Finding a provider you can trust should not be a guessing game. Here is how Sortlist matches you with providers based on your brief, step by step, and why it costs you nothing.
The process
Write your brief.
Tell us about your project. Our AI analyses and structures what you write, so the more context you give, the better your match. Once you send it, your project goes live and providers can start applying.
Receive applications.
Up to 4 matched providers will apply and contact you directly. We email you when an application arrives.
Review each application.
You get a link to the provider's Sortlist profile, examples of their past work, and reviews from clients they have worked with before.
Get in touch with the ones you like.
Message them directly on Sortlist to discuss your project and pricing. Many will suggest a call to go through the details.
Dismiss the ones that are not right.
This frees their seat so another provider can apply, and it also removes their access to your contact details. You can tell them why when you dismiss them.
Make your final choice.
Once you have spoken to the providers you shortlisted and decided who fits best, you are ready to start the project together.
What sending your brief means
Sending a brief is a real request, not a test. Up to 4 providers will contact you directly, and they will get your contact details. Each of them paid a fee to apply to your project, and they are waiting to hear from you. You are not committed to working with any of them, but if one is not a fit, dismiss them and tell them why. They will know where they stand, and you will stop hearing from them.
Is Sortlist free?
Yes. Finding a provider on Sortlist is free, and we never charge you or ask for your payment details. Any pricing or payment for the project itself is between you and the provider you choose.
Sortlist earns from providers instead. They pay for visibility on the platform and for the chance to apply to projects like yours, which is why providers tend to apply only where they believe they can win the work.
More detail here.
Who are the providers, and how are they chosen?
The providers who see your brief are agencies registered on Sortlist, matched with your project based on things like expertise, languages, location and budget range.
More detail here.