Illustrator on goLance vs. Upwork
Comparing where to hire an illustrator? Here is how hiring works on goLance, with live rates from 1,500+ illustrators and a cost calculator you can use for any platform. Use the checklist alongside each platform's published terms.
Key facts: hiring an illustrator on goLance
Updated October 2026- Platform fee
- 7.95%, shareable between client and freelancer
- Who pays it
- The client, the freelancer, or both, as agreed per contract
- Illustrators on goLance
- 1,500+ public profiles (October 2026)
- Typical rate on goLance
- $10 to $20 an hour, median $15
- Applying to jobs
- Free for freelancers
- Vetting
- Identity verification, skills assessment and portfolio review before listing
- Contracts
- Hourly with screenshot time tracking, or fixed-price with escrow
- Typical time to first hire
- 24 to 48 hours
Meet illustrators on goLance
A selection of illustrators with public profiles on goLance, across rate ranges and countries. Select a profile to view it, or message candidates before you start a contract.
Compare total cost on any platform
Enter the engagement once. goLance's fee is filled in; for any other platform, enter the client and freelancer fees from its current pricing page. We don't prefill other platforms' fees, because they change and can depend on the contract.
goLance
One 7.95% fee. Choose who carries it.
Another platform
Enter its fees from that platform's own pricing page.
Platform fees only. Payment processing, currency conversion and withdrawal charges vary by method and are not included for either platform.
What to compare, row by row
How each part of hiring works on goLance, and the question to ask of any platform you are considering. Tick rows as you check them, then copy or print the list.
| Feature | goLance | What to check on any platform |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 7.95%, shareable between client and freelancer | |
| Who pays the fee | Client, freelancer or both, as agreed | |
| Applying to jobs | Free for freelancers | |
| Illustrator screening | Identity check, skills assessment and portfolio review before listing | |
| Skill badges | HuAi (Competent, Proficient, Expert), earned through assessments | |
| Messaging before contract | Free, unlimited | |
| Typical time to first hire | 24 to 48 hours | |
| Payment protection | Escrow | |
| Hourly work tracking | Time tracking with screenshots | |
| Global payments and tax | 150+ countries, 1099 generation | |
| Security certifications | ISO 27001 and AICPA |
What to check when hiring illustrators
Four checks that apply wherever you hire, and how goLance handles each one.
Original portfolio work.
Ask for process files, not just final shots. goLance reviews portfolios before an illustrator is listed.
A paid test brief.
A small brief in your own brand shows how an illustrator takes direction and handles revisions.
Revision rounds and file ownership.
Put the number of revisions, source files and usage rights in the contract before work starts.
Budget with fees included.
goLance charges one 7.95% fee, shareable between client and freelancer, so you can agree who covers it before the project starts.
What illustrators charge on goLance
Hourly rates from 1,500+ public goLance profiles. For tiers, filters and a budget planner, see the full illustrator rate guide.
All illustrators
Low and high end are the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Where they are based
| India | 544 | $13 |
| Philippines | 184 | $10 |
| Pakistan | 140 | $10 |
| United States | 108 | $20 |
| Bangladesh | 107 | $10 |
| Türkiye | 23 | $20 |
Profiles and median hourly rate by country.
How hiring an illustrator works on goLance
Four steps from first post to first payment.
Post a job, free
Describe the work, budget and timeline. Posting a job on goLance is free.
Shortlist and message
Browse illustrators, compare profiles and rates, and message candidates before any contract starts.
Start a contract
Choose hourly with screenshot time tracking or fixed-price with escrow, and agree who carries the 7.95% fee.
Pay and keep going
Release payments as work is approved. goLance pays freelancers in 150+ countries.
How to choose for your project
goLance and Upwork are both established freelance marketplaces, and the right one depends on the work. Four practical tests help.
Price the same engagement on both
Use each platform's current published terms and count every fee on the client side and the freelancer side. The calculator above does the math.
Look at how candidates reach you
Check how freelancers are screened before they appear in your results and what each profile badge actually certifies.
Talk before you commit
Shortlist two or three illustrators and scope the work with them before you sign. On goLance you can message candidates before a contract starts.
Check terms on existing relationships
If you already work with a freelancer on another platform, read that platform's terms before moving the work.
Common questions
Where can I hire a freelance illustrator?
Common options are freelance marketplaces such as goLance and Upwork, specialist agencies, and referrals from your network. Marketplaces let you review profiles, rates and work history before you hire. On goLance you can message illustrators before a contract starts.
How much does a freelance illustrator cost per hour in 2026?
On goLance, most illustrators charge between $10 and $20 an hour, with a median of $15 (1,500+ public profiles, October 2026). Rates move with experience, country and specialization. The illustrator rate guide breaks them down.
How does the goLance fee work when hiring an illustrator?
goLance charges one 7.95% platform fee, and it is shareable. The client, the freelancer, or both can carry it, as you agree. On a $5,000 illustrator project the fee is about $398.
How do I compare goLance and Upwork for an illustrator project?
Price the same engagement on both platforms using each one's current published terms, and count every fee on both sides of the contract. Use each platform's own pricing and help pages, since any platform's terms can change. The calculator on this page does the math once you enter those figures.
How are illustrators on goLance vetted?
Every illustrator on goLance goes through identity verification, a skills assessment for Illustration, and a portfolio review before they are listed. Freelancers can also earn HuAi skill badges (Competent, Proficient, Expert) through advanced assessments.
How fast can I hire an illustrator on goLance?
goLance teams typically sign their first illustrator contract within 24 to 48 hours. You can message candidates before a contract starts, which shortens scoping.
Does an illustrator pay to apply for jobs on goLance?
No. Freelancers on goLance can apply to as many jobs as they want for free.
Can I bring a freelancer I already work with to goLance?
Read the terms of the platform where you first worked together before moving the relationship. Some marketplaces have rules about continuing work outside the platform for a period after the first contract.