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Upwork Reviews & Product Details

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Upwork Reviews (3,241)

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Upwork Reviews (3,241)

View 2 Video Reviews
4.5
3,241 reviews

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Margaret J.
MJ
Margaret J.
Executive Director/CEO
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Global Talent and Flexibility, UI Needs Improvement"
5/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

I like Upwork for multiple reasons. It's really critical for my creative projects, especially when it comes to finding graphic designers. For our new video podcast show, Off Her Cuff, I appreciated being able to choose from 40 responses, which I narrowed down to three creatives and selected one who delivered outstanding work. The professionalism of the designers on Upwork has surpassed my expectations, making it one of the best experiences I've ever had with the platform. The variety of talent available is expansive, with global reach allowing quick sourcing of talent from all over the world. I also like how Upwork profiles are set up; they help in my choice process by allowing me to look at reviews and earnings, ensuring I select high-level talent. The platform provides a lot of data, facilitating smarter buying decisions. Moreover, the price points are affordably set, which is especially beneficial for small business owners. I appreciate that Upwork is a safe place, where if something goes wrong, there's support to help resolve the issues. Overall, Upwork has been a huge problem solver for my business, making it my first choice for hard-to-solve creative problems. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

I think the user interface could be improved. Even though I've been using Upwork for years, sometimes it's like a spider web and not very easy to navigate. It's hard to locate things like closing out a project or going back to look at creatives I didn't choose. I wish the user interface was more straightforward. It can be frustrating to deal with updates and changes when you don't have a lot of time. Also, the minimum weekly requirement of five hours can be limiting for small businesses. I'd prefer more flexibility to specify hours like two or three per week instead, which would help match different budgets. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Reva E.
RE
Reva E.
Translator
Utilities
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Flexible Work Opportunities, But Setup Can Be Tricky"
2/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

I find Upwork really helpful for finding jobs, not just for me but also for other students. I like that it offers flexibility where you can choose whether to work from home or in an office, and you can set how many hours you get paid for. This flexibility in work conditions is something I recommend, especially for housewives. The ability to set work hours makes it a win-win situation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

When I was new to the app, I thought it was free, but it turned out not to be. Additionally, the initial setup was hard, but I learned to set it up eventually. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Shobeir M.
SM
Shobeir M.
Chief Executive Officer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Secure, Transparent Hiring with Top Global Talent on Upwork"
5/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

What I like most about Upwork is the ability to find highly skilled professionals from around the world and manage projects in a secure environment. The platform makes communication, milestone payments, contracts, and file sharing straightforward and transparent. I recently completed a website redesign project through Upwork and was able to find a qualified specialist, track progress efficiently, and achieve an excellent result. The escrow and review systems also provide additional confidence when hiring freelancers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

The main drawback is the time required to review proposals and identify the right freelancer for a project. Platform fees can also add to the overall cost. That said, the security, transparency, and quality of talent available on Upwork make it worthwhile. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Arlinda N.
AN
Arlinda N.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Efficient Global Hiring with Safe Payments"
5/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

I use Upwork for hiring and working worldwide, and I love how it facilitates faster hiring and offers better earnings. The platform connects me with great talents globally. I appreciate that it's safe, and I can work with clients worldwide, which allows us to earn more than we would in our own countries. The safe payments feature is especially valuable. I find Upwork pretty adjustable and good, making it easier to set up and use. I've even invited two clients to switch and pay me through Upwork. I’ve already referred Upwork to 5 of my friends and some colleagues and would rate it a 10 out of 10 for likely recommending it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

I think the job success score can be too strict. If my earnings from clients are increasing, I feel like the job success score should change faster than over several months. For instance, I had a 100% job success score and accepted a $20 contract, which I couldn't complete on time. The client closed the contract due to the deadline, and my job score dropped immediately to 67%. Even though I have four clients with long-term collaborations and over $5,000 in earnings, I had to struggle to regain an 88% job success score. I prefer focusing on existing clients rather than getting new ones just to improve my score, as I believe long-term collaborations and good earnings should also be reflected in the score. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Mary "Cathy" A.
MA
Mary "Cathy" A.
Dietitian Consultant🌮 | Marketing Expert | Business Development✨ Freelancer/Contractor/Consultant
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Been using Upwork for several years and I was happier with Elance"
5/5
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. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Arts and Crafts
UA
Verified User in Arts and Crafts
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"User-Friendly, Secure, and Reliable for Solo Entrepreneurs"
5/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

