Why Twine Pro’s Subscription Model Works Better for Freelancers

Freelancing can be an incredible career path, full of creativity, independence, and opportunity. But let’s be honest, traditional freelance marketplaces often make it harder than it needs to be. At Twine, we’ve built our business model differently because we believe freelancers deserve better.

Let me explain why we’ve taken this approach.

The Problem with Traditional Marketplaces

Most freelancer platforms operate on a commission-based model – they take a cut of whatever you earn from projects. On the surface, that sounds fair, but if you’ve ever worked on these platforms, you’ll know the frustration all too well.

1. Commissions Stack Up Quickly

You land a big project – fantastic! But when you see the final bill, it feels like half your hard-earned cash has disappeared in fees. It’s common for commission costs to creep into the thousands as most platforms charge between 20% and 30%. This can feel demotivating, especially when you’ve put in the hours and effort to secure the job.

2. Limited Client Communication

Because platforms make their money through these fees, they lock communication inside the platform. No Zoom calls, no personal emails, just clunky messaging tools. This slows things down, makes collaboration with your client harder, and frankly, creates unnecessary friction between you and your clients. It feels like the platform is standing between you and your project, which isn’t how freelancing should feel.

How Twine Does Things Differently

With Twine, we ditch the default commission fees and opt for a subscription model instead. This means:

• No surprises. You know exactly what you’re paying each month – $13.99 / £11.99.
• More freedom. If you want to communicate directly with your client, have a Zoom call, or even meet up face-to-face, that’s perfectly fine by us. You can even invoice them however you want.
• Fair access. We offer a free tier that gives you a limited number of applications per month. But if you’re serious about freelancing, Twine Pro unlocks 50 applications and direct client contact details.
• Stand out. We prioritise Twine Pro members in client searches and recommendations, which increases the likelihood of being hired.

We believe this creates a simpler, more transparent experience for freelancers and clients alike.

Let’s do the math

On traditional platforms with 20-30% commission:

• $1,000 project = You keep $700-800

• $5,000 project = You keep $3,500-4,000

• Every project = Keep losing 20-30% of your earnings

With Twine Pro:

• Fixed $13.99/month subscription

• Keep 100% of every project

• Whether you earn $5,000 or $50,000 – you only pay $13.99 that month

Why This Matters for Your Career

We want to focus on what really matters – helping you land the right projects at the right time. Without commissions lurking in the background, we can reinvest in tools and services that actually help you find and win work such as our One-page Website tool and AI cover letter writing tool.

With Twine Pro, you get access to extra resources, more visibility in searches, and priority placement – all designed to boost your chances of getting hired.

At the end of the day, our goal is simple:

🔹 Less hassle, more opportunity.
🔹 More freedom, fewer restrictions.
🔹 A fairer way to freelance.

We’re freelancers at heart, and we get the challenges. That’s why Twine exists – to make freelancing not just viable but to empower you to thrive. If you’re tired of commissions eating into your earnings, maybe it’s time to try something different.

Here’s to more freedom, better clients, and a stronger freelance career!