PeoplePerHour Review – Scam or Legit? Exposed!

Are you looking for a PeoplePerHour review? But you may wonder if it is a scam.

If you want to start making money on the internet, freelancing is a great way to do it. Freelance work could be the perfect solution if you’re trying to make ends meet or save for retirement, but need some extra cash.

But where do you even start?

People search platforms like PeoplePerHour could come in handy in this case.

Finding a new site that’s comparable to others I’ve worked with is always an exciting experience. Unfortunately, not all online job boards for freelancers are the same. Some of them are outright scams.

How reliable is PeoplePerHour?

In this review, I’ll share my experience with PeoplePerHour and give my opinion on whether the service is reputable or not.

As a disclaimer, I’m not affiliated with PeoplePerHour. It means I’m not paid to write this review. So you can rest assured that you will get an honest and unbiased review from me.

At the end of this review, I’ll also tell you the best alternative to PeoplePerHour that has enabled me to make a full-time passive income online.

What Is PeoplePerHour?

PeoplePerHour is the go-to resource for companies around the world to find and hire freelance experts in a variety of fields. The company was founded in 2007 by Xenios Thrasyvoulou and Simos Kitiris and is headquartered in Athens. A second office is located in Athens, Greece.

Using a freelancer network like People Per Hour to match companies with freelancers has both advantages and disadvantages.

Scammers routinely post ads for fake jobs and listings on sites like Wonolo, Shiftgig, and Care.com.

Below, we will go into more detail about the costs of using them, both from the client’s and the freelancer’s perspective.

Using a freelancer network like People Per Hour can help you find clients much faster and easier than you could on your own.

One benefit of freelancing that’s often not obvious, but is very real, is the possibility of financial compensation for one’s efforts. Instead of spending time tracking down clients and writing invoices, you can simply ignore them.

It’s no wonder that PeoplePerHour.com has become one of the most popular job boards for freelancers in recent years, consistently ranking in the top 10 results when searching for the best freelance job boards on the Internet.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Is PeoplePerHour a Scam or Legit?

Due to the prevalence of scams, spam, and fake jobs, many freelance platforms, including People Per Hour, have reputation issues.

The theory behind this is that dishonesty and fraud are very difficult to root out in a market. 

Large social media platforms like Facebook argue that it is too labor intensive to personally review every potentially fraudulent post.

Their challenge is far greater than People Per Hour, but it is still an issue. To reiterate: The fact that scammers use People Per Hour to spread their scam makes NOT a scam.

According to Wikipedia, People Per Hour was named one of Europe’s 100 Hottest Startups by Wired UK in 2012.

It should come as no surprise that no company is without flaws, and I have read both laudatory and critical reviews of People Per Hour.

People Per Hour aims to connect businesses with independent contractors around the world and was built from the ground up with freelancers in mind. They have proven themselves by getting the job done at hand.

The service offered by People Per Hour is genuine.

Another problem that’s common with freelance platforms is the lack of consistency in the work. While there may be plenty of openings on People Per Hour right now, that won’t always be the case, and the competition is fierce if you want one of them.

Instead of focusing on just one client, project, or platform as a freelancer, it’s better to have an “overall strategy.”

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

How Does PeoplePerHour Work?

Here are the steps you need to take to join People Per Hour as a freelancer…

1. Creating an account

Creating an account on their website is the first step to using their service (but remember that you can only have one account).

2. Create your Profile page

To do this, you need to upload a photo of yourself and tell us a little about yourself. In your profile you can describe your skills and give an estimate of your hourly rate. 

Your profile should attract new clients, so you should invest some time and effort to make it appealing. There you can showcase your past work with descriptions, examples and testimonials from satisfied clients.

Here are a few points you should keep in mind.

• You need to enter your payment details in the backend of the account (e.g. where you want to withdraw your payment).
• You will receive ratings and reviews when you complete orders on the People Per Hour platform. This is repeated when potential clients view your profile.

3. Find Jobs

After you’ve set up your profile, you can apply for jobs. Simply enter your keywords in the search box to find available jobs. Over five thousand freelance jobs are now available.

4. Bid on jobs

People Per Hour recruits applicants through a vacancy posting process. The number of monthly job postings is limited to 15, but can be increased for a fee.

Although the exact number of monthly bids depends heavily on factors such as context and goals, in my experience 15 is a good round number.

Use your best judgment and decide on the things that excite you the most.

In my opinion, it’s not a good idea to apply to every job that catches your eye, because that leads to generic cover letters that won’t impress anyone.

I believe that customers can tell when an application is dishonest, so they won’t bother responding to a generic cover letter.