I like that Upwork made it really easy to find somebody to work with, and I felt secure in sharing all my confidential information. Basically, I could find anybody to do anything to help me along, which was essential for someone like me who's not computer savvy. Everything has been user-friendly, and it prompts me to the next task, like how to pay, leave a review, or add a tip. I also appreciate that I downloaded the app, so I could communicate with my helper from anywhere, and I have it on my laptop, so there was never any downtime. The initial setup was very easy and user-friendly as well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

Nothing- but nothing to compare it with- first time using anything like this Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Dinesh P.
DP
Dinesh P.
SDE
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Best freelancing tool"
5/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

Upwork is the most user-friendly application you'll ever find as a freelancing tool. Compared to other tools like Fiverr, Truelancer, etc., Upwork provides easy options for freelancers and hirers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

The recent policy change for badge providing can be improved. Rest is great. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Shallu R.
SR
Shallu R.
Wordpress Developer
Information Technology and Services
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Simplifies Freelance Management, Yet Highly Competitive"
5/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

I use Upwork to connect with clients and work on freelance projects remotely. What I like most about Upwork is how easy it is to find quality clients and manage freelance work securely in one platform. These features save me time, build trust with clients, and make it easier to focus on delivering quality work without worrying about payments or project management. The initial setup was very easy and straightforward, with a simple profile creation and onboarding process. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

The competition can be very high, and sometimes it takes a lot of connects and effort to get noticed by clients, especially for new freelancers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Julie  K.
JK
Julie K.
Administrative Assistant
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Great platform to start on!"
4/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

I love that it gives me the freedom to choose whichever projects I want to apply to, and being able to have good, quick communication with clients is usually really helpful. The more I use it, the more seems to be available to me. I also like that protection and safety are a top priority, and they really stay on top of it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

I dont like that it takes some time to be able to withdrawl, and that sometimes you have to look out for scams Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Adeel M.
AM
Adeel M.
Virtual Assistant
Information Technology and Services
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Structure, Security, And Visibility In One Place"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Upwork?

The escrow-based payment system removes the biggest freelance headache, funds are secured before work begins, so chasing invoices isn't a thing anymore.

The Work Diary surprised me. Automatic screenshots during tracked hours have actually resolved disputes without a single argument clients see exactly what was worked on.

Saved search filters changed how I prospect. I set them once for e-commerce and Amazon roles, get notified when matches appear, and skip the daily scroll entirely.

Before applying to any job, I check the client's hire rate, average pay, and total spend. Ten seconds and I know if it's worth my time.

The profile doubles as a portfolio without extra effort, past contracts and reviews build up into something credible you can link to directly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Upwork?

Connects pricing is the most frustrating part. Spending credits just to apply, with no guarantee the client even views your proposal, feels like paying for the chance to be ignored. A refund system when proposals go unread for 14+ days would make this fair.

The search algorithm buries newer profiles. Without a job history on the platform, getting visibility is genuinely difficult regardless of your actual experience. A verified skills badge or short assessment option could level that playing field faster.

Service fees are steep, especially early on. Giving 20% on the first $500 with each new client stings when you're building a client base. Reducing that threshold or rewarding long-term platform activity would help retain serious freelancers.

Client quality is inconsistent and hard to filter properly. Some listings have vague scopes, unrealistic budgets, or go silent after initial contact.

Messages and contracts live in separate places, so tracking a full client relationship requires jumping between sections. A unified client view showing conversation history, contracts, and payments in one place would cut that friction significantly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Questions about Upwork? Ask real users or explore answers from the community

Get practical answers, real workflows, and honest pros and cons from the G2 community or share your insights.

GU
Guest User
•
Last activity 11 months ago

Is Upwork better or Fiverr?

4 Upvotes
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Join the conversation
Parth T.
PT
Parth Trivedi
•
Last activity 4 days ago

How do you balance Upwork’s fees and competition with the steady work it brings?

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