A business-to-business matching platform is an online service that connects a business with a specific need to service providers or suppliers capable of meeting that need. Depending on the circumstances, it may publish a directory, forward requests for quotations, organise calls for proposals, or rely on recommendations from a network.
Behind this single term lie very different models: a freelance marketplace, a European directory of manufacturers, a quotation request service, or a business network. This comparison guide is aimed at business leaders and procurement managers who want to know which one to use for which need, and who pays for what. If you are primarily looking for a trusted service provider, you may also wish to read our guide on how to find a service provider recommended by your network.
What types of B2B networking platforms are there?
- Freelancer marketplaces: a client describes a project, and freelancers offer their services. Examples: Malt, Codeur.com.
- Agency platforms: the same principle applies to marketing, communications or development agencies. Example: Sortlist.
- Supplier marketplaces and directories: professional products and equipment, search by category, request for quotes. Examples: Hellopro, Europages.
- Quotation request services: the platform assesses your requirements and forwards them to a select number of suppliers. Example: Companeo.
- Business networks: responses come from member companies, with recommendations from other members. Examples: business clubs, and platforms such as MisterBridge, which link several clubs and networks.
Comparison of business networking platforms
The table only includes information that each platform displays on its website or in its help centre, as viewed on 22 October 2026. The figures are provided by the platform operators themselves. ‘n.a.’: not stated on the pages consulted, which does not mean that the information does not exist.
| Platform | To find | How it works | What the customer pays | What the service provider pays | Claimed size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MisterBridge | Service providers recommended by members of business clubs and networks | One request, one town; up to 5 responses by default, with the service provider’s details linked to their SIRET number and, if suggested, the member recommending the service provider | Submitting a request without a subscription | Full access: €99.50 excl. VAT per year (€49.75 excl. VAT per year for club members) to respond; a sliding-scale commission ranging from 5% to 2% excl. VAT on assignments paid via the platform | n/a |
| Malt | Freelancers | The client describes their project or contacts a freelancer; the project is formalised in a contract and paid for via the platform | Service fee on each assignment, rate n/a | 10% excluding VAT on the first assignment, then 5% or 2% depending on the circumstances | n/a |
| Codeur.com | Freelancers | Project published, quotes from freelancers, choice made by the client | Publication ‘free of charge and with no obligation’ | n/a | Over 350,000 freelancers |
| Sortlist | Marketing, communications, design and development agencies | The client describes their project, and agencies offer their services | Free service for the client (Sortlist help centre, accessed 23 October 2026) | Sortlist+ subscription from €129 per month, plus a fee for each application, the price of which varies depending on the project (Sortlist pricing page, accessed 23 October 2026) | n/a |
| Hellopro | Industrial products and suppliers | Requirement passed on by the team to qualified suppliers; quotes within 24 hours, up to 3 | Purchasing process advertised as free of charge | n/a | 15,000 certified suppliers |
| Europages | Suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers in Europe | Search by product, request quotes from suppliers | n/a | n/a | Over 2.2 million suppliers |
| Companeo | Products and services for professionals | Requirements specified, suppliers selected, quotes compared | n/a | n/a | 1,800 approved suppliers, 24 countries |
Sources for the table: codeur.com, hellopro.fr, europages.fr, companeo.com (accessed on 22 October 2026); Malt commissions according to its help centre (2026); Sortlist according to its help centre and pricing page (links in the table); MisterBridge according to its general terms and conditions of sale and subscription (September 2026).
Which platform for which need?
A one-off assignment for a freelancer
Development, design, copywriting, consultancy: freelance marketplaces are designed for this. Malt handles the contracting and payment; Codeur.com focuses on the volume of quotes, up to 40 in 48 hours according to the website. The downside of this volume is the need to sift through options: allow time to read and assess the proposals.
An agency for a marketing project or a website
An agency platform such as Sortlist saves you from having to approach agencies yourself. The model relies on agencies, who pay to submit proposals: the service is designed to provide you with proposals; it’s up to you to check their references.
Products, equipment, an industrial supplier
Hellopro, Europages and Companeo cover business procurement: machinery, supplies and general services. Europages is useful for sourcing within Europe; Hellopro and Companeo filter the requests and limit the number of quotes sent.
A trusted service provider, close to home
Chartered accountants, solicitors, tradespeople, hauliers, local agencies: when looking for a service provider you’ll be working with long-term, a recommendation carries more weight than volume. This is where business networks come into their own. On MisterBridge, you post a request specifying a town; businesses with the relevant skills are notified, and you receive a maximum of five replies, including the name of the member who recommended the service provider where applicable. If you’re a member of a connected club, a request posted via the club’s page is sent first to its members. Creating an account allows you to track responses; with full access, you’ll in turn be found based on your skills across the entire platform.
What criteria should you compare before making a choice?
- Who pays, and how much? Client-side service fees, commission or subscription fees on the service provider’s side: the cost is reflected in the final price. Look for the published price list.
- How many responses? A cap on the number of responses saves time; a high volume gives you more choice. Choose according to how much time you have available.
- Who is verified? Company registration, insurance, the director’s identity: ask what the platform actually checks.
- Where does trust come from? Customer reviews, badges, or a recommendation from a verified individual: these three indicators do not carry the same weight.
- Is payment regulated? Some platforms hold funds until delivery or release by the buyer; others leave invoicing to the parties involved.
- Where is your data stored? Read the privacy policy, especially if you’re describing a sensitive project.
Whichever platform you use, the legal checks remain your responsibility: SIRET number in the Business Register, URSSAF compliance certificate for any contract worth €5,000 or more excluding VAT (source: Service-Public.fr, 2026), and ten-year liability insurance for building works.
Open platform or network: do you have to choose?
No. Many businesses use a marketplace for one-off assignments and their network for long-term service providers. The real question is the level of risk: the longer, more expensive or more image-sensitive the project, the more valuable a recommendation from someone who has seen the service provider at work becomes. Business networks retain an advantage here that online reviews cannot replace.
A simple combination works well in practice: stick to one or two marketplaces for quick, low-commitment purchases, and reserve recommendations from your network for service providers who will be dealing directly with your customers, your accounts or your premises. In both cases, make a note after each project of what went well: this feedback will be useful the next time you need a service, and will enable you to pass on a recommendation in turn.
Finding a service provider through your network, on a larger scale
If your requirement is more about trust than volume, give MisterBridge a go: post your requirement, receive up to five responses, and compare them. Create an account to track the responses, or log in if you already have one. How it works for businesses is explained on the MisterBridge homepage.
