.

They have a comprehensive FAQ’s section and you can always contact them. One big drawback for me — support hours are M-F 9-6 EST. Although they do say there they have an office in India so there are only a few hours of the day emails aren’t checked, it can still take one business day to hear from them.

With over a million and a half freelancers on the site and just over 3,000 posts when I took a peek, guru seems better for those looking to hire. Around 30 percent of job postings are for programs and development so if you are a talented computer specialist or IT worker, start here but compared to other sites, there are considerably fewer postings. Guru uses ‘workrooms’ to help manage freelancers so if you have a project you need multiple freelancers to work on, this feature can be a lifesaver

Guru is one of the best sites for managing teams of people due to it’s workroom feature and if you’re looking to hire a computer specialist, it’s a great site. If you’re just getting started freelancing and don’t want to pay exorbitant platform fees, Guru is for you, but the lack of diversity in posts combined with stiff competition can mean that it takes a while to get hired. Check out our guide to finding Top Talent