---
title: Upwork Reviews
meta_title: 'Upwork Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2'
meta_description: Filter 3214 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry
  to find out how Upwork works for a business like yours.
aggregate_rating:
  rating_value: 4.5
  review_count: 3214
  scale: '5'
date_modified: '2026-08-12'
parent_category:
  name: HR
  url: https://www.g2.com/categories/hr
---


# Upwork Reviews
**Vendor:** Upwork Inc.  
**Category:** [Freelance Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/freelance-platforms)  
**Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0  
**Total Reviews:** 3,214
## About Upwork
Upwork is a freelance hiring platform and work marketplace that connects businesses with independent professionals across more than 10,000 skill categories. It functions as an end-to-end solution for sourcing and managing contingent workforce needs — from project specialists to long-term contractors — without the overhead of full-time hiring. Businesses of all sizes use Upwork to fill skill gaps, execute complex projects, and scale results without adding headcount. Creating an account and posting a job is free. You pay only once a contract begins. Most clients hire within three days of posting. There's also no need for a fully defined scope to get started. You can browse freelancers by skill, experience level, location, and availability, review work histories, and save profiles as you define your needs. Upwork covers a broad range of disciplines, including web and app development, AI engineering, design, finance, customer support, marketing, writing, and consulting. You can hire individual freelancers or assemble multi-person project teams. Upwork is particularly well suited for businesses that need specialized expertise quickly, including freelancers who combine deep domain knowledge with AI tools to amplify their output and deliver results more efficiently. Key platform capabilities include: AI-assisted matching — Uma™, Upwork's Mindful AI, analyzes project details like skills, budget, scope, and timeline to surface relevant freelancers. You can also search and filter independently and invite specific candidates to apply to your job. Transparent freelancer profiles — Evaluate candidates through detailed profiles, portfolios, verified work history, client feedback, skill certifications, and badges. Message or interview freelancers before starting a contract. Flexible contract types — Choose between hourly contracts, billed weekly based on logged hours, or fixed-price contracts funded in milestones, depending on how the work is structured. Built-in payment protection — For fixed-price projects, funds are held in escrow and released only upon client approval. For hourly projects, logged hours can be reviewed before billing is finalized. Centralized project management — Contracts, messaging, milestones, timesheets, and payments are managed from a single dashboard, with dispute assistance available if issues arise. Upwork is primarily used by business owners, hiring managers, and procurement teams looking for a faster, lower-risk alternative to traditional staffing or full-time recruitment, whether for a single project or an ongoing contingent workforce strategy.



## Upwork Pros & Cons
**What users like:**

- Users commend the **ease of use** on Upwork, facilitating job searches and secure payments seamlessly. (665 reviews)
- Users value the **wide variety of job opportunities** on Upwork, facilitating connections with clients globally and ease of application. (367 reviews)
- Users appreciate the **convenience and reliability** of Upwork, finding it ideal for freelancers seeking secure and rewarding projects. (358 reviews)
- Users appreciate the **time efficiency** of Upwork, enabling quick navigation and easy contract management. (288 reviews)
- Users value the **secure payment systems** and organized management, fostering trust and reliability in job transactions. (266 reviews)
- Talent Quality (231 reviews)
- Payment Reliability (215 reviews)
- Convenience (191 reviews)
- Many Options (186 reviews)
- Helpful (149 reviews)

**What users dislike:**

- Users find Upwork to be **expensive** due to costs associated with Connects and commission on earnings, impacting accessibility. (474 reviews)
- Users express frustration over **high fees** on Upwork, feeling increasingly burdened by costs and reduced earnings. (454 reviews)
- Users express frustration over **job scarcity** on Upwork, citing competition and low-paying clients as significant challenges. (207 reviews)
- Users face **intense competition** on Upwork, struggling to secure jobs despite qualifications due to aggressive bidding practices. (155 reviews)
- Users face significant **limitations** on Upwork, including cumbersome messaging, slow payouts, and a flooded talent pool. (123 reviews)
- Hidden Fees (114 reviews)
- Freelancer Issues (106 reviews)
- Lack of Information (94 reviews)
- Payment Issues (93 reviews)
- Users report a rise in **scams** on Upwork, with fake accounts and untrustworthy freelancers causing financial loss. (93 reviews)

## Upwork Reviews
  ### 1. Great Variety of Projects, but Service Quality Often Falls Short

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Nick K. | Senior Delivery Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** April 23, 2026

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like that Upwork gives access to a wide range of clients and projects from around the world. It makes it easy to find opportunities that match my skills and manage work in one place. I also appreciate the flexibility it offers to choose projects and build long-term client relationships.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

The main issue I’ve experienced is a lack of consistent quality. Many freelancers do not meet the expected skill level, which often leads to disappointing results. Overall, the quality of the services provided is frequently below expectations.

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

I can find various professionals in one place

  ### 2. As a Freelancer with over 7 years of Experience on Upwork

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Mohsin S. | Electrical Engineer, Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2025

**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.

**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.

**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.

  ### 3. Variety in Jobs, But Competitive Market

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Maryann S. | Owner , Retail, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** May 17, 2026

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like that there are a lot of different jobs that you could choose from on Upwork. The search works very well compared to other gig work sites.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It looks like there's more people trying to hire people instead of get hired. This makes my experience kinda negative because I am actively looking for a job, and I can't use the site to look for one.

