The short version: LinkedIn’s freelance marketplace is now called Services on LinkedIn, built around a free Service Page. You list what you offer, and clients send you project requests. There is no in app payment, no wallet, and LinkedIn takes no cut. You agree the terms and get paid your own way.
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Why freelancers actually like it
Before the how-to, it helps to know what you get out of it, because the benefits are different from a traditional gig site. The value is not a flood of cheap one off jobs. It is warmer, higher quality leads that come attached to your real reputation.- It is free, with no commission. You keep 100 percent of what you charge, unlike platforms that take a slice of every job.
- Leads come with built in trust. A potential client can see your full work history, recommendations, and shared connections before they ever message you.
- It works while you sleep. Once your Service Page is live, people can request you even if you are not connected to them.
- It rewards expertise, not a race to the bottom. Because it sits on your professional identity, it tends to attract higher value, relationship based work.
- It plugs into what you already do. Your posts, profile, and network all feed discovery, so normal LinkedIn activity does double duty.
See it in action
If you are a visual learner, this walkthrough from LinkedIn educator Louise Brogan shows how to set up and use the Service Page in practice.Video by Raise Your Visibility Online (Louise Brogan). Embedded as an educational walkthrough; not affiliated with TwistyApps.
What it really is, and what the 2021 hype got wrong
The project that leaked as “LinkedIn Marketplaces” rolled out globally as Service Marketplace on October 27, 2021. LinkedIn’s current help pages call it Services on LinkedIn, centered on the Service Page. By October 2024, more than 10 million people had created one, and it was still free with no transaction fees. The headline rumors, though, never came true, and that is the part most people still get wrong:No wallet. No fees. No middleman. The rumored digital wallet and the idea of LinkedIn taking a cut of your earnings never shipped. There is no in-platform payment and no escrow.
LinkedIn simply introduces you to a potential client. The project terms and the payment happen entirely off platform, using whatever invoicing and payment method you already use.
Setting it up in five steps
- Create your Service Page. It is free and attaches to your personal profile or your Company Page.
- List your services. Choose up to 10 from LinkedIn’s predefined menu and add a short, specific description of what you offer.
- Open the door to requests. Clients can send you a project request for free, even without a connection. You reply with a proposal and message directly.
- Collect proof. Invite a few past clients to leave a star rating and review so new visitors trust you faster.
- Make yourself easy to find. Tighten your headline and About section, since search and your network are how people discover the page.
Where it fits next to Fiverr and Upwork
It is tempting to compare it directly to the big gig sites, but they solve different problems. Fiverr and Upwork are transactional platforms with payments and protection built in. Services on LinkedIn is a discovery layer on top of your professional credibility. Many freelancers use both.| Platform | Model | Payments and protection | Cost to start | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services on LinkedIn | Lead generation directory, request and proposal | None in app; you handle terms and payment off platform | Free | Using your network and credibility to land higher value clients |
| Fiverr | Transactional marketplace, fixed price gigs | Built in payments and protection | Free to list; platform fees apply | Productized, quick turnaround services |
| Upwork | Transactional marketplace, bids and contracts | Built in payments, contracts, and protection | Free to join; platform fees apply | Ongoing contract and hourly work |
Platform fees and features change. Confirm current details on each official site before relying on them.
The cost, and the one catch
Creating a Service Page and receiving requests is free, and it is available globally except in China. Some extras, such as richer media on your page or certain visibility features, may sit behind a paid LinkedIn plan, and those plan names change, so check before paying. The real catch is the flip side of having no middleman: there is no payment protection. Nobody holds the money in escrow and no platform will step in if a client disappears. That is manageable, but only if you treat it like running your own business: use a short written agreement, invoice properly, and consider a deposit before you start with a new client.How to get picked
Because discovery runs on your reputation, winning work is mostly about making your profile earn trust:- Lead with who you help. Your headline and About section should name your ideal client and the outcome you deliver.
- Show outcomes, not just tasks. Add a few strong projects with the role, scope, and result, plus a couple of genuine reviews.
- Be useful in public. Short, helpful posts about your craft grow visibility and referrals over time.
- Work smarter behind the scenes. Plenty of freelancers now use AI to draft proposals and handle admin faster. See our guide to AI workflows for small businesses, and our roundup of free social media management tools for self promotion.
- Reply fast. Turn on notifications so you can respond to project requests quickly, which improves both your odds and your page signals.
So, is it worth your time?
If you already have a credible LinkedIn presence, yes. A Service Page is a free, low effort way to turn your network into client requests, and the leads tend to be higher quality than a typical gig site. Just go in with the right expectation: it is a lead source, not a Fiverr style marketplace, so keep using your own contract and invoicing. If you want guaranteed payment protection and a steady stream of one off gigs, run it alongside Fiverr or Upwork rather than instead of them.
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Read the AI for small business guideFAQ
Does LinkedIn process payments or take a cut?
No. There is no in-platform payment or wallet, and LinkedIn does not take a percentage. You agree the terms and handle payment off platform with your own method.
Is LinkedIn’s freelance marketplace free?
Creating a Service Page and receiving requests is free. Some extra features may require a paid LinkedIn plan, and plan names change, so check current options before paying.
Does LinkedIn have a freelance marketplace at all?
Yes. It launched in 2021 and is now called Services on LinkedIn, built around a free Service Page where you list services and receive project requests.
Is it better than Fiverr or Upwork?
It is different. LinkedIn is a free lead source built on your network with no payment protection, while Fiverr and Upwork are transactional platforms with built in payments. Many freelancers use both.
Sources and references
- LinkedIn Help: Service Pages FAQ
- LinkedIn Help: get started as a service provider (payment happens off platform)
- TechCrunch: LinkedIn says 10M people signed up as freelancers (Oct 2024)
- TechCrunch: LinkedIn rolls out Service Marketplace globally (Oct 2021)
Features, plan names, and figures change. Verify on the official LinkedIn sources above before relying on them.
