Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Fiverr Clone with Adalo

Why Adalo Works for Building a Freelance Marketplace

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This makes it the perfect foundation for a Fiverr-style marketplace where freelancers need to manage gigs on the go and clients expect seamless access whether they're browsing services on desktop or approving deliveries from their phone.

App store distribution is essential for freelance marketplaces because both buyers and sellers expect real-time updates. With native iOS and Android apps, you can leverage push notifications to alert freelancers about new orders, remind buyers about pending reviews, and keep transactions moving—the kind of engagement that drives repeat business and marketplace growth.

Building a freelance marketplace like Fiverr requires connecting two distinct user groups—service providers and buyers—across multiple devices while handling payments, messaging, reviews, and complex data relationships. Traditional development for this scope typically runs six figures and takes months. This guide walks you through building a fully functional freelance marketplace using Adalo, an AI-powered app builder that creates native iOS and Android apps alongside web apps from a single codebase.

For a freelance marketplace to succeed, you need to reach users wherever they are. With native app store distribution, your marketplace can leverage push notifications to alert freelancers about new job requests and notify buyers when deliveries are ready—keeping both sides engaged and transactions flowing. This comprehensive tutorial covers service listings, buyer-seller matching, payment integration, messaging systems, reviews, and publishing to web and mobile app stores, all without writing code.

Why Adalo Works for Building a Freelance Marketplace

Adalo creates database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This makes it ideal for a Fiverr-style marketplace where freelancers and clients need seamless access whether they're browsing on desktop, checking notifications on their iPhone, or managing orders from an Android tablet.

The platform's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users, with no upper ceiling. Paid plans include unlimited database records—critical for marketplaces that accumulate messages, orders, and reviews rapidly. Unlike platforms with record caps or usage-based charges that create unpredictable costs, Adalo's pricing remains straightforward as your marketplace grows.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account and Choose Your Plan

  1. Go to Adalo.com and sign up for a free account
  2. Review the pricing plans to determine what fits your needs (pricing and features subject to change; check the current pricing page for up-to-date details):
    • Free: Unlimited test apps with limited records per app (good for prototyping)
    • Starter: Approximately $36/month (annual) for published apps with custom domains and unlimited database records
    • Professional: Approximately $52/month (annual) for custom integrations, geolocation, and expanded storage
    • Team: Approximately $160/month (annual) for Xano integration and priority support
    • Business: Starting from $250/month (annual) for unlimited actions and editors

For a marketplace app with payment processing, the Professional plan provides the custom integrations and storage needed as your platform grows. All paid plans include no record limits and no usage-based charges—your costs stay predictable regardless of transaction volume.

Step 2: Set Up Your New Marketplace App

  1. Click "Create New App" from your dashboard
  2. Choose "Mobile App" (you can also deploy to web later)
  3. Name your app (e.g., "FreelanceHub" or "SkillMarket")
  4. Select "Start from Scratch" to build your custom marketplace
  5. Click "Continue" to enter the app builder

Ada, Adalo's AI builder, lets you describe what you want and generates your app. Magic Start creates complete app foundations from a description, while Magic Add adds features through natural language.

Alternatively, use Magic Start to generate a complete app foundation from a description. Tell it you need a freelance marketplace connecting service providers with buyers, and it creates your initial database structure, screens, and user flows automatically—what used to take days of planning happens in minutes.

Step 3: Configure Your App Theme

  1. Choose a primary brand color (e.g., teal or purple for creative marketplaces)
  2. Select a secondary color for call-to-action buttons (e.g., orange or green)
  3. Pick professional fonts that match your brand
  4. Review the preview and click "Continue"

Building Your Marketplace Database Structure

Understanding two-sided marketplace architecture is fundamental—your platform creates value by facilitating interactions between freelancers (service providers) and clients (service buyers). The database is the foundation that enables these connections.

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

  1. Click the Database icon in the left sidebar
  2. Click on the existing "Users" collection
  3. Add these properties (click "+ Add Property" for each):
    • Full Name (Text)
    • Phone Number (Text)
    • Profile Photo (Image)
    • Bio (Text - Multiline)
    • User Type (Text) - Values: "Buyer", "Seller", "Both"
    • Location (Text)
    • Country (Text)
    • Skills (Text - Multiline, for sellers)
    • Languages (Text)
    • Average Rating (Number)
    • Total Reviews (Number)
    • Total Orders Completed (Number)
    • Member Since (Date & Time - Automatic)
    • Response Time (Text) - Values: "Within 1 hour", "Within 6 hours", "Within 24 hours"
    • Is Verified (True/False)
    • Earnings Total (Number, for sellers)

Step 5: Create the Services Collection

This collection represents the "gigs" or service offerings that sellers create.