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

I use Upwork to find microtasks and gig work. I appreciate the variety of jobs available and the search works well compared to other gig sites. However, there seems to be more people hiring than looking for work, which makes my job search challenging.

  ### 4. Great Opportunities, But High Competition and Costly Applications

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jennifer D. | Bookkeeper/Small Business Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2025

**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.

**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.

**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.

  ### 5. Intuitive Interface and Helpful AI, But Too Much Spam and Low Rates

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Brie Danielle B. | Chief Chaos Wrangler, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I really like the user interface. It’s very easy to use and navigate it. It’s very easy to find what you’re looking for the AI writer is helpful and does produce some good outputs. I have been on Upwork on and off since 2012 there have been some great things about it over the years and unfortunately honestly the things I like about it are dwindling every year. I used to really love their pricing structure for their freelancers however, that seems to be changing quite a bit as well lately.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I do not like the amount of spam and scam jobs that are posted. Also, the jobs that are posted with their religious surveys. I don’t like that they are allowed on the site. They bog it down at times.I also really dislike the drive of hourly rates being so low that it’s difficult to stay working and actually making money. I also do not like their take on contracts and basically from my understanding you once you’re hired through Upwork with somebody you have to say on Upwork with them, depending on the type of contract, of course. I just feel like it’s saturated with people that are willing to work for nothing and lately with job posters who are wanting to pay nothing for quality work.

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

Unfortunately, right now  it’s causing me more problems than solving. There is an ebb and flow though every year and I’m hoping that the flow will come back up after the first of the year. I used to solve the problem of they’re not being another site that hasn’t a lot of my type of work on there which is construction, accounting and operations management. It is, however, a very easy site to navigate that I will I will say.

  ### 6. Effective Recruitment Platform with Some Communication Challenges

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jay A. | Performance Test Lead, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like the fact that I get to know what they've done. It has a good payment system, which is kinda good to take some of the work out of that. That's probably the best thing that I wanna get back at work.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It's really difficult to communicate sometimes, and I'm worried about giving honest feedback because of how the other person might react. Also, the fees are a little bit high.

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

Upwork lets me reach out globally to find quality people easily, reducing my legwork.

  ### 7. Great Platform for Freelancers, But Barriers for Beginners

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Gina F. | Freelance Recruiter, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

What I like most about Upwork is the opportunity it gives freelancers to find contract work while feeling supported and protected. I appreciate the transparency in payout schedules and the security of knowing that once a contract starts, there’s a system in place that backs me up. The platform also allows me to check an employer’s history before accepting a job, which helps ensure legitimacy. Overall, the rating system between employers and freelancers makes it a solid tool for anyone starting out in the freelance world.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

On the downside, I really dislike the current Connects system. For freelancers who are just trying to get started, it feels discouraging to have to pay for Connects on top of already having 10% of earnings deducted per hour. This creates an extra barrier for those struggling to land their first opportunities. Additionally, despite Upwork’s safeguards, there are still quite a few scams that slip through, which can make the experience frustrating at times.

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

Upwork gave me the chance to break into the freelance world, especially in the beginning when free Connects made it easier to get started and test the waters of the industry. It provides a structured and safe environment where freelancers and employers can connect without as much risk of unreliable contracts or negative experiences. For freelancers, it’s a platform that makes entering the market more accessible, and for employers, it offers a vetted way to find talent with a clear record of past work and reliability.

  ### 8. Used to be a really great source for work, but lately not so much

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Amber S. | Owner | Chief Strategist, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I've been using UpWork since just about day 1, and it's been good to me over the early years. I found a wide range of work and clients to be available on the site and it's a very flexible way to grow my business.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

There are just so many downsides of UpWork these days. From the astronomical fees and reduced quality of gig listings to the hoops you have to jump through to even speak with a potential client. Not to mention the fact that new freelancers are completely unable to even use the platform lately because of the oversaturation in specific fields. I miss the old days when fees were reasonable and you didn't have to pay through the nose to promote your proposal to even get in front of a client, let alone get hired. Now, you could be spending $100 just to send a proposal that won't even get viewed.

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

Lately? Nothing really. I haven't been using it lately because it's expensive and unreliable.

  ### 9. A functional platform for finding frelance work

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jess S. | Freelance Writer and Editor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

Payment from clients is guaranteed and automatic so I don't need to worry about invoicing and chasing money. I have also found some high-quality clients on the site that have become long-term sources of work.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

The fees for writing jobs are fairly high. The limited number of connects you get with the free account is also annoying. I also dislike that freelancers don't have control over closing contracts--I have some old clients who have since left the platform, so those contracts are just sitting there "open" for perpetuity. The biggest issue is something outside of Upwork's control, which is that a lot of the work/clients available are a race to the bottom. Actually landing writing work that pays a reasonable, professional rate can be very difficult because only a small percentage of jobs on the site are in that category, and everyone and their brother is clammoring for them.

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

The problems of finding clients and managing payments. Upwork benefits me because it provides a marketplace with those payment features included.

