FL.ru review: the Russian freelance exchange for clients and freelancers
FL.ru is a Russian-language freelance exchange running since 2005, where clients post orders, vacancies and contests and freelancers respond. Signing up is free, but most visibility is paid: freelancers buy responses and catalog placement, clients pay for promotion and for Safe Deal escrow. Prices are in rubles and the site is only in Russian.
Earnings vary; there is no guaranteed income.
No extra sign-up bonus — the provider's standard offer applies.
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. If you sign up through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The bonus and terms are set by FL.ru and can change — check them on the official site before you sign up.
How to get started
- Open FL.ru through the link on this page and register as a client or as a freelancer.
- Clients: describe the task and post an order, or browse the freelancer catalog and portfolios.
- Freelancers: fill in your profile and portfolio, verify the account, and buy a response package if you want to answer most orders.
- Agree on the scope, price and deadline in the order chat.
- Use Safe Deal to reserve the budget, so the freelancer is paid only after the work is accepted.
What is FL.ru?
FL.ru is one of the oldest freelance exchanges on the Russian-speaking internet. It is operated by OOO Vaan, registered in the Skolkovo innovation centre in Moscow. Users work in two roles:
- Clients post orders, vacancies and contests, choose freelancers or contest winners, and can search the catalog without publishing the task.
- Freelancers respond to orders, vacancies and contests and build a profile and portfolio.
Categories cover websites, design, programming, SEO, marketing, texts, AI, 3D, animation, mobile apps, marketplace management, crypto and more. There is also a services shop where freelancers sell ready-made services.
The interface and all documents are in Russian, and prices are in rubles.
Who FL.ru suits
- Businesses and individuals hiring Russian-speaking specialists for websites, design, marketing or development, especially those who want escrow and closing documents.
- Russian-speaking freelancers prepared to pay for responses and placement to get in front of clients.
- Foreign clients or freelancers working with Russian-speaking counterparts: FL.ru says Safe Deal is a legal way to work with freelancers from other countries.
It is a weaker fit if you want a free way to bid: responding to most orders costs money. For short, simple tasks, compare the Workzilla review; more ways to earn are in our earn online category.
Prices for freelancers
Responses are the main cost. Orders where the client has paid for the "for everyone" option are open to all; to answer any other order you need a paid response.
| Freelancer service | Price |
|---|---|
| 20 responses for 10 days (once per account) | 1,000 ₽ |
| 30 responses for 30 days | 2,400 ₽ |
| 60 responses for 60 days | 4,800 ₽ |
| A single response (once per account) | 80 ₽ |
| Specialization placement in the catalog (includes PRO) | 150 ₽ per day |
To buy a package you must verify the account: fill in the Finance section, link self-employed status, or link Alfa ID or Sber ID. Unused responses expire with the package. A response is only the technical ability to reply: it doesn't guarantee a job or even an answer from the client.
The paid specialization places you above unpaid profiles in the catalog and adds PRO features: a 20% rating boost and visibility in search for all clients.
Prices for clients and Safe Deal
Posting an order is free for clients; promotion and extra reach are paid.
| Client service | Price |
|---|---|
| PRO account | 3,900 ₽ per month, 10,999 ₽ for 3 months, 44,999 ₽ for 12 months |
| "For everyone" option (any freelancer can respond) | 1,500 ₽ |
| Contest | 5,500 ₽ (5,000 ₽ with PRO) |
| Standard vacancy, 30 days | 1,599 ₽ (999 ₽ with PRO) |
| Pin an order at the top, per day | 2,630 ₽ (1,580 ₽ with PRO) |
Safe Deal is FL.ru's escrow. The client reserves the budget, and the freelancer is paid when the work is done; if the freelancer fails or misses the deadline, FL.ru promises the client a refund. Copyright transfers to the client. Only the client pays a commission, per freelancer:
- 20% on payments up to 35,000 ₽;
- 12% from 35,000 ₽ to 350,000 ₽;
- 7% above 350,000 ₽.
Freelancers pay no Safe Deal commission and are paid out to YooMoney, bank cards or bank transfer.
The page reports over 600 million rubles in deals and 93,381 Safe Deals completed; these are FL.ru's own figures.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Large, long-running exchange with a wide range of categories
- Safe Deal escrow with a money-back promise and copyright transfer
- Freelancers pay no Safe Deal commission
- Published price list for every paid service
- Works with clients and freelancers outside Russia through Safe Deal
Cons
- Freelancers must pay to respond to most orders
- Safe Deal commission for clients starts at 20% on smaller budgets
- Russian-language interface and ruble pricing only
- Response packages require account verification
- Bought responses don't guarantee work, and unused ones expire
Frequently asked questions
Is FL.ru free?
Registration is free, and regular orders can be posted without paying. Freelancers pay for responses to most orders and for catalog placement; clients pay for promotion options and a Safe Deal commission.
How much does a response cost on FL.ru?
Packages cost 1,000 ₽ for 20 responses over 10 days (once per account), 2,400 ₽ for 30 over 30 days and 4,800 ₽ for 60 over 60 days. A single response costs 80 ₽ and can be bought only once.
What is the FL.ru Safe Deal commission?
The client pays 20% on payments to one freelancer up to 35,000 ₽, 12% up to 350,000 ₽ and 7% beyond that. Freelancers pay nothing.
Can I use FL.ru from outside Russia?
FL.ru says Safe Deal is a legal way to work with freelancers from other countries, for companies and individuals. The site is in Russian and prices are in rubles.
How do freelancers get paid on FL.ru?
Through Safe Deal, individuals are paid to YooMoney, bank cards or by bank transfer, and companies by bank transfer. Outside Safe Deal, clients pay freelancers directly.
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