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Services"
  3. Add these properties:
    • Service Title (Text)
    • Description (Text - Multiline)
    • Category (Text) - Values: "Graphics & Design", "Writing & Translation", "Video & Animation", "Programming & Tech", "Digital Marketing", "Business", "Music & Audio", "Other"
    • Subcategory (Text)
    • Featured Image (Image)
    • Gallery Images (Multiple Images)
    • Pricing Type (Text) - Values: "Fixed", "Hourly", "Custom"
    • Base Price (Number)
    • Standard Price (Number)
    • Premium Price (Number)
    • Delivery Time Basic (Number) - Days
    • Delivery Time Standard (Number) - Days
    • Delivery Time Premium (Number) - Days
    • What's Included (Text - Multiline)
    • Requirements (Text - Multiline)
    • Tags (Text)
    • Status (Text) - Values: "Draft", "Active", "Paused", "Deactivated"
    • Total Orders (Number)
    • Service Rating (Number)
    • Total Reviews (Number)
    • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
    • Last Updated (Date & Time - Automatic)

Step 6: Create the Orders Collection

This tracks all transactions between buyers and sellers.

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Orders"
  3. Add these properties:
    • Order Number (Text - Auto-Generated)
    • Package Type (Text) - Values: "Basic", "Standard", "Premium"
    • Order Amount (Number)
    • Platform Commission (Number)
    • Seller Earnings (Number)
    • Status (Text) - Values: "Pending Payment", "In Progress", "Delivered", "Revision Requested", "Completed", "Cancelled", "Disputed"
    • Requirements Submitted (Text - Multiline)
    • Delivery Files (Multiple Files - if supported, otherwise use Text for URLs)
    • Delivery Note (Text - Multiline)
    • Expected Delivery Date (Date & Time)
    • Actual Delivery Date (Date & Time)
    • Revision Count (Number)
    • Max Revisions (Number)
    • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
    • Completed Date (Date & Time)
    • Cancelled Reason (Text)

Step 7: Create the Messages Collection

For buyer-seller communication.

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Messages"
  3. Add these properties:
    • Message Text (Text - Multiline)
    • Attachment URL (Text)
    • Is Read (True/False)
    • Sent Date (Date & Time - Automatic)

Step 8: Create the Conversations Collection

To group messages between two users.

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Conversations"
  3. Add properties:
    • Conversation ID (Text - Auto-Generated)
    • Last Message (Text)
    • Last Message Date (Date & Time)
    • Unread Count Buyer (Number)
    • Unread Count Seller (Number)

Step 9: Create the Reviews Collection

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Reviews"
  3. Add properties:
    • Rating (Number) - 1 to 5
    • Review Title (Text)
    • Review Text (Text - Multiline)
    • Communication Rating (Number)
    • Service Quality Rating (Number)
    • Delivery Speed Rating (Number)
    • Seller Response (Text - Multiline)
    • Is Public (True/False)
    • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)

Step 10: Create the Payments Collection

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Payments"
  3. Add properties:
    • Payment ID (Text - Auto-Generated)
    • Amount (Number)
    • Payment Method (Text) - Values: "Credit Card", "Stripe"
    • Card Last 4 (Text)
    • Status (Text) - Values: "Pending", "Processing", "Completed", "Failed", "Refunded"
    • Stripe Payment ID (Text)
    • Transaction Fee (Number)
    • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
    • Completed Date (Date & Time)

Step 11: Set Up Database Relationships

This is where your marketplace comes together. Proper relational structure is essential for scalability.

In Services collection:

In Orders collection:

In Reviews collection:

In Messages collection:

In Conversations collection:

Installing Required Components

Step 12: Install Payment Components

  1. Go to Adalo Marketplace
  2. Search for "Stripe"
  3. Install the Stripe Payment component
  4. You'll need to get your API keys from the Stripe Dashboard (see docs)

Step 13: Install Star Rating Component

  1. In the Component Marketplace, search "Star Rating"
  2. Click "Install" on a compatible star rating component
  3. Return to your app editor

Step 14: Review Other Useful Components

Browse the marketplace for:

You can also use Magic Add to add features by describing what you need. For example, type "add an image carousel for service galleries" and the AI will configure the appropriate component with your data connections.

