--- 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: '2026-07-28' 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 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. Upwork is a fantastic platform that has enabled me to launch a freelance career **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sarah O. | Freelance Writer and Designer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is incredibly reliable and trustworthy; you know that the jobs posted are legitimate and they make everything from applying for a job to getting paid for the work to be very simple and transparent. They truly support freelancers and share ways to help their customers expand work and grow professionally. I have had an excellent experience. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The downside is that they do charge a fee so when you are paid a portion goes to Upwork. However, I appreciate that in general the payment is received quickly and easily. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** They are addressing the rise of AI in work and actively asking for input from their users. I really appreciate that because they seem to be thoughtful about how it will impact freelancers and how to best implement that type of work in a way that is fair. ### 2. Efficient Hiring Platform with Easy Setup **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Christina G. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the option of contractors that I can hire quickly and efficiently. The ease of using the platform stands out to me, and the initial setup was very easy. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike that contractors can skew the reviews. They can offer a cheap simple job and get a ton of reviews then come up higher in search for a high level position that they are not qualified for. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me grow my business by allowing me to hire contractors quickly and efficiently with ease of use. ### 3. Best Career Move Ever **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Becky B. | Freelance writer/editor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I wanted to be a writer for years, but I understood how difficult it was to gain the interest and attention of publishers. However, when I found Upwork, it changed everything! I found opportunities I would have never known about without the platform, and within a couple of years, I had a solid enough client base and job flow that I could begin writing full time. Now, ten years later, I have made a whole career out of writing, and I couldn't be happier! I would not be where I am today if I hadn't found Upwork. I can't recommend this platform highly enough! **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The only thing I dislike about Upwork is the security hold on payments. I understand why such measures are taken, and my grievance is not such that I would ever stop using Upwork as a result. However, it would be super helpful to have payments available sooner in some cases! **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The biggest problem I've noticed that Upwork solved for me was scam jobs. Once upon a time, it was impossible to trust job offers found on the internet. However, Upwork takes their freelancer's time and security very seriously. They strive to ensure that scammers do not get the chance to post on their platform at all. If the occasional scammer does slip through by going through all the motions to appear legitimate, they have information provided to freelancers on their site to help us keep an eye out for "too good to be true" offers or for people who might put up a payment initially, then remove the payment and cancel our contracts as soon as they receive the work they commissioned without paying us. They also have incredible support that helps us if anything like that ever should happen (I would like to add that because of the information and tips they offer, this has never happened to me). Because of their competency, I have every confidence in them that they will not allow any of their freelancers to be had by scams and scammers! ### 4. Upwork is Fantastic For Creatives **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Austin W. | Author, Proofreader, Editor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** One of the most valuable aspects of Upwork is its ability to connect clients and freelancers. Building those connections elsewhere can be time consuming, so it's really helpful to have clients looking for freelancers and the tools to find them all in one place. Another is the security of payment. By having Upwork serve as an intermediary, I can be confident that I'll get paid if I've done the work. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I can't say I'm a fan of this recent push to integrate AI. You're a site for freelancers; why are you working against your own product? I'm also not fond of the recent changes to their service fees, which seems arbitrary and profit-driven. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The main problem Upwork solves for me is finding clients, especially when it comes to editing and proofreading. They can be hard to track down on your own, so I appreciate having so many potential clients all in one place. ### 5. Upwork is a good marketplace to find a nice clientele in Data Engineering & Analytics **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Subha G. | Sr. Consultant - Data Engineering & Analytics, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I received a gift card in exchange for writing this review. I have been using Upwork since 2018. What I like about Upwork is that it helps you connect with clients remotely and work on meaningful projects. Through Upwork, I have had the opportunity to work with both non-profit organizations and large enterprises. I have seen some people drop off the platform after attempting to submit proposals a few times. Once you know how to submit business proposals (which are distinct from cover letters), you can stay true to your work niche (in my case, data engineering). Upwork also offers invite-only opportunities with large global enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies, for highly skilled and reputable consultants. Once you work with a Fortune 500 company, you get added to their Talent Cloud via Upwork. Whenever a new opportunity is available with the same company, you will be notified via the cloud and can apply to those opportunities. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I have seen several feature changes and policy changes from time to time. Not all of them have worked for me. Their commission changes had affected my revenue for long-term contracts around 2023. Earlier, the 'Connects system' offered more credits, but with the introduction of new paid plans, the free plan has taken a hit. In addition, the number of Connects required to submit a job proposal used to be much lower than it is today. Today, connect credits get exhausted quickly; since each proposal submission requires a lot more connects. Off late, I also find that there is too much competition for jobs. Moreover, clients have also started ghosting you after an initial call. They don't bother to say a candid 'yes/no' after having a conversation. I feel Upwork can intervene in such scenarios and send the client a gentle nudge to let consultants know that they were not going ahead with a candidate. It can even be something as simple as a 'Not going ahead with you' button in the client's message window. Another challenge is that some jobs remain open on the platform even after a hire has been made. This leads to wasted Connects for freelancers who continue applying to such positions. A job should be closed once a hire is made. The job does mention that a hire was made but leaving the job open may prompt people to think that it is still available. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Reaching out to clients globally and the ability to work remotely. ### 6. A safe and flexible way to work as a new mom **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Lucía C. | Polyglot Project Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** The platform makes everything easier: finding jobs, managing contracts, and receiving secure payments. I feel safe knowing that my work is protected, which gives me peace of mind while balancing freelancing and motherhood. It’s also great to have so many opportunities in one place, no matter the niche or language. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** At times, competition is tough and the service fees take a noticeable cut, especially when starting out. But if you stay consistent and build good client relationships, it really pays off in the long run. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves one of the biggest challenges for freelancers like me: finding trustworthy clients and getting paid securely. As a new mom, it’s hard to balance work and family, but Upwork gives me the flexibility to choose projects that fit my schedule. It also lets me use my language skills to connect with clients from different countries, something I wouldn’t be able to do locally. Thanks to this, I can keep growing my career, earn income from home, and still be present for my baby. ### 7. You can land jobs with persistence **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stacy Y. | Project Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** You can find work on Upwork, but be prepared to put in the time and effort. I started off taking a couple of low-paying jobs for $5 or $10. These didn't require any skills or a lot of my time, but they are a good way to add experience to your profile. I ended up finding a long-term freelance role with the same company. I've been working with them for over a year, so I'd consider this a success. However, it took almost a year of being on Upwork - and applying to many jobs - to find a legit source of income. You don't have to pay to apply to jobs, which is great. You just use "connects" when applying. Every job requires a different number of these connects. I never had to buy additional connects - they just keep accumulating. Applying is relatively easy and quick. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** There are A LOT of freelancers on Upwork vying for the same jobs, so it can be hard to stand out. I applied to jobs that I thought fit my background, and never got a response from the employer. When you apply, it appears in the Proposals section. Sometimes you can see if an employer viewed your proposal. I've had jobs disappear from there as if I never applied, which is extremely annoying. I don't expect to win every job, but I spent time applying and would expect a response either way. If I had one suggestion for Upwork, it would be to require employers to send a quick reply to all the applicants they didn't choose. It doesn't have to be personalized or lengthy, just a response. It's a matter of courtesy and consideration for people's time. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me fill in work gaps so I can earn additional income. ### 8. Reliable platform with room for growth **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** ANDREA B. | Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Let me start by stating I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. I love that freelancers like myself can find reliable work on Upwork. They make it easy to find a variety of clients and projects and the messaging is perfect to discuss terms and milestones. I also love that the payments through escrow and hourly protection add peace of mind so getting paid feels secure. Most of all, the job success score and client feedback features help elevate my profile and win more opportunities. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike the fees that are taken out. The service fees that range from 10% up to 20% significantly reduce earnings, especially on large contracts. Also competition is high. Sometimes it's hard to get the visibility you need to stand out without paying for extra connects. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** One problem Upwork is solving for me is I no longer have to chase gigs through word or mouth or job boards. Now we have the ability to search through gigs that are actually verified and all in one centralized location. Another problem that Upwork has solved is freelancers often face issues with non-payment or late payment. With Upwork’s escrow system, clients fund the project before work begins, and we get paid automatically once milestones are approved or hours are tracked. ### 9. A Trustworthy Way to Provide Freelance Services **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Robert B. | Patent Agent, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I get to choose who I work with, and what I work on. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike that it does not distinguish between my fees and those that are passed through to the US Patent and Trademark Office. As a result, I have to mark up my USPTO fees in order not to be subsidizing my clients pass-through fees. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I get to see client job postings and can decide if I want to pursue or not. It is helpful that Upwork provides how much a poster has already spent on Upwork and whether its credentials have been verified. That benefits me by not having to solicit work. I can now pick and choose from posted job descriptions. I also do not have to invoice and follow up on accounts receivable. I like that funds are escrowed in advance. ### 10. Some Good, Some Bad **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Wilton B. | Content Strategist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I am a provider and a client on Upwork. As a provider, I appreciate having access to numerous job opportunities. As a client, I love having access to tons of providers. I'm a long-term member of the platform, and I find it easy to use, and I've never had any technical problems. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Most jobs in my content creation category pay too little for me to bother applying. That's my biggest problem with the platform, pay rates. That may be more of a problem in the market than Upwork. Either way, I don't use upwork much anymore as a provider or a client due to low pay and lower quality output. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Connecting me with providers. It's difficult to find and vet providers. Upwork does that for you. ### 11. Upwork Helps Me Find Freelancers Far More Skilled Than Myself **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shawn W. | Founder, Internet Marketing Guru, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 23, 2021 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork to find affordable freelancers for different parts of my business, mostly coding. I’m a coder myself, but honestly, the coders I find on Upwork (especially from other countries) are like superheroes. They’re way faster than me and often do a better job. I’ve also hired people for videos, content, and marketing, and it’s been just as good. The platform is simple—I can post a job, hire someone, and manage the project all in one place. I really like the time tracking feature too because I know exactly how much time was spent on each task. I definitely recommend Upwork. It’s made my life a lot easier. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The only thing I don’t like is when I post a job and get flooded with copy-paste responses. A lot of freelancers just drop in what looks like an AI-generated answer, so it’s hard to know if they really understand the job or if ChatGPT just wrote it for them. I don’t mind if people use AI to help with projects, but I wish proposals showed real thought from the freelancer. Sorting through all the generic replies gets old fast. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork saves me a ton of time. Instead of trying to do everything myself or searching all over the internet for help, I can quickly post a job and get skilled people to jump in. It also lets me work with talent from around the world that I never would have found otherwise. Because of that, I get projects done faster, better, and usually at a lower cost than if I tried to handle it on my own. ### 12. Upwork Is Great, When you make it work for you. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Moriah R. | Designer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I do like that the platform provides protection for both the client and freelancer. We get to see their reviews from other freelancers, and payments are released when projects are approved. I've been able to find clients who I work well with, but you definitely have to know how shift through the scam posts and AI to find people who align with your work. Though it's saturated with freelancers, I do feel like if you're a skilled professional, it's a great stepping stone to receive clients. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Personally, they take too much money from us. We have to pay to bid or submit a proposal, pay a significant portion of our earnings each week, and for some jobs, it's not even worth it to apply after that. Also, in my opinion, they don't have a cap on what a client can request for a certain amount of money. Certain jobs paying $2 /hr or even less with no regulation is an easy way for freelancers to be exploited, even if you're giving them the "choice" to apply to what they want. It creates a power imbalance and sends a message to clients that they can get "cheap labor" because they can access people from all over the world. Sometimes we are treated badly for wanting to be paid fairly. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** We need access and exposure to clients. Otherwise it would be word of mouth of expensive advertising. Unlike other boards, there's still a freedom around managing your schedule and clientele and no cap to how many clients you can work with. ### 13. Nice platform to find clients who meed your service **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I received a gift card in exchange for writing this review. I have been using Upwork for several years. Upwork is easy to use. It does billing and collect payments each week which takes the burden off my shoulder. Instead of searching for work without knowing who needs my service, the clients come to you and inquire -- this saves my time as well. Another great part is 24/7 customer support. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The fee for freelancers used to be lower, when billing amount (to each client) exceeds certain threshold. However, that treatment was eliminated and now it's all the same. Establishing good relationship and building mutual trust are not easy and actually take time, so I am a little disappointed. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Fortunately after several years using this platform I've never really had problems. If any issue arises I know I can call Customer Support. Upwork Customer Support associates are always polite and very helpful. ### 14. I usedc Upwork for several years, now can't apply for projects. **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Brian T S. | Independent Contractor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It has been a pretty good source for finding some VO work, some UGC work and a few acting gigs. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** You pay for "connects" to bid for work and there's other Upwork freelancers bidding as well. I've noticed the average amount of connects needed for gigs seems to have gone up, so you buy the same amount of connects each month, or whenever you need them, so that's getting more expensive. My BIG PROBLEM with UpWork is the idiotic CloudFlare verification system. A lot of sites use it and it sucks. I can get on the site, sometimes after having to reload the page several times because of CloudFlare, but it never let's my apply for work. NEVER. I've complained, it's the same old answers, clear you browser, cache, blah, blah, blah, which NEVER works. I wasted money because now I have 139 connects on there and I can't use them. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It was a decent source for finding gigs, but now I can't apply to any of them, so now there's not much of a benefit. The only way I can get work is if a client reaches out to me and I apply that way. It's really dumb, CloudFlare is a scam. ### 15. The go-to site for freelancers to find work **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kirstie B. | Freelance Writer and Desktop Publisher, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I have been using Upwork for over 6 years, and it's been an invaluable tool as a freelancer. It makes it easy to find work, and find a wide variety of work. It's one of my primary sources of income, and I love how it connects me to people all over the world. I love the time tracking features, and there are a lot of other resources available. The payment schedules make sense, and the few times I've had to reach out to customer service the chat bot usually was able to support what I needed. I use Upwork every day to find work and connect with clients. The messaging is really easy and the Zoom integration into the messaging app works really well. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes the algorithm is filtering out jobs that I would be interested in, and then sending me notifications on jobs that I have no interest in. The search for skill sets (i.e. Microsoft Word jobs) doesn't work very well either. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork connects me to clients that need work. The diversity of jobs, and the wide ranging locations of the clients, connects me to people worldwide who are looking for a freelancers. ### 16. UpWork Freelancer Review **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kiara H. | Customer Service Representative, Health, Wellness and Fitness, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** As a freelancer trying to carve out my own lane, Upwork has been a total life changer for me. I got on initially looking for legitimate work-from-home opportunities, and I ended up finding not only freelancer gigs but a whole community. I've connected with some amazing clients who see my strengths and give constructive feedback in real time, and I like that because it helps me to shine and grow on this new journey I am on. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** In my personal opinion, I do wish the website and app made it easier to get noticed when you're just starting out. From my personal experience, I have realized that the competition can be FIERCE. and it feels like sometimes the proposals I am sending out are just getting lost in the sauce of the website. I think that a little more support for new freelancers would go a long way. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork has truly been a lifeline for me. As a mom caring for my sick baby, finding flexible and reliable work wasn't just a want; it was a necessity. life still goes on, and things still have to be paid for. Upwork helped me break through the stress of job hunting by connecting me with real, secure freelance opportunities i can manage from home. To me its not just about income but also empowerment. I get to support my family while making a difference in the freelance community, and that's a blessing I don't take lightly. ### 17. Upwork - Perfect for hard working freelancers! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dawn R. | Sideline Producer/Talent Coordinator/Production Assistant/Stage Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is very user friendly. The site shares possible matches for your job search, and is very good at sharing updates. For example, if a posted job is not complaint with posting guidelines, Upwork sends you an email and apologizes. They make it right by returning your connects used to send in a proposal. Another great feature is that it flags a proposal if you do not meet a particular requirement, like being in the wrong time zone. Upwork wants to make sure you spend your "connects" on viable roles. Connects are used to bid on work. The "connects" required vary but Upwork also guides you to the "connects" needed to submit a competitive bid, which facilities your proposal being reviewed by the company/individual posting the job. Its a great site for freelancers to get work experience, even for newbies and entry level candidates. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike that sometimes postings are bare bones, so its hard to decipher if it is a role that is legit. I am not sure what the requirements are for posting jobs/gigs, but there should be a better filter and required information for each freelance role posted on Upwork. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have part-time jobs, so finding freelance work to round out my work time is important to me. Upwork organizes freelance work in categories, so its easy for me to sort through roles by location, newness of posting, US only and the like. It makes the search process much easier. You also choose those you submit proposals to using "connects," which are inexpensive. This means there is no upfront membership fee. You decide what you submit a proposal for and what you bid for the work. Other sites make you pay a membership fee without knowing the quality of the freelance gigs. ### 18. Secure, Easy to Use, and Great for Freelancers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mika R. | Data manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** match your skills and interests, and the filters help narrow things down quickly. I also really value the security it provides for both freelancers and clients, with features like milestone payments and clear dispute processes. The payment system is reliable and fast, and I especially appreciate the Instant Pay option, which makes getting paid much more convenient. Communication tools are built right in, which makes it simple to stay organized and professional. Overall, it feels like a safe, reliable place to build long-term working relationships. *I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I dislike about Upwork is that not every project feels legitimate. There are some clients who end up wasting your time—they’ll post a job but then just want to hop on a call and chat without moving forward. It can be frustrating when you’re looking for serious opportunities and run into those situations. *I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the challenge of finding consistent, quality freelance work by connecting me with clients from all over the world. Instead of spending hours cold-pitching or searching through random job boards, I can quickly find projects that fit my skills and interests. *I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. ### 19. When I need hire a freelancer this is where I go evertime! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nicolas M. | Owner/Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Easy to use, it's pretty straight forward as to log in and click "Post a job", and now it is even easier because with a few word AI creates the whole job post, you just to need to adjust it a little bit. I had never had a problem with any freelancer, or with the platform for that matter. I use every time I need to hire freelancer for those projects that need specific skills. I even found my right hand person hiring in Upwork. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Practically nothing, I would the fees (but let's be honest who likes to pay extra) however I understand the business model and I respected, they are fair with their commission and transparent. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Hiring individuals with the skills for those specific projects, that don't require to hire a full time employee. ### 20. Great Service, Short-term projects and long-term engagements **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ryan E. | CEO, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really enjoyed the streamlined interface where my team and I could create new projects and get matched with qualified individuals. The contracting process is streamline and helps to ensure that I am protected with my projects. I use the milestone process to put in many projects with the developer that we are comfortable and have been able to conduct over 50 jobs over the span of 1 year. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Upwork adds fees for each project, so whether I am doing something small or large, there is a base line fee that is being charged. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps us to source developers and designers for projects that have a high level of urgency but also need to be done right. This could be simple WordPress landing pages or a full design and development of a bespoke Website. ### 21. Upwork saved my life and put food on my table. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Domenica Z. | Recruiting Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It is a platform that takes care of me as a freelancer, protects our privacy, pays us well and on time. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Well, there are a lot of job postings that aren't legal, and they're pure scams, and they need to be reported. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is solving the traditional barriers of talent acquisition — limited reach, lengthy hiring processes, and geographic restrictions. By connecting clients and professionals globally on one platform, it creates faster access to specialized skills while giving businesses the flexibility to scale projects up or down. For me, this has been a benefit because I can focus on delivering value instead of spending excessive time on sourcing or outreach. The platform’s structure streamlines contracts, payments, and communications, which saves energy and minimizes risk — allowing me to operate more efficiently and confidently with clients. ### 22. Helpful to find projects **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Luz L. | Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It is easy to browse through the many job listing and see which ones are a good fit for you. I like that it indicates the projects where the employer or the payment are verified so you know those are safer. Another thing I like is that it indicates the payment for the project so you can apply and know how much you'll get paid. Upwork takes a commission from the payment you receive from the projects, but when you apply for any job listed it will indicate the commission it will take and you can apply if you're okay with that. Easy to keep track of the messages you receive and the projects you are working on. I received a gift card in exchange for writing this review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It has job listings where the company or payment are not verified and those are just a scam. I would prefer for all the job listings to be verified to avoid any time wasted. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It helps me apply to side hustle projects to earn extra money and it allows me to securely connect with third parties related to the projects without providing my personal email or phone number. ### 23. Upwork - Honest review **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** spencer a. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** There are many reasons to like Upwork.... However, my favorite part of working with upwork is the intuitve way in wihich the app displays jobs and the simplivity of applying to and gettiung "jobs" **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The most helpful thing about upwork is remembering that hyou o nlhy have so manhy jobs you can apply to before hyour job posting funds run out. That being said you want to be picky when applying to jobs and always be sure to check and see if the entity offering the job has actually ever paid out any money in the past. Furthermore, if you are familiar with google console there are always jobs to publish and house google play apps. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** There are no problem they are currently working on.... at least as far as i iknow ### 24. UpWork takes work **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Saliqa K. | Managing Digital Director, Midwest (Regional Sr. News Director), Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** The UpWork platform is a great, safe place to find projects as a freelancer or as a company looking to hire reputable freelancers. There are a variety of opportunities, a steady stream of current work available so it's possible to apply and work with several clients (or on several projects) concurrently. I also love that there is a safety net when it comes to getting paid as a freelancer. That's been an important element on my end as I've been stiffed before from companies and individuals who haven't paid for completed work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The least helpful items about UpWork is a lack of customer support, as in when the website was down I was unable to get a hold of anyone via any of the preferred or suggested forms of contact for UpWork. I had to source Reddit for answers. Since scores of other freelancers were also experiencing an outage I knew then it wasn't only me. I expected an update from UpWork via email, my inbox on the platform or via notification, but nothing ever came through. The lack of communication from UpWork on outages, etc. is a huge problem when UpWork requires communication with clients on projects to happen within the platform. It basically means your work as a freelancer halts until their platform is back up and live. Also, the amount of service fees they put on freelancers is too high: 10-15% and on top of that, we still need to deduct for taxes, depending on where you live, and that amount can add up. Suddenly, what looks like a lucrative contract ends up not being so great. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It solves the problem of freelancer platform. It allows freelancers, like myself, to directly apply in one ecosystem which is helpful. ### 25. Great Experience Finding Skilled Contractors **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Randy G. | Marketing Manager, Transportation/Trucking/Railroad, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the variety of contractors that show up as qualified to help me with projects. The filters are easy to use so I'm able to narrow down who I want to work with. I'm also able to see their portfolio of work, see what others have written about them, and then reach out on the platform to start a conversation. I've only have one contractor who couldn't complete a job due to a medical issue but their customer support team stepped in to help me. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** If something happens to your contractor, like it did to one of mine, you might be left holding the ball. I know that this could happen outside of Upwork (and I've had it happen to me a few times), but it would be nice if there was some project insurance or some way to mitigate that risk. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** On Upwork I'm able to find talented contractors at price ranges that allow me to subcontract out work and still make a profit for my own time and value that I'm providing to my clients. Also, once I've found a great contractor to work with, I've continued to work on additional projects with them. That help me have stability with the services offer and it helps me when I'm quoting clients. ### 26. The Best Platform to Grow Your Freelance Career **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Andres A. | Web Developer, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love the professionalism and trust Upwork provides between clients and freelancers. The platform makes it easy to find quality projects, communicate effectively, and receive secure payments. The built-in tools like contracts, milestones, and time tracking give me peace of mind while focusing on delivering great work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** While Upwork is an excellent platform, the service fees can feel high for new freelancers starting out. Additionally, competition for projects can be tough, especially in popular categories, which means you need to consistently submit strong proposals to stand out. However, these challenges also push you to improve your skills and professionalism. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork connects me with clients from around the world without the need for cold outreach or expensive marketing. It solves the challenge of finding reliable projects by providing a secure platform with verified clients, clear contracts, and protected payments. This allows me to focus on delivering quality work instead of worrying about finding leads or chasing invoices, ultimately helping me grow my freelance business consistently. ### 27. Good way to reach a broader audience **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Brandan B. | Owner, Video editor/motion designer at 26Made, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2020 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the range of projects and ease of use on the platform. The details are easy to dig through to find out if projects are a good fit. There are a lot that aren't but instead of wasting time bidding on things, I feel like I'm able to quickly gauge if it will work for me. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It's definitely declining in quality work. Maybe that's a good sign for freelancers? They may be able to find quality work outside but many of the projects I see continue to be undervalued and rushed. Their fees continue to change and never really in your favor. Just to be discovered, it seems like you need to pay money to "boost" your profile. So, now it costs money to get a job, then they take a pretty hefty cut on the work. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I've been able to find clients that I never would have met without Upwork. I think many freelancers build networks locally but getting outside of your local bubble is tough to do. The work comes in very slowly though. ### 28. Find Your Perfect Project Mind (Without the HR Overhead) **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Glen L. | Senior Career Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Access. Instant, global access to a breathtaking diversity of specific skills. Need a whiz at obscure data visualization in 48 hours? A storyteller who gets blockchain? Upwork finds the needle in the global haystack, fast. No more settling for the "available" – find the remarkable. It bypasses the industrial-era hiring trap. Upwork turns talent acquisition from a slow, expensive gamble into a frictionless, permission-based connection. You define the project crisply, the right people self-select and step forward. The platform handles the tedious (payments, NDAs, basic vetting), freeing you to focus on the work itself – the only thing that matters. It empowers building a fluid, project-specific "tribe" for exactly as long as you need it. Efficiency, unleashed. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The signal-to-noise ratio can be high. While the access is revolutionary, curating that access takes real effort. Sifting through generic pitches to find the truly insightful, generous professionals who understand the project (not just the keywords) requires a sharp eye. It demands you be a better client – clearer, more compelling – to attract your ideal project mind. The platform enables connection, but the meaningful connection is still your job to forge. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Being limited to talent within commuting distance (or even your timezone) was a massive, silent tax on potential. It meant settling for "good enough locally" instead of finding "perfect globally." Upwork evaporates borders. Accessing international talent pools means finding the one person on the planet whose unique skill, perspective, or passion perfectly unlocks your project's potential. Benefit? Remarkable becomes possible. You solve problems and create work that simply couldn't exist within the old, artificial boundaries. ### 29. Ample Opportunities to Work **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Charles M. | Editor and Technical Writer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** One thing that really stands out with Upwork is the number and variety of available jobs. At any given time, I can go onto the site (it's very easy to use), search for whatever type of job I might want, and 90% of the time get an exact hit. It's search filters are also excellent for fine-tuning your queries. Using it daily is also extremely helpful, as it constructs a feed of jobs that often appeal to me. In other words, your preferences and job types are integrated into your work experience. I find it very easy to use and implement. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One thing I have not had much need for is Customer Support, but the one or two times I did need it, I felt like I was talking to a volunteer who had never helped anyone before. However, with that said, the site is easy enough to use that I've only had a need for customer support has twice in almost ten years. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** As a freelancer, Upwork literally helps me find work. I have had to do very little advertising and marketing outside of Upwork, yet the experience I've built on the site allows me to easily attract clients outside of Upwork, as well. ### 30. Freelancing without the Freefall - Upwork gives me peace of mind! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dorothy H. | Independent Freelance Editor, Academic Coach, Tutor, and Educator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** As a freelancer, Upwork gives me the opportunity to earn supplemental income based on my skills and expertise in a safe, secure platform that protects both me and my clients. As an editor, the ability to showcase my previous work helps potential clients get to know me through the lens of my prior successful contracts, giving my work added credibility. I am providing my honest review in exchange for a gift card, but even without this incentive I would still sing the praises of Upwork for freelancers! **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One thing I would love to see Upwork add in the future is the ability to remain connected with clients after contracts are closed. Currently, the best way to do this is to create new contract bids, however having a method of tracking previous clients and discussing potential new contracts independent of our prior collaborations would be great. This is a minor detail, however, as I am very happy with the team at Upwork and the opportunities the platform has given me! **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is bringing the work to me! As a freelancer, most of my time before using Upwork was spent trying to find independent contracts. Now, with Upwork, the opportunities are bountiful and I get to spend my time working on contracts and proposals that are highlighted based on my skills and interests. ### 31. Upwork is a great place to showcase your talents and skills **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mel M. | CA Dept. of Real Estate Salesperson, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork helps me find freelancing work to supplement my income. I submit proposals to individuals and companies whose jobs match my expertise. In this way, I choose those I want to work with and communicate how I may help them. Upwork is easy to use and their customer support is very good. I go on it daily to check new jobs and propose work. Upwork has numerous features to streamline a freelancer's job search. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The downside of Upwork is when I purchase credits (so that I may submit proposals for work) and I never receive any communication from the client (whether he/she saw my proposal, what he/she thinks about my proposal, etc.). **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am not a huge fan of marketing my skills and services. Upwork allows me to make proposals, accept jobs, write reviews about clients and receive valuable feedback. My potential clients can see my work history and reviews. This is free marketing for me. ### 32. Accelerated my freelance career, but it's heading in the wrong direction. **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Danielle H. | Copywriter/Marketing Strategist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It's one of the easiest/fastest ways for me to find new clients in a pinch. Access to many people who need my exact services at the tip of my fingers. Note: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** In recent years, it's gone downhill. It feels like Upwork is focused on AI innovations that actually detract from the value of the platform (and attract the wrong types of clients) instead of focusing on attracting higher-value clients and freelancers. Clients continuously complain about freelancers using AI in proposals, but Upwork is encouraging freelancers to use it more with the new features. Many features are also directed at attracting employers/full-time employees which detracts from the value as a dedicated freelancing platform. Customer service is abysmal so I'm fortunate that I haven't had to deal with them too much. Also, the fees are getting absolutely ridiculous. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Connecting me with clients who are actively looking for someone with my skills. ### 33. Awesome Platform **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Heather B. | Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** As a new freelancer, I found it super easy to get started and begin making proposals. The platform walks you through every step from proposal to paid, which helped me tremendously. It takes some time for the payments to clear after completion, but I think it was like 5 days. The whole layout of the site is very easy to use, and all the tools are integrated. I have been able to make use of the free Connects most of the time, and if I ended up needing more, they are pretty inexpensive. I have already worked with some really great clients who even asked to work with me again in the future. I thought I would only use the site here and there, but I use it frequently. The deliver work area of the site is concise and easy to navigate too. I highly recommend Upwork. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Some freelancers might have a hard time with the search engine or the wait time on getting paid. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have become chronically ill, and Upwork has helped me find a platform to offer my skills to clients in need. I was able to connect my Paypal account which I use for freelancing already, so that was huge help too. ### 34. Good Experience with Room for Improvement **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jill H. | Copywriter/Content Creator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like best about Upwork is: (1) The most popular site for freelancers to find remote work (2) The platform is easy to use (3) The top 1% of freelancers receive an Expert Vetted designation on their profile - making them the go-to choice for enterprise organizations. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I dislike about Upwork is: (1) as time goes on, Upwork is getting more expensive for job seekers - the platform takes higher cuts from freelancers in increasingly creative ways (2) the site doesn't work with the latest Chrome browser and after getting limited help from customer support, I finally gave up and started using a completely different browser. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork makes it easy for me to find freelance jobs and apply to them. For years now, I've been able to run my freelancer business solely by being an active Upwork user. I appreciate that in the 10+ years I've used the site, I've had the opportunity to work with 100+ clients and make a living solely from my Upwork income. Note: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. ### 35. The Best Site To Be Seen **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nicole M.D. C. | Music Publisher, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork was the first site I thought of when wanting to go back to the workforce. Because of upwork working with me, huge companies and finding me and offering me work at my price. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike that you need to use coins to apply for jobs and don’t get the coins back if you don’t get the job. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is a great platform that lets companies and freelancers find each other. When you are a freelancer it’s not easy to find companies that will give you a shot and work with you. Upwork allows you to share the jobs you’ve done through their website so other companies can see the job you’ve done can do. Because of this some companies will look at your profile and if you are something they are interested in, they will contact you directly. What I love is that it costs nothing. Not even your coins to be contacted, apply or message them back. This is great compared to other freelancer sites I have used in the past. I was asked to give an honest review and will hopefully receive an incentive for doing so but all of my opinions of this site are mine fully. ### 36. The Freelance Platform That Has Everything I Need **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rachael L. | Graphic Designer: Logo Design / Brand Identity, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I would say the best thing about Upwork is the job alert feature! You can adjust your preferences at any time, including pay rates per hour or flat rates, as well as set it up to go to your email or app notifications. Super handy if you don't want to miss great opportunities as they come up, as well as be on the ready to jump in and submit a proposal. Also, if you haven't tried Uma, the platforms AI chat assistant, I highly recommend it! You will get advice and answers to questions tailored to the platform and its gotten better to use over the past few months. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think the bidding feature can be helpful to get your proposal seen, but it's not guaranteed. On the best contract opportunities, some people bid a lot! Which can eat through your monthly connects fast. If it's a high value contract, the payoff can be worth the investment. Use those connects wisely when bidding! **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork connects me to clients in a competitive market from all over the world. ### 37. Not as excited about Upwork as when I started around 10 years ago **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bronwyn E. | freelance writer, editor, proofreader, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that payments and time tracking work through Upwork without disclosing more info than necessary to a client. I like that job openings are organized in categories, by length of time, and with visible rates. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I was terribly disappointed when Upwork owners/admins began charging freelancers to simply apply for positions which already come at a cost of time and competition. They made those of us with talent, but who can't afford to "Pay" to be out front and become more noticeable, practically disappear into the bottom of the proverbial slush pile more than ever before. I used to get invitations to interview all the time. Not anymore. The jobs that are the best fit for me cost me too many Connects to be worth it. It costs so much more time to prepare a proposal because you don't want the Connects to be wasted. It used to be easier to get a response from clients quickly. I signed up with another freelancer service after seeing even more upsells being added on for freelancers to get noticed. We freelancers are not algorithmic advertisements with a need to rise to the top and start trending. We aim to find jobs that match our expertise and apply, allowing the client to choose the best fit based on our cover message, portfolio, and profile, rather than who paid the most to get in front of them. I would also like our profile to show which of our clients still have ongoing jobs with us, or at least indicate the years we have been working together. I have 2 contracts, for example, that are still open because I work weekly and monthly with each of them and have for 7-9 years, respectively. I don't think a potential client can see that on a profile, but it would be a selling point for us. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It has given me an avenue to find jobs from short and long-term clients for over 10 years. At one time, Upwork admins saw how we US-based freelancers were struggling to compete against those in other countries, who would write for pennies per hour, and set several helps in place from US-based labeling to some fee adjustments. I was glad that Upwork mostly reversed a service fee change some time ago. ### 38. Honest Review of Upwork **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Karla R. | Recruiting Generalist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like best about Upwork is the ability to connect with clients from all over the world and work on a wide variety of projects. The platform makes it easy to showcase skills, build long-term relationships, and manage projects in one place. I also appreciate the flexibility it offers — I can choose the projects that align with my expertise and schedule while still growing my network and experience. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I like least about Upwork is the level of competition for projects, especially when new clients are unfamiliar with the value an experienced freelancer can bring. Sometimes this leads to an emphasis on lower rates rather than the quality of work. That said, I understand it’s part of an open marketplace, and it’s helped me refine how I present my skills and results to stand out. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of finding qualified clients without the need for constant cold outreach or networking. It connects me directly with businesses that are actively looking for the services I offer, which saves me time and makes the client acquisition process much more efficient. The platform’s payment protection and streamlined communication tools also give me peace of mind and allow me to focus on delivering quality work rather than chasing invoices or dealing with administrative hurdles. ### 39. Great way to find freelance work! **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jason H. | Web Developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** So far, I've had good luck at finding work on Upwork. I like that there are generally people there who are already looking to hire someone to do their work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It can be risky as a freelancer if you end up getting matched with someone that ends up not do well. They can leave a bad review and would significantly hurt your livelihood. So far, this hasn't happened yet. Also, I remember, they used to be pretty generous with their Connects, which are required to apply to jobs. So much so, I'd have to try and use them before they expired (you could only have about 250 free connects, as they roll over every month). Now they only give you 10 per month, for free. Some jobs cost about 21 points to apply. One last thing, that would be helpful. There are a significant amount of projects that go unhired, based on projects that I've applied to. For these abandoned project posts, Upwork should refund the connects for anybody that applied to these jobs. Seems like a lot of wasted conencts for everybody that spent connects on applying to those job posts. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** They're a plaform where people can hire people to do projects, so that makes it easier for me to find work. I don't to go looking for it myself. Hourly contracts are my favorite because everything is automatic. I click it on when I'm working, then click it off when I'm done. Plus, I can get paid on a weekly bases. I received a gift card in exchange for writing this review. ### 40. A Global Stage for My Video Editing Business **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Lucas B. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork has been the pretty effective platform for growing my video editing business, especially as I was just starting out. In just a few years, I’ve built long-term relationships with amazing clients from all over the world, completing projects that have added up to nearly $80k in earnings. The exposure I’ve gotten here is something I could never have achieved through traditional advertising because I think businesses see me as a real person and not just another ad on their feed. The tools make it easy to communicate, share files, and keep projects on track, and I appreciate how the platform helps both sides feel secure about payments and deadlines. As a Top Rated freelancer, I’ve been able to connect with high-quality clients who value my work and keep coming back. If you’re serious about building your freelance career, Upwork is a great start. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The competition can be intense, especially in popular categories, which means it takes time and effort to stand out. It’s not a “post your profile and clients will come” situation. You really need to be strategic with proposals and portfolio building. That said, the platform rewards consistency, so once you’ve built credibility, it gets much easier to attract the right projects. Using their tools for communication pre-contract can also be a hangup for new clients, but I find being direct about working in the TOS carries over into good relationships built on loyalty. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Get my work out there with a lower upfront cost than advertising. ### 41. Upwork has helped me connect with long-lasting clients **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Blake H. | Owner/operator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I have been using Upwork continuously for about four years. Through Upwork, I have been connected with international clients and formed long-lasting positive business relationships. I particularly like Upwork's fee structure, which is more generous to providers than any other platform I have used. The ability to add portfolios is convenient and useful. (The FTC requires that I state that I am expecting a gift card for sharing my honest review.) **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It is hard for me to think of a downside regarding Upwork. They have worked very well with me in every aspect of my business and the website is easy and intuitive to work with. I have never needed to contact Customer Support. I would like it if there was an easier way to set "vacation mode", other than manually adding a note on one's profile. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me connect to global clients needing high-quality music services, and takes care of everything involving a contract. ### 42. A good platform to supplement my freelancing career **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tracy R. | Customer Success, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork takes the heavy lifting off my plate for finding and communicating with potential clients. My profile serves as a kind of billboard resume/portfolio to anyone on the platform and showcases my skills and longevity in my field. The filter features (which they add to regularly) help me find clients a little faster than just looking through an endless list. I like how easy it is to receive payment and find tax documents I need to run my business. There are a lot of features and learning resources to get going even for beginners. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Upwork's credits system that's used for applying for projects feels restricting and I often miss out on smaller projects I'd like to apply for as I'm having to save credits to apply for larger more long term projects. Also in order to stay competitive and compensate for the fees that platform will take, I find it challenging to price myself exactly right to get a project sometimes. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork serves as an all in one platform for a freelancer like me who needs to showcase my skills, find clients, receive payment and do taxes for my business. Also the ease of being added to my client's own Upwork instance is a cool capability I have yet to see on another platform for freelancers. ### 43. Has all the tools to manage a freelance client **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shandee N. | Contract Content Strategist and Copywriter, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like all the tools. There is a place to work out contracts with your existing clients. There is a great time tracker that protects and guarantees hourly work. The filters allow me to find projects in my preferred price ranges. There are even places for me to organize Zoom-style calls and create checklists of tasks for the projects. I also vastly appreciate the proof of earnings report for my taxes and other life tasks. The few times I've needed customer support, they were very responsive, and the auto features like blocking a scam or warning against sharing information prior to an active contract do a lot to keep personal safety in my own hands. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike the high number of lowball offers on the site, but I've found that par for the course on any freelance job platform. The filters help a LOT with removing 90% of them from my feed. I wish the filters could also remove posts that have unreasonable criteria from my feed (Such as requiring a master's degree, an A-list ranking website, and the ability to speak two languages for a simple project). **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is helping me to reach out and connect to clients on my own terms, both with a passive catalogue that clients can reach out to me with, and with a work feed that I can filter by client budget, experience, and various other factors. ### 44. The best freelancing platform, period. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ryan M. | Video Production Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I have been using Upwork for a long time now, and I have to say that it blows every other freelancing platform out of the water. Upwork has afforded me numerous opportunities to work both remotely and on projects in my home city and state. I use the platform every day as part of my business model. It did not take long to learn the platform, and I have seen the advancements they have implemented over time. Overall, I greatly enjoy Upwork and plan to continue using it long-term as a crucial part of my income. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** First time users (especially on the client-side) often describe a steep learning curve. I think Upwork could do better on guiding clients through the experience of initial contact and setting up a contract. I often have to guide clients through the process myself. The other gripe I have is, of course, money-related. I think a 10% fee taken from my contracts PLUS having to pay for the Freelancer Plus program is a bit excessive. I think some type of compromise would be good; either drop the 10% to something like 4-6% and/or have the Freelancer Plus program be cheaper OR once you earn a certain amount of money you qualify for free. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me solve the problem of finding new clients and retaining past clients. Clients have mainly contacted me via a geographic search, which is a great supplement to my business website and search engine listings. ### 45. Upwork made being a freelancer possible for me! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kelly B. | Freelancer, Digital Media Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork made working remotely and while traveling possible and this was a dream come true for me. I have had so many wonderful clients and experiences through Upwork. I am forever grateful. Full disclosure- I am being offered an incentive for leaving my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Well, currently focused on helping my elderly father, I am very limited in my availability and have not had any luck with obtaining any new contracts recently. I fear that I am quickly becoming unemployable and that my skills are outdated and out of practice. That is all my doing, not Upwork. I did notice that there is a great deal more competition than in previous years and having to pay for submitting (more) proposals quickly goes beyond my budget. Full disclosure- I am being offered an incentive for leaving my honest review. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am usually able to secure freelance contracts with quality clients through Upwork. ### 46. Great if you find the right freelancer, but horrible if you don't... **Rating:** 1.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Benjamin B. | Owner/CEO, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork has a good variety of freelancers on their platform and the vast majority of them are qualified and easy to work with. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review as well. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Where do I begin...first off, upwork's business model is very predatory...they require freelancers to pay to be visible on leads, then they take a percentage of the job total, AND the client has to pay a fee as well. This should either be on the client to pay the fee or on the freelancer but not both. It's very scummy. Second, their payment system is set up in such a way that, unless you really know what you're doing, you can get burned by freelancers who are not qualified and don't know what they're doing. I hired several freelancers who worked hourly and, despite time tracking and screenshots, the work they did was garbage. But, we didn't realize it until it was too late and we couldn't get a refund. We were left with an unusable product and almost $30k in fees. So if you plan to hire someone, make sure whatever you are hiring them for YOU know how it works (for software development especially) or you will end up with a lot of garbage you pay top dollar for. I use upwork very sparingly still, and I hope this review will help them reconsider and change their business practices, but I would advise new users to stay away. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** They help connect me to "qualified" freelancers, which is very hit or miss... ### 47. Great platform for finding freelance opportunities **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Maite Maria G. | Office Assistant Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I have been using Upwork to connect with clients and work on freelance projects, and it has been a very positive experience overall. The platform makes it easy to find opportunities that match my skills, and the messaging and payment systems are reliable. I appreciate how Upwork provides a secure environment for both freelancers and clients. I received a gift card in exchange for writing this review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One thing that could improve is the visibility for new freelancers, as it can be challenging to get the first few contracts without reviews. However, once you build a strong profile, it becomes much easier to get consistent work. Overall, I recommend Upwork to freelancers who want flexibility and access to a wide variety of projects. I received a gift card in exchange for writing this review. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork has helped me find freelance projects and earn income during a period when I didn’t have a full-time job. It gave me the flexibility to work from home and choose projects that matched my skills. This not only allowed me to stay productive and financially stable, but also helped me improve my professional profile and connect with clients I wouldn’t have met otherwise. ### 48. Upwork has helped grow my business **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Casey M. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork provides a platform for me to find companies looking for freelancers. Not only can I send job proposals, but I can also receive invitations to apply. Their freelancer profiles are robust, allowing me to highlight portfolio pieces, skills, experience, and reviews. No matter how much my business grows, I will always maintain my Upwork profile. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Many complain about the fees associated with Upwork, along with the need to use Connects, the platform currency, to apply for jobs. However, I know I would not be introduced to these clients without the platform, so I don't mind the fees as long as they continue to be reasonable. My biggest issues are when job posters hire someone for the position and don't take down the job posting. That should be automatic once they hire someone to prevent freelancers from wasting Connects on a position that has already been filled. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves my problem of lead generation. Cold calling rarely produces results, but Upwork is a large platform with what I would guess thousands of jobs posted every hour. ### 49. Upwork - a freelancer's bestie **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Lacy B. | Technical Support Specialist, Computer Software, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork has been my number one go-to for qualified leads. It allows me to find, qualify, and sign leads every week. I've been using the platform for 6 years, and in that time, I've seen it grow as a marketplace, with new features and helpful tools being launched every year. It's easy to implement. I use it every day. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** There's always room for growth. Upwork unfortunately gives clients alot more power than their freelancers. One bad client, scammer, or otherwise unfriendly person can cause irreperable damage to a freelancer's reputation on the platform. Scheduling calls is also a nightmare. Their customer support used to be great, since they had chat support, but in the last month they have all but done away with that, which is a major headache. They also don't have many integrations. You have to keep all contact in the platform before signing a contract, yet they don't have a solid way to schedule calls with clients who have calendly or other mainstream schedulers. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is my #1 marketing platform for my business. Instead of running cold ads, I am able to connect with warm leads who already have projects in mind. The 10-15% cut that upwork takes from my earnings is honestly worth it when you consider the fact that I don't have to spend money on ads or a payment processing software. Their escrow feature is also a life saver. ### 50. Used to be amazing, still has a lot of positives, but is becoming too expensive to use. **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Elizabeth D. | Freelance Ghostwriter, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** *I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. I've been using Upwork for over five years now and it has been the primary method through which I've found clients and established income flows since then. I think it's a great platform that provides safety and security to freelancers through the escrow and milestone funding scheme, which helps me feel confident in the fact that I will always get paid for the work I complete. You only begin working when the milestone is funded, and Upwork is the one who secures that funding until the work is completed and the client releases the milestone. This ensures that the client cannot retract their payment without your approval, or fail to pay you in the first place. There is also a helpful refund process in place just in case you need to return a payment to a client. Also, in the case that a client is taking too long to release a milestone for completed work, Upwork can also release it directly after a certain amount of time has passed. In general, I've never felt uncomfortable or uncertain about payment, which is why I've trusted it so much for so long. Another safety aspect that Upwork is very strict about is that you are encouraged to never take client communication off the platform. At first, it seems a little weird that you wouldn't be allowed to type out your email in a message to a client, but it's only because Upwork cannot help you if something goes wrong with that client relationship if your communication has taken place off the site. It also ensures that you aren't accidentally getting tangled up in scammy payment schemes through third parties. There are also plenty of jobs available in a variety of fields, and I've never struggled to find new clients. Another thing I like is that clients can directly seek me out by sending me offers based on what is in my profile; I've found some of my best clients and most interesting projects through that alone. In the past, Upwork has also had incentives for freelancers and clients to establish longterm relationships, such as a lower percent fee over time. I wish they would bring this back. Ultimately, it is a great platform for freelancers to establish their career, and even though there are certain downsides to the site, I do think that it is probably the best one out there for people who want to maintain a full-time freelance career. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Because I've used Upwork for so many years, I've seen them go through a lot of changes. The user interface is easier to navigate now compared to when they were just a little startup and there are a lot more options for communication, such as video and voice calls, and appointment scheduling. However, I know that a lot of new users still really struggle to navigate the site and understand the milestone funding scheme. I have had to explain it to many clients, and had to walk them through the process myself because I don't think Upwork provides a particularly helpful tutorial for them in the beginning. One of the main things that has really irked me about Upwork over time is the fact that their fee extraction has changed so often. In the beginning, I believe it was just a 5% fee that they took out of payments. Then, I think it went up to 10%, but then you could go back down to 5% if you maintained a longterm relationship with that client. It was like a sliding scale. Then, it changed to 10% for everyone no matter what. Now, however, they've established a flat fee of 15% for every single client payment you receive, and I just think this is absolutely ridiculous. If I receive a $1000 payment from a client, I'll only receive $850 now, which means that I need to consider increasing my prices, and that negatively impacts my ability to get and keep clients. Taking $150 from me just like that has seriously made me consider if I should just gather up my most loyal clients and go elsewhere. Another thing that has changed over time is the "connects" scheme. You use connects as a sort of payment to apply for freelance projects, and I believe you used to be able to earn connects by completing projects or otherwise get a certain amount of connects free every month. Now, however, you only get connects if you pay for the premium version of their site, which is just so goofy to me. They want me to not only pay 15% out of my income that I will also have to pay taxes on later, but then they also want me to give them money in order to apply for their jobs. I understand that the site needs to make money, but it really does seem like they are punishing the freelancer as a result of wanting to attract more clients to the platform. Lastly, and perhaps the thing that has frustrated me almost as much as the 15% fee, is that Upwork *really* pushes their AI programming. It is astounding to me that a site that claims to support creative freelancers would so loudly and proudly tout something that is actively killing creative careers in countless industries (and, not to mention, killing the environment in the process). It's now resulted in almost every current and potential client of mine being extremely paranoid about hiring people who use AI, and even though I would rather eat live bugs than use AI to do my job, I have been accused by a couple of clients for allegedly using it because they don't understand that AI is trained on stolen content from creatives, and that's why it sounds so similar. Upwork does absolutely nothing to help with this, and I think it's really tacky to host a platform for freelancers but implement something that consistently harms us. Overall, in recent months, I have been seriously considering whether Upwork is still worth the costs. I was so shocked when they increased the fee to 15% that I immediately started searching for other sites to establish myself on. I've been a loyal user since 2020, so I don't know how their executives think it's okay to use me as nothing more than a profit flow when I have otherwise been singing their praises for years now. It's particularly upsetting because the fact of the matter is that there really aren't many other options for me in my industry. But, then again, they probably know that, and that's why they've become so boldly greedy. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The primary issue with being a freelancer in any field is that there isn't always a reliable payment process that guarantees you will get paid for work completed. Upwork solves this for the most part with their milestone funding process, which involves the client putting money in escrow, and then that money being passed on to the freelancer when the "milestone" (think of it like a portion of the project, or sometimes the entire project) is approved by the client. It ensures that both the client and the freelancer can feel secure about the financial aspect of freelance work. Otherwise, outside of the site, you might depend on requiring down payments or all of the money up front just to ensure that you won't be ripped off by your client at the end of the day. This, of course, isn't ideal for the client and makes them less likely to hire anyone in the first place, so I really do appreciate that Upwork handles this for me. ## 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?open_modal_url=%2Fproducts%2Fupwork%2Fwishlists%3Fhost_path%3D%252Fproducts%252Fupwork%252Freviews%253Fpage%253D5%2526qs%253Dpros-and-cons%26source%3Dsticky_header_pin&page=8&qs=pros-and-cons§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-28+23%3A03%3A12+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=cdc2a60b-47e3-49aa-9091-01239e860358&secure%5Btoken%5D=1c848b5f6f5a5a38b8843184fb2e305b8998f2fccfd1cb2c8191eb73942f1e51&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 (457 reviews) - [Bark.com](https://www.g2.com/products/bark-com/reviews) - 1.6/5.0 (324 reviews) - [Toptal](https://www.g2.com/products/toptal/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (269 reviews)