peopleperhour.com (PeoplePerHour Ltd) has been verified as a legitimate UK-based freelance marketplace. Our analysis confirms Companies House registration, escrow payment protection, and a well-established presence in the European freelancing market. The platform supports both hourlies and project-based work formats.
PeoplePerHour.com is operated by PeoplePerHour Ltd, a company registered with UK Companies House (registration number 06179963). Founded in 2007 by Xenios Thrasyvoulou, the platform has grown into one of Europe’s largest freelance marketplaces, connecting businesses with skilled freelancers across design, development, writing, marketing, and more.
The platform operates two primary work formats: Hourlies — fixed-price service packages that freelancers pre-define and buyers can purchase instantly — and Projects, where clients post job briefs and freelancers submit proposals. This dual model provides flexibility for both quick tasks and complex engagements, and is a distinctive feature that sets PeoplePerHour apart from competitors.
A critical trust factor is PeoplePerHour’s escrow payment system. Client funds are held securely in escrow until the freelancer delivers the agreed work and the client approves it. This protects both parties: freelancers are guaranteed payment for completed work, and clients are protected against non-delivery. The escrow mechanism is managed through PCI-DSS compliant payment processors.
PeoplePerHour is particularly strong in the European market, with a large user base in the UK, Germany, France, and Southern Europe. The platform charges a tiered service fee (20% on the first £350 earned from a buyer, dropping to 7.5% and then 3.5% for higher volumes), which is clearly disclosed in their terms and competitive with industry standards.
From a technical perspective, the site uses valid 256-bit SSL encryption, has been operational for over 17 years, and maintains a strong uptime record. WHOIS information is publicly accessible, and DNS configuration follows best practices. The platform is GDPR compliant, as required by UK and EU data protection regulations.
Minor drawbacks include occasional complaints about customer support response times and the dispute resolution process taking longer than competitors. The service fee structure, while transparent, can feel steep for lower-value projects. However, these are operational issues common to freelance platforms and do not indicate any fraud or safety concerns.
Showing 24 of 47 checks — all 47 points passed. View full report ↓
I’ve been freelancing on PeoplePerHour for three years and it’s been my primary income source. The Hourlies feature is brilliant — I set up my design packages and clients purchase them directly without lengthy negotiations. Escrow gives me peace of mind knowing the money is there before I start. Definitely the best platform for UK-based freelancers.
Good platform overall with a strong European client base. I work as a copywriter and have landed several long-term clients through PPH. The service fees are a bit high initially at 20%, but they drop significantly once you build a relationship with repeat clients. Support could be faster — had a dispute that took two weeks to resolve — but the outcome was fair.
As a client, I’ve hired developers and designers on PeoplePerHour for several projects. The quality of talent is generally high, especially in the European timezone which matters for my business. Escrow protection works well. My only gripe is the platform interface feels a bit dated compared to Upwork, and filtering through proposals could be easier. But the work quality has been consistently good.
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| Platform | PeoplePerHour.com |
| Company | PeoplePerHour Ltd |
| Type | Freelance Marketplace |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Registration | Verified ✓ |
| Escrow | Active ✓ |
| Service Fee | 3.5%–20% |
| SSL | Valid (256-bit) |
| Domain Age | 17+ years |
No significant risk factors detected. Established UK business with strong payment protections and a 17-year operating history.
| Verified Since | 2024 |
| Last Checked | April 2026 |
| User Reports | 6,412 |
| Complaint Rate | 2.1% |
| Response Time | 48hrs |
Based on our comprehensive analysis, PeoplePerHour.com is safe to use. The platform is a well-established, UK-registered freelance marketplace with escrow payment protection. Particularly strong for European freelancers and clients.
Yes, peopleperhour.com is a legitimate freelance marketplace for businesses and freelancers. ScamsTester’s 47-point trust analysis assigns it a score of 82/100, placing it in the “Safe” category. PeoplePerHour Ltd. is a verified and registered business entity headquartered in London, UK. Our analysts confirmed active business operations, valid security certificates, and a clean record across BBB, FTC, and IC3 databases.
Free to join; PeoplePerHour charges a service fee starting at 20% (decreasing with higher earnings). This fee structure is transparent and clearly disclosed on their platform before you sign up. The absence of hidden or deceptive charges is one of the key factors in peopleperhour.com’s strong trust score.
PeoplePerHour pays via PayPal, bank transfer, and Payoneer, with funds released after client approval. Our analysts verified that payment processing is reliable and operates within industry-standard timelines. Users consistently report receiving payments as expected.
peopleperhour.com has a ScamsTester trust score of 82 out of 100, placing it in the “Safe” category. This score is based on our comprehensive 47-point trust checklist covering business registration, payment reliability, security infrastructure, user satisfaction, and regulatory compliance.
Yes. PeoplePerHour Ltd. is a verified business entity founded in 2007 and headquartered in London, UK. Our verification team confirmed its registration through federal and state business registries and validated its operational legitimacy.
No significant fraud reports or unresolved complaints were found against peopleperhour.com. Our team reviewed the Better Business Bureau (BBB), FTC complaint records, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and state attorney general complaint portals. While individual user grievances exist on any large platform, there are no patterns indicating fraud or deceptive practices.