  ### 10. Clients often run the show and freelancers pay the price

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jill S. | Medical Writer/Copywriter, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like being able to choose the projects that work the best for me and my current goals; this may be looking for quicker one-off projects to fill a gap in my schedule, or a longer term gig for a client that has a more time intensive needs. I also enjoy being able to work on a wide range of projects and industries, it keeps me engaged and work is rarely boring.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I don't have one top gripe, but one of the tops on my list - the amount taken from what we earn for the work we provide. We will already be taxed on wages, so this is taken from us before that and while some clients pay well enough that this can be a little easier to stomach when building relationships or excellent clients, this has become fewer and farther from the experience as a freelancer.

There are long lists of job postings where the clients either have completely unrealistic expectations, have lengthy requirements, and/or want to pay dirt low rates for the work. Some treat the job posting like a full-time job asking for freelancers to answer a number of questions, attach resumes, and more. We are freelancers, not applying for full-time work.

The other gripe I have with the costs incurred as a freelancer is the number of connects, and the cost of connects. The number of connects required to submit proposals for some postings is far too high, and the cost for this and to buy new connects is also.

There are many deceptive jobs posted, which I try to flag, but there are so many that should be caught by Upwork and never get posted. For example advertising a higher hourly rate range, but then when the client reaches out, they want to pay a low flat rate, a lower hourly rate that advertised, or who at the end of the job posting writes something like "include what you charge per 1,000 words."

The rating and comments part of the process on Upwork is deeply flawed and favors the client, even when the client contradicts work and amounts agreed on between the client and freelancer in Upwork messaging.  All of which is made public, and which can impact freelancer ratings on the platform.

Customer support is so/so. I once asked if something would change my 100% job success rating and I was told no, with advice on how to handle a situation. I followed the instructions, it did lower my 100% job success rating, and when I reached out to get it fixed, it couldn't be fixed.

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

Payment security - payments are handled securely through the platform, which helps eliminate chasing clients for payment.  Also flexible work opportunities - writers can set their own rates, choose projects, and control our own work schedules.

  ### 11. Fast Access but Payment System and Text formatting Needs Improvement

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Mike M. | Co-Founder | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** January 27, 2026

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like the fast access to skilled workers on Upwork. It provides access to projects as a freelancer and allows me to access consultants for projects.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I think the payment system for paying someone is poorly designed. As a freelancer, you do not have immediate access to your funds, even though the client is paying Upwork immediately. Also, their text boxes for creating your profile or submitting a proposal don't allow any formatting; they're very basic. A lot of projects seem fake, especially those from overseas.

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

I use Upwork to find projects as a freelancer and to access consultants. It provides fast access to skilled workers, but you have to be careful in determining the right match, especially with overseas contractors.

  ### 12. Loved it in the beginning. Now, not so much

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Riley S. | Social Media Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 02, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I love being able to serch through thousands of freelance jobs from all over the world, and being able to sort through them by skill or industry

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I hate that it feels almost impossible to get a job now, thanks to the connects system that was implemented after Upwork went public. I started on the platform when it was free to apply to as many jobs as you wanted. It is where I got my start in my freelance career. Although you had to compete with other freelancers, it felt easy enough to stand out. Once the connects program was introduced, I was wary, but still used it. However, as of recently, it now costs an absurd amount of connects to apply to a single job, and paying for connects to essentially get ghosted after every application no longer feels worth it.

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

It hosts thousands of freelance opportunities in one easy-to-access place

  ### 13. Good source of freelance work, but difficult to get started.

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Kate L. | User Experience Design Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I've been an infrequent user of Upwork since Jan 2024, so my experience is limited.

It's a good resource for finding and applying for freelance projects. There is a low barrier to entry, since anyone can apply to any position. Upwork does not pre-vet freelancers to ensure quality, like on some other platforms. This can be both a plus and a minus. 

New projects are posted every day, and there is a large variety of design projects available.

Payment is also guaranteed via Upwork's escrow system, so you don't need to worry about chasing clients for payment. 

Note: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Too many fees! 

You must pay "connects" in order to apply for a job. You get 10 connects for free per month, but after that, you need to pay real money for them. Each job varies in how many connects are required to apply, but most of them are more than 10. The number of connects required seems to be increasing over time. 

You are also encouraged to pay more "connects" so that your proposal appears at the top of the client's list. 

It generally takes many proposals before you land a job, particularly your first few, so you end up paying money just to apply for jobs. Not all clients are serious, so they may close without hiring anyone. 

Finally, Upwork takes 10-15% out of your earnings for its service fee. 

Note: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

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

It allows me to find freelance work and earn extra income.

  ### 14. Once was good…

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jason A. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 26, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

The beneficial aspect of UpWork is the ability to connect with prospective clients

 I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

They once were good…I’ve been on Upwork since back when they were oDesk…that’s a long time ago.

Since the rebrand Upwork has become revenue fixated to the detriment of freelancers. It’s near impossible to land a high quality client when I have to pay, sometimes $10+ just for the ability to get my proposal in front of a prospect.

Furthermore, clients are trained through this behavior to go for the lowest or quickest submission, not necessarily the best freelancer for them.

Lastly, I’ve had problems with poor quality freelancers stealing my work and claiming it as their own both publicly and in private to their prospects.

Sadly, what once was good has now become unusable to me. I hate to see decade + relationships end, but it’s obvious Upwork moved from relational to transactional…and that simply isn’t how I do business.

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

At this time is creates more problems for me than it solves so I have stopped using it.