Not only can you place bids, but you can also advertise the services you are willing to offer on your profile page. Buyers will have more time to consider your offers.

5. Wait for your potential client’s response

The customer or buyer can decide whether or not to take you up on your offer (he can also simply ignore it).

However, if the client is seriously interested in your services, you can contact them through the platform’s integrated chat system, Workstream.

PeoplePerHour encourages all of its clients to use the internal communication system for this reason. If any potential for conflict is identified in the discussions in your workstreams, we’ll take care of it.

The following provides further background:

• Buyers may ask you to bid on their projects if they believe you are suitable for their job offer. Therefore, it is important that you create a professional-looking profile.
• Returning clients/buyers may post job openings that are specific to you. This is why close working relationships with your clients are so important. If they like you and your work, they will most likely hire you again (which is fantastic!).

6. Get paid for completed jobs

You can make a purchase now with the following currencies:

• USD
• GBP
• EUR

Payment can be made through a number of different channels, including wire transfer, PayPal, and Payoneer.

Note these points:

• Payments for completed jobs should always be made through the People Per Hour platform.
• Milestone payments (partial payments for work in progress) are allowed, but must be agreed upon by both you (the freelancer) and the buyer (your client) before the job begins (not during).
• You may not have money in your People Per Hour account for more than 30 days. If you do, your account will be classified as inactive and you will be charged administrative fees for using the system.

7. Get ratings for completed jobs

The buyer can leave a review and rate the merchandise. To maintain a good reputation with People Per Hour, constant 5-star ratings are required.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Always strive to get more than 5-star reviews. Communicate clearly with your customer so you know exactly what is required of you.
• Do not hesitate to ask questions.
• At the end of a job, you can also evaluate and rate your client. You both have a good reputation to uphold.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

PeoplePerHour Payment System

Freelancers on People Per Hour have the option to set their own compensation rates based on the number of hours worked or the total cost of an assignment (at a fixed rate).

As a freelancer, you can set your own rates and get paid according to the agreement between you and the client.

Client payments are held in an escrow account until the service is completed. If you choose this payment method, the system will wait to release the money until the job is successfully completed.

This is an important feature that users of a service like People Per Hour can take advantage of (as opposed to finding their own clients).

If the client is satisfied with the results, you can consider the project completed. Financial compensation will then be paid to you upon completion of these steps.

Remember that you have the right to at least two free revisions if you are dissatisfied with the work you received through People Per Hour. This ensures that clients get their money’s worth (which is only fair, of course).

Below is a listing of some possible costs.

• Winnings under $700 (per customer) will now be subject to a 20% service fee less VAT.
• If your winnings are between $700 and $7,000, you will be charged a service fee of 7.5% less VAT (per customer).
• If your winnings reach $7,000 (per customer), you will be charged a service fee of 3.5% minus VAT.

The above service costs do not yet include the value added tax (VAT), which is paid to the state. As a result, higher deductions must be made from your income when you are paid, although tax regulations naturally vary from country to country.

The compensation structure also incentivizes employees to stay with the same customers over a longer period of time (repeat buyers). When you spend a certain amount, the service fee decreases.

For a better overview, consider the following:

• When you transfer money to your account, withdrawal fees apply. These depend on your currency and the type of withdrawal.
• As you can see, People Per Hour has a lot of fees in its system. Take these fees into account when calculating your net payment.
• The buyer has the right to determine the currency for a particular job. Therefore, read job postings carefully.
• Payment disputes can go either way (depending on the outcome of PeoplePerHour’s investigation). If you apply for jobs on this platform, you should have confidence in it.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

People Per Hour Jobs

People Per Hour is a freelancer’s paradise, with opportunities in every industry imaginable. The following types of work fall under their purview:

• Technology and Programming
• Writing and Translation
• Design
• Digital Marketing
• Video and Images
• Business
• Music and Audio
• Marketing, Branding and Sales
• Social Media

As you can see, People Per Hour lists a wide range of online job opportunities. Data entry, web design, writing, search engine optimization, social media management, music and audio creation, and other “serious jobs” are offered here, as opposed to the low-paying jobs on sites like Remotasks.

People Per Hour Reviews and Complaints

Glassdoor users generally give People Per Hour 3.4 out of 5 stars. I’m well aware that this isn’t ideal. On the other hand, I’ve noticed that many of the reviews contributing to this score are written by People Per Hour employees, not freelancers and clients.

Employee dissatisfaction with their jobs is, to be honest, quite unusual.

The customers who left the bad reviews were clearly upset with the company. Unfortunately, most of the negative reviews are just one-sentence rants, so it’s impossible to know the full context of the reviewers’ experiences (and why they gave such low ratings).

