HireTalent.lat vs Workana
Pre-screened talent platform vs freelance marketplace. Here's how they compare.
The Short Version
Pre-screened talent platform with transparent subscription pricing, no commissions on worker pay, and built-in team management tools for time tracking, payments, and PTO.
Latin America's largest freelance marketplace connecting businesses with 3+ million freelancers across IT, design, writing, and marketing. Project-based hiring with an escrow payment system and tiered commission fees.
At a Glance
Key differences between the two platforms
| HireTalent.lat | Workana | |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Pre-screened talent platform | Freelance marketplace |
| Talent pool | Pre-screened LATAM professionals | 3+ million freelancers (LATAM focus) |
| Screening | ID verification, skills testing, background investigation | Skills tests + client reviews |
| Hiring model | Ongoing roles (full-time & part-time) | Project-based & hourly contracts |
| Commission on worker pay | None | 5%–20% from freelancer + 4.5% from client |
| Team management | Built-in (time tracking, PTO, reviews) | Basic time tracker only |
| Payments | Wise integration (bulk pay) | Escrow + platform withdrawal |
| Compliance | W-8BEN, contracts, NDAs | Escrow protection only |
| Pricing for employers | From $0 (Free plan) | Free to post + 4.5% service fee per contract |
| Paid plans | $88–$219/mo | Free to post (fees per transaction) |
| AI certifications | 80+ tools verified | Not available |
| Dispute resolution | Direct relationship (you manage) | Platform mediation process |
What Actually Matters
Beyond the feature checklist — here's what the differences mean in practice
Flat subscription vs commission-based fees
HireTalent.lat charges a flat subscription: $0 Free plan, $88/mo Employer, $219/mo Team. No commission on worker pay, ever. Workana charges freelancers 20% on their first contract with a new client, dropping to 10% after $300 and 5% after $3,000 with the same client. Clients also pay a 4.5% service fee on every contract. Over time, these commissions add up -- especially if you hire multiple freelancers or work on larger projects. With HireTalent.lat, your costs are predictable regardless of how much you pay your team.
Pre-screened professionals vs open marketplace
HireTalent.lat screens every professional before they appear on the platform -- including ID verification, skills testing, and background investigation. You only see talent that has been reviewed and approved. Workana is an open marketplace where anyone can create a profile and bid on projects. They offer optional skills tests that freelancers can take, plus client ratings that build over time. The quality is there, but you need to do more of the vetting yourself, especially with new freelancers who haven't built a track record yet.
Ongoing roles vs project-based work
HireTalent.lat is built for hiring people into ongoing roles -- full-time or part-time team members who work with you continuously. The platform includes team management tools to support that relationship long-term. Workana is designed primarily for project-based work: you post a project, freelancers bid, you pick someone, they deliver, and the contract ends. You can hire the same person again, but the platform is optimized for one-off engagements rather than building a permanent remote team.
Built-in team management vs hire-and-go
HireTalent.lat covers the full lifecycle after hiring: time tracking, daily standups, PTO management, performance reviews, Wise payments, and compliance tools -- all in one platform. Workana focuses on the transaction: finding a freelancer, paying through escrow, and completing the project. For hourly projects they offer a basic time tracker, but there is no PTO management, no performance reviews, no bulk payroll, and no compliance documentation. If you are building a remote team, you would need separate tools for everything Workana does not cover.
AI-certified professionals
HireTalent.lat lets professionals earn verified certifications in 80+ AI tools -- ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, Copilot, and more. These are tested and verified, not self-reported. When you search for talent who knows specific AI tools, you know they have actually been tested on them. Workana offers general skills tests in categories like programming and design, but does not currently offer AI-specific tool certifications. As AI skills become increasingly important for remote work, this distinction matters.
Compliance tools vs escrow protection
HireTalent.lat provides compliance tools for direct hiring: W-8BEN tax form collection, custom contracts, and NDA management. You hire people directly and manage the relationship with proper documentation. Workana offers escrow payment protection -- funds are held until work is delivered and approved, with a mediation process for disputes. It protects individual transactions but does not provide the ongoing compliance infrastructure you need for a permanent remote team. Different approaches for different hiring models.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
The full breakdown across hiring, screening, management, and payments
| Feature | HireTalent.lat | Workana |
|---|---|---|
| Finding Talent | ||
| Talent search & filtering | ||
| AI-powered matching | ||
| Job posting | ||
| Direct candidate contact | Unlimited | Via proposals system |
| Video & voice profiles | ||
| Pre-screened before you see them | Skills tests optional | |
| Project-based hiring | Via trial tasks | |
| Ongoing role hiring | Limited (project-focused) | |
| Screening & Verification | ||
| ID verification | ||
| Background investigation | ||
| Skills testing | Optional freelancer tests | |
| AI tool certifications (80+) | ||
| Client ratings & reviews | ||
| Trial tasks before hiring | Via escrow milestones | |
| AI-generated interview questions | ||
| Platform-verified profiles | All talent reviewed | Self-reported profiles |
| Team Management | ||
| Time tracking | Basic (hourly projects only) | |
| Daily standups & recaps | ||
| PTO management | ||
| Performance reviews | ||
| Analytics & reporting | ||
| Slack integration | ||
| In-platform messaging | ||
| Payments & Compliance | ||
| Integrated payments | Wise (50+ countries) | Escrow + platform withdrawal |
