Upwork Reviews & Product Details

Upwork is the world’s largest human and AI-powered work marketplace, connecting businesses of all sizes with highly skilled independent talent. From startups to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies rely on Upwork to find trusted experts across 10,000+ skills in web and app development, design, finance, customer support, consulting, and more. Built for the AI era, Upwork combines human ingenuity with smart tools like Uma™, our mindful AI, to streamline hiring, match top talent faster, and deliver outcomes at scale. With flexible solutions like Business Plus, Upwork gives SMB leaders and growing companies a faster, easier way to scale. Business Plus offers access to top-tier talent, hands-on support, and advanced tools to simplify hiring, onboarding, and project management, all in one place. By integrating AI-powered solutions with human ingenuity, Upwork helps businesses manage projects with greater efficiency and effectiveness. Companies can leverage the platform to not only find the right experts but also to oversee project progress and outcomes seamlessly. This combination of skilled freelancers and intelligent tools empowers organizations to move faster, optimize spending, and ultimately unlock growth opportunities in an increasingly competitive landscape. Whether filling skill gaps, scaling complex projects, or driving digital transformation, Upwork helps businesses move faster, spend smarter, and unlock growth. This is where expert talent and AI-powered solutions come together to get work done.

Product Website

Seller

Upwork Inc.

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Upwork Community

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English

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Craig Bokesch

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Pricing provided by Upwork.

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Free

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Upwork Reviews (2,973)

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Kaushik M.

Frontend Team Lead | UI/UX Designer | Freelancer

Information Technology and Services

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

1/10/2026

"Unmatched Opportunities and Smart Tools for Every Freelancer"

5/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

The best part is the sheer scale of the platform. No matter what our specialty is, there are always active job postings from startups to huge companies. The buit it tools like "Uma" also help us write better proposals and find the best project matches much faster than searching manually. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

The worst part is the high competition and rising fees. because it is so large, we often compete with hundreads of ther people for one projects, which can lead to a race to the bottom on pricing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?

Upwork solves the problem of finding new clients and projects without having a massive sales team. It gives my company access to a global pool of businesses that need our skills. This benefits us by providing a steady stream of leads and protecting our payments through their escrow system, ensuring we get paid for the work we deliver. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Mohsin S.

Electrical Engineer

Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/17/2025

"As a Freelancer with over 7 years of Experience on Upwork"

2.5/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

Upwork connects you to clients worldwide in many niches — tech, marketing, design, writing, admin, and more. It’s a reliable way to find clients without spending your own time on cold outreach.

There are jobs posted every minute at all experience levels — from entry-level gigs to high-paying expert contracts.

Your Upwork profile becomes a trusted resume. Good ratings and client feedback help you win higher-paying jobs over time. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

Especially on popular categories like VA, data entry, writing, or web dev, you compete with freelancers worldwide — often from lower-cost regions.

Upwork fees are:

20% on the first $500 billed with a client

10% up to $10,000

5% beyond that

This can significantly reduce your net earnings compared to direct client work.

You use Connects to submit proposals, and you must buy more once they run out. This encourages careful bidding but also limits how many jobs you can apply to daily.

Many clients post very low-budget gigs. You may waste time filtering or receiving offers below your rate expectations.

Upwork can temporarily suspend accounts for policy violations or when disputes arise. Reputation matters — one misunderstanding can temporarily lock you out.

For new freelancers, winning the first few jobs can be slow due to limited reviews. Your rate and job invites usually grow only after positive feedback.

Some clients prefer to keep communication and payments on Upwork even if you want to move off platform later. This can limit negotiation flexibility. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?

Upwork solves several critical problems in the global freelance economy, and those solutions directly benefit me as a freelancer in practical, measurable ways.

1. Trust Gap Between Clients and Freelancers

Problem:

In a global marketplace, clients hesitate to hire remote freelancers due to fear of poor quality, missed deadlines, or fraud. Freelancers, on the other hand, worry about non-payment or scope creep.

How Upwork Solves It:

Upwork acts as a trusted intermediary through:

Verified client accounts

Escrow protection for fixed-price contracts

Hourly payment protection

Transparent contracts and dispute resolution

How This Benefits Me:

I can focus on delivering results instead of worrying about whether I’ll get paid. This security allows me to confidently take on international clients and long-term projects.

2. Client Discovery & Lead Generation

Problem:

Finding qualified clients independently requires time, money, and marketing skills (cold outreach, ads, networking).

How Upwork Solves It:

Upwork aggregates demand by bringing clients actively looking to hire into one platform, with searchable job posts and invite-based opportunities.

How This Benefits Me:

Upwork becomes a consistent lead source, reducing the need for cold emails or paid advertising. I spend more time working and less time prospecting.

3. Payment Processing & Cross-Border Barriers

Problem:

International payments involve currency conversion issues, delays, high fees, and trust concerns.

How Upwork Solves It:

Upwork handles:

Invoicing

Currency conversion

International payments

Tax documentation (where applicable)

How This Benefits Me:

I receive reliable, on-time payments regardless of client location, without dealing with banks, PayPal disputes, or compliance issues.

4. Quality Signaling & Reputation Building

Problem:

Freelancers struggle to prove credibility without referrals or prior relationships.

How Upwork Solves It:

Upwork provides:

Verified work history

Client reviews and ratings

Job Success Score

Skill badges and certifications

How This Benefits Me:

My profile becomes a public, verifiable record of my performance, making it easier to win higher-value contracts and attract repeat clients. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Michael W.

Owner

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/15/2025

"Connecting with Quality Clients and Seamless Project Management"

5/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

What I like best about Upwork is the ability to connect with serious clients who value quality work and long-term partnerships. The platform makes it easy to showcase skills, communicate clearly, and manage projects efficiently in one place. I also appreciate the transparency around expectations, timelines, and payments, which allows me to focus on delivering results and building lasting client relationships. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

What I dislike about Upwork is that strong freelancers can sometimes get overlooked due to bidding noise or price-driven competition. However, I understand this comes with a large marketplace, and clients who value quality and long-term results still stand out and are worth working with. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?

Upwork solves the problem of finding trustworthy clients and managing projects in a secure, organized environment. It benefits me by providing access to a steady stream of qualified clients, clear communication tools, and secure payment protection, which allows me to focus on delivering high-quality work and building long-term client relationships instead of chasing leads or worrying about payment issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Mike M.

Debt Advisor

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/18/2025

"Empowering Freelancers with Global Opportunities and Flexibility"

5/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

Upwork offers a number of attractive features for freelancers. It connects professionals with a broad selection of projects spanning many industries, such as writing and web development. The platform allows freelancers to set their own schedules and workloads, which supports a healthier work-life balance. With its global reach, Upwork enables users to collaborate with clients from all over the world, often resulting in interesting and diverse opportunities. The secure payment system, including both hourly and fixed-price contracts, helps foster trust between freelancers and clients. Additionally, working on various projects and receiving feedback allows freelancers to continually develop their skills and advance professionally. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

The service fees, the bidding process, and the additional charges for bid boosts are all concerns for me. Additionally, there have been issues with some contracts not being executed well with certain clients. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Blessing E.

Customer Service Representative | Email, Phone & Chat Support | Shopify

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

11/14/2025

"My experience as a freelancer on Upwork, my likes and dislikes"

5/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

I like that my payment is secured as long as I do a good job for clients and track my hours of work using Upwork tracker. Also, I like that I can easily schedule a meeting with a client using the Zoom feature in the message room. I also like that when a client view my proposal, I get a notification immediately, that pop up gives me joy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

I don’t like the fact that connects can’t be shared, like my friend has up to 300 plus connects which she is not using because she’s not currently applying, she told me sometime ago that if Upwork has that feature of sharing connects, she would have shared it with me be cause I currently don’t have connects at all, reason I'm not applying for work, and I’m not happy about it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Shelby G.

Owner

Accounting

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

11/19/2025

"Overall Easy to Use for finding talent"

4/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

Upwork makes it incredibly easy to find talent quickly. I really like the variety of freelancers available — different skill levels, specialties, and price points — so it’s simple to match the right person to the job. The platform is user-friendly, and I appreciate being able to review profiles, portfolios, and past feedback before hiring. Messaging, contracts, and payments are all handled in one place, which keeps everything organized. I also like that I can hire for one-time projects or build long-term working relationships, depending on what I need. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

I’ve hired a couple of people whose actual skills didn’t quite match what they listed on their profiles. While that was frustrating at first, it pushed me to improve the way I hire. I’ve learned to ask more specific questions during the interview process and to write more detailed, clear job posts to help weed out applicants who aren’t a good fit. The search talent feature is also really helpful when I want to just invite people to my job post that look promising. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Kimiko C.

Founder

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

11/18/2025

"Effortless Client Connections and Business Growth on Upwork"

5/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

I love how Upwork connects me with clients who are actively looking for specialized skills. It makes it easy to build meaningful working relationships, collaborate with people around the world, and grow my business through projects that align with my strengths. The platform feels streamlined, efficient, and supportive for both freelancers and clients.

I received a gift card for sharing my honest. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

I don’t like how applying for opportunities now requires so many more Connects, and despite being a top Upwork user, I’m not seeing enough high-quality job invitations in return. It feels like the balance has shifted, making it harder to access the right projects. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?

Upwork solves the problem of finding reliable clients by bringing quality opportunities into one place. Instead of spending hours searching for leads or doing outreach, I can connect with clients who already need my skills. The platform also helps with communication, contracts, and payments, which saves time and keeps everything organized so I can focus on delivering great work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jennifer D.

Bookkeeper/Small Business Owner

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

11/18/2025

"Great Opportunities, But High Competition and Costly Applications"

3/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

The marketplace is massive, so there’s a wide variety of job opportunities. The infrastructure (contracts, payments, dispute resolution) is solid, which is attractive to both clients and freelancers. There are a few ways to get free Connects (the credits you need to apply for jobs), depending on your plan or promotions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

The biggest challenge is the limited number of Connects compared to the number needed to apply for jobs. With only a small amount provided each month, freelancers often have to purchase more just to stay competitive, and those credits disappear whether or not a client ever views the proposal. On top of that, the competition is extremely high, with some job posts receiving hundreds of bids. This makes it hard to stand out unless you spend even more Connects to boost your proposal, creating a system that feels pay-to-play. While Upwork has solid tools and a wide range of opportunities, the cost of applying, combined with the intense competition, makes it very challenging to consistently land work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?

Upwork helps centralize freelance opportunities in one place, which saves time compared to searching across multiple platforms. It also provides a structured system for contracts, communication, and payments, which adds a layer of security and professionalism to client interactions. While landing work can be difficult due to limited Connects and heavy competition, the platform does solve the problem of finding legitimate job postings and gives freelancers a way to manage projects and payments in a single, reliable environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Denny S.

Product, Co-Founder

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

11/18/2025

"Upwork Makes Hiring Easy and Efficient"

5/5

What do you like best about Upwork?

I’ve been using Upwork for years now, and it’s honestly been a great tool for getting a wide range of work done. I’ve hired people for everything from website drafting and logo design to architectural drafting support, BIM modeling, and even Odoo setup. The variety of freelancers you can find here is pretty amazing.

My usual process is simple — I check a freelancer’s portfolio and send a quick message before sending an offer, just to make sure we’re a good fit. That little step has always helped me find the right person.

The platform itself is easy to use. Setting up a contract takes just a couple of minutes, and managing everything afterwards is straightforward. Overall, it’s been a really solid place to get work done and collaborate with people from all over the world. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

I think the service fees can feel a bit high at times, especially for long-term or larger projects. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it definitely adds up.

Also, some parts of the interface (like messaging and file sharing) can be a little clunky. It works, but it could definitely be smoother. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?

Upwork makes it easy to find the right people for very specific tasks without having to hire full-time staff. Instead of spending weeks searching locally, I can quickly connect with freelancers who have the exact skills I need — whether it’s drafting, BIM work, design, or software setup. It saves me a lot of time, helps me scale my workload when things get busy, and lets me work with talented people from all over the world. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.