Typical of a negative review campaign (e.g., a disgruntled employee or a competitor spreading disinformation), they did not provide specific reasons for their poor People Per Hour ratings.

Of the more than 2,000 reviews, those on TrustPilot were more positive, and there were more of them. On TrustPilot, People Per Hour has an above-average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Freelancers who have reviewed People Per Hour are generally very happy with the service and excited about it. One reviewer said the clients were great and the service was great.

A positive feature is the simple and straightforward payment method.

However, complaints about People Per Hour’s prices made up the bulk of the less positive reviews. Some customers complained about insufficient support from the company’s representatives.

To provide a more comprehensive and unbiased analysis, I have compiled excerpts from some of the less positive reviews.

You can expect to find equal praise and criticism on other freelance and employment websites like People Per Hour.

People Per Hour has an excellent rating and a favorable ratio of reviews to complaints, which is especially encouraging since negative reviews are far more common than positive ones.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Pros of PeoplePerHour

Extensive global businesses and freelancer network

PeoplePerHour is a large online community of independent contractors and staffing companies around the world. It gives them access to a huge pool of qualified freelancers they need to complete their jobs. Likewise, you can have both a seller and a buyer account.

Multiple hiring options

Freelancer bids allow companies to narrow their search based on factors such as desired expertise, cost and availability. They can also wait for bids from independent contractors. Offering clients such a choice makes the hiring process easier and faster to manage.

Simple-to-use visual interface

Employers and independent contractors can communicate with each other through the interface. Reviews of PeoplePerHour found online agree that it is easy to navigate and retrieve both project information and profiles of freelancers (including reviews, portfolios, and biographies).

The built-in workstream system

With this approach, communication between the two parties is secure and simple. The same system can be used for communication between clients and freelancers as well as for transferring files and other attachments. This way, keeping track of projects, managing finances and sending invoices is a breeze.

It also makes it easier for vendors to keep track of their independent contracts.

Additional Privileges

Last but not least, clients pay nothing for submitting work, and freelancers can set their own fees.

Cons of PeoplePerHour

Stiff competition

Because of the large freelance community, competition for projects is fierce. This means that there is no such thing as a steady paycheck or job security. For this reason, most freelancers have lowered their rates.

Too many fees

New freelancers and those who have not yet found high-paying assignments with lower service costs are particularly likely to give poor PeoplePerHour ratings because of the fees.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Can You Use PeoplePerHour on Mobile?

There is currently no PeoplePerHour app for mobile devices, but the website can be accessed through any mobile web browser. The convenience of placing ads on the site is enhanced by the fact that it works well on mobile devices.

However, the tasks you need to perform on this website require a laptop or desktop computer, which is something you should take into account if you want to make money with it. Offers and checking the billing status are the only mobile-friendly features of this website.

Can You Get Support From PeoplePerHour?

If you need help with the site or your account, contact the site’s customer service. Most basic questions about working as a freelancer online will be answered there.

If you still have questions after reviewing the FAQs and other resources on the customer support page, you can open a ticket and get an answer right away. Then, simply enter the requested information into the form and submit it.

There is an internal dispute resolution team that mediates conflicts between customers and contractors. However, this should only be used as a last resort if the employer and freelancer cannot agree on the amount of the invoice.

The fact that the website will not let you down if an employer refuses to pay for the services you provide is a big plus in my eyes, and it’s also convenient that you can keep track of all the issues you raise.

So I think the website has an excellent member support system: They provide an easy way to get help, and they mediate conflicts between customers and contractors.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

PeoplePerHour Pricing & Fees

Fees should be carefully reviewed before choosing this or any other freelancing platform. When you have all the information, it is much easier to know if the platform is suitable. The fact that certain jobs are paid on an hourly basis can help you decide which project to take on.

Platform fees make up the majority of a freelancer’s income. Jobs under $350 are charged a 20% fee, jobs between $350 and $7000 are charged 7.5%, and jobs over $7000 are charged 3.5%. The higher the total value of the transaction, the lower your share of the sale.

PeoplePerHour also receives a service fee from its customers.

Each participant on the site also pays additional costs, such as:

• Buyers pay a confidentiality fee and optional fees for the urgent list, talent scout, and featured project.
• Fees for additional proposals, withdrawals, invoices and bank transfers for freelancers
• Optional In PeoplePerHour’s freelance classifieds, the fee for a quick application is $13 and the price for a special offer is $14.95.
• A $9.95 monthly administrative fee for dormant accounts that have had money in them for more than sixty days.
• PeoplePerHour charges a 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee on all transactions.

