--- title: Upwork Reviews meta_title: 'Upwork Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 3207 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: 3207 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-15' 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:** 3,207 ## 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 praise the **ease of use** of Upwork, highlighting its intuitive management and secure job application processes. (665 reviews) - Users love the **ease of finding diverse job opportunities** on Upwork, making freelancing accessible and rewarding. (367 reviews) - Users value the **convenience and security** of Upwork, praising its straightforward platform and reliable payment systems. (358 reviews) - Users value the **time efficiency** of Upwork, finding it easy to navigate and complete contracts promptly. (288 reviews) - Users appreciate the **secure payment system** on Upwork, ensuring confidence in receiving funds after job completion. (266 reviews) - Talent Quality (231 reviews) - Payment Reliability (215 reviews) - Convenience (191 reviews) - Many Options (186 reviews) - Helpful (149 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users express concerns about the **high costs of Connects** , feeling it unfair to pay before securing jobs. (474 reviews) - Users express frustration over **high fees** on Upwork, which diminish earnings and add to project costs. (454 reviews) - Users often face **job scarcity** on Upwork, struggling with competition and limited opportunities affecting their chances of success. (207 reviews) - Users express frustration over **intense competition** on Upwork, hindering job acquisition for new and seasoned freelancers alike. (155 reviews) - Users face **multiple limitations** on Upwork, like poor messaging, increasing fees, and a low-quality 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. 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. ### 2. User-Friendly Platform with Delayed Payment Processing **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** David C. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 03, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork very simple to use with its friendly interface. I appreciate that there are a lot of job possibilities on the platform. It's extremely easy to set up an account, and I would recommend it to everyone who wants to start a freelancing career. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** For me, the only thing that could be improved is the fact that receiving the money after the client pays it almost takes more than seven days. I have waited the max time of twenty days to get the money on my bank account. That's the only issue I have found onboard. It would be very nice for Upwork to improve that. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the lack of work opportunities in Ecuador for me. It's simple to use with a friendly interface and offers many job possibilities. ### 3. High Cost Detracts from Usability **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bamidele Clement O. | Senior Geographic Information System Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 03, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork as a client and as a freelancer. It's popular, which is something I like about it. I use the public profile feature the most because it allows me to showcase my expertise and experience. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The connects are becoming unreasonably expensive. I buy connects to apply for jobs, and when I work, Upwork still takes a whopping percentage of my income. This is not fair. Upwork also takes money from the client. Upwork should make connects more affordable for freelancers or let us apply to jobs for free. When we get a job, their percentage is already waiting for them. Additionally, new people I introduced to Upwork now say it is hard to set up. Upwork even charges them money for identity verification now, which is ridiculous. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork for getting jobs and finding talents. I showcase my expertise on my public profile. ### 4. 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. ### 5. Great Variety of Projects, but Service Quality Often Falls Short **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nick K. | Senior Delivery Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 23, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork gives access to a wide range of clients and projects from around the world. It makes it easy to find opportunities that match my skills and manage work in one place. I also appreciate the flexibility it offers to choose projects and build long-term client relationships. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The main issue I’ve experienced is a lack of consistent quality. Many freelancers do not meet the expected skill level, which often leads to disappointing results. Overall, the quality of the services provided is frequently below expectations. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I can find various professionals in one place ### 6. Quick Access to Top Talent, Needs Contract Process Improvement **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dallin K. | Independent Contractor, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork for web development and motion graphics. Upwork allows me to fill skill gaps within my organization and team. I like that Upwork lets us find the right people quickly and provides all the tools needed to make that as seamless as possible. The initial setup was very easy. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Some of the processes like closing contracts can be a little clunky. It can be confusing going from step to step. Like opening the contract, reaching milestones, and closing the contract. It would be nice if you all would rework that entire process to make it more user friendly. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork allows me to fill skill gaps within my organization and team. It lets us find the right people quickly and provides all the tools needed to make that as seamless as possible. ### 7. 