| Bulk team payments | ||
| Invoice generation | Auto from time logs | Per project/milestone |
| W-8BEN collection | ||
| Contract management | Platform terms only | |
| NDA management | ||
| Escrow protection | ||
| Zero commission on pay | ||
Pricing Comparison
| HireTalent.lat | Workana | |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ||
| Price | $0 | $0 (free to post) |
| Search talent | Pre-screened profiles | Open marketplace search |
| Job posts | Add-on ($48 each) | Free to post projects |
| Contact candidates | Unlimited (anyone who applies) | Via proposal system |
| Commission on worker pay | None | 5%–20% from freelancer |
| Client service fee | None | 4.5% per contract (min $2) |
| Mid-Tier Plan | ||
| Plan name | Employer | No equivalent (per-transaction fees) |
| Price | $88/mo | Free + 4.5% per contract |
| Job posts | 3 included | Unlimited project posts |
| Contact candidates | 10/day | Via proposals |
| Team management seats | 3 included | Not available |
| Trial tasks | 5 included | Via escrow milestones |
| AI credits | 500/month | Not available |
| Screening | All talent reviewed before approval | Optional skills tests |
| Top-Tier Plan | ||
| Plan name | Team | No equivalent |
| Price | $219/mo | Free + 4.5% per contract |
| Job posts | 10 included | Unlimited project posts |
| Contact candidates | 25/day | Via proposals |
| Team management seats | 10 included | Not available |
| Trial tasks | Unlimited | Via escrow milestones |
| AI credits | 2,000/month | Not available |
| Time tracking | Full suite | Basic (hourly projects) |
| Integrated payments | Wise (bulk pay) | Escrow per project |
| Commission on pay | None | 5%–20% from freelancer + 4.5% from client |
| Both Platforms | ||
| LATAM talent | Yes | Yes |
| Same timezone as US teams | Yes | Yes (primarily LATAM) |
| Bilingual professionals | Yes | Yes |
| Cancel anytime | Yes | No subscription to cancel |
Which Platform Is Right for You?
Different tools fit different needs — here's the honest breakdown
Choose HireTalent.lat if...
- You want to hire ongoing team members, not just one-off project freelancers
- You need transparent, predictable pricing with no commission fees eating into pay
- You want pre-screened talent so you do not have to vet every applicant yourself
- You need hiring AND management in one platform (time tracking, payments, PTO, reviews)
- You want AI-savvy workers certified in specific tools
- You are building a remote team and need compliance tools (contracts, W-8BEN, NDAs)
Choose Workana if...
- You need freelancers for specific, well-defined projects with clear deliverables
- You want access to one of the largest freelance talent pools in Latin America
- You prefer a pay-per-project model with escrow protection on each transaction
- You are comfortable vetting candidates yourself using ratings and skills tests
- You need to hire quickly for a one-time task without a monthly subscription
- You value a built-in dispute mediation process for project disagreements
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HireTalent.lat cheaper than Workana?
For ongoing hires, yes. HireTalent.lat charges $88–$219/mo with zero commission on worker pay. Workana is free to post, but charges freelancers 5–20% commission and clients a 4.5% service fee on every contract. If you are hiring someone for $2,000/mo ongoing, Workana's combined fees could exceed $90–$490 per month on that single hire alone (depending on commission tier). For one-off small projects under $300, Workana's free posting model may cost less upfront.
Does Workana screen freelancers before I see them?
Not in the same way. Workana is an open marketplace -- anyone can create a profile and start bidding on projects. They offer optional skills tests freelancers can take, and client ratings build up over time, but there is no platform-wide screening before profiles go live. HireTalent.lat reviews every professional before they appear: ID verification, skills testing, and background investigation. You only see talent that has passed the screening process.
Can I switch from Workana to HireTalent.lat?
Yes. If you have been hiring freelancers on Workana and want to move to a more structured setup, create a free HireTalent.lat account and start searching pre-screened talent immediately. If you already have team members you found elsewhere, you can bring them into HireTalent.lat's management tools (time tracking, payments, PTO) -- just provide their name and email. It works for anyone, regardless of where you originally found them.
Which is better for building a remote team?
HireTalent.lat is purpose-built for ongoing remote teams. It includes time tracking, daily standups, PTO management, performance reviews, bulk payments via Wise, and compliance tools -- all in one platform. Workana is designed for project-based freelancing: post a project, hire someone, they deliver, and the engagement ends. You can rehire the same person, but you would need separate tools for everything beyond the initial hire. For building a permanent remote team, HireTalent.lat is the more complete solution.
How do payments work differently?
HireTalent.lat integrates with Wise for direct payments to your team -- including bulk payroll for multiple people at once, with invoices auto-generated from time tracking data. No commission taken from either side. Workana uses an escrow system: you deposit funds before work begins, and they are released when you approve the deliverable. Freelancers then withdraw through Workana's payment methods. Workana takes a 4.5% service fee from clients and 5–20% commission from freelancers on each transaction.
Which has more LATAM talent?
Workana has the larger overall pool with over 3 million registered freelancers, making it Latin America's biggest freelance marketplace. However, quantity is not the same as quality for your specific needs. HireTalent.lat's talent pool is smaller but pre-screened -- every professional has been verified and approved before you see them. If you want the widest selection and are willing to vet candidates yourself, Workana has more options. If you want a curated pool where the screening is already done, HireTalent.lat saves you that effort.
Ready to Try the Difference?
Create a free account and see pre-screened LATAM talent for yourself. No commission fees. No credit card required.