Creating User Authentication

Step 15: Build the Welcome Screen

  1. Rename the default screen to "Welcome"
  2. Add your marketplace logo (Image component)
  3. Add headline text: "Find Freelance Services for Your Business"
  4. Add subheadline: "Millions of people use our platform to turn their ideas into reality"
  5. Add two buttons:
    • "Join as a Freelancer" → Link to "Signup Seller" screen
    • "Hire a Freelancer" → Link to "Signup Buyer" screen
  6. Add text link: "Already have an account? Login" → Link to "Login" screen

Step 16: Create Buyer Signup Screen

  1. Add new screen "Signup Buyer"
  2. Add Form component connected to Users collection
  3. Include form fields:
    • Full Name (Text Input)
    • Email (Email Input)
    • Password (Password Input)
    • Country (Dropdown)
  4. Add hidden field that sets User Type = "Buyer"
  5. Configure submit button:
    • Action: Sign Up User
    • On success: Link to "Buyer Dashboard" screen
  6. Add footer text: "Need to hire talent? [Join as a Seller]" → Link to seller signup

Step 17: Create Seller Signup Screen

  1. Add new screen "Signup Seller"
  2. Add Form component connected to Users collection
  3. Include form fields:
    • Full Name (Text Input)
    • Email (Email Input)
    • Password (Password Input)
    • Country (Dropdown)
    • Professional headline (Text Input - e.g., "Experienced Logo Designer")
  4. Set User Type = "Seller"
  5. Submit action → Link to "Seller Profile Setup" screen for additional info

Step 18: Build Seller Profile Setup Screen

This screen collects additional information needed for sellers to start offering services.

  1. Add new screen "Seller Profile Setup"
  2. Add multi-step form (or single long form):
    • Profile Photo (Image Picker)
    • Bio/Description (Text Area) - 600 character limit
    • Skills (Text Input with tags)
    • Languages (Checkboxes: English, Spanish, French, etc.)
    • Location (Text Input)
    • Professional Title (Text Input)
  3. Submit button updates Logged In User properties
  4. On submit → Link to "Create First Service" screen

Step 19: Create Login Screen

  1. Add new screen "Login"
  2. Add Form with:
    • Email field
    • Password field
  3. Submit action: Log In User
  4. Add conditional navigation:
    • If Logged In User → User Type = "Buyer" → "Buyer Dashboard"
    • If Logged In User → User Type = "Seller" → "Seller Dashboard"
    • If Logged In User → User Type = "Both" → Show selection screen
  5. Add "Forgot Password?" link
  6. Add "Don't have an account? Sign Up" link

Building the Buyer Experience

Step 20: Create Buyer Home/Browse Screen

  1. Add new screen "Buyer Dashboard"
  2. Add search bar at top:
    • Text Input: "What service are you looking for?"
    • Search Button → Updates list filter
  3. Add category navigation:
    • Horizontal List of categories with icons
    • Each item links to filtered view of that category
  4. Add featured services section:
    • Custom List of Services
    • Filter: Status = "Active", sort by Total Orders (descending)
    • Show for each service: Featured Image, Service Title, Seller name and profile photo, Average Rating (stars), Starting price: "From $X"
    • Click action: Link to "Service Detail" screen, pass Selected Service

Reference the Facebook Marketplace app for effective discovery UX patterns.

Step 21: Build Service Detail Screen

  1. Add new screen "Service Detail"
  2. At the top, add seller info card:
    • Profile photo (Current Service → Seller → Profile Photo)
    • Seller name
    • Average rating and total reviews
    • Response time
    • Last online status
  3. Add image gallery:
    • Large featured image
    • Thumbnail images below (if multiple)
  4. Add service information:
    • Service title (large, bold text)
    • Service description
    • Category and tags
    • Total orders completed for this service
  5. Add pricing packages section:
    • Three cards: Basic, Standard, Premium
    • For each package show: Price, Delivery time, What's included, "Select" button
  6. "Select" button actions:
    • Link to "Order Details" screen
    • Pass: Current Service, Selected Package Type

Step 22: Create Category Browse Screen

  1. Add new screen "Category Browse"
  2. Add filter sidebar (or top bar for mobile):
    • Price range slider
    • Delivery time filter (dropdown: "Up to 3 days", "Up to 7 days", etc.)
    • Seller level (checkboxes: "Top Rated", "Level 1", "Level 2", "New Seller")
    • Rating filter (minimum stars)
  3. Add sort options:
    • Dropdown: "Relevance", "Price: Low to High", "Price: High to Low", "Best Selling", "Newest"
  4. Add results list:
    • Custom List of Services
    • Apply filters from sidebar/top bar
    • Grid layout showing service cards

Implementing effective search and filtering is one of the biggest opportunities in marketplace applications.

Step 23: Build Order Details/Checkout Screen

  1. Add new screen "Order Details"
  2. Display order summary:
    • Service title
    • Selected package details
    • Price breakdown (Service price + Platform fee)
    • Expected delivery date
  3. Add requirements form:
    • Text Area: "Describe your requirements"
    • File Upload (if needed)
    • Instructions from seller
  4. Add "Continue to Payment" button → Link to "Payment" screen

Step 24: Create Payment Screen

  1. Add new screen "Payment"
  2. Add order summary (read-only)
  3. Add payment method section:
    • Option to use saved card
    • Or add new card
  4. Install and add Stripe Payment component:
    • Amount: Current Order → Order Amount
    • On successful payment: Create Payment record, Update Order status to "In Progress", Create notification for seller, Link to "Order Confirmation" screen

According to Stripe's security documentation and OWASP guidelines, secure payment processing is critical for marketplace trust.