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. ### 8. Seamless Hiring Experience with Global Reach **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kate S. | President and Chief Color Expert, Trainer and Speaker, Design, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the breadth of skilled workers on Upwork and how quickly I can narrow down my choices. I appreciate the platform's ability to keep communications organized and the convenience of file sharing. Upwork's payroll service is crucial for me, as it handles paying people and handling taxes correctly around the world. This is something we wouldn't have taken on otherwise. Having everything in one place helps us keep the project organized. The initial setup of Upwork was seamless, and switching to Upwork from Fiverr has been a better fit for my business. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** We often have projects with multiple parts, with one person working on several pieces at once. It would be helpful to be able to have a thread for each part rather than a single thread. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork gives me access to specialized skills without needing full-time staff, organizing communication and file sharing, and handling global payments and taxes, saving time and reducing risk. ### 9. Trustworthy Payments and Flexible Hours with Global Client Opportunities **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Noorain F. | Officer, Biotechnology, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** We get opportunities to work with clients from all over the world. The payment system feels trustworthy, and it gives us the flexibility to choose the hours we want to work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Getting work at the beginning is pretty tough. There aren’t many jobs available, and the work that does come up is often low quality. On top of that, the payment is quite low. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It helps me connect with clients and find suitable work from all over the world. It also helps me build long-term relationships with clients, with a steady flow of income. ### 10. Best platform for expert designers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rizwan L. | Head of Product Design, Computer Software, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 12, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Very secure payments and top-tier clients **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The Pay-to-Play Barrier (Connects Inflation) **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork basically takes a lot of the stress out of finding and managing clients. Instead of worrying about whether a new client will actually pay, or spending time hunting for work on social media, the platform handles the contracts and holds the money in a secure account until the job is done. For someone running a design business, that’s a huge time-saver. It keeps all the boring admin, like invoices and time-tracking, in one place, so I can focus on the actual design work and on leading my team. The best part is how it helps me find high-quality projects without having to constantly market myself. Because it has a reputation system, my years of experience and successful past projects work like a magnet for bigger companies that are looking for experts rather than just cheap labor. It also makes it much easier to scale from small tasks to major branding or UI projects, since the infrastructure for managing larger contracts is already built in and ready to go. ### 11. Broad Talent Access, But Costly for Long-Term Use **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Alex C. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork for its largest selection of talent. Their escrow and hourly payment tracking is really nice. I don't have to worry about setting up escrow services or dealing with unclear delivery. Once I have a contract, I can put the money for the milestone and have peace of mind that I will get it back if the freelancer can’t deliver. Also, the initial setup was super easy, and they are the only real option for the breadth of talent you might be looking for. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** They nickel and dime to a degree it’s more painful to use them long term than set up your own contract with the freelancer. It is good for finding people, but a pain to keep working on. Their quest to be a publicly traded company has made them push away the clients and made keeping work on the platform more trouble than it’s worth. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find the right talent for anything I need and pay them seamlessly. I like the vast selection of talent and the peace of mind with their escrow and hourly payment tracking. ### 12. Seamless Hiring Experience on Upwork **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rajasekar R. | Director of Product & Growth Data Science and Analytics, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork is set up for doing small work like this, end to end. From discovery to delivery of a project, the whole experience is pretty seamless on Upwork. I appreciate how it's easy for me to find the best lawyer by browsing through a list of attorneys, checking their past projects, and seeing how much they charge. I can easily sign a contract and pay via Upwork, making the process seamless. The tool provides a way to set up meetings, facilitating an intro brief meeting even before getting alignment. On an ongoing basis, communication via chat or meetings is made convenient. The initial setup was pretty easy, and I could quickly explain what the project is. The features are really good as soon as I prompt something, the AI picks it up and creates a nice project description for me. This made creating a project straightforward. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** So things that have not worked well for me is more from a worker standpoint. I put my profile on Upwork, and I haven't been able to get any projects. So at least for me, there is not a good match. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork makes it easy to find the best lawyer for my case by providing a list of attorneys, showing their past projects, and pricing. It allows me to sign contracts, pay seamlessly, set up meetings, and communicate easily for ongoing projects. ### 13. Seamless Hiring with a Minor Hitch **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Aaron A. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that everything's seamless. When I hire people, I don't have to worry about getting anything set up; everything tracks their time automatically. I can see exactly how efficient they are with their time. Everything is built into the platform, which is just one thing less to think about when hiring, especially people from other countries. In the beginning, I really value those tools that show me how frequently they use the keyboard and other things that give me a sense of how well they use their time. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I sometimes find that the Upwork website can be a bit buggy. There are times when I want to use the site, and it just isn't working, which is one of the issues I don't like. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find good talent and clients. It tracks time automatically, showing how efficient hires are, particularly useful when hiring overseas. Everything is seamless and built into the platform. ### 14. Efficient Talent Sourcing, But Clunky Meetings **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Michael D. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork's deep database or roster of talent, which makes it easier for me to find specific resources for projects. If I'm looking for a specific need, I can easily search by specific keywords or phrases, or even by project or campaign. This feature lists people, their experiences, and the price all in one spot, which I find provides an incredibly helpful one-stop experience. Additionally, I find Upwork pretty easy to use for recruiting part-time employees, and the initial setup was fairly easy for my team. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The number one thing I dislike is the meeting format within Upwork. It's really clunky and hard to use. A lot of times, I've had missed meetings or couldn't get into a meeting on time because it just doesn't work properly. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves finding talent. It has a deep database or roster of talent for specific projects, making it easy to find a specific resource. I can search by specific keyword or project, listing people, their experiences, and prices all in one spot. ### 15. Effortless Staffing Flexibility with Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Aaron P. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I don't need to hire a full-time staff, which is great. I can hire on a need-to-need basis per project with Upwork. I'm happy to use the payment system because I don't have to figure out how to transfer in different currencies. I hired or started interviewing people off the bat, and the initial setup was super easy. I value the messaging system too. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I guess it would be great if Upwork had integrated with a product like Twilio or had similar functionality on their site so I can manage projects easier without leaving the Upwork infrastructure. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork lets me hire on a project basis, avoiding the need for full-time staff. I'm happy with its payment system for handling different currencies and the messaging system. ### 16. Ideal for Hiring Freelancers with Great Insights **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ashley D. | SEO consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that I can see multiple projects freelancers have completed. I can see reviews, and it helps me find freelancers whose past work is relative to the projects I need them for and see how they performed. Being able to see how many jobs they completed and didn't complete gives a more complete picture. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I mean, sometimes I'm not sure how accurate some of these job completion stats are because, you know, maybe the job wasn't completed because the person who hired them stopped it before it was over. I'm also not a fan when freelancers can add manual work because I've experienced cases where a freelancer has tried to charge me for working on another project. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find freelancers for small onetime projects or to test freelancers for recurring projects. It's a good place to evaluate freelancers based on completed projects and reviews. ### 17. Upwork’s Milestone Payments Build Trust and Keep Contracts on Track **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Michael R. | Cold Case Investigator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 09, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork because they provide the trust required to go forward with a contract for people you have only reviewed online. Each contract I have written has been broken down into milestones and only after you’ve reviewed and approved each milestone do you release payment for the service you have already received. Both sides win in this situation. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** My first time using Upwork I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of applicants there were for a relatively small contract. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of finding people with particular skills that you might only need once. You need describe your needs and Upwork brings the people to you. ### 18. Efficient Hiring but Feedback Confusion **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consulting | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 21, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the efficiency of finding and hiring professional help, both in the US and internationally. The site is very efficient, and I can easily find legal help for specific tasks. The ease of hiring help and setting up projects stands out, and I like the workflow. Also, I appreciate the efficiency of completing projects and making payments. The initial setup was very easy and convenient. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** There's a bit of confusion when leaving the feedback. I leave the feedback for the professional, but then it doesn't show up or it comes up as 'no feedback provided' on the profile. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to efficiently find and hire professional help, both in the US and internationally. It's easy to set up projects, complete them, and make payments. ### 19. 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. ### 20. Flexible talent sourcing, billing sometimes requires a bit of digging **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mark B. | Founder, Chief Creative Guy, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find it easy to post a job and review candidates on Upwork. The impressive breadth of available talent makes it a go-to resource for finding creative professionals, especially when we're short-staffed or need specific expertise. I also appreciate the global availability, which allows us to find solutions that fit our budget. The initial setup was super easy, with the only slight delay being getting my photo verified. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes the billing function isn't as clear as I'd like it. When reviewing a freelancer's hourly timesheet, I'd like to see what the amount is, but also including the Upwork fees and taxes. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps us find experts quickly when we're short-staffed or need specific skills. It's easy to post jobs and review candidates, offering an impressive range of global talent that fits our budget. Best of all, freelancers are temporary allies, so no need for permanent staffing. ### 21. Effortless Talent Discovery, Unmatched Flexibility **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stephanie C. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork to have my Xactimate Estimates written for insurance adjusting, and it allows me to manage my time effectively while taking care of my clients. I like that I am able to search through candidates until I find someone who understands me and can match my level of expertise. The quality of the people I find is really good, and there are many levels of communication. The initial setup was super easy, and each time I go in with a new project, I'm able to set new expectations. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I have only had one bad experience and it was from the contractor I hired, not from Upwork. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me manage my time by letting others handle Xactimate Estimates while I focus on other tasks. ### 22. Always Find the Right Talent on Upwork—Great Filters for Fast, Time-Sensitive Searches **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Lisa S. | Spa Business Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I'm a consultant to small businesses, who often have a wide variety of professional needs. But not matter what those are, I can always find someone on Upwork who is perfect to solve their issue or help them long term. I love all of the filters that let you refine your search, especially time-zone for time-sensitive projects. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes I am challenged by the logistics such as contracts, but I eventually get it sorted. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I’ve used Upwork across several different industry silos—for example, to find people to write code for a website, create graphics and presentation materials, edit and market my podcast, and handle bookkeeping. Everything was completed successfully. ### 23. Upwork Delivers High-Standard Freelancers and Peace of Mind **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mina N. | Film Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 29, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is now known for freelancers with high standards. Using it both as a freelancer and as a client gives me less to worry about than on other platforms. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** When it comes to payments, the 15% fee is high, especially on top of paying for Pro and buying connects. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The dispute service is amazing, and I’ve personally experienced how helpful it is when issues happen between a client and me. Upwork has a good system for handling disputes and resolving them fairly and fast. ### 24. Connecting with Quality Clients and Seamless Project Management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Michael W. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like best about Upwork is the ability to connect with serious clients who value quality work and long-term partnerships. The platform makes it easy to showcase skills, communicate clearly, and manage projects efficiently in one place. I also appreciate the transparency around expectations, timelines, and payments, which allows me to focus on delivering results and building lasting client relationships. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I dislike about Upwork is that strong freelancers can sometimes get overlooked due to bidding noise or price-driven competition. However, I understand this comes with a large marketplace, and clients who value quality and long-term results still stand out and are worth working with. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of finding trustworthy clients and managing projects in a secure, organized environment. It benefits me by providing access to a steady stream of qualified clients, clear communication tools, and secure payment protection, which allows me to focus on delivering high-quality work and building long-term client relationships instead of chasing leads or worrying about payment issues. ### 25. Upwork Makes Hiring Easy with an Intuitive, Well-Organized Workflow **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ira S. | Author, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** When trying to hire someone, Upwork is an excellent way to go. It is very easy to use. Very intuitive. Then it attracts a lot of proposals for evaluation, providing a lot of useful information and rankings. What I really love about it, it keeps track of all documentation and messaging. Makes hiring someone very easy and I have had nothing but good experiences with Upwork. It is very easy to cut and paste into the forms. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** On some of the items it would be useful to provide and example of what is expected in the form. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** My current hire is for my book publishing of a 2nd edition of a book. This has included making a modification to my book cover, making manuscript changes and then publishing it on Amazon Kindle. ### 26. Great Place for Website Design **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kim C. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 22, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I was lucky enough to find someone who is really good at his job, detail oriented, and followed directions well **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It makes me feel bad paying people so low and the amount of people vying for attention can be overwhelming when you first post a job **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Someone created a new website for me and it has been great. They also keep in touch regularly to make sure that everything is running smoothly ### 27. Easy to Use with a Wide Variety of Freelancers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jason C. | Marketing Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is easy to use. It’s one platform with a wide variety of freelancers all in one place, so I know I can find what I need within the price range I’m looking for. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I feel like their fees have gone up, and on some jobs they can add up pretty quickly. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Whenever I need an expert on something I am not an expert in, I know I can find that person on Upwork. I have used Upwork for experts in SEO, adwords, design, PDF creation, marketing. ### 28. Diverse Talent, Seamless Collaboration **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Karyn B. | Associate, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork to be a great and diverse platform with obviously more than capable individuals. I've honed in on one individual in particular, and we've built a solid work relationship that I would like to continue. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes there are glitches in the payment process. So that's about it. Nothing that cannot be handled via customer service. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I utilize Upwork to access skill sets we don't have in-house, solving requirements beyond our capabilities. It's a diverse platform with capable individuals, allowing me to build valuable relationships. ### 29. Efficient Freelancing with Top-Quality Results **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Manufacturing | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like how quickly I can get work done with a freelancer on Upwork, and it's at a low cost. The quality of the work I receive from freelancers is top-tier. The platform and communication tools are very useful and easy to use, allowing me to communicate with my freelancers and manage projects very quickly and easily. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike the size limit for uploading files on Upwork. If you guys could increase the limit of file size, that would help us tremendously. A lot of times our freelancers have to use external tools like Dropbox or Google Drive to send us computer work. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps solve technical problems by avoiding the need to hire big consulting firms or employees for tasks that freelancers can handle quickly and at a low cost. ### 30. Effortless Freelancer Hiring with Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rahim W. | Filmmaker/Cinematographer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love the ease of finding freelancers on Upwork. Whenever I post a job, I get an almost immediate response from a wide range of freelancers. I appreciate the safety of doing business on Upwork because of the protections they provide for the contractor. I also like having an abundance of options to choose from. The initial setup was simple and straightforward. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I wish Upwork could learn who we hire and suggest other freelancers based on previous habits. It would be helpful if it could see the type of freelancers we work with and recommend others that seem similar. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me get my time back by offering ease in finding freelancers, providing safety with protections, and giving me an abundance of freelancer options. ### 31. Efficient Backend Support and Cost-Effective Solutions **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Charles W. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 23, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I appreciate how Upwork connects me with experts to handle tasks I don't have the skills for, especially in back-end web support, integrations with WordPress, and Gravity Forms. They do the work quickly, which helps make it cost-effective. The initial setup of Upwork was very easy. I also like that it's recommended by others, and based on my experience, I'm very likely to recommend Upwork to friends or colleagues. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I'm still getting used to the interface and how best to communicate with the person I'm working with. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork for tech support and web page tasks, like backend web support, WordPress integrations, and Gravity Forms. It connects me with preferred professionals to do work I lack skills in, quickly and cost-effectively. ### 32. Variety in Jobs, But Competitive Market **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Maryann S. | Owner , Retail, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 17, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that there are a lot of different jobs that you could choose from on Upwork. The search works very well compared to other gig work sites. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It looks like there's more people trying to hire people instead of get hired. This makes my experience kinda negative because I am actively looking for a job, and I can't use the site to look for one. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find microtasks and gig work. I appreciate the variety of jobs available and the search works well compared to other gig sites. However, there seems to be more people hiring than looking for work, which makes my job search challenging. ### 33. Easy-to-Use Platform with a Wide Pool of Affordable International Talent **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mike P. | Owner/Operator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 13, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It's a great network to find work as a freelancer / small business and also find help for your business. It's easy to use and the pool is wide, especially with good international talent that is reasonably priced **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The mediation process needs some tweaking - sometimes it doesn't work out between parties and I wish Upwork had better policies in place to protect both sides. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The need to find help for our small business, without having the resources to have full time employees. Upwork helps find the right talent to help with tasks we aren't equipped to do ourselves, or simply want to offload. ### 34. Perfect Platform for Affordable Freelance Work **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stacy R. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 23, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork perfect for people in my industry who do social media work. It's great that you can find jobs specific to social media and freelancers that are within your budget. It's useful that you can work with freelancers from literally any location across the world and share their experiences. I've hired plenty of freelancers this way, and I get 99% of my clients from Upwork. Setting it up was very easy, and my identity was verified within twenty-four hours. The process was smooth and straightforward. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think vetting freelancers would improve my workflow a lot better. I've gone through a lot of freelancers. It's been a whole trial and error process of people who are not actually qualified to do the job. Who claim that they have the experience and then can't actually do the work. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to outsource freelance work at an affordable rate. It helps by screenshotting users' computers, so I don't worry about checking timesheets. ### 35. Reliable Hub for Freelancers with Efficient Payment System **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Devroux D. | Business Development Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 27, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork valuable for lead generation, allowing me to find projects without spending months on marketing myself. I particularly appreciate the consistency of free job requests and the availability of legitimate jobs, which I believe sets Upwork apart. The escrow system works well, as I haven't had any disputes since joining. The initial setup was straightforward, and once I landed my first project, they started coming in more consistently. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The time capture feature on the desktop app could be somewhat more responsive in terms of capture randomisation. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves lead generation for me, acting as a central hub for projects and offering a safe space for payments. It provides consistent, legitimate job requests, making it easier to find and secure work. ### 36. Effortless Talent Acquisition with Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Andreas B. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 12, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really appreciate how Upwork provides access to a large amount of talent and allows me to sort exactly for what I need. The filtering function is particularly beneficial for me as I can search for specific jobs and titles. This is crucial when I'm looking for the most qualified talent, as I can filter candidates by experience, country, and hourly rate. I also find that Upwork offers better talent quality and a wider range of experienced workers compared to other platforms. The initial setup was very easy, which was a big plus. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I find that the overview of weekly hours charged is not very simple to understand, especially when multiple people work at the same time. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to access a large amount of talent and sort exactly for what I need, filtering by experience, country, and hourly rate. ### 37. 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, ### 38. Found valuable freelancers on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** David S. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 16, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork for finding freelancers for tasks like marketing consultations, graphic design, and administrative help. It's easy to find and compare freelancers, research their reviews, and make a decision about who is the right fit. I like that I can find freelancers who have been vetted and reviewed. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Some of the fees went up at one point, but overall it's pretty reasonable. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find freelancers for marketing consultations, graphic design, and administrative help. They have helped me create a marketing strategy and ad campaign that's gotten more clients in the door and maximized my ad spend. ### 39. Secure Contracts, Easy Setup, but High Fees **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mert D. | Attorney At Law, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork to find freelancers for my small projects and to work as a freelancer myself. I find it especially useful when looking for someone abroad because the contract is safe for both parties. I really like the contract system as it secures that my tasks will be completed while ensuring the fee is paid. The initial setup was very easy and clear, showing everything at the beginning like how to make a profile and how to post a job. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Fees are a little high. It might be more affordable. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find Upwork useful for ensuring contracts are safe when hiring freelancers, especially internationally. ### 40. Superstars and Seamless Experience with Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ryan N. | C.E.O., Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 02, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really appreciate the ease of hiring talented people on Upwork while knowing my money is safe, thanks to their payment system where you don't pay until the job is done. The platform is user-friendly, and I value the large volume of talent available. I've been able to hire excellent professionals like a web designer, landing page designer, copywriter, and Facebook ads expert, all of whom I consider superstars. The financial return on my investments has been impressive, showing up to ten times what I've put in. The initial setup was pretty quick and very good, which adds to the positive experience. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** nothing **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork makes it easier to find vetted talent at a reasonable investment, ensures job completion before payment, and offers a large pool of skilled professionals. ### 41. Efficient Talent Finder - speeds up my workflow **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I can browse multiple talent\freelancers to see what capabilities they have. Upwork also keeps a running history of who I've worked with. I appreciate that I can look at my messages and contacts all in my dashboard. It makes my workflow a lot faster, going from taking several days to manage a job or find talent to minutes. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The interface can be slow sometimes and kludgy as well. I wish the dashboard was a little cleaner and that I could close out contracts within the same interface. As of right now, I have to go into a separate section for that. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves my lack of skills by letting me quickly find people who possess them. It speeds up my workflow, allowing me to manage accounts and find talent in minutes. The platform also maintains a history of my collaborations and centralizes messages and contacts on my dashboard. ### 42. Affordable Translation Services with Room for Improvement **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Beth P. | Business Writer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that I am able to find translators in less common languages for an affordable rate on Upwork. Whenever I post a translation project for an exotic language, I receive several offers. Also, Upwork is fairly easy to use. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I don't control how much time the translator spends on the project. I was overcharged once for work that was not performed. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find translators for less common languages at an affordable rate, with multiple offers for each project. ### 43. Seamless Experience, Essential for Scaling Teams **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nathan K. | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 13, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork makes it easy to find people who can perform specific tasks. They offer specialty tags for people, which is really helpful. I also appreciate how you can easily engage potential candidates. The platform provides an hourly rate estimator and individual candidates provide their hourly rates, which helps me gauge the overlap between the money I can spend and the talent I can acquire. Overall, these features help me find the right candidate fit for the rate that I can pay. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Can't think of anything I dislike about Upwork at the moment. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find people who can perform time-consuming tasks like data entry and website scraping, which I don't have time for. This helps me use my time better by hiring for these positions instead of doing them personally. ### 44. Upfront Client Payments Make Upwork Feel Secure and Reliable **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Cyril Rose B. | Academic Chat Support, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 09, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork helps protect workers’ right to be paid because it collects the client’s payment upfront first. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think the fees charged to freelancers are overboard. Imagine having 15% deducted from project-based work. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Finding remote jobs are easier through Upwork ### 45. Great Pool of Resources Across Experience Levels and Rates **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Prasantha J. | Head of Product, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Great pool of resource across a wide range of experiences and rates. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Too many responses to proposals. It's now faster for me to search out freelancers and invite them to my proposal than to review all the submissions. It's not clear how well some resources are verified as I have received the exact same response / CV from different people for the same proposal **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork when I need to augment my team's skillset for a short term project. My team is small and we have a limited number of resources and skill sets. But, my business requires a lot more of both people and skills at times. When I have a specific need, I use Upwork for fill it. ### 46. Expansive Talent Pool, But Overwhelming to Navigate **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 23, 2021 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love Upwork because it allows me to access qualified candidates effortlessly. It's a safe platform, and I feel secure knowing I'm not going to get screwed over by a fake company or account. I really appreciate the clear pricing, which makes budgeting simpler. What I like most is the talent pool and the pricing. There's an unlimited number of qualified candidates for any type of job you need, and the pricing lets me access talent from around the globe, which helps keep my project costs down. Setting up Upwork was pretty straightforward. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It's the same thing that's the advantage is kind of the disadvantage is that there's just so many people. It can take an infinite amount of time to sift through them. So getting to the right contractor can be difficult. I know they have the ability to have somebody or it's probably AI now, help present a shorter list of qualified candidates. And I have used that. It is helpful. But if I don't use that, even after you use all of the filters, you could still be looking at thousands of people that fit all the criteria you're looking for. So it's a great problem to have, but it's still a problem. So yeah, maybe additional filters to further trim the list or really having the concierge model where I just have to look at five people that are highly recommended. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork allows me to access qualified candidates with clear pricing and provides a somewhat safe platform. The unlimited talent pool lets me keep project costs down by accessing global talent. ### 47. My experience as a freelancer on Upwork, my likes and dislikes **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Blessing E. | Customer Service Representative | Email, Phone & Chat Support | Shopify, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that my payment is secured as long as I do a good job for clients and track my hours of work using Upwork tracker. Also, I like that I can easily schedule a meeting with a client using the Zoom feature in the message room. I also like that when a client view my proposal, I get a notification immediately, that pop up gives me joy. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I don’t like the fact that connects can’t be shared, like my friend has up to 300 plus connects which she is not using because she’s not currently applying, she told me sometime ago that if Upwork has that feature of sharing connects, she would have shared it with me be cause I currently don’t have connects at all, reason I'm not applying for work, and I’m not happy about it. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is helping freelancers that are not outside the country like Uk, USA, Europe, etc work from home and earn in dollars, Upwork made it possible for me to connect with clients abroad and I’m happy. It also make sure that my payments are secured. ### 48. Overall Easy to Use for finding talent **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shelby G. | Owner, Accounting, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes it incredibly easy to find talent quickly. I really like the variety of freelancers available — different skill levels, specialties, and price points — so it’s simple to match the right person to the job. The platform is user-friendly, and I appreciate being able to review profiles, portfolios, and past feedback before hiring. Messaging, contracts, and payments are all handled in one place, which keeps everything organized. I also like that I can hire for one-time projects or build long-term working relationships, depending on what I need. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I’ve hired a couple of people whose actual skills didn’t quite match what they listed on their profiles. While that was frustrating at first, it pushed me to improve the way I hire. I’ve learned to ask more specific questions during the interview process and to write more detailed, clear job posts to help weed out applicants who aren’t a good fit. The search talent feature is also really helpful when I want to just invite people to my job post that look promising. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** We all have our specialties and experience. I prefer to find people who excel in what I don't so I can be confident in the quality. ### 49. Effortless Client Connections and Business Growth on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kimiko C. | Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love how Upwork connects me with clients who are actively looking for specialized skills. It makes it easy to build meaningful working relationships, collaborate with people around the world, and grow my business through projects that align with my strengths. The platform feels streamlined, efficient, and supportive for both freelancers and clients. I received a gift card for sharing my honest. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I don’t like how applying for opportunities now requires so many more Connects, and despite being a top Upwork user, I’m not seeing enough high-quality job invitations in return. It feels like the balance has shifted, making it harder to access the right projects. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of finding reliable clients by bringing quality opportunities into one place. Instead of spending hours searching for leads or doing outreach, I can connect with clients who already need my skills. The platform also helps with communication, contracts, and payments, which saves time and keeps everything organized so I can focus on delivering great work. ### 50. 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. ## 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?page=2§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-15+10%3A12%3A27+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=1e75f918-4eb1-42e5-b771-5e323c82a135&secure%5Btoken%5D=78ab5f9681fd2317e447f235d658766744ccfda8a4c87ad051396947ef6f2c18&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) - [Behance](https://www.g2.com/products/behance/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 (456 reviews) - [Bark.com](https://www.g2.com/products/bark-com/reviews) - 1.6/5.0 (322 reviews) - [Toptal](https://www.g2.com/products/toptal/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (269 reviews)