freelance.de

What freelance.de does

freelance.de GmbH operates a two-sided digital marketplace connecting independent professionals with companies and staffing agencies across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Munich, the platform serves as the largest freelancer marketplace in the German-speaking market, with 331,900+ registered freelancers (119,400+ active profiles) and 51,200+ project providers. The platform's core technology combines an automated matching algorithm, up to ten personalized search agents per user, and a smart filtering system that allows configuration by availability, remote-work preference, and experience level. Engagement metrics indicate sustained activity: 3,200+ open projects, 1,700+ daily applications, and 110+ contact requests per hour.

The business model rests on two revenue streams. Freelancers register for free with limited applications and can upgrade to a paid EXPERT membership for unlimited applications, personalized cover letters, and enhanced profile visibility. Companies and staffing agencies pay success-based service fees only upon completed project placements, with no upfront charges. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is described as 100% transparent and transaction-based. Distribution is hybrid: freelancers use a self-serve portal, while companies engage directly, and staffing agencies access the talent pool through a channel/reseller relationship with personalized onboarding support.

Recent strategic activity includes a strategic partnership with specialty insurer Hiscox (April 2026) to embed professional liability insurance into the platform, the appointment of René Troche as COO (July 2025), the annual Freelancer Study 2026 based on 3,300+ survey participants, and the freelance summit community event. The company is privately held as a GmbH, bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, and operates with 11-50 employees.

Name

freelance.de

Legal name

freelance.de GmbH

Website

https://freelance.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

freelance.de is the largest freelancer marketplace in the DACH region, connecting 331,900+ registered freelancers with 51,200+ companies and staffing agencies via a two-sided platform with automated matching, success-based fees, and EXPERT subscription membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freelance Marketplace

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Agent of Record (AOR) / Contractor Engagement Services (BPACAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Contractor Payroll, Invoicing & Payment Services (BPACAGAD), Contractor Benefits & Perks Administration (BPACAGAJ)

Keywords

• Freelancer marketplace
• Project staffing platform
• Talent matching software
• Two-sided marketplace
• Freelance recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Success-based Service Fees: Companies pay service fees only upon successful project placement or freelancer engagement - success-based pricing model.
2. Premium Membership Subscriptions: Freelancers can upgrade to EXPERT membership for premium features including unlimited applications, visibility benefits, and enhanced profile capabilities. Companies and staffing agencies likely have tiered membership options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

freelance.de operates a two-sided digital marketplace that connects freelance professionals with companies and staffing agencies seeking project-based talent in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The platform uses automated matching algorithms, personalized search agents, and smart filters to match 331,900+ freelancers with 3,200+ open projects across IT, engineering, finance, marketing, and creative industries, charging companies success-based service fees and offering freelancers an optional EXPERT premium membership.

Product overview

freelance.de is a freelancer marketplace platform serving the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The platform connects freelancers with project providers through intelligent matching algorithms, smart filtering systems, and automatic search agents. The core platform is supplemented by EXPERT premium membership, offering unlimited applications and enhanced visibility features. The platform supports various industry categories including IT, engineering, marketing, finance, and more. The ecosystem also includes the annual freelance summit event and publishes industry research through its Freelancer Studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• freelance summit: Annual community event for the future of work organized by freelance.de, with 400+ participants in 2026
• Freelancer Studie

Products and services

• freelance.de Plattform
• EXPERT Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 110+ contact requests per hour processed through the platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• HiscoxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Strategic partnership with Hiscox, a specialty insurer, to integrate embedded insurance into the platform. Insurance coverage (professional liability) can be seamlessly requested and obtained directly through the platform, addressing the finding that 41% of surveyed freelancers lack professional liability insurance.
• FCBB (FC Bayern Basketball)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship/partnership with FC Bayern Basketball, one of Germany's premier basketball clubs, to increase brand visibility in the DACH market.
• APSCo Deutschland (Association of Professional Staffing Companies)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with APSCo Deutschland, the association for professional staffing companies, indicating industry recognition and collaboration in the staffing sector.
• BertrandtmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBertrandt, an engineering services provider, is both a customer using the platform to source freelancers and a partner organization. They are featured in the 'Top Employers' section and sponsor section.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Comatch: Comatch is a European marketplace connecting companies with independent consultants and freelancers, headquartered in Germany. It overlaps with freelance.de in the consulting, strategy, and management freelancer segment and serves similar DACH enterprise buyers.
• Toptal: Toptal is a global premium freelance talent marketplace focused on the top 3% of freelancers, including software engineers, designers, and finance experts. It competes with freelance.de for high-end DACH freelancers and large enterprise engagements.
• Freelancermap: Freelancermap is a German freelancer marketplace and project board that directly overlaps with freelance.de in IT, engineering, and project management categories. Both target the same DACH freelancer and enterprise customer base with project-listing and search-agent functionality.
• Gulp: Gulp is a leading German IT freelancer platform directly competing with freelance.de in the DACH region for the same IT and engineering contractor pool. Both platforms offer project matching, profile search, and staffing agency access in Germany, making it the closest direct peer.
• Malt: Malt is a European freelance platform originating in France and actively expanding into the DACH market. It directly competes with freelance.de for independent professionals and enterprise clients, with similar marketplace economics and a comparable premium talent positioning.
• Junico: Junico is a German platform for independent consultants and project-based experts, directly competing with freelance.de in the DACH consulting and freelance market. It targets similar mid-market and enterprise buyers of freelance expertise.

Broad incumbents

• Upwork: Upwork is the largest global freelance marketplace and a broad incumbent that competes across categories (IT, writing, design, consulting) where freelance.de also operates. While not DACH-specialized, Upwork's scale and brand pose a long-term competitive threat to freelance.de's regional position.
• Fiverr: Fiverr is a global freelance services marketplace with broad category coverage and significant brand recognition. It operates adjacent to freelance.de in many of the same freelance service categories (design, marketing, IT), serving as a broad incumbent competing for DACH demand.

Emerging players

• WorkGenius: WorkGenius is a European AI-augmented freelance marketplace that overlaps with freelance.de in IT, creative, and marketing categories. While smaller and broader in scope, it represents an emerging tech-enabled threat in the same DACH and European freelance segment.

Regional players

• Freelance.com (Freelance Enterprise): Freelance.com is a French-listed IT freelance and consulting platform operating primarily in France and Benelux. While not directly competing in DACH today, its business model, IT-freelancer focus, and European scale make it a comparable reference for freelance.de's marketplace dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freelancede
• Facebookfacebook.com/freelance.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freelance-de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about freelance.de