Step 25: Build Order Confirmation Screen

  1. Add new screen "Order Confirmation"
  2. Display success message: "Order Placed Successfully!"
  3. Show order details: Order number, Service name, Seller name, Expected delivery date
  4. Add action buttons:
    • "Contact Seller" → Link to conversation
    • "View Order" → Link to order management screen
    • "Browse More Services" → Return to home

Step 26: Create Buyer Order Management Screen

  1. Add new screen "My Orders"
  2. Add tabs for order status: Active Orders, Delivered Orders, Completed Orders, Cancelled Orders
  3. For each tab, add Custom List of Orders:
    • Filter by Buyer = Logged In User and respective status
    • Show: Service image, title, seller name, status, delivery date
    • Click action: Link to "Order Details View" screen

Step 27: Build Order Details View Screen

  1. Add new screen "Order Details View"
  2. Display order information: Order number and date, Service details, Requirements submitted, Current status with progress indicator
  3. Add status-specific actions:
    • If Status = "In Progress": "Contact Seller" button
    • If Status = "Delivered": "Request Revision" and "Accept Delivery" buttons
    • If Status = "Completed": "Leave Review" button
  4. Add delivery section (visible when seller delivers): Delivery note, Downloadable files
  5. Add messaging section (embedded conversation)

Building the Seller Experience

Step 28: Create Seller Dashboard

  1. Add new screen "Seller Dashboard"
  2. Add earnings summary card:
    • Text: "Available for Withdrawal: $[amount]"
    • Text: "Earnings this month: $[sum of completed orders this month]"
    • Button: "Withdraw Earnings"
  3. Add active orders section:
    • List of Orders where Seller = Logged In User, Status = "In Progress"
    • Show: Order number, buyer name, delivery deadline, amount
    • Click: Link to "Order Management" screen
  4. Add quick stats: Total earnings, Active orders count, Completion rate, Average rating
  5. Add navigation to: My Services (Gigs), Create New Service, Messages, Analytics

Step 29: Build Create Service Screen

  1. Add new screen "Create Service"
  2. Add multi-step form or single scrollable form:

Step 1: Service Overview

Step 2: Pricing & Packages

Step 3: Description & Details

Step 4: Gallery

Step 5: Publish

On submit: Create Service record connected to Logged In User, Show success message, Link to "My Services" screen.

Step 30: Create My Services (Seller Gigs) Screen

  1. Add new screen "My Services"
  2. Add tabs: Active Services, Paused Services, Draft Services
  3. For each tab, add Custom List of Services:
    • Filter: Seller = Logged In User, Status = respective status
    • Show: Featured image, title, starting price, total orders, rating
  4. Add action buttons for each service:
    • Edit → Link to edit screen
    • Pause/Activate → Toggle status
    • View → Link to public service page
    • Delete (for drafts only)
  5. Add floating "+ Create New Service" button

Step 31: Build Order Management (Seller) Screen

  1. Add new screen "Order Management Seller"
  2. Add tabs: New Orders, In Progress, Delivered, Completed
  3. For each order in list: Order number and date, Buyer name, Service title, Amount (and seller earnings after commission), Delivery deadline, Action button based on status
  4. Click on order → Link to "Order Details Seller" screen

Step 32: Create Order Details Seller Screen

  1. Add new screen "Order Details Seller"
  2. Display order information: Order number, Buyer information, Requirements and attachments, Deadline
  3. If Status = "In Progress":
    • Add "Deliver Work" button
    • Opens delivery form with: Delivery note (Text Area), File upload for deliverables, Submit updates Status to "Delivered"
  4. If Status = "Delivered": Show delivery details, Show revision request if any, Add "Deliver Revision" option
  5. Add "Contact Buyer" button → Link to conversation
  6. Show order timeline/history

Step 33: Build Seller Analytics Screen

  1. Add new screen "Seller Analytics"
  2. Add date range selector (Last 7 days, Last 30 days, Last 90 days, All time)
  3. Display metrics: Total earnings, Number of orders completed, Average order value, Conversion rate (orders / service views), Response rate, On-time delivery rate
  4. Add earnings chart (if chart component available)
  5. Add performance by service:
    • List of services with individual stats
    • Orders, revenue, rating per service

Implementing Messaging System

Step 34: Create Conversations List Screen

  1. Add new screen "Messages"
  2. Add Custom List of Conversations:
    • Filter: Buyer = Logged In User OR Seller = Logged In User
    • Sort by: Last Message Date (newest first)
  3. For each conversation show: Other user's profile photo and name, Last message preview, Unread indicator (if unread count > 0), Timestamp
  4. Click action: Link to "Conversation Detail" screen

According to McKinsey research, social technologies can raise the productivity of knowledge workers by 20-25%.

Step 35: Build Conversation Detail Screen

  1. Add new screen "Conversation Detail"
  2. At top, show other user info: Profile photo and name, Online status
  3. Add Custom List of Messages:
    • Filter: Conversation = Current Conversation
    • Sort by: Sent Date (ascending)
  4. Style messages:
    • If Sender = Logged In User: Align right, different color
    • If Sender ≠ Logged In User: Align left
  5. Add message input at bottom:
    • Text Input for message
    • Optional: Attachment button
    • Send Button: Creates new Message record, Updates Conversation last message, Sends notification to recipient, Clears input field

Step 36: Create Quick Responses (Optional)

  1. Add saved response templates for common scenarios: "Thank you for your order!", "I'll need more information about...", "Your order is in progress", "I've delivered your order"
  2. Add quick response buttons above message input
  3. Click inserts template into message field

Building the Review and Rating System

Step 37: Create Leave Review Screen

  1. Add new screen "Leave Review"
  2. Display order summary: Service title, Seller name and photo, Order completion date
  3. Add rating components:
    • Star Rating: Overall rating (1-5)
    • Star Rating: Communication (1-5)
    • Star Rating: Service as described (1-5)
    • Star Rating: Delivery speed (1-5)
  4. Add review form:
    • Text Input: Review title
    • Text Area: Detailed review
    • Checkbox: "Make this review public"
  5. Submit button: Creates Review record, Updates Order review status, Triggers seller rating recalculation, Link to confirmation screen

Step 38: Implement Rating Calculation

Since rating calculations should update in real-time:

  1. Create custom action when review is submitted
  2. Count total reviews for the seller: Filter: Reviews where Reviewed = Current Service → Seller
  3. Calculate average: Sum all Rating values, Divide by Total Reviews count
  4. Update seller's Average Rating and Total Reviews properties
  5. Update service's rating: Filter reviews for specific service, Calculate and update Service Rating

Step 39: Build Reviews Display

  1. On Service Detail screen, add reviews section
  2. Add Custom List of Reviews:
    • Filter: Service = Current Service, Is Public = True
    • Sort by: Created Date (newest first)
  3. For each review show: Reviewer name and photo, Rating (stars), Review title and text, Date posted, Helpful count (optional feature)
  4. Add pagination or "Load More" if reviews > 10

Setting Up Commission and Payments

Step 40: Configure Platform Commission

Commission models of 15-30% are most common. Set up your commission structure:

  1. In Order creation, add formula fields:
    • Platform Commission = Order Amount × 0.20 (for 20% commission)
    • Seller Earnings = Order Amount - Platform Commission
  2. When payment is processed: Store full amount in Payment record, Calculate and store commission, Calculate and store seller earnings

Step 41: Implement Payment Hold Logic

To build trust, hold payments until delivery using Stripe Connect:

  1. When buyer pays: Payment Status = "Processing", Use Stripe Connect to capture funds to your platform balance
  2. When seller delivers: Order Status = "Delivered", Buyer has X days to accept or request revision
  3. When buyer accepts or deadline passes: Order Status = "Completed", Payment Status = "Completed", Transfer seller earnings upon order completion per your policy, Calculate platform commission

Step 42: Create Seller Payout Management

  1. Add new screen "Withdraw Earnings"
  2. Display available balance: Sum of Seller Earnings where Payment Status = "Completed", Minus previous withdrawals
  3. Add payout form: Amount to withdraw (Number Input), Payout method (Bank Transfer, etc.), Account details
  4. Add payout history list: Previous withdrawals with dates and amounts

Adding Trust and Safety Features

Step 43: Implement User Verification

Building trust between strangers through verification is fundamental:

  1. Add verification flow: Email verification (built into Adalo), Phone number verification, ID verification (manual or via third-party)
  2. Add verification badge to verified users: Display "✓ Verified" on profiles, Conditional visibility: If Is Verified = True
  3. Create admin review screen for verification requests

Step 44: Build Dispute Resolution System

  1. Add "Report Issue" button on order details
  2. Create new screen "Dispute Order"
  3. Add form: Issue category (dropdown), Description (text area), Evidence/screenshots (file upload)
  4. Creates dispute record for admin review
  5. Update Order Status to "Disputed"
  6. Notify both parties and admin

Step 45: Implement Basic Fraud Prevention

  1. Add user reporting system: "Report User" button on profiles, Report reasons (spam, inappropriate content, scam)
  2. Track suspicious patterns: Multiple account cancellations, Repeated refund requests, Negative review patterns
  3. Add admin dashboard to review flagged accounts

Use X-Ray, Adalo's built-in performance analysis tool, to identify potential issues before they affect users. X-Ray highlights database queries that might slow down as your marketplace scales, letting you optimize proactively.

