How much each platform takes, how to price around it, and where Filipino VAs actually lose money without realizing it.
Most VAs set their rate once and quote the same number everywhere. That's a mistake. A $10/hr rate on OnlineJobs.ph puts $10 in your pocket. The same rate on Fiverr puts $8. Over a full-time month, that gap is $347 - enough to cover rent in most Philippine cities. This guide breaks down the real math so your take-home stays where you intended it.
All fees updated as of Q1 2026 from official platform documentation.
| Platform | Freelancer Fee | Client Fee | PH Payment Methods | Quote for $10/hr Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnlineJobs.ph | 0% | Employer subscription ($69–$299/mo) | PayPal, Wise, direct bank transfer | $10.00/hr |
| Upwork | 10% flat | 3–5% processing | Payoneer, Wise, direct bank (+1–2% conversion) | $11.11/hr |
| Fiverr | 20% flat | 5.5% + $2–$3 small order fee | PayPal, bank transfer (2–4% conversion) | $12.50/hr |
| Freelancer.com | 10% or $5 minimum (whichever is higher) | 3% or $3 minimum | PayPal, Skrill, bank transfer | $11.11/hr |
| Direct client | 0% | None | Wise, PayPal invoice | $10.00/hr |
The takeaway is simple: OnlineJobs.ph and direct clients let you keep 100% of your quoted rate. Every other platform takes a cut that you need to price around.
This is the single most important formula in the guide. If you remember nothing else, remember this:
This tells you what to charge on any platform so that after fees, you still hit your target take-home.
Examples for a $10/hr target net:
If you're quoting the same rate on Upwork that you'd charge on OnlineJobs.ph, you're giving yourself a 10% pay cut every single invoice.
Here's what the same take-home goal looks like across platforms:
| OnlineJobs.ph | Upwork | Fiverr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quoted rate | $10.00/hr | $11.11/hr | $12.50/hr |
| Weekly gross | $400.00 | $444.40 | $500.00 |
| Platform fee | $0 | −$44.40 (10%) | −$100.00 (20%) |
| Weekly take-home | $400.00 | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Monthly take-home | $1,733 | $1,733 | $1,733 |
All three hit the same net - but look at what you have to charge on Fiverr to get there. At $12.50/hr, you're pricing yourself into a higher bracket on the platform, which can affect your competitiveness. This is the real cost of high-fee platforms: it's not just money, it's positioning.
Platform fees aren't the only cut. Getting money from the platform into your Philippine bank account has its own cost layer. Most VAs don't calculate this, which means their actual take-home is lower than they think.
| Method | Typical Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | 0.5–1.5% (mid-market rate, minimal spread) | Lowest total cost for USD → PHP conversion |
| PayPal | 4.4% + ₱15 fixed + currency spread | Speed and familiarity, but expensive |
| Payoneer | ~2% + conversion fee | Upwork default, decent for larger amounts |
| Direct bank wire | $15–$25 per transfer | Large lump-sum transfers only |
The best combination for most Philippine-based VAs: Wise paired with OnlineJobs.ph or direct clients. You're looking at roughly 0.5–1.5% total friction between the client's payment and money in your bank account. Compare that to PayPal's 4–5% all-in cost and the difference compounds fast over a year.
If you're on Upwork, Payoneer is the path of least resistance - it's the default option and conversion fees are manageable. Just don't let the convenience stop you from checking whether Wise would save you money at your volume.
This is where most VAs underestimate. Platform fees and withdrawal fees compound - they don't just add.
Example: $12/hr quoted on Upwork, paid out via Payoneer
| Layer | Amount |
|---|---|
| Quoted rate | $12.00/hr |
| After Upwork fee (10%) | $10.80/hr |
| After Payoneer withdrawal (~2%) | $10.58/hr |
| Effective rate | $10.58/hr (11.8% total loss) |
If your floor rate from the Pricing Guide is $10/hr, you're only clearing it by $0.58. That's dangerously thin margin.
The same rate on OnlineJobs.ph + Wise:
| Layer | Amount |
|---|---|
| Quoted rate | $12.00/hr |
| After platform fee (0%) | $12.00/hr |
| After Wise withdrawal (~1%) | $11.88/hr |
| Effective rate | $11.88/hr (1% total loss) |
That's a $1.30/hr difference - or roughly $225/month at full-time hours. Over a year, $2,700. Real money.
When you use the Rei Calculator or set your rate manually, build fees into the equation from the start, not as an afterthought.
Example: If your floor rate is $10/hr and you work on Upwork with Payoneer payouts:
That's $1.34/hr higher than your floor - just to break even. Your skill premiums from the Pricing Guide go on top of this number, not on top of your raw floor rate.
Start on OnlineJobs.ph if you're Philippines-based. Zero fees, direct client relationships, and the largest pool of employers specifically looking for Filipino VAs. The trade-off is that you handle your own contracts, invoicing, and payment collection - but that's a skill worth building early.
Use Upwork strategically, not as your default. Upwork's value is discoverability and trust infrastructure - clients feel safe hiring there. It's a good place to build a portfolio and earn reviews. But always gross up your rate by at least 11% and plan to transition your best long-term clients to direct contracts once the relationship is established. (Check Upwork's terms of service - they require a 24-month waiting period before taking client relationships off-platform.)
Treat Fiverr as a project platform, not a retainer source. The 20% fee makes ongoing hourly work expensive. Fiverr works best for defined-scope gigs (logo packages, website audits, content batches) where you can price based on value rather than time - and where the 20% fee is baked into a project price the client already agreed to.
Build toward direct clients as your long-term goal. Zero platform fees, zero withdrawal fees (if paid via Wise), and full control over your client relationships. The downside is lead generation - you're responsible for finding your own clients through referrals, content marketing, or cold outreach. Most senior VAs earning $20+/hr work primarily with direct clients.