Compare
Fiverr or Upwork for physical fabrication vs a maker marketplace
Buyers pay no fee. Payment is held by our payment partner until you confirm delivery.
Side by side
| Fiverr | Upwork | The Spool List | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Freelance services sold as gig packages | Freelance contracts, hourly or fixed-price | Physical fabrication jobs quoted by makers |
| Physical items | Allowed in gigs that require shipping; Fiverr says it "does not handle" shipping, tracking, quality, condition or delivery of shipped items | Platform is built around services and deliverables; we found no physical-shipping policy | Every job is a physical item; delivery or pickup agreed with the maker |
| Buyer fees | 5.5% service fee, plus $3.50 on orders under $200 | Basic plan: up to 5% marketplace fee plus a one-time $0.99–$14.99 contract initiation fee | None |
| Seller fees | 20% of earnings | 0–15% service fee (per Upwork's own guide) | 10% free plan; 7%, 5% or 4% on paid plans |
| How payment is held | You pay at checkout; on shipping gigs you have 14 days after delivery to respond | Fixed-price: milestones funded upfront; released on approval or automatically after 14 days | Upfront; held by our payment partner (Stripe) until you confirm delivery |
| Who you hire | A freelancer chosen from gig listings | A freelancer chosen from proposals or search | A maker whose machine for that kind of work is verified |
Where Fiverr and Upwork shine
Use them to get a design made: 3D models, technical drawings, product design.
Both platforms have deep pools of CAD designers and product engineers, and their payment flows are built for digital deliverables. Upwork holds fixed-price milestone funds and releases them when you approve the work, or automatically if you don't respond within 14 days (Upwork help). If you need a STEP file or a printable model, that's the right tool.
A common pattern: commission the model on Fiverr or Upwork, then post the file as a fabrication job.
What changes when the deliverable is a parcel
Shipping, condition and fit are where freelance platforms say least.
Fiverr requires gigs with physical shipping to include a flat-rate shipping fee, recommends adding tracking, and says it "does not handle" shipping, tracking, quality, condition or delivery of shipped items (Fiverr help). On Upwork, we didn't find a policy for physical deliverables.
On The Spool List, payment is held by our payment partner, Stripe, until you confirm delivery, and problems are raised in the app before you confirm (returns and disputes). Makers verify each machine, so a laser-cutting quote comes from someone with a verified laser.
What you pay on each
Fiverr and Upwork add buyer fees on top of the price; The Spool List doesn't.
Fiverr: "The standard service fee is 5.5% of your purchase amount, and we add a $3.50 fee to orders under $200" (Fiverr help); sellers pay 20% (Upwork's comparison guide). Upwork's Basic plan lists a 5% service fee (3% for eligible US checking-account payers) and a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99 (Upwork pricing, initiation fee). One FAQ on Upwork's pricing page mentions 7.99%, so check the total at checkout.
The Spool List: no buyer fee. Makers pay 10% on the free plan, or 7%, 5% or 4% on paid plans (pricing).
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a physical product on Fiverr?
Yes, from gigs that include shipping. Fiverr says it does not handle shipping, tracking, quality, condition or delivery of shipped items, so confirm details with the seller and ask for tracking.
What does Fiverr add to my order?
Fiverr's help centre states a 5.5% service fee plus $3.50 on orders under $200.
What does Upwork charge clients?
Upwork's pricing page lists a 5% service fee on the Basic plan (3% for eligible US checking-account payers) plus a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99. One FAQ on the same page says 7.99%, so check checkout.
Should I use Fiverr for the design and a maker for the part?
That's often the best split: freelance platforms are strong for CAD and product design, and a maker with the right machine can then quote on making it.
Does The Spool List charge buyers a fee?
No. You pay the maker's quote. Makers pay a commission on completed orders.
More comparisons
Find makers by discipline
Sources
- Fiverr help: paying for orders, extras or custom offers
- Fiverr help: gigs that require shipping
- Upwork: client pricing
- Upwork help: contract initiation fee
- Upwork help: money deposited for milestone payments
- Upwork: Upwork vs Fiverr comparison guide
- The Spool List: returns and disputes
- The Spool List: maker pricing
Sources checked 2026-10-14. Competitor terms change; check their current pages before you order. Names of other companies are used only to identify their services.