Our verdict
Should you use Braintrust?
Use Braintrust if you are an experienced engineer, designer or product person who wants long contracts with large clients. Skip it if you are early in your career or outside tech.
Good for
- Mid- and senior-level engineers, designers and product people
Not for
- Beginners
- Non-tech roles
Countries & payouts
Can Braintrust pay you?
Worldwide except sanctioned places
Not available in sanctioned places: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
Paid via
The facts
Pay, timing and checks
- Fees for freelancers
- Braintrust says talent keeps 100% of their rate; clients pay the platform fee
- Work type
- Longer contracts in engineering, product, design and data, often with big-name clients
- Screening
- Profile review and an AI-led screening interview for many rolesReported, unconfirmed
Step by step
How getting in works
- 1
Profile
1 hour
- 2
Apply to roles
Ongoing
- 3
Screening interview
Days to weeks
- 4
Contract starts
Weeks to months
Tips from people who got in
- Build a detailed profile: stack, years, and projects with measurable results.
- Apply to specific jobs rather than waiting to be matched.
- Prepare for a screening interview about your real experience.
Contracts are fewer but larger and often run for months. Competition is strong for every opening.
Costs & catches
What to watch out for
Many roles ask for overlap with US or European working hours.
Some listings still prefer certain locations; read each job's location line.
Alternatives
Use it alongside
FAQ
Common questions
Does Braintrust charge freelancers?+
Braintrust says freelancers keep their full rate and clients pay the fee.
Is Braintrust truly remote?+
Most roles are remote, but some ask for working-hour overlap or prefer certain regions. Check each listing.
Who should not use Braintrust?+
Beginners and people outside tech fields. Try Contra, AI training work or the job board instead.
Think Braintrust fits?
Sign up to two or three platforms at once. Work comes and goes on all of them.