Optimizing Search and Discovery

Step 46: Enhance Search Functionality

Effective search is critical for marketplace success:

  1. Improve search to include: Service titles, Descriptions, Tags, Seller names, Categories
  2. Add search suggestions/autocomplete
  3. Track popular searches to improve results
  4. Consider synonyms (e.g., "logo" and "branding")

Step 47: Build Recommendation System

  1. Add "Recommended for You" section: Based on browsing history, Based on previous orders, Based on searches
  2. Add "Related Services" on service pages: Same category, Same price range, Same seller's other services
  3. Add "Trending Services" section: Most orders in past 7 days, Highest rating with minimum order count

Step 48: Implement SEO-Friendly Service Pages

  1. Use descriptive titles and URLs
  2. Add meta descriptions (if platform supports)
  3. Ensure service content is text-based for indexing
  4. Implement proper heading hierarchy
  5. Add structured data for rich snippets (if possible)

According to marketplace SEO strategies, service listings should rank well in search engines to drive organic traffic.

Creating Admin Features

Step 49: Build Admin Dashboard

  1. Create admin user type
  2. Add new screen "Admin Dashboard"
  3. Display platform metrics: Total users (buyers and sellers), Total services listed, Total orders (by status), Total revenue, Commission earned
  4. Add quick access to: User management, Service moderation, Order disputes, Payment reconciliation

Step 50: Create User Management Screen

  1. Add screen "Admin Users"
  2. Add Custom List of all Users: Search/filter by email, name, user type, Show: Name, email, user type, member since, status
  3. Add actions for each user: View full profile, Verify user, Suspend/unsuspend, Delete account, View orders and services

Step 51: Build Service Moderation

  1. Add screen "Admin Services"
  2. List all services with filter options: Pending approval (if you require pre-approval), Active services, Flagged/reported services
  3. Add moderation actions: Approve/reject new services, Deactivate inappropriate services, Edit service details if needed, Contact seller about issues

Testing Your Marketplace

Step 52: Create Test User Accounts

  1. Create test buyers: At least 3-4 buyer accounts, Different locations/profiles
  2. Create test sellers: 5-6 seller accounts, Different service categories, Upload actual services with images
  3. Add sample reviews to create realistic data

Comprehensive testing should include functional, usability, and performance testing.

Step 53: Test Core User Flows

Test these critical paths:

Buyer Flow:

  1. Sign up as buyer
  2. Browse services by category
  3. Search for specific service
  4. View service details
  5. Place an order
  6. Make payment
  7. Message seller
  8. Accept delivery
  9. Leave review

Seller Flow:

  1. Sign up as seller
  2. Complete profile
  3. Create service listing
  4. Receive order notification
  5. View order requirements
  6. Message buyer
  7. Deliver work
  8. Receive payment
  9. Respond to review

Admin Flow:

  1. Review new users
  2. Moderate services
  3. Handle disputes
  4. Generate reports

Step 54: Test Payment Processing

  1. Use Stripe test card numbers
  2. Test successful payments
  3. Test failed payments
  4. Test commission calculations
  5. Verify seller earnings
  6. Test payout process
  7. Verify payment hold timing

Step 55: Test on Multiple Devices

  1. Desktop browser (different sizes)
  2. Mobile browser (iOS and Android)
  3. Adalo mobile app preview
  4. Different network conditions
  5. Low battery scenarios

Adalo 3.0's infrastructure overhaul (launched late 2025) made apps 3-4x faster than before. Test your marketplace under realistic load conditions to verify performance meets user expectations.

Publishing Your Marketplace

Step 56: Prepare for Launch

  1. Set up production API keys: Stripe live keys, Any third-party integrations
  2. Create legal pages: Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Community Guidelines, Commission structure explanation
  3. Set up customer support: Support email, Help documentation, FAQ page
  4. Configure email notifications: Order confirmations, Delivery notifications, Payment receipts

App Store guidelines require proper permissions and accurate descriptions.

Step 57: Publish to Web

  1. In Adalo editor, click "Publish"
  2. Choose "Web App"
  3. Options: Use free Adalo subdomain (yourapp.adalo.com), Or connect custom domain ($10-45/year)
  4. Click "Publish Now"
  5. Your web app is live immediately

Adalo offers manual publishing control so you can update without disrupting users.