  ### 15. I have been using Upwork (formerly Odesk and Elance) for more than 10 years

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Fernando R. | CEO, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 26, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

It is an easy platform to hire talent, quickly and targeted, without the hazzle to hire a team, without the tax burden that implies hiring a team, with an easy to work and hire system, where you are able to use metrics, such as reviews from other employers, experience, certificates, and full profile to make good decisions. You  can find ample talent in any particular subject. It has a great ease of implementation, and we use Upwork frequently.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It is expensive, Upwork has increased its rates and income stream steadily, making the process very expensive. Upwork charges on each opened contract, and then a percentage of the payment, and then on each new milestone, so there are many charging instances, where small hires could be almost 50% up in commissions. Still, could be convenient for long term hires. The problem is that long term hires are difficult since freelancers are exposed to so many jobs, that the relationships between freelancers and employers become temporary and superficial, being very difficult to establish long term relationships. Still, that happens with one out of 10 freelancers, and then you are on a win win situation. Also the review process does not work. If you leave an honest bad review to a freelancers, they will then use it against you and will also leave a bad review. So you are forced as an employer to leave only good reviews, as otherwise it will come against your profile. This is ridiculous but that is just the way Upworks work. We have also seen a decadence in service, benefits, cost and overall experience from Elance (100 rating), to Odesk (70 rating) to Upwork (50 rating). Customer support is not effective. We are currently looking for other options.

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

It is a great tool to manage freelancers, without the hazzle and complications of hiring them your self. And it is one of multiple platforms to hire freelancers.

  ### 16. Some Good, Some Bad

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Wilton B. | Content Strategist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I am a provider and a client on Upwork. As a provider, I appreciate having access to numerous job opportunities. As a client, I love having access to tons of providers.

I'm a long-term member of the platform, and I find it easy to use, and I've never had any technical problems.

I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Most jobs in my content creation category pay too little for me to bother applying. That's my biggest problem with the platform, pay rates. That may be more of a problem in the market than Upwork.

Either way, I don't use upwork much anymore as a provider or a client due to low pay and lower quality output.

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

Connecting me with providers. It's difficult to find and vet providers. Upwork does that for you.

  ### 17. Good way to reach a broader audience

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Brandan B. | Owner, Video editor/motion designer at 26Made, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2020

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like the range of projects and ease of use on the platform. The details are easy to dig through to find out if projects are a good fit. There are a lot that aren't but instead of wasting time bidding on things, I feel like I'm able to quickly gauge if it will work for me.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It's definitely declining in quality work. Maybe that's a good sign for freelancers? They may be able to find quality work outside but many of the projects I see continue to be undervalued and rushed. Their fees continue to change and never really in your favor. Just to be discovered, it seems like you need to pay money to "boost" your profile. So, now it costs money to get a job, then they take a pretty hefty cut on the work.

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

I've been able to find clients that I never would have met without Upwork. I think many freelancers build networks locally but getting outside of your local bubble is tough to do. The work comes in very slowly though.

  ### 18. Accelerated my freelance career, but it's heading in the wrong direction.

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Danielle H. | Copywriter/Marketing Strategist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

It's one of the easiest/fastest ways for me to find new clients in a pinch. Access to many people who need my exact services at the tip of my fingers.

Note:  I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

In recent years, it's gone downhill. It feels like Upwork is focused on AI innovations that actually detract from the value of the platform (and attract the wrong types of clients) instead of focusing on attracting higher-value clients and freelancers. Clients continuously complain about freelancers using AI in proposals, but Upwork is encouraging freelancers to use it more with the new features. Many features are also directed at attracting employers/full-time employees which detracts from the value as a dedicated freelancing platform. Customer service is abysmal so I'm fortunate that I haven't had to deal with them too much. Also, the fees are getting absolutely ridiculous.

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

Connecting me with clients who are actively looking for someone with my skills.

  ### 19. Not as excited about Upwork as when I started around 10 years ago

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Bronwyn  E. | freelance writer, editor, proofreader, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like that payments and time tracking work through Upwork without disclosing more info than necessary to a client. I like that job openings are organized in categories, by length of time, and with visible rates.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I was terribly disappointed when Upwork owners/admins began charging freelancers to simply apply for positions which already come at a cost of time and competition. They made those of us with talent, but who can't afford to "Pay" to be out front and become more noticeable, practically disappear into the bottom of the proverbial slush pile more than ever before. I used to get invitations to interview all the time. Not anymore. The jobs that are the best fit for me cost me too many Connects to be worth it. It costs so much more time to prepare a proposal because you don't want the Connects to be wasted. It used to be easier to get a response from clients quickly. I signed up with another freelancer service after seeing even more upsells being added on for freelancers to get noticed. We freelancers are not algorithmic advertisements with a need to rise to the top and start trending. We aim to find jobs that match our expertise and apply, allowing the client to choose the best fit based on our cover message, portfolio, and profile, rather than who paid the most to get in front of them.
I would also like our profile to show which of our clients still have ongoing jobs with us, or at least indicate the years we have been working together. I have 2 contracts, for example, that are still open because I work weekly and monthly with each of them and have for 7-9 years, respectively. I don't think a potential client can see that on a profile, but it would be a selling point for us.