When calculating your final net pay and any other payment arrangements, you should take into account the fees listed above. The above charges do not take into account sales tax, which may amount to an additional 7 percent.

Who is PeoplePerHour best for?

Freelancers who want to earn money from projects will find most opportunities on PeoplePerHour. Therefore, PeoplePerHour is a good place for companies to find freelancers with the right skills. On PeoplePerHour you can offer or find help with a variety of services, such as:

• Technology and Programming
• Writing and Translation
• Design
• Videography and Photography
• Marketing and Branding
• Social Media

Who Can Join PeoplePerHour?

The fact that you can access it anywhere in the world is, in my opinion, the best feature of PeoplePerHour. No matter where you are at home, you can sign up as a freelancer. Even employers do not care about your location if you can prove that you can successfully complete the tasks at hand, no matter where you are.

To sign up, you need to provide personal information, including an email address and password. After that, you will complete your profile. Strictly speaking, you do not become a freelancer. You apply to PeoplePerHour for a freelance job.

After you create your profile, you have the option to submit your application in one of two ways. As always, you can choose between the free option and the premium option. If you are willing to spend $13, you can process your application much faster.

If you choose this option, your request will be reviewed the next business day. If you choose the free option, it may take up to 7 business days.

But remember, even if you pay, it’s not a guarantee that your application will be accepted. Only the pace is increased. To be honest, I don’t see the point in paying for something that’s not certain to produce the desired result, so I prefer to opt for the free option.

Your goal of being accepted as a freelancer at PeoplePerHour can still be achieved with a little time and perseverance. Log on to the website and submit your bids as soon as your application is approved.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Pros of People Per Hour

• Joining is free and easy.
• There are numerous work opportunities (worldwide clients).
• Protection from not getting paid and having to chase clients.
• They are reputable. This may seem like a low standard for a list of pros and cons, but with the number of internet scammers out there (and growing every day), respectability is a big plus.

Cons of People Per Hour

• People Per Hour has a lot of charges, as many of the unfavorable reviews and complaints said. Even if you just keep money on the site, there are administrative fees (after 30 days). This is not always the case with other job boards I have signed up with…
• The market is competitive, and not every job you find is as good as promised.
• Freelancing does not provide passive income. Even though there are numerous advantages to working when (and where) you want, you are still trading hours for money.

PeoplePerHour Review: Final Verdict

For independents, I recommend People Per Hour as a starting point. I also think it’s a useful medium to grow your freelance business.

The People Per Hour time tracking app is reliable.

Users are encouraged to contact customer service immediately if they encounter any type of fraud while using the platform. Numerous investigations have shown that PeoplePerHour, like any other marketplace, has its share of scammers, both among customers and independent contractors who use the platform.

It’s possible that you stay at home or that health problems prevent you from working often. Or maybe you’re just tired of your routine.

In that case, you might find success with an online business. Let me tell you the best way to start an online business in the next section.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Best Alternative of PeoplePerHour to Make Passive Income

If you want to make a stable and secure stream of passive income, I would suggest you start an affiliate marketing business online.

Affiliate Marketing is perfect for anyone who is new to online business. 

In fact, of all the online business models I’ve tried, affiliate marketing is the easiest and most rewarding so far.  

In affiliate marketing, you can actually run your business almost with zero cost and achieve a steady and sustainable passive income to pay for your bills. You don’t need any initial capital and can even do it as a side hustle.

And if you really want to learn affiliate marketing and build a business from scratch, I’d recommend you to get started with the most reputable platform for affiliate marketing: Wealthy Affiliate.

Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one platform for building your affiliate marketing business from scratch. It offers you a free account (including a free website) with comprehensive training on SEO (free traffic methods), which enables you to get started with affiliate marketing right away without paying a penny.

But How Much Can You Earn with Wealthy Affiliate?

A 21-year old student from Wealthy Affiliate was able to earn $7,395 in just 1 week, which means he made more than $1k a day…all while using free traffic methods.

Wealthy Affiliate has existed for 15 years and there are many success stories in the past decade.

To give you more examples, here are some of the other inspiring success stories of Wealthy Affiliate members.

Where to Join Wealthy Affiliate?

Wealthy Affiliate has a very simple pricing scheme. It has free and premium membership.

If you want to feel about Wealthy Affiliate, you can sign up for the free starter membership here (no credit card required). You can select to be a free member with no time limit.

And as a starter member, you can get instant access to the community, live chat, over 500 training modules, 2 classrooms, networking, commenting, 1 free website, access to the keyword tool.

You can enjoy all these values without paying a penny. 

So I strongly recommend you to register a free account and see it yourself.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative