--- title: Upwork Reviews meta_title: 'Upwork Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 3217 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: 3217 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-08-14' 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:** 3,217 ## 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. Been using Upwork for several years and I was happier with Elance **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mary "Cathy" A. | Dietitian Consultant🌮 | Marketing Expert | Business Development✨ Freelancer/Contractor/Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 18, 2020 **What do you like best about Upwork?** One thing I appreciate about Upwork is the continued improvement in matching freelancers with relevant opportunities. The platform has become more effective at surfacing jobs that align with my skills and experience, which saves time and makes the job search process more efficient. I also like the enhanced profile features and portfolio tools that help freelancers showcase their work more professionally. The availability of verified reviews, work histories, and client feedback creates greater transparency and helps build trust between freelancers and clients. Additionally, the platform's communication and project management features make it easier to collaborate, track progress, and manage contracts in one place. These updates contribute to a smoother experience for both freelancers and clients and help make remote work more accessible and productive. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** While Upwork offers many valuable features, there are a few areas where I believe the platform could continue to improve. One improvement would be providing greater transparency around job postings, such as clearer indicators of client engagement, hiring intent, and budget expectations. This would help freelancers spend more time pursuing opportunities that are likely to result in actual projects. Another area is the proposal process. Applying for jobs can require a significant investment of time and connects, especially when competition is high. Additional tools to help freelancers better assess fit before submitting proposals could improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs. I would also welcome more detailed insights into profile visibility and search rankings. Understanding how profiles are surfaced to clients could help freelancers make more informed decisions about optimizing their presence on the platform. Overall, Upwork is a strong marketplace, but continued improvements in transparency, job quality signals, and freelancer insights would make the experience even better for both freelancers and clients. **Recommendations to others considering Upwork:** Be selective about which proposals you put out because they cost Quite a bit. Don't take short term, low budget clients because it will affect you scores. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am a freelancer, and the platform helps me get my name out there, so there are plenty of jobs available. I would not have otherwise known about the need. ### 2. Flexible Global Freelancing with Secure Payments and Reliable Opportunities **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Muzammil M. | Founder – Muzammil Graphic | Interior and Graphic Designer | Transforming Spaces and Brands Visually , Graphic Design, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 18, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork provides excellent flexibility and global exposure for freelancers. The platform makes it possible to connect with clients from different countries and industries, which has helped me expand my professional network and gain diverse project experience. It allows me to showcase my skills, portfolio, and client feedback in a structured way, helping build long-term credibility. The secure payment system is another strong advantage. With fixed price and hourly contracts, milestone tracking, and payment protection, I feel confident working with both new and returning clients. The built-in messaging and contract management tools keep communication organized and projects streamlined in one place. There is also a wide variety of projects available, from short-term assignments to long term collaborations. This flexibility allows me to select work that matches my expertise, availability, and career goals. The review and rating system promotes transparency and encourages professionalism on both sides. Upwork has played an important role in helping me grow my freelance career by providing consistent opportunities, reliable payments, and access to a global client base. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One of the main challenges on Upwork is the high level of competition. Many freelancers apply for the same projects, which can make it difficult to stand out, especially for newer profiles. The cost of Connects to submit proposals can also add up without guaranteeing work. Additionally, service fees reduce overall earnings, particularly on smaller projects. Sometimes clients post unclear job descriptions or have unrealistic expectations regarding budget and deadlines. The proposal process can be time consuming, and not all clients respond after receiving applications, which can be discouraging for freelancers investing effort into detailed proposals. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the major challenge of connecting skilled professionals with clients worldwide in a secure and structured environment. Before platforms like Upwork, freelancers had to rely heavily on personal networks, local markets, or inconsistent referrals to find work. This often limited opportunities and created uncertainty in income. Upwork removes geographical barriers by providing access to a global marketplace where clients actively search for talent based on skills, experience, and reviews. One of the biggest problems it solves is trust between freelancers and clients. Through verified profiles, transparent ratings, detailed reviews, and clear work histories, both parties can evaluate each other before starting a contract. The platform’s payment protection system, milestone tracking, and escrow services reduce the risk of non payment, which is a common concern in freelance work. This gives me confidence to work with new clients without worrying about payment security. Upwork also simplifies project management. Built in messaging, time tracking for hourly contracts, file sharing, and contract management tools keep everything organized in one place. This reduces misunderstandings and helps maintain professional communication. Instead of juggling multiple tools, I can manage proposals, contracts, and payments within a single platform. Another important problem it addresses is career growth and visibility. By allowing me to build a strong profile, collect client feedback, and showcase completed projects, Upwork helps establish longterm credibility. This has benefited me by bringing repeat clients, higher-value projects, and more consistent work opportunities. Overall, Upwork creates a structured, secure, and global ecosystem that supports freelancers in building sustainable careers while giving clients reliable access to skilled professionals. ### 3. Flexible Global Projects with Strong Payment Protection **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Doaa Y. | Recruiting Team Lead, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 30, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Varieties of the projects and getting to work with clients from different parts of the world beside able to work on your own terms like if you want to work on hourly or fixed type of projects you get to choose as well the hours you can work per week and able to find the good or bad reviews on the clients feedback and able to differentiate those clients with payment verified vs those who doesnt have one to make sure your payment will go through smoothly. Also upwork payment protection is amazing as long as you track your hours for work related and adding memo notes.Upwork changed my life to be better and able to know many team members across the world and learn about their culture beside flexibility schedule. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** No of connects are now slim and you have to purchase them now if you want to submit proposal and each client requires no of connects to be submitted unless you are invited directly. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork payment protection for hourly projects as long as the hours tracker properly upon rules and upwork policies, Upwork makes sure to protect your hours if the client claims you didnt do anything. ### 4. A Reliable Platform for Finding Flexible, Secure Freelance Work **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Diyosa M. | Customer Service, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like best about Upwork is how it makes finding and managing freelance work simple and secure. It brings clients and professionals together in one place, with built-in tools for proposals, communication, and payments, so you can focus on delivering work instead of chasing clients or worrying about getting paid. The flexibility to choose projects that match your skills and schedule is also a big plus. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One thing I dislike about Upwork is the level of competition, which can make it harder—especially for new freelancers—to stand out and win projects. The service fees can also feel high at times, and some job postings attract low budgets or unrealistic expectations, which means you have to be selective and spend time filtering for quality opportunities. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of finding reliable clients and getting paid safely as an independent professional. It reduces the friction of outreach, contracting, and payments by putting everything—job discovery, proposals, communication, and escrow protection—into one platform. This benefits me by saving time, lowering the risk of non-payment, and giving access to a global pool of clients. Instead of spending energy chasing leads or handling contracts and invoicing manually, I can focus on delivering quality work and choosing projects that fit my skills and schedule. ### 5. Access Global Talent Effortlessly, But High Fees **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Arlen F. | Marketing Director, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that as a small to medium-sized business in the US, I can access talent across the world at rates that I couldn't get here. The time journal or workers' journal is very helpful as it lets me see partial progress on a project. The ability to give workers a bonus also helps. It was pretty easy to set up, as I was able to hire someone within the first hours of signing up. The platform is great, and the people on there are very good at what they do. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think the fees could be improved. You know, I feel like I'm paying a high marketplace fee every time I hire talent or pay my workers. I think I've spent more than a 100,000 US dollars to date on Upwork. And I could imagine a smaller percentage going to the marketplace fee so I can get more work done. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to access a global pool of talent that I couldn't get otherwise, and it's cost-effective for my business needs. ### 6. Great tool for outsourcing technical and administrative tasks **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Wid C. | manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes it incredibly efficient to find specialized talent for different areas of my business. I’ve successfully hired both technical roles (like a developer for an Algolia search widget) and administrative roles (like a Virtual Assistant for day-to-day tasks) on the platform. The interface allows me to vet candidates quickly by reviewing their past job history and ratings. I also really appreciate the time-tracking features for hourly contracts; it gives me peace of mind knowing exactly what hours are being billed and allows me to verify the work before releasing payment **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The main downside is the volume of generic proposals I receive when posting popular jobs. When I look for general help like a Virtual Assistant, I often have to sift through dozens of copy-paste applications from freelancers who didn't read the specific requirements of my job post. Additionally, the client-side processing fees on top of the freelancer's hourly rate can add up quickly over time, making the total cost of hiring a bit higher than expected **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the challenge of finding specialized talent quickly without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time employees. It allows me to scale my business operations efficiently by outsourcing both complex technical tasks (like implementing search widgets) and daily administrative duties. This benefits me by freeing up my time to focus on high-level strategy while ensuring that specific operational tasks are handled by skilled professionals ### 7. A useful platform, but potentially expensive for freelancers without repeat customers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Denise T. | Copy editor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 19, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It's easy to use. It gives you access to a much wider variety of potential clients than you'd be able to find on your own. I also appreciate that you can log your hours daily instead of billing clients individually, which, for me at least, is an onerous job that I tend to procrastinate on. Despite my criticisms of Upwork, it's still one of the few freelancing games in town. I've recommended it to friends, although I tell them about the fact that you have to pay for "connects" that allow you to apply to jobs, which I think is one of Upwork's worst features, especially for freelancers who haven't yet established a roster of repeat customers. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The "connects" system is pretty terrible. You used to be able to apply to jobs without having to pay anything. But now you must pay up to $3 or $4 for every job you apply for...or even if you just want to ask a question of a potential client who has posted a job. (Lots of potential clients post jobs with inadequate descriptions, and before you decide whether or not to invest in the effort to develop a proposal for the client, you used to be able to ask questions. For example, I'm an editor, and many clients just say "I need an editor!" instead of revealing what the project is, how many words it is, etc. So, because I don't want to waste my connects (which cost 15 cents each, and each job in my field typically requires 15 to 30 connects, or $2.25 to $4.50), I miss out on jobs because even asking a basic question will cost you the connects. It feels pretty unconscionable that you have to PAY to apply for jobs. This is pure wage extraction, and yet another example of Upwork monetizing just about everything on the platform to squeeze money out of workers. They already take 15% of your earnings, which is the price of using Upwork, so it feels extra petty to have you pay to apply for jobs, with no guarantee that anyone will even look at your proposal. I understand that they don't want you to spam potential clients, but there has to be a better way than to charge already poor people to apply for a job. And when a job has, say, 50 applicants, Upwork thus gets about $3 from each applicant (so, $150 there) plus 15% of the winning freelancer's pay. You do get 10 free connects per month, so that means you get—whoo!—to apply to half a job for free per month. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** At the moment, nothing that I can think of. Over the years Upwork has made the platform more expensive for workers to use. ### 8. Hire Top Freelance Experts in Minutes—Easy, Global, and Reasonably Priced **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jose V. | Art Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** A place where I can find easily an expert (domestically and internationally) in many services and help I need for my business or work. As a magazine art director I always looking for freelancers such as design, programming, consulting, etc and here I can post a job, send proposals and hire experts in minutes! The cost is very reasonable and contract are clear. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** This is not my experience, but I share a comment from a professional colleague. He said that sometimes is more effective to hire freelancers outside of upwork because the cost is less, in comparison with upwork platform fees. Also, he found sometimes more qualified freelancers outside Upwork. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** In my case, issues with website security, google analytics where I need quick solutions and the flexibility of my schedule. I can communicate with the freelancers easily anytime, anywhere in the world. ### 9. Unmatched Opportunities and Smart Tools for Every Freelancer **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kaushik M. | Frontend Team Lead | UI/UX Designer | Freelancer, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 10, 2026 **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. **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. **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. ### 10. 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. ### 11. Empowering Freelancers with Global Opportunities and Flexibility **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mike M. | Debt Advisor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 18, 2025 **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. **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. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Access to clients, job security, skill development, and flexible work, ### 12. 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. ### 13. Upwork Makes Hiring Easy and Efficient **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Denny S. | Product, Co-Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2025 **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. **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. **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. ### 14. Effortless Hiring and Upscaling with Caveats **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kelsey P. | Creative Service and Technology Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** -Easy to navigate the platform -AI assistance when developing a job -It is quick to get a job up and get resumes -Wide variety of talent and skillsets -Secure -Has an app to manage projects/jobs on the go **What do you dislike about Upwork?** -Messaging is cumbersome, especially when scheduling meetings -Fee increases -Talent pool is inundated with low quality talent, even when you try to filter it through the project settings -Not all talent is the actual talent, but a middle-man/women -Need experience to really understand what to look for in good quality talent. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The biggest challenge to me is finding the right talent for a project. Upwork provides a large database of talent and tools to drill down to specific skillsets which are important. Because of that the speed at which I can get a project going is greatly increased. ### 15. Upwork Review **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dan B. | Owner and Creative Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It's convenient, I can find projects, work and get paid from home. I can be my own boss and choose projects and other freelancers using search features that promise the best jobs and workers for my needs. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Upwork used to rank freelancers based on quality of work, talent, and performance via client reviews and scores. Now, Upwork uses a pay to play scheme that ranks you higher through the use of "connects" which cost money. It's not performance or talent based. So, if you want to show up as a top prospect to clients, you need to use connects to boost your ranking. You also use connects to promote yourself and to show clients that you are available. So, you now you need to pay for membership, pay to promote yourself and run ads, pay to indicate that you're available, and then Upwork takes 10% out of whatever you earn. Additionally, having a complimentary "Agency Account" used to be free, and allowed you to team up with other freelancers and create your own online agency. Now you need to pay for another membership to have an agency. So, all in all, it's difficult to make and clear the same income I was making before, and to rank as high as I did before. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of having to leave home and work for someone else. It solves the difficulty in finding projects. It solves the difficulty in finding top talent that can assist me with graphic design needs. ### 16. Freelancer's Hub for Finding Warm Project Leads **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Victor L. **Reviewed Date:** January 24, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the new interface on Upwork; it's very user-friendly and has a lot of great features to help me keep on top of my work. It helps me stay organized and communicative with clients. I like how the tabs let me find the kind of projects I'm looking for, whether they're best matched or US-based. The initial setup was very easy, not complicated at all. Upwork also solves the need to search and market for leads since the people on there are already warm leads looking for someone to complete work for them. I rate it a 10, as it's a great platform to use. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I feel that the time tracker can be improved by allowing a setting to use for screen shooting whatever browser window you are working with versus the whole desktop. I also would like to see an option to allow the clients to pay monthly like a subscription-based model, so for projects such as WordPress maintenance that may be a reoccurring monthly cost. I would also like to see a more fair percentage taken from my payments. Right now it's pretty high and I lose a lot of money due to the fee that is charged. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find project leads without needing to market for them, as they are already looking for freelancers. The new interface keeps me organized and enhances communication with clients, while also allowing me to find projects easily. ### 17. Fast Hiring, Diverse Experts, High Fees **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ashley P. | Usability Tester (Freelance) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really like that I can put up a job posting on Upwork within just a couple of minutes. Usually, within an hour or so, I have people who have applied to the role, which is super helpful when I need to hire at the last minute or quickly. I also appreciate the variety of professionals in different industries on Upwork, ensuring that I always get someone to at least submit a proposal when I put up a post. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes when I put up a job posting, nobody applies. It's kind of discouraging, especially when I'm used to getting applications. Also, I don't like having to pay so much in fees to hire someone. It didn't use to be like that, so it's relatively new. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork lets me quickly find experts and people eager for project-based work. It handles payroll complexities, crucial for a solopreneur like me, and supports my business growth by streamlining hiring across various tasks. ### 18. A super reliable platform for scaling support in a growing marketing business **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rachel S. | Principal Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes it easy to source skilled assistants quickly without wasting time. The talent pool is deep, global, and searchable in a way that actually supports serious hiring. For a marketing firm, the ability to find support across admin, marketing, and operational tasks in one place is a real advantage. The platform saves time, reduces friction, and allows me to scale support as needed. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Like any large marketplace, quality can vary and it still requires discernment. You have to be clear in your scope and selective in hiring to avoid mismatches. Fees can also add up over time, especially for long term engagements, but that is the tradeoff for access and convenience. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of quickly finding reliable support without lengthy hiring cycles. For my marketing firm, it allows me to delegate execution work efficiently so I can stay focused on strategy and growth. It reduces operational bottlenecks and makes it easier to test working relationships before committing long term. ### 19. Efficient for Hiring, But Frustrating Website Issues **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jake B. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** One thing I like about using Upwork for hiring decisions is that I can see ratings and previous work of freelancers to ensure they're a good fit. I really do like that. My favorite thing about Upwork is that it keeps all my business-related discussions on the same website, making management easy. I appreciate the organization Upwork provides. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I experience serious and frequent delays when trying to use Upwork. The website sometimes refuses to load when I try to pay someone or check a freelancer's message, even though my internet works fine with other websites. It's an intermittent issue, but it often happens at inconvenient times, disrupting my workflow and video production. I also have to use Trello to communicate with multiple freelancers at once because Upwork doesn't currently offer a way for group communication. Furthermore, there are fees to consider when using Upwork. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to hire scriptwriters, thumbnail designers, and video editors. It helps by showing ratings and previous work, making it easier to evaluate if they're a good fit. I like that it keeps all business discussions in one place, simplifying management. ### 20. Time-Saving Platform with High-Quality Freelancers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mark W. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork for the high quality freelancers it provides, which saves me a lot of time vetting people. I generally find freelancers who are very good and meet the quality I expect. I appreciate how intuitive the profiles are, with lots of information that helps me determine if a freelancer is good before I even start chatting with them. The requirement for freelancers to upload their past work is really helpful in the vetting process. The communication functionality is very good, allowing me to attach images and files directly in the chat, making it seamless to communicate with freelancers without needing much communication outside of Upwork. Lastly, the billing process is very straightforward, and setting up is pretty seamless. The tax preparation information is very straightforward as well. Overall, Upwork makes it easier for companies by reducing the time spent on vetting and allowing more focus on getting the job done. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The only thing I would improve is just basically the fees are on the high side. But still, I think I save money using freelancers on Upwork versus hiring a full-time employee, so the value for money is definitely there. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves my problem of vetting high-quality freelancers and saves me lots of time. I can focus on projects instead of spending time interviewing candidates and figuring out who can do the job well. ### 21. Efficient Talent Sourcing, Payment Flexibility Needed **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Neil A. | Director Of Product Development, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I think the interface works well. It's easy to find good talent. Once I find good people on Upwork, I can continue hiring them for project-based work. As I'm looking for a contractor, I can see their previous work and appreciate the reviews collected and the amount of money they have transacted through Upwork. This gives me a sense that the person is going to work out and has the experience I need. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think sometimes on some of my bigger projects, the idea of having to pay upfront for the entire project is a little annoying. I'm forced to set up milestones, and I think the milestones work okay but I don't know that all the talent want to use Milestone. Some of my larger projects I've had to put money into Upwork long before the project is completed. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find specific talent quickly for short-term projects in the book publishing industry, offering a wide variety and ensuring they meet my project needs. ### 22. Freelancer Payment Protection and Access to Quality Clients on Upwork **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Caitlin G. | Senior Manager (RN) of Published Resources, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 25, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I appreciate most is the payment protection. With features like the Time Tracker for hourly projects and mandatory escrow for fixed-price contracts, Upwork ensures that I always receive payment. This takes away the usual stress of invoicing, following up, and having awkward discussions with clients, so I can concentrate fully on delivering quality work. Another major advantage is the vast and varied client base. Although it requires some effort to sift through opportunities, the platform does a great job of helping to connect with large companies and verified mid-sized businesses that are prepared to pay competitive rates for specialized expertise. I also find the option to create specialized profiles extremely useful for reaching different client segments more effectively. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The biggest pain point is the "Connects" system, which feels like a compulsory barrier to entry and a constant financial drain. The cost of submitting proposals (often 8-16 contacts per job) has inflated significantly during my time as a freelancer, turning proposal writing into a gamble. There is no Connect refund if the client never views or hires, which is problematic, because there are many people who post jobs and never return. Secondly, the platform is full of low-budget clients and poorly defined job postings, requiring considerable time investment to filter out scams or "race-to-the-bottom" opportunities. I've never had much luck with customer support when reaching out. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork primarily solves some major freelance headaches: 1) Payment Risk: Their escrow and Time Tracker guarantee payment. 2) Clients: It provides a massive, global marketplace for finding large or specialized contracts. 3) Admin Work: It centralizes contracting, time tracking, and invoicing, saving some non-billable time. ### 23. Flexible, Easy Setup, and a Smooth Start on Tax Compliance **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jenn C. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** the freedom to work with anyone , at any time and have ease of tax issue to get started. also very easy to set up and implement an account. I use this platform daily and it is very easy to get paid from upwork as well **What do you dislike about Upwork?** the high fee associated with leaving to work outside of upwork, and the high fee when a client takes on a short term project. I wonder if there could be a sliding scale for project cost and support **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** solving the problem of finding new clients and having all work in the same place ### 24. Freelancing on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Love O. | Data Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** The fact that when I submit proposal for a job, I can see when my proposal has been viewed and also when the client is interviewing or has hired a candidate. I just love that I get to see the process openly. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike the fact that Upwork allows clients who are unserious about hiring to posts Jobs on the platform, thereby making us to spend connects on Jobs that might not be real or that the client isn't even ready to hire. I buy these connects. I'd want to maximise it's use until I land a full time Job on the platform. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork connects clients that need our services to us and allows us to bid for the Job. Upwork is one of the best freelancing platforms out there because through the platform, so many freelancers kick-started their freelancing career, including me. ### 25. A Trusted Freelancing Platform **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** katherine m. | Sales Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 13, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like best about Upwork is the flexibility and access to global opportunities. It allows me to work with clients from different industries while managing my time efficiently. I also appreciate the structured platform—clear contracts, secure payments, and transparent feedback—which creates a professional and reliable environment for both freelancers and clients **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I dislike about Upwork is the high level of competition, which can make it challenging for skilled freelancers to stand out initially. The platform fees can also feel limiting **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork addresses the challenge of linking businesses with skilled remote professionals by offering a reliable and well-organized platform for both hiring and collaboration. For me, it provides valuable access to clients from around the world, ensures secure and prompt payments, offers clear contract terms, and maintains a system that fosters transparency and supports lasting professional relationships. ### 26. Efficient Freelancer Hiring Platform with Room for Cost Improvement **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Retail | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really appreciate not having to 1099 contractors, which simplifies financial management for my digital marketing agency. The ability to easily screen candidates makes hiring a more efficient process. I find the time tracking feature very useful for keeping projects on track. It's extremely easy to create an account, and I really like the ability to have multiple financial profiles on Upwork. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I find the high fees for both me as the hiring company and for the contractor problematic. Also, sometimes it's not clear if my contracts are visible to the public. I need the option to keep them private sometimes. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me hire specialists for paid ads management, graphic design, and content creation. I like not having to 1099 contractors, the easy candidate screening, and the smooth time tracking. ### 27. Largest Freelancer Platform, But High Costs and Low-Quality Jobs Are a Challenge **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Media Production | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It's the largest freelancer platform in existence. That is the primary advantage that it has. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** When all is said and done, over the years Upwork has changed their platform to where it is VERY expensive to use. You get charged 10% of your income. The client gets charged. You have to pay to bid (generally), you have to pay to get your bid to the top of the list. Newbies and low-rated people can be shown above established, proven freelancers based on paying extra. Low pay and ridiculous expectations are now the norm on Upwork. It used to be a great source of high-quality jobs. Now it's a firehose of crap, low-paying jobs with the occasional needle-in-a-haystack decent job being present, but nearly impossible to find quickly enough to have any realistic expectation of getting your bid seen. As an "Expert-vetted" (top 1% of freelancers on the platform) freelancer with a 100% Job Success score, over 600 completed jobs, and over $900K in earnings, I now find it incredibly difficult to find decent projects with decent clients. The platform is so full of "meh" people from all over the world, that it's become almost useless to me. I will acknowledge that clients have filters available that enables them to find freelancers like myself, but every client wants a good deal and prefer to think they are going to get a "diamond in the rough" for cheap. So they simply don't use these filters (IMHO) and don't realize the pain points they are likely to experience (bad communication, language barriers, etc.) but trying to get a deal. I can't say that this is all Upwork's fault, but it certainly encourages me to stay off the platform as much as my business allows. What they really need is a "Top-tier" marketplace that only select freelancers and clients can access, making it much easier for established freelancers to connect with solid clients. That's what Upwork USED to be (as opposed to Freelancer.com and Guru.com that were the ones filled with crap jobs and nickel-and-dime freelancers). I'm supposed to say “I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.” **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Right now they aren't solving much of anything. Too many nickel-and-dime projects and too many worldwide freelancers trying to get them. ### 28. Great Talent Pool, But Fees and Messaging Need Improvement **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Touré O. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork has a large marketplace with a wide talent base, so I can generally find what I'm looking for. It's also fairly easy to use, being pretty clean and intuitive. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The fees are getting out of hand, I'm thinking about leaving the platform because the fees are so high even for people I find myself. The messaging interface is extremely frustrating, especially since I can't delete or hide messages. I have a lot of freelancers messaging me even though I'm not interested, and it clogs up my message feed. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves talent search by being a marketplace that brings me closer to talent, making it easier to review applicants without extensive searching. It helps me hire and onboard overseas talent more efficiently from a payment and processing perspective. ### 29. Upwork allowed me to break free from the rat race **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mary T. | Editor/Ghostwriter, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork both as a client and a contractor. When I decided I wanted to go to work for myself full-time, Upwork made that possible. It took some time to get enough clients to make a living, but now that I've built a reputation, I actually make more than I did working a standard 9-5. There is no shortage of work, and with Upwork handling the escrow accounts, I feel secure in knowing I'm actually going to get paid at the end of the project. I'm genuinely very grateful for Upwork. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I do think their fee is a bit too high, and it only seems to increase all the time. Additionally, I'm not sure why they hold funds for five days once a client has approved a project. In my mind, the assumption should be that the client has reviewed the submission, and if they have approved it, their happy with the quality of work. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork brings the talent right to the employers/individuals looking to hire, and it brings the work straight to the contractors. In addition, since it handles the escrow process, everyone is kept safe. ### 30. Best Platform for Freelancers and Clients **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Juliene F. | Marketing, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes it easy to connect with clients from all over the world. The platform is user-friendly, has a wide variety of job categories, and provides secure payment protection. I especially like the ability to build long-term client relationships while also having access to short-term projects. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The service fees can feel high, especially for smaller projects, and sometimes the competition makes it difficult to land new contracts. Additionally, navigating disputes or customer support can be a little slow at times. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the challenge of finding reliable freelance opportunities by bringing clients and professionals together in one trusted space. It removes the uncertainty of searching for work independently, since projects are clearly outlined, payments are protected, and communication is streamlined. For me, this means I can focus on delivering quality work instead of worrying about whether I’ll get paid or where to find my next client. It also gives me the flexibility to choose projects that align with my skills and career goals, which helps me grow my business steadily. ### 31. Upwork Makes "A World of Difference" **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** DARRYL E. O. | Creator/Producer/Host, Higher Education, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 23, 2021 **What do you like best about Upwork?** As the creator and producer of Beacon College’s TV show "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity," I work within the tight budget constraints of a nonprofit school producing a nationally focused program that broadcasts on PBS stations. Upwork gives me the flexibility to set a budget and source skilled professionals who can handle cinematography tasks at rates I can afford—often delivering work that not only meets expectations but sometimes elevates the quality of our show. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Some freelancers have expressed concerns that payments aren’t released promptly and that Upwork’s service fees represent a significant portion of their earnings. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** As the creator and producer of Beacon College’s TV show "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity," I work within the budget constraints of a nonprofit institution producing a nationally focused program. When covering stories across the country, it’s often more cost-effective to hire local professionals through Upwork rather than send familiar freelancers and incur expenses for airfare, lodging, meals, rental cars, and day rates. Upwork has consistently connected me with skilled, budget-conscious talent who deliver quality work that meets broadcast standards. ### 32. Beneficial platform for job opportunities **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Anna H. | Customer service agent, Security and Investigations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes the process of searching for jobs an easy and smooth process. They offer many filters and advanced filters that are used to narrow down the search results. The amount of jobs and the variety of jobs that are offered is great. Upwork offers jobs for anyone, no matter your skills, experience, etc. Everyone is bound to find a job that they want to apply to. I also like how Upwork has their site organized. It makes it so easy to navigate through the site to find exactly what I need to find. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I'm not a fan of the credits and bidding system that Upwork has. I understand why it's in place and the purpose of it. I wouldn't say that I dislike it but more so that im not too keen of it. If there ever comes a time where credits run out on the account then more has to be purchased. The only way to apply for jobs is by using those credits and bidding. If you don't have credits and can't purchase more, at the moment, then no jobs can be applied to. That puts a damper on things! **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork does a great job at offering legitimate, remote jobs that can be done at home. There are so many different work from home scams these days. It can be hard to distinguish the scams from the real work. Upwork helps to take that worry away by showing me nothing but legitimate job opportunities. This allows me the ability to earn extra income. So two problems that Upwork solves and helps me benefit from!! ### 33. A Reliable Platform for Freelancers to Find Quality Work **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Diomar D. | English-Portuguese Brazilian Translator | Data Entry Specialist | Transcriber , Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork has been a game-changer in my freelance career. It provides access to a global marketplace of clients looking for a wide range of services, from writing and design to development and marketing. The platform makes it easy to search for jobs, submit proposals, and manage contracts all in one place. One of the features I appreciate most is Upwork's escrow system, which helps ensure that payments are secure and on time. The time tracking tool and work diary are also useful for hourly projects, providing transparency for both freelancers and clients. Disclosure: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. The opinions are my own. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The service fees can feel high, especially for newer freelancers just getting started. Additionally, competition can be intense, so it takes time and effort to build a strong profile and win consistent work. But once you establish credibility, Upwork can become a steady source of income. Disclosure: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. The opinions are my own. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I’ve been using Upwork since the oDesk days, completing over 30 contracts in areas like translation and transcription. One of the hardest parts of freelancing is finding trustworthy clients and ensuring payments go smoothly. Upwork solves both of those problems by giving me access to a global client base and handling contracts, escrow, and payment security. For me, that’s been a huge benefit. Instead of worrying about chasing down invoices or struggling to find new leads, I can focus on delivering quality work. The platform makes the process simple: job discovery, communication, and payment are all in one place. Over the years, this has allowed me to build long-term relationships with international clients while keeping my freelance career flexible and stable. ### 34. Upwork has been a fantastic platform **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shabi A. | Virtual Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is super helpful because it connects me with clients from all over the world, offering a range of projects that match my skills. The payment system is secure, so I feel confident I’ll get paid for my work. I also love the flexibility to choose projects and set my own schedule. Plus, the reviews help build my credibility, making it easier to land future work. Overall, Upwork makes freelancing smoother and more reliable. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The downsides of Upwork can include connect fees, especially for beginners like me, which can take a chunk out of my earnings. It can also be very competitive, making it tough to stand out among a large pool of freelancers. Sometimes, clients may not fully understand the value of my work, leading to lower-paying jobs or difficult negotiations. Additionally, there are occasional issues with clients who don't respond or provide unclear instructions, making the workflow harder to manage. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find freelance work easily. It connects me with clients from around the world, so I can choose projects I like. It also makes payments safe and easy, so I don’t have to worry about that. Upwork saves me time and lets me focus on doing good work. ### 35. Best choice for Freelancers **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Zeenah Z. | Peer Tutor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that there are a lot of jobs available and that you can see a companies reputation. It helps me choose clients and if you do have an issue, they do an investigation and make a decision if you get paid. It helps my peace of mind knowing that my work is protected. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The fees are high. I understand that they need something from the jobs they arrange, but it's more than it should be. If they had a year cap for the year or after so long, they no longer take as much, then it would be more fair. I've worked for years with clients and they still take fees. I think 5%-7% would be fair, but it's as much as 20%. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is ensuring that I get paid for the work that I do and that the jobs I apply to are real. ### 36. Reliable Platform with Secure Payments **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** María Angélica E. | Virtual Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like most about Upwork is how easy it is to build and improve your profile. I can filter the job categories I want to search for, and I can easily track my proposals both on the website and in the mobile app. I also like that it offers a video call option without needing to pay for a membership, which makes it easier for clients to contact you directly. Upwork posts thousands of job opportunities every day, making job searching simple — with the right filters, you get a smart and tailored job search experience. Plus, the platform suggests job listings that match your profile. Another thing I really appreciate is that there are also many job opportunities in Spanish, which allows me to work in my native language. It is also great that if you report a suspicious job post or a scam, the support team quickly removes the fake profile and even refunds your Connects. Finally, withdrawing payments is very easy, with several options available, which is very convenient. "I received a gift card for sharing my honest review". **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I dislike about Upwork is the service fees. I find them quite high, especially when you are just starting out on the platform. Not every client relationship lasts more than six months, which makes it hard to lower the percentage fee. In the beginning, the more you earn, the more you end up paying in fees. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Once, I had an issue signing a contract with a client, and the support team helped us solve it quickly and effectively. ### 37. Trusted Platform with growing opportunities **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ivana C. | German-English-Croatian Translator | AI Model Trainer & MTPE Expert, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really enjoy working on Upwork. I started about three years ago, and it was the beginning of my freelance journey in translation and AI-related projects. It’s helped me grow so much—both by improving my existing skills and learning a ton of new ones. What I love most about the platform is how seriously they take safety. These days, you always have to be cautious about scammers or clients who don’t pay. Upwork makes that a lot less stressful by verifying payment methods, so you know who you can trust. And if something still feels off, they’re quick to step in and investigate. That peace of mind makes a huge difference. I received a gift card for my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One thing I’m not too happy about is that Upwork recently raised their service fee on most projects from 10% to 15%. It might not sound like a huge jump, but when you're working regularly, it definitely adds up over time. I understand platforms need to make changes to stay sustainable, but it still feels a bit discouraging—especially for freelancers who’ve been loyal to the platform for years. I just hope they continue to improve other areas to balance it out. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps freelancers feel safe making money online—something that’s not always easy these days. It also solves the problem of being tied to one location by allowing you to work with clients from anywhere in the world. ### 38. Digital Illustrator review **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Paula T. | Freelance Illustrator and Portraitist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Flexibility, work in my field that is not otherwise easy to find, a time tracking app, legal and payment backup. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Double Dipping: Freelancers have to pay to bid AND Upwork takes 20% of the fee. Take it or Leave it Bidding: You have to pay for connects to bid for jobs that you are unable to ask any questions about. If the client provides a vague job description--extremely common--there's no way to clarify. Vague Job Descriptions: I've contacted Upwork six times regarding vague and nearly identical quality of their AI-generated job descriptions. These tell absolutely nothing about the style of illustration the client wants, the age range of the book, the art style, the number of pages/illustrations, etc. If I read the word "whimsical" one more time, I'm going to scream. Why can't clients be encouraged to provide an image of the style they're looking for? These may be great jobs with great clients, but all I can do is either skip them or gamble on wasting connect money. I've left the platform completely for months. Now I look from time to time, but it's become a low priority because of this impossible and incredibly frustrating situation. Scams: These seem less than they used to be, but they're still out there. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** There appear to be less scam jobs. Often, by the time that I can get to a scammer email, the client has been removed from the platform. But they have NOT solved the vague job description issue well at all. ### 39. A Mixed Bag of Talent and Frustration **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Diana P. | Translateor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is a fantastic platform for finding and hiring freelance talent across a huge range of industries. What I appreciate most is the immense and diverse talent pool. You can find experts for virtually any project, from web development and design to writing, marketing, and legal services. The user interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate, which makes the process of posting a job and sifting through proposals very straightforward. The built-in project management and payment features are also a major plus. The platform handles contracts, invoicing, and secure payments, which gives both clients and freelancers peace of mind. For hourly contracts, the time tracker with screenshots provides transparency and confidence that you're only paying for work that is actually being done. For fixed-price projects, the escrow system ensures the freelancer doesn't start work until the funds are secured and that the client doesn't release the payment until they're satisfied with the work. The review and rating system is a great way to vet potential hires and build a reputable profile for yourself. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** While the platform has many strengths, it's not without its flaws. My biggest concern is the quality of customer support. When issues arise—especially concerning scams, disputes, or account verification problems—the support team can be slow to respond and often provides generic, canned replies that don't actually solve the problem. This can be incredibly frustrating, particularly when a project or payment is on the line. Another downside is the prevalence of low-quality proposals and scams. While Upwork has a vast talent pool, it also has a high volume of unvetted freelancers who may submit generic, AI-generated proposals or try to take the project off-platform, which can be risky. This means you have to spend a significant amount of time sifting through numerous applications to find a few genuinely qualified candidates. The "Connects" system, which requires freelancers to pay to apply for jobs, can also be a barrier for new talent trying to get a foothold on the platform. Finally, the fees can be quite high, which impacts a freelancer's take-home pay and, in turn, can affect the rates they charge clients. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The platform's built-in escrow and payment system is a major benefit. For fixed-price projects, the client funds the project upfront, so I'm assured the money is there before I start. For hourly contracts, the time-tracker provides proof of work and payment protection, eliminating the risk of not getting paid. This has saved me from having to chase payments or deal with financial disputes. As a freelancer, Upwork gives me a massive client base that I'd never be able to access on my own. It connects me with businesses from around the world, allowing me to find work regardless of my physical location. ### 40. 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. ### 41. Upwork helps me find quality clients **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kim K. | Bookkeeper, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that I have control over who I choose to work with. It is very easy to use and releases funds to me after a certain timeframe even if the work isn't "approved" yet by the client. This helps because sometimes clients are forgetful :) I use it every day and have plenty of potential clients that reach out directly to me. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think that a lot of people don't have realistic expectations about what someone should be paid. They want "expert" advice for $5.00/hr. It would be helpful if maybe Upwork could suggest an appropriate price range for payment. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I work very part time and would never be able to find such limited and flexible hours locally. I homeschool and have unpredictable times during the day that I work so not having to be logged on during certain hours of the day is very helpful and allows our family to continue homeschooling. ### 42. great freelancer website **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ashia M. | Professional Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like most about Upwork as a freelancer is the variety of projects I can choose from and the ability to connect with clients from around the world. It makes finding work flexible and convenient, and I appreciate how the platform provides tools to manage contracts, payments, and deadlines easily. Plus, the review system helps build my reputation and attract new clients. Overall, it’s been a great way to grow my freelance career and work on projects I’m passionate about. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Honestly, one thing I find a bit challenging about Upwork is the competitive nature of the platform. Sometimes, there are many freelancers bidding on the same project, which can make it hard to stand out or get hired. Additionally, the service fees can add up, especially when you're just starting out, which affects how much you take home. And occasionally, the communication or payment process can be slow or a bit complicated. But overall, I still find it a valuable platform for finding work and building my freelance career. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** finding quality leads ### 43. Freelancer Side Gig Work **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jennifer K. | Data Analyst, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It is easy to use. I am very easily able to find projects that are of interest to me, whether it is showing in my best matches, I was sent an invite, or I search for a project. There are a wide variety of projects - from beginner to expert and projects for all interests. It is a great place to get a side-gig. I have worked on some fun projects I have found through Upwork I wouldn’t have been able to do without it. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It is very competitive to land a project. Multiple people are often applying to the same project so there are a lot of talented and qualified people you are competing with. If you have the free version, you only get 10 connects a month to apply to projects. They encourage paying for a membership by offering 100 connects a month for those who pay. They also charge fees for the work that is being completed so you will only receive a portion of the final pay. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** They are helping connect people who have a problem with those who know how to fix it. It is probably cheaper to do it this way, and response times are quick. People are able to get help with data manipulation, homework help, and many other tasks in a very quick and short amount of time that they may not be able to have any other assistance with from people near them. ### 44. Quality you pay for **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Margo D. | Principal, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is always on brand. The content is always solid and the functionality and response time is A+ **What do you dislike about Upwork?** You have to determine the cost of biz d'ev that you are comfortable with. The commissions are high on both ends. The tone of the terms and communications sound dire and punitive. Don't worry. If you are using the platform correctly, they aren't talking about you. I realize that Talent works all over the world offering different levels of expertise but I am so disappointed to see posts for executive-level assistance with a long list of skills and requirements that are only offering $5-8/hr. There is an opportunity to make a shift here and be the hero of the story. I wish the would take it. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I live in an area where networking for clients of the skillset I offer is limited. It offers consultants a chance to bid and propose in a controlled marketplace and then highlight a growing portfolio and satisfied clients. ### 45. Good for side gigs, not a full-time job **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Arturo M. | Senior Art Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really value the global reach Upwork provides. I've use it every time I get invitated to a new project and I've been a member since the early stages, so I use it pretty frequently. It allows me to offer my services to clients around the world, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with large enterprise businesses. I’ve consistently delivered projects to their satisfaction, which is reflected in the positive feedback and 5-star ratings I’ve received. In all the years I’ve used Upwork, I’ve only had one instance where a client tried to cheat and avoid payment, and Upwork’s customer support was very helpful in resolving the issue. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I’ve been using Upwork since its early days, and one major change I don’t like is the way freelancers now apply for jobs. Spending connects just to submit proposals, and then having to pay even more connects to boost visibility, is really unfair. Freelancers are on the platform to earn, not to spend money without guarantees. If you don’t get hired, you don’t get your connects back, and those connects cost real money. I’m fortunate to be in the top 1% of talent on the platform and, as an Expert-Vetted freelancer, I receive invitations to projects, so I don’t often need to spend connects. But for newcomers, breaking in must be extremely difficult. I believe Upwork should prioritize presenting the best candidates to clients rather than making freelancers spend more to be noticed. Another issue is the feedback system. Clients are not required to leave written comments with their ratings. I’ve completed projects where clients were extremely happy and left 5-star ratings, but without a written review. A rating without a comment feels incomplete and less trustworthy to potential future clients. Since Upwork is a platform built on trust and reputation, I believe written feedback should be mandatory for both freelancers and clients. Another drawback is their ease of use AKA as having a custom URL (e.g., upwork.com/freelancer-name) requires paying a monthly fee. This feels unreasonable: custom URLs should be available to all freelancers. It would actually benefit Upwork as well, since freelancers would naturally promote their profiles by sharing clean, branded links instead of long, random strings of letters and numbers. Making it really difficult to implement, and not making it easy to integrate well on the web in general. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of access and trust in freelancing. It connects me with clients from all over the world—including large enterprise businesses—that I wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise. The platform gives freelancers a safe and structured way to find projects, manage contracts, and ensure payments are protected. For me, this has meant being able to consistently deliver high-quality work, build long-term relationships, and grow my reputation with 5-star reviews and positive feedback. The biggest benefit is that Upwork makes it easier to focus on my work—creative direction and design—while the platform handles the logistics of connecting with clients, securing contracts, and guaranteeing payments. ### 46. 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. ### 47. An easy to use platform to find consulting work with an easy payment process. **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Leah A. | Pediatrician, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like its strong privacy features, and that the platform facilitates obtaining payment for my work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Over the recent year, it is more difficulty to find work due to the increased need to use "connects" and to "bid" on projects. In some cases, I would need to purchase "connects" in order to submit a proposal for a project for which I ultimately may not get hired. UpWork takes a percentage of my earnings, to I don't feel it is necessary to also pay for proposals. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The problem that I have experienced in 2025 is a reduced number of client proposals. I suppose this may have something to do with more clients using AI for the type of work I have done for the past six year. UpWork occasionally sends me emails about potential products that may be appropriate for my expertise. I wish, however, that I would receive more of these notifications. ### 48. Freelancer Upwork Review **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Cole A. | chief consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Been on the platform for a few years. Use it daily. Upwork has introduce me to some great clients and colleagues. People and companies that I have worked with closely for years now. It serves as a centralized place where you can find people with similar talent and collaborate forces, or find opportunties where contrasting skillsets can compliment each other as well. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** 1) The fees are getting a little outrageous. 2) Some non-Enterprise clients will try and leverage a good review or sabotage if you don't continually go above and beyond. 3) as a freelancer, you have to spend credits (money) to bid on projects and it gets insanely expensive. 4) Hubspot support is virtually non existent and extremely hard to get ahold of. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It serves as a middle ground for people/companies needing specific skillsets to find each other. And the ability to review each others work provides transparency for future folks interested in working with either party. So there is a little bit of insight with expectations and working relationships. ### 49. Can Be Amazing, Seems to Have Gotten Considerably More Competitive **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Krissy Anne W. | AI Content Evaluation Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I have earned several thousand dollars on Upwork and had the opportunity to work on some very cool projects. I have enjoyed meeting the contacts I have made and the wide variety of projects I've had the chance to work on. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, there is a wide variety of projects at any given time to work on. I have found local projects and collaborated with teams from around the world. If I ever had any issues working with a client, Upwork's customer support was always quick to help me out. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** When I first started using Upwork, I received multiple offers for gigs sent to me on a weekly basis. There was so much work available, I often had to turn work down. If I ever wanted to get extra side gig work, it was easy to find someone to partner with. In recent years, much like the job market in general, it has become much more competitive. Specifically, in the field of copywriting and with the advancements of AI, it seems that many clients do not want to pay standard rates for professional work. Additionally, it appears that due to the high competition and monetization efforts of Upwork, you now need to spend considerable money to be "seen" by potential clients when bidding for a job or to have your profile stand out. This has caused me to lose interest in using the platform as frequently as I previously had. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The job market has become difficult and increasingly competitve in recent years for remote workers across many fields such as marketing, UX, programming, etc. Increasingly, employers are turning to contract work and laying off employees. The gig economy is likely to continue to grow. Upwork offers the opportunity to help build a side-income and buffer income loss associated with decline of long-term traditional employment opportunities. ### 50. A Great Platform for Freelancers to Grow - 14 Years on Upwork and earned over $500K **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Autonu K. | YouTube Marketing, SEO, SEM, SMM Strategist - Google Ads Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork has provided me with a professional, reliable platform to connect with serious clients from around the world. As a YouTube Marketing Specialist and Digital Marketer, I appreciate the ability to showcase my skills, build long-term client relationships, and scale my freelance business on my own terms. The platform’s structure — from detailed job postings to secure payments and transparent client communication — makes it easy to focus on delivering results. Upwork has played a key role in my ability to earn over $500,000 and work more than 27,000 hours since 2011. It's a true game-changer for dedicated freelancers. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** While Upwork has been instrumental in growing my freelance career, there are some challenges. The platform is highly competitive, and sometimes new freelancers underbid, which can make it harder for experienced professionals to stand out without lowering their rates. Additionally, Upwork’s service fees can feel steep, especially for long-term freelancers. Another issue is the review system — clients can leave negative feedback without necessarily providing detailed justification. In a face-to-face setting, they would typically need to explain what went wrong, but on Upwork, it can feel less transparent or fair at times. Improving this aspect could help maintain trust and professionalism on the platform. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the challenge of connecting skilled freelancers like myself with clients who need specialized digital marketing and YouTube growth expertise—without the barriers of geography or lengthy hiring processes. It provides a trusted, secure platform for discovering projects, managing communication, and ensuring timely payments. For me, this means I can focus on delivering high-quality YouTube SEO, video editing, video marketing, and content services while Upwork handles client sourcing, contract management, and payment protection. This streamlined workflow has enabled me to grow my freelance business to over $500,000 in revenue and build long-term relationships with clients worldwide. Ultimately, Upwork empowers me to scale my impact and reach more brands seeking expert video marketing solutions. ## 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%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1174068&qs=pros-and-cons§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-14+15%3A48%3A54+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=d6aaaad8-15ba-4e75-ade5-9f9a7a5c5aa7&secure%5Btoken%5D=ca8d10bdfb0d176d18e917fe15c9b0c5e94e5854caf377211712f054afcd0f0d&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 (325 reviews) - [Toptal](https://www.g2.com/products/toptal/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (269 reviews)