Step 58: Publish to iOS App Store

Requirements:

Steps:

  1. In Adalo, go to "Publish" → "Native Apps"
  2. Choose "iOS"
  3. Upload required assets
  4. Fill out app information
  5. Submit for review
  6. Review times vary; check Apple's current review process for estimates

Step 59: Publish to Google Play Store

Requirements:

Steps:

  1. In Adalo, go to "Publish" → "Native Apps"
  2. Choose "Android"
  3. Upload required assets
  4. Fill out store listing
  5. Submit for review
  6. Review times vary; check Google's current review process for estimates

Adalo publishes to native mobile platforms directly from your single build—one codebase updates web, iOS, and Android simultaneously.

Solving the Chicken-and-Egg Problem

Step 60: Focus on Supply Side First

The chicken-and-egg problem—needing sellers to attract buyers and buyers to attract sellers—is critical to solve.

Strategies:

  1. Recruit sellers before launch: Reach out to freelancers in your target niche, Offer reduced commission for early adopters, Provide featured placement for first 50 sellers
  2. Start with a niche: Focus on one service category initially, Achieve critical mass in that category, Expand to adjacent categories later
  3. Seed initial listings: Partner with existing freelancers, Consider offering your own services initially, Ensure quality over quantity

Step 61: Drive Initial Buyer Traffic

  1. Content marketing: Create blog posts about hiring freelancers, SEO-optimize service categories, Share success stories
  2. Social media: Target business owners in your niche, Share featured services, Run targeted ads to specific industries
  3. Partnerships: Partner with business communities, Offer exclusive deals, Provide educational content

Step 62: Achieve Marketplace Liquidity

Liquidity—where both buyers and sellers easily find matches—is more important than raw user numbers:

  1. Quality over quantity: Focus on active users who transact, Remove inactive listings, Highlight top performers
  2. Facilitate matches: Send personalized recommendations, Notify sellers of relevant buyer searches, Create category-specific promotions
  3. Network effects: As more users join, platform becomes more valuable, More choice for buyers, More opportunities for sellers

Scaling Your Marketplace with Adalo

Step 63: Monitor Performance and Data Usage

  1. Track key metrics: User registration conversion rate, Service listing creation rate, Browse-to-order conversion rate, Payment success rate, Average transaction value
  2. Monitor app performance: Use X-Ray to identify slow queries before they impact users, Check response times across different screens, Monitor API call patterns
  3. Adalo reports high uptime and handles millions of data requests daily

With paid plans offering no data caps, you won't hit artificial ceilings as your marketplace accumulates orders, messages, and reviews. This removes a common scaling constraint that forces platform migrations.

Step 64: Integrate External Databases with Xano

For advanced use cases requiring custom backend logic:

  1. Explore Xano integration: Scalable backend database, Custom API endpoints, Advanced data operations
  2. Available on Team plan and above (check current pricing)
  3. Use Xano for complex operations: Custom commission calculations, Advanced analytics processing, Third-party API orchestration

Step 65: Automate Workflows with Zapier

Use Zapier integration to automate:

  1. Email marketing: Add new users to email lists, Send drip campaigns, Notify about new services in favorite categories
  2. Accounting: Create invoices for completed orders, Track commission revenue, Generate financial reports
  3. Customer support: Create support tickets from disputes, Send SMS notifications, Log important events

Step 66: Consider Plan Upgrades

As your marketplace grows, review Adalo's pricing plans for current features and limits:

With proper architecture planning, Adalo apps can scale beyond 1 million monthly active users. The modular infrastructure introduced in Adalo 3.0 scales with your app's needs automatically.

Why Building Your Marketplace with Adalo Makes Sense

Adalo's AI-powered platform empowers makers to bring marketplace ideas to life without the traditional barriers of hiring developers or learning to code. Here's why Adalo is worth checking out for your freelance marketplace:

Speed to Market: The low-code market is experiencing significant growth, with Gartner projecting that by 2026, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies. With Adalo, you can build and launch your marketplace MVP in 2-4 weeks instead of the 6-12 months required for traditional development. This speed lets you validate your business model quickly and start generating revenue while competitors are still in development.

Significant Cost Savings: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual pay for software developers exceeds $100,000. By using Adalo, you eliminate these costs entirely. Starting at $36/month for published apps with unlimited database records, Adalo costs a fraction of alternatives like Bubble ($59/month with usage-based charges and record limits) or FlutterFlow ($70/month per user, plus separate database costs).

True Cross-Platform Deployment: Build once, publish everywhere. Adalo's responsive design automatically adapts your marketplace to work beautifully on iOS, Android, and web browsers from a single build. Over 3 million apps have been created on Adalo, demonstrating the platform's ability to scale. Unlike web wrappers that add latency and limit native functionality, Adalo compiles to true native code.

