Honest pricing.
No surprises.
We make money when great work ships. Lower fees than competitors, transparent percentages, and optional subscriptions for power users. Nothing is hidden.
Hire on AE Studio.
Cancel any time · No setup fees
Open
Post briefs, hire talent, ship work. The full marketplace, no subscription required.
- Unlimited briefs
- AI-matched talent in <1h
- Stripe Connect escrow
- 4% service fee per project
- Email support
Pro Buyer
For founders, marketers, and brands hiring on AE Studio regularly.
- Everything in Open
- Priority matching (under 30 min)
- Dedicated project manager
- 3% service fee per project
- Saved briefs & teams
- Unlimited revisions on packages
- Quarterly talent recommendations
Enterprise
Agencies, holding cos, and brand teams with sustained creative needs.
- Everything in Pro Buyer
- Volume pricing — fees from 1.5%
- Vetted talent benches & teams
- MSA, SSO, custom contracts
- Dedicated CSM
- Compliance & audit trails
- On-site quarterly reviews
Earn on AE Studio.
Membership = lower fees + premium placement
Independent
The default. Apply, get vetted, start matching with briefs.
- Public profile & portfolio
- Match with hand-picked briefs
- Standard 12% service fee
- Stripe Connect payouts
- Standard placement
Elite
For top-performing independents serious about scaling on AE Studio.
- Everything in Independent
- 8% service fee (vs 12%)
- Premium homepage + category placement
- AE Studio Elite verified badge
- AI brief-screening assistant
- Advanced analytics
- Priority talent support
Studio
Small teams of 3–10 specialists offering integrated services.
- Everything in Elite
- Team profile with collaborators
- Multi-talent project routing
- Team-level analytics
- Dedicated talent partner
- 6% service fee
Pay less. Earn more.
| Cost | AE Studio | Fiverr | Upwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller service fee | 12% | 20% | 10% |
| Buyer service fee | 4% | 5.5% + $2 | 5% |
| Application required | Yes — 4% accept | No | No |
| Project minimum | $500 | $5 | — |
| Avg. project size | $8,400 | $120 | $2,800 |
| Escrow protection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IP transfer included | Yes | Add-on | Add-on |
| Editorial brand | Yes | — | — |
The fine print — in plain English.
Are there really no hidden fees?
Yes. AE Studio charges a 4% buyer fee and a 12% seller fee on completed projects. There are no listing fees, no fees for revisions, no per-message fees. Subscriptions reduce the service fee further.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Any time, no questions. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. You'll keep your subscription benefits until then.
How is payment protected?
All projects use Stripe Connect escrow. Funds are held until milestones are met and the buyer approves. Disputes are reviewed by humans on our trust team within 48 hours.
What about taxes and invoicing?
We handle invoicing automatically. Talent receive 1099s in the US and equivalents elsewhere. We support VAT, GST, and reverse charge for international transactions.
Can I use AE Studio for retainer work?
Yes — many of our top engagements are monthly retainers (Embedded Lead, Brand Partner, etc). Subscriptions and Studio plans are designed for ongoing work.