NIL marketplaces are designed to connect athletes with brands. These websites typically list specific campaigns you can apply for through the platform. You’ll hear back if the brand wants to work with you.

Marketplaces are an easy place to start looking for NIL deals. Here are some of our favorite marketplaces to sign up for. They’re all free!

The best NIL marketplaces made for athletes

Marketplace benefits

Marketplaces make it easy to get in touch with new brands. You can browse through different campaigns and apply to the ones that match your interests and values. This can help you expand your portfolio and gain more experience working with different types of brands.

Marketplaces only show brands that are actively seeking athletes to work with, which means you won’t waste time pitching to brands that are not interested in collaborating with athletes.

Marketplace drawbacks

Marketplaces may not have campaigns you are interested in. Sometimes the campaigns available on marketplaces may not match your niche, interests, or values. This means you may have to look for opportunities elsewhere or wait until a suitable campaign becomes available.

You might face a lot of direct competition from other influencers applying to work with the same brands. Brands might simply choose to work with athletes who have the most followers at the lowest rates, which can make it harder for you to stand out from the crowd.

Most NIL deals happen separately from marketplaces. While marketplaces can be a great way to get started with NIL deals, most of the big deals happen outside of the marketplaces. This means you should also be looking for opportunities outside of the marketplace, such as reaching out to brands directly or working with an agent who has connections with brands. Not sure if you need an agent? Check out this article.