Built-In Database and Relationships: Adalo's relational database handles the complex data relationships required for marketplaces—connecting users, services, orders, reviews, and payments—without requiring database administration knowledge. The platform includes prebuilt property types, custom formulas, and AND/OR logic essential for sophisticated filtering. Paid plans include unrestricted database storage, eliminating the record caps that constrain growth on other platforms.

Flexible Integration Ecosystem: Connect your marketplace to Stripe for payments, Zapier for automation, Xano for scalable backends, and dozens of other services through Adalo's component marketplace. This flexibility ensures you're not locked into limited functionality.

Proven Infrastructure: Adalo reports high uptime and handles millions of data requests daily. The Adalo 3.0 infrastructure overhaul (launched late 2025) made apps 3-4x faster and introduced modular scaling that grows with your user base. Most third-party platform comparisons predate this major update.

Whether you're a first-time entrepreneur, small business owner, or non-technical founder, Adalo provides the tools to transform your freelance marketplace vision into reality. Start with the free plan to prototype, then scale to paid plans as your user base grows.

Key Marketplace Success Metrics to Track

Once your marketplace is live, monitor these metrics:

  1. Liquidity Metrics: Search-to-match rate, Time to first transaction, Repeat transaction rate
  2. Supply Metrics: Active sellers, Services per seller, Seller retention rate
  3. Demand Metrics: Active buyers, Orders per buyer, Buyer return rate
  4. Quality Metrics: Average rating, Completion rate, Dispute rate
  5. Financial Metrics: Gross merchandise value (GMV), Take rate (your commission %), Average transaction value

Resources for Continued Learning

Remember: Building a successful freelance marketplace is more than technical implementation—it's about solving the chicken-and-egg problem by focusing on supply-side recruitment first, creating value for both buyers and sellers, and iterating based on actual user behavior. With 70% of new applications using low-code or no-code technologies by 2026, you're joining a proven movement of makers bringing ideas to life without traditional coding barriers.

Start building your marketplace today at Adalo.com.

FAQ

Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?

Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps alongside web apps from a single codebase. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges, making costs predictable as your marketplace scales.

What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?

Adalo's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building let you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, and Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process—certificates, provisioning profiles, and store guidelines—so you can focus on features and user experience.

Can I easily build a freelance marketplace app without coding?

Yes, Adalo's visual builder is described as "easy as PowerPoint." You can create service listings, buyer-seller matching, payment integration, messaging systems, and review features—all the core components needed for a Fiverr-style marketplace—using drag-and-drop components and natural language requests through Magic Add.

How do I handle payments and commissions in my marketplace app?

Adalo integrates with Stripe for secure payment processing, allowing you to capture payments from buyers and automatically calculate platform commissions. You can set up payment holds until delivery is accepted, configure your commission percentage (typically 15-30%), and manage seller payouts through built-in components and database relationships.

What database structure do I need for a two-sided marketplace?

A freelance marketplace requires collections for Users (with buyer/seller types), Services (gigs), Orders, Messages, Conversations, Reviews, and Payments. Adalo's relational database handles these complex relationships easily, connecting sellers to their services, buyers to their orders, and enabling the messaging and review systems that build trust between parties.

How do I solve the chicken-and-egg problem of needing both buyers and sellers?

Focus on recruiting sellers first by reaching out to freelancers in your target niche, offering reduced commissions for early adopters, and starting with a specific service category to achieve critical mass. Once you have quality service listings, drive buyer traffic through content marketing, social media, and partnerships with business communities.

Can my Adalo marketplace app scale as my user base grows?

Yes, Adalo's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users, with no upper ceiling. The Adalo 3.0 infrastructure overhaul (launched late 2025) made apps 3-4x faster and introduced automatic scaling. Paid plans have no record limits, so your database grows with your business without hitting artificial caps.

Which is more affordable, Adalo or Bubble?

Adalo starts at $36/month for published apps with unlimited database records and no usage-based charges. Bubble starts at $59/month with Workload Units that create usage-based charges and record limits. Adalo's pricing stays predictable regardless of transaction volume, while Bubble's costs can increase unexpectedly as usage grows.

Is Adalo better than FlutterFlow for mobile apps?

For non-technical users, yes. FlutterFlow is "low-code" designed for technical users and requires setting up a separate database, which adds complexity and cost. Adalo includes a built-in database, starts at $36/month (vs FlutterFlow's $70/month per user plus database costs), and offers a visual builder that displays up to 400 screens at once for faster navigation.

How long does it take to build a freelance marketplace?

With Adalo, you can build and launch a marketplace MVP in 2-4 weeks instead of the 6-12 months required for traditional development. Magic Start generates your initial database structure and screens from a description, and the drag-and-drop interface lets you iterate quickly based on user feedback.