Getting Started with Opengates

Learn what Opengates is, who it's for, and how to begin your journey on the freelancing marketplace. Understand account types, services, tasks, contracts, gate keys, and escrow payments.

Welcome to Opengates

Opengates is an online freelancing marketplace that connects talented professionals with clients who need work done. Think of it as a digital meeting place where people who have skills (freelancers) can find people who need those skills (clients), and where businesses or groups (organizations) can manage teams and projects all in one place.

Whether you are a graphic designer looking for your next project, a business owner who needs a website built, or a nonprofit organization that wants to coordinate volunteers and contractors, Opengates provides the tools you need to get work done safely and efficiently.

If you have never used a freelancing platform before, do not worry. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step by step, using plain language. By the end of this article, you will understand what Opengates offers, how it works, and which section of our help center to read next.

Who Is Opengates For?

Opengates is designed for three main groups of people, and each group gets its own account type:

Freelancers

A freelancer is someone who offers their skills and expertise as a service. Freelancers on Opengates can create service listings that describe what they do, set their own prices, and apply to tasks posted by clients. If you are a writer, designer, developer, translator, marketer, consultant, tutor, or any other kind of professional who works independently, the Freelancer account is for you.

As a freelancer, you can:

  • Create service listings with three pricing tiers (Basic, Standard, and Premium)
  • Browse and apply to tasks posted by clients
  • Communicate directly with clients through built-in messaging and calling
  • Receive secure payments through the escrow system
  • Build a portfolio and reputation through reviews and ratings

Clients

A client is someone who needs work done. Clients on Opengates can browse freelancer services, place orders, and post tasks describing what they need. If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, project manager, or anyone who wants to hire someone for a specific job, the Client account is for you.

As a client, you can:

  • Browse and order freelancer services directly
  • Post tasks describing the work you need done and receive applications from freelancers
  • Use the escrow payment system so your money is protected until the work is complete
  • Communicate with freelancers through built-in messaging and calling
  • Leave reviews and ratings for completed work

Organizations

An organization account is for groups of people who want to work together under a shared identity. This could be a company, a nonprofit, a government agency, or any other kind of group. Organizations on Opengates can affiliate individual users (both freelancers and clients) under their umbrella, apply organizational branding, and manage group activity.

As an organization, you can:

  • Create a shared organizational profile with branding
  • Affiliate users (freelancers and clients) to your organization
  • Manage projects and tasks under the organization's name
  • Choose your organization type: For-profit, Non-profit, or Government

Key Concepts You Should Know

Before you dive into using Opengates, here are the core concepts that make the platform work. Understanding these will make everything else much easier.

Services

A service is a listing created by a freelancer that describes something they can do for clients. For example, a freelancer might create a service called "Professional Logo Design" or "English to French Translation." Each service has a title, a description, and up to three pricing tiers:

  • Basic — The most affordable option, usually with a smaller scope of work
  • Standard — A mid-range option with more features or deliverables
  • Premium — The most comprehensive option with the full scope of work

This three-tier structure lets clients choose the level of service that fits their budget and needs.

Tasks

A task is a job posting created by a client. When a client has a specific project or piece of work they need done, they can post a task describing the requirements, the budget, and the deadline. Freelancers can then browse these tasks and apply to the ones that match their skills.

Contracts

When a freelancer and client agree to work together — whether through a service order or a task application — a contract is created. The contract outlines the terms of the work, including what will be delivered, the price, and the timeline. Contracts help both parties stay on the same page and provide a record of the agreement.

Gate Keys

Gate keys are special tokens that freelancers use to apply to tasks. Think of them as application credits. Each time a freelancer wants to apply to a task posted by a client, they spend a gate key. This system helps ensure that freelancers are thoughtful about which tasks they apply to and that clients receive serious, quality applications rather than spam.

Escrow Payments

Escrow is a payment system that protects both the freelancer and the client. Here is how it works:

  1. The client pays for a service or task, and the money is held securely by Opengates (this is the "escrow")
  2. The freelancer completes the work and delivers it
  3. The client reviews the work and approves it
  4. Once approved, the money is released from escrow to the freelancer

This means the client knows their money is safe until the work is done, and the freelancer knows the money is already set aside and waiting for them. Opengates uses Paystack as its payment gateway to handle these transactions securely.

Fees

Opengates charges a service fee on transactions to keep the platform running:

  • Standard fee: 12% on each transaction
  • Premium subscription fee: Only 7% on each transaction (for users who subscribe to the premium plan)

Prices are displayed in USD (United States Dollars) across the platform, but payouts to freelancers are made in KES (Kenyan Shillings).

How the Freelancer-Client Workflow Works

Here is a simplified overview of how work gets done on Opengates:

  1. A freelancer creates a profile and lists their services, describing what they offer and setting their prices across three tiers.
  2. A client browses services or posts a task describing what they need.
  3. The freelancer and client connect. This can happen when a client orders a service directly or when a freelancer applies to a client's task using gate keys.
  4. A contract is created outlining the work, price, and timeline.
  5. The client funds the escrow, placing the agreed payment into the secure holding system.
  6. The freelancer completes and delivers the work.
  7. The client reviews and approves the deliverables.
  8. Payment is released from escrow to the freelancer, minus the platform fee.

Throughout this process, both parties can communicate using Opengates' built-in messaging and calling features, powered by Azure Communication Services.

Additional Platform Features

Beyond the core marketplace, Opengates offers several features to enhance your experience:

  • OLA AI Assistant — A Gemini-powered AI assistant that can help you navigate the platform, draft proposals, and get answers to common questions
  • Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Passkeys — Advanced security options including WebAuthn passkeys to keep your account safe
  • Multilingual Support — The platform is available in English, French, Swahili, and Arabic
  • Mobile App — Opengates is available as a mobile app (built with Expo/React Native) as well as a web version, so you can work from anywhere
  • Analytics — Track your performance and activity with built-in analytics

Now that you understand what Opengates is and how it works at a high level, here is where to go next based on what you want to do:

  • How Opengates Works — Get a deeper understanding of the platform's mechanics, including how money flows, what premium subscriptions offer, and how the messaging system works.

  • Creating Your Account — Ready to sign up? This guide walks you through the registration process step by step.

  • Choosing Your Account Type — Not sure whether to sign up as a Freelancer, Client, or Organization? This article breaks down the differences to help you decide.

  • Setting Up Your Profile — Already have an account? Learn how to complete your profile, add skills, upload a portfolio, and make yourself stand out.

  • Quick Start Guide — Want to get up and running in 10 minutes? This fast-track guide gives you the essential steps for each account type.

We are glad you are here, and we are excited to help you get started on Opengates. Let's go!

Still need help? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to assist you.