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

It has given me an avenue to find jobs from short and long-term clients for over 10 years. At one time, Upwork admins saw how we US-based freelancers were struggling to compete against those in other countries, who would write for pennies per hour, and set several helps in place from US-based labeling to some fee adjustments. I was glad that Upwork mostly reversed a service fee change some time ago.

  ### 20. Decent way to find work/freelancers, but not a preferred source

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jake S. | Freelance writer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I've used Upwork both as a freelancer finding clients and as someone hiring freelancers. I like that Upwork has a big marketplace that makes it possible to make high-quality matches, and the platform is fairly easy to navigate.

I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

The fees are high and there's not enough flexibility. It's designed to keep you using the platform on an ongoing basis, but that's not always what's convenient for users.

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

Upwork helps me find clients to work with, and I can also find my own freelancers in many different areas like writing, design, and admin work. It's nice to have this two-way marketplace, but I think it would be better if it worked as more of a membership fee to make introductions, rather than using it for payments and communication too. The fees seem to be going up too, and the quality of matches isn't as high as it was a few years ago in my opinion.

  ### 21. Many opportunities if you can get in

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Gaciel A. | Creative Writer and Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

The variety of work and contracts available are vast and unique. Some jobs only work in a short contract format, so there is a lot of variety. 

The UI for the site is clean and simple to use for.

Their support team was quick to resolve payment issues with my account as well.

I check it once per week to scan jobs or opportunities that may be available and could easily do more if I wanted since the amount of jobs update constantly.

I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

There is either not enough jobs for the amount of workers or some of the postings are abandoned. For every five applications you send which cost you connects (a finite resource), you may get one offer if you're lucky.

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

It is providing me with work experience and extra money in a time when both are scarce.

  ### 22. This platform used to be great, but now the jobs are underpriced and the support is so-so.

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Rob M. | Software trainer / developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I sometimes connect to clients who give me challenging work (training and developing software) at my going rate. In the past, once I got those first few jobs, it was a decent flow of work.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It can take awhile to get any traction, and now the jobs are underpriced for an expert like me with 33 years of experience and certifications. If a flat fee job is listed for $30 and 20-50 people have bid on it, you know Upwork is a place that companies expect to easily find cheap labor. There is zero phone support; that disappeared some time ago. Email support is slow and often indirect and frustrating. The chat support feature is a picture that looks like support but isn't. I use Upwork less as time goes on. If you do cheap work, I suppose I recommend it.

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

It sometimes helps me find work.

  ### 23. Upwork review

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Carmela M. | Sales Executive Consultant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 10, 2024

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

You can find legit client and start earning at home. Clients will reach out directly if your skills are qualified for what they're lookibg for

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

The service is too much for the freelancers who earns not that much because of the fees

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

The pay out is always on time and as long as you close deal inside the upwork platform they will assist you

  ### 24. UpWork has changed my life, but it's changed a lot over the years

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Writing and Editing | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** October 20, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

UpWork has given me an opportunity to create a new career for myself. Since I started freelancing on Upwork, I've been able to quit my regular job and focus exclusively on freelancing. I don't use any of the tools, so I can't speak for those, but when I joined the platform years ago, it was much simpler to use. I'm glad I got in when I did.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I was disappointed when they raised fees from 5% to 10% and now to 15%, especially after I had spent so much time building long-term relationships with my clients. I also find it a turn-off that you essentially have to pay to apply for work. It feels like they're skimming money off of me as often as they possibly can. I sprung for Freelancer Plus for a month to see if it helped me find new clients, but none of my applications were even viewed because I kept getting outbid. Basically, you have to pay UpWork to have them boost your profile to the top of the list before you even have a chance at being considered for a job.

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

It connected me with most of my first clients and allows me to maintain relationships with those I've been working with for awhile, but its use has been very limited recently.

  ### 25. Convenient but Costly Freelance Platform

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Timothy S. | Owner/ freelance accountant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like Upwork for its ease of use and the flexibility it offers, which allows me to work flexible hours. Setting it up was also very easy, and I appreciate that about the platform.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

They do not side with freelancers and keep increasing their fees. They want all of the proof of claims or errors from the freelancer. The client files the dispute and you have to prove it wrong.

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

I use Upwork to earn more income remotely, enjoying its ease of use and flexible hours.

  ### 26. Platform functions well, but there aren't enough quality opportunities.

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** October 13, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

The Upwork software is very easy to use. It's a clean platform that is easily navigable. Features are intuitive. The help section is thorough enough that I've been able to find answers to all of my questions.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I dislike the lack of quality work opportunities, particularly for someone who is mid-level or higher in their level of skill/expertise. The amount of jobs available for more than $50/hour is small, and many jobs are posted with rates that are insultingly low. I'm not sure if this is a result of people using the platform who don't understand the nature of freelance work, or if there are many people from outside the U.S. (who can afford to be paid lower due to favorable exchange rates) using the platform. Often when I find a job that's in my acceptable pay range, it's very competitive. This has kept me from being a regular user of Upwork. I mainly pop in and apply for jobs when I have a lull in my workload.

I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

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

Upwork connects me to businesses who are looking for freelance work. It is easier and more straightforward than other means of finding freelance work, such as networking or promoting my services via LinkedIn.

  ### 27. Good in theory but lots to be desired

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jessica M. | Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I appreciate the ability to get notifications for jobs that are relevant to me because of my skill set, location, etc.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I have been spammed on the site several times and find that there are many folks who post jobs without ever hiring anyone. The platform is also user heavy on the consultant end, so it feels like short of paying lots of money for visibility in the bidding process you can’t get traction. This makes being a newer user challenging because you have to often time take lower level jobs to build a reputation.

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

I used it to try to find clients for my consulting work, but it hasn’t been worth the investment.

  ### 28. Upwork Can Be Valuable

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Business Supplies and Equipment | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I received an incentive of a gift card for sharing my honest review.


**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Reminder: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't true.

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

They are working on getting rid of the scammers, and part of the help they provide a user is to have a small payment verified checkmark area. If the area is checked, the job is legitimate. If it's not checked, there are two possibilities: the advertiser is new and hasn't done much or had success on Upwork or it's possibly a fake job put up by a scammer. Use your discretion when applying for a job there, and if someone who is interviewing you asks for money up front from you, drop them immediately!

  ### 29. My experience using Upwork

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Shubam S. | Social Media Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 19, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like the UI of Upwork, the fresh feeling it provides with it's green and white ascent 

I also like how easy it is to find other individuals from the same niche in Upwork

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Upwork charges very high frequency compared to other service provider, also the onboarding and verification process in Upwork is so complicated 

Especially when you try to setup your account for the first time it can be a little hectic with Upwork

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

I'm using Upwork to receive my payments from my clients so it's a great addition to have alongside my existing payment methods 

I'm also using it to reach out to many clients who are looking for freelancers

  ### 30. Not Like It Was In The Past

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Internet | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

The ease of the portal and the payment verification and protection.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I have lost confidence in their protection of the freelancers. There seem to be more scams and clients that aren't reading any proposals. They have become way too dependent on their AI. I belong to the upwork reddit and trust me, more and more people are either leaving or, like me, just hoping things be as good as they were in the past. I have been online with them for about 10 years with a 100% job success rate and I don't even get many invites any more. It's become more of 'how do we get more money' rather than 'how to we help freelancers'

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

Recently I don't know of anything they're solving. It really has become disappointing. My first clue is that the link at the bottom of their website for 'feedback' doesn't even work anymore. I think that says a lot.

  ### 31. Freelancing through upwork

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Mahesh G. | Senior Associate, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** October 13, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

It is a good place to find some additional income. I went in upwork to see some additional source of income and there were many options available which fit to my timings and the commitment that I can give to the additional work along with my primary job.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It is sometimes very hard for new people to get their initial start since a lot of people would want someone experienced so the model should be changed a bit where a dedicated section should be given to newbies.

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

Since, I have some free time in between my project breaks so I was looking for some other engagements, I found upwork to be quite helpful in that aspect. I would look into the number of different things that I can do as per my own availability.

  ### 32. A Good Platform That Could Be Great

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jarmon M. | Animation Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 26, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

For me, the single best feature is the payment protection. It provides real peace of mind knowing you don't have to worry about chasing down invoices. You can just focus on the work, confident that you'll be paid for it.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Freelancers are expected to invest significant time and paid 'Connects' to craft detailed proposals, while clients can post vague, one-sentence jobs just to fish for prices. Then there’s the proposal ghosting. After all that work, you see your proposal was viewed, only to be met with complete silence, not even a simple 'no, thank you.'

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

When you're starting out as a freelancer, it's hard to prove to clients that you're reliable and can do good work. Everything is out in the open on your profile. Clients can see all your past jobs, your reviews, and your Job Success Score. My Upwork profile does the talking for me. New clients can instantly see my good reviews and high score, which builds trust right away. It’s helped me land better projects much faster because my reputation is right there for them to see.

  ### 33. A lot's changed in 10 years

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jeffrey G. | Owner/Photographer at Guyer Photography, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 25, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

Being able to pick and choose your projects, setting your rates, etc.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I think that Upwork policies are unfairly skewed in favor of the the clients, not the freelancers.  Additionally, I think that Upwork takes advantage of every opportunity to squeeze as much money out of the freelancers as possible.  They also don't do a good enough job of vetting the clients.

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

Absolutely none.  I've never once been able to get anyone in a customer service capacity to return any of my requests for assistance.  Photography is changing drastically and quickly-- not entirely for the better-- and Upwork just keeps doing what it does-- take their money from me.

  ### 34. Upwork has slowly deteriorated; now only great for top experts or those willing to work for pennies.

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jed N. | Marketing Support / Writer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

- Easy to apply to jobs and communicate with potential clients
- Usually easy payment methods
- Easy to search for and save jobs

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

- Scam moderation and customer support is not helpful. I have been scammed out of my payment a couple of times and Upwork did not really help.
- Lots of scammy or ridiculously low-paying job listings.
- You have to pay for tokens to even apply for a job.

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

It is consolidating job listings and lots of remote positions in one place. It saves time and effort on my part.

  ### 35. More jobs, more costs

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Financial Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I have found the most opportunities that are willing to speak with me and work with me on Upwork. It is definitely the best place for less than full time work and more creative jobs.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It is constantly getting more expensive to apply to jobs on Upwork. The free version doesn't even give you enough connects to apply to one job per month. There should definitely be some kind of connect refund if they don't look even interview you. Connects should also be refunded if they never fill the job through Upwork.

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

It's finding positions for people that want extra work but maybe not a full time job. When I have less than full time hours available or need to pick up more work, it's the perfect place to go.

  ### 36. Used to be amazing - now is a bidding war

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Adriana R. | Content Marketing Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

Finding clients and leads. I also love that they have payment security with money in escrow. You can also file disputes if you need help.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

The bidding connects for getting attention on Upwork for proposals has gotten ridiculous. It is a money grab and you have to pay to play. I think it destroyed the platform on how it once was.

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

Finding clients and making money. It used to be a lot better - but now it is pay-to-play and outbidding other freelancers with money to get work, instead of earning the job from your own skillset and experiences. It’s unfair in that regard.

  ### 37. Upwork has turned into a real, "takes money to make money" type of platform.

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Gabriela B. | Freelancer/Agency Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

It has dark mode and I did get a lot of my old clients from there.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It's really become so much more expensive with jobs costing double and triple what they used to in connects and now the bidding process, it's like they forgot that this platform was built on the "e lancer" not the agencies with tons of money to outbid all the freelancers and bots that are just auto-bidding.

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

It lets me practice writing proposals and pay money to do so.

  ### 38. It's tough to comb talent vs nonsense on here

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Angela B. | Marketing and Graphic Design Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

The variety of talent in the marketplace.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Very difficult to truly identify solid, talented, and reliable freelancers. The customer support is nonexistent.

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

When in a pinch, I have tried to use UpWork for talent. I do recommend hiring multiple freelancers - at least half will exaggerate talent and not meet expectations.

  ### 39. Good opportunities but hard to get opportunities

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Amanda A. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 20, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

Liked the many jobs that I saw on there and the details of how the process works and the details of jobs

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Bad communication about getting accepted for jobs and trying to say I am interested then never hearing back. A lot of spam stuff on there but very little on actually getting continued work on here

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

Not sure what they are solving I stopped trying to get work on here after nothing coming through regularly on here.

  ### 40. Good for occasional freelancing jobs, but lacks consistency vs. Fiverr

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Nick G. | Freelance Writer & Editor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

They typically side with the freelancer when there is a dispute and don't immediately capitulate to clients.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Their system for applying for jobs is very gimmicky with us having to add "points" to your application in hopes of getting noticed by the client instead of going by merit  alone.

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

I used to use Upwork as my primary means of acquiring freelance work. Now it is a distance third or fourth. When I do have a client there, it is usually very beneficial, and Upwork is great about getting payments done on time.

  ### 41. Needs Better Search but Offers Good Variety

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Jonathan S.

**Reviewed Date:** January 21, 2026

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like the variety that Upwork offers.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I think the search function and organizing the talent on Upwork could be improved. It would be helpful to have more flexibility to organize candidates.

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

I use Upwork for hiring personnel, which helps me find a variety of talent for backoffice development.

  ### 42. A lot of unserious employer/jobs

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Andrew G. | GTM Leader, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

The app is very intuitive and easy to use

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

I found many of the jobs posted to not come from serious businesses or serious employers. Finding real jobs or employers with a challenge.

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

up work brings together contractors with businesses that need to hire contractors in one place. I thought this would be a great starting point for my consulting business and would have been great if I could have found serious postings.

  ### 43. Upwork Web Programmer

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** M. George B. | Freelance  Web Programmer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 19, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

Upwork has successfully helped me land several short-term web programming gigs.  I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

The 20% fee they charge is a bit much.  I also compete for the contracts with many programmers from other countries that charge much much less than my rate.

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

It puts many of the requests for proposals in one central place so I don't need to search far and wide to find them.

  ### 44. It's getting more difficult

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

simple to submit a proposal for jobs. Being able to read reviews of posters for jobs is great to give you a sense of who you would work with.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

With people losing their jobs, contracts are harder to come by. It used to be a day or two before I'd hear back, but now it takes weeks because they have numerous candidates for the job in mind. While I still consult, I'm not too impressed with the platform. In addition, they keep taking more and more of your earnings each year. The connect system also is junk as well.

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

Nothing really. I don't think they have any user submissions for ideas.

  ### 45. Mixed Feelings

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 26, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

There is a lot of work and I like to be able to see best matches vs most recent.
The site is easy to use in general.
I like that clients pay first for projects and that hourly weekly payments are taken directly from client's bank account.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

There is no costumer support service, my husband was banned from upwork even before he got a job in it.
He had done nothing wrong and no explanation was provided, money invested in connects was stolen. This makes me feel insecure about the site, since it's linked with the money I earn.

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

Payments are easy and I don't have to follow up with clients

  ### 46. Great experience when I'm not catfished

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like that I can offset some of my production work. It helps me catch up and focus on client relationships and final artwork.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

That some of the portfolio and work people use isn't reflective of what they can do. I've hired people to do things they put in their portfolio and after 4 edits you can see they can't do what they said. Also, there are groups of people pretending to be one person.... so it's a hit or miss to hire people you haven't worked with.

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

Helps me tackle large amounts of production or entry level work.

  ### 47. Consistently raises rates on freelancers

**Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Sean P. | Project Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

It has a large marketplace and multiple ways to track time.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

They have been consistently raising commission percentages and bid costs cutting into freelancer earnings. They also moved to a flat rate instead of a sliding scale for duration worked, which disincentivies contractors to take long contracts. Support is typically slow, and no live chat feature to immediate issues.

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

Access to a large marketplace of companies needing work.

  ### 48. Used to be a great platform

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Apparel & Fashion | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

There's a wide range of projects and the platform allows you to build a credible profile with reviews, number of projects, etc.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

It used to be a great platform with promising projects but has really dropped in value the last few years. I don't come across high-value, interesting projects anymore.
I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.

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

I used to go on Upwork to find management consulting and strategy projects

  ### 49. Good until it wasn't.

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Dwayne T. | Food Server, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 26, 2025

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

I like the way I could choose what I worked on or who I worked with. It was fun doing different jobs constantly.

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

The time it takes people to respond, the currency system, people not paying out. There are a lot of thing that need working on.

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

It does not really benefit me that much and I don't honestly know what problem they're trying to solve.

  ### 50. Great for paying international workers, but navigation between roles is confusing

**Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Games | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026

**What do you like best about Upwork?**

Being able to pay workers in other countries

**What do you dislike about Upwork?**

Difficult to navigate. Especially between worker and hirer

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

Making payments to workers in Nigeria from the US, and serving as a proxy


## Upwork Discussions
  - [Is Upwork better or Fiverr?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/upwork-is-upwork-better-or-fiverr) - 3 comments, 4 upvotes
  - [What is Upwork used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-upwork-used-for) - 2 comments, 2 upvotes
  - [As a new user of Upwork, how can I effectively use its proposal bidding system to increase my chances of winning projects?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/as-a-new-user-of-upwork-how-can-i-effectively-use-its-proposal-bidding-system-to-increase-my-chances-of-winning-projects) - 2 comments, 1 upvote
  - [How Can I grow more on Upwork?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-can-i-grow-more-on-upwork) - 1 comment, 1 upvote
  - [Is there any plan to reduce/increase the service charge by Upwork?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-there-any-plan-to-reduce-increase-the-service-charge-by-upwork) - 1 comment, 1 upvote

- [View Upwork pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/upwork/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=3&section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-12+11%3A00%3A10+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=ad90c811-4e34-483a-a5d3-4187cc5f5660&secure%5Btoken%5D=e863049dfdfe9cc3b5e3c54b0bf8b519bf572c1f49e2d991e52b457bb1b0d13d&format=llm_user)
## Upwork Integrations
  - [Adobe Acrobat](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-acrobat/reviews)
  - [Adobe Illustrator](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-illustrator/reviews)
  - [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-photoshop/reviews)
  - [Asana](https://www.g2.com/products/asana/reviews)
  - [AWS Auto Scaling](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-auto-scaling/reviews)
  - [AWS Lambda](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-lambda/reviews)
  - [Calendly](https://www.g2.com/products/calendly/reviews)
  - [Canva](https://www.g2.com/products/canva/reviews)
  - [ChatGPT](https://www.g2.com/products/chatgpt/reviews)
  - [ClickUp](https://www.g2.com/products/clickup/reviews)
  - [Dropbox](https://www.g2.com/products/dropbox/reviews)
  - [Fiverr](https://www.g2.com/products/fiverr/reviews)
  - [GHL](https://www.g2.com/products/ghl/reviews)
  - [Google Analytics for G Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/google-analytics-for-g-suite/reviews)
  - [Google Workspace](https://www.g2.com/products/google-workspace/reviews)
  - [Labelbox](https://www.g2.com/products/labelbox/reviews)
  - [LinkedIn Job Search](https://www.g2.com/products/linkedin-job-search/reviews)
  - [Literatu for Google Docs for G Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/literatu-for-google-docs-for-g-suite/reviews)
  - [Microsoft Excel](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-excel/reviews)
  - [Microsoft Word](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-word/reviews)
  - [monday AI Work Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/monday-com/reviews)
  - [Payoneer](https://www.g2.com/products/payoneer/reviews)
  - [QuickBooks Online](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-online/reviews)
  - [Salesforce Headless 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/reviews)
  - [Slack](https://www.g2.com/products/slack/reviews)
  - [TimeTracker.pro](https://www.g2.com/products/timetracker-pro/reviews)
  - [Zapier](https://www.g2.com/products/zapier/reviews)
  - [Zoom Rooms](https://www.g2.com/products/zoom-rooms/reviews)
  - [Zoom Workplace](https://www.g2.com/products/zoom-workplace/reviews)

## Upwork Features
**Platform Basics**
- Payment
- Project Management
- Dashboard

**Generative AI**
- AI Text Summarization

**Hiring**
- RFP Creator
- Messaging
- Freelance Screening
- Freelance Profiles

**Platform Performance**
- Interoperability
- Performance

**Project Management**
- Calendar
- Guidelines and Policies
- Workflow Builder
- Digital Asset Management

**Platform Content**
- Contracts
- Request Tool
- Selection Management
- Invoicing Tool
- Proposal Tool

**Payment**
- Payment Automation
- Secure Payments
- Multi-Currency Payments
- Multiple Payment Methods

**Platform Additional Functionality**
- Reporting
- Mobility
- Portal

## Top Upwork Alternatives
  - [Fiverr](https://www.g2.com/products/fiverr/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (457 reviews)
  - [Bark.com](https://www.g2.com/products/bark-com/reviews) - 1.6/5.0 (324 reviews)
  - [Toptal](https://www.g2.com/products/toptal/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (269 reviews)