--- 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: '2026-07-17' 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 Makes Hiring Easy and Efficient **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Denny S. | Product, Co-Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I’ve been using Upwork for years now, and it’s honestly been a great tool for getting a wide range of work done. I’ve hired people for everything from website drafting and logo design to architectural drafting support, BIM modeling, and even Odoo setup. The variety of freelancers you can find here is pretty amazing. My usual process is simple — I check a freelancer’s portfolio and send a quick message before sending an offer, just to make sure we’re a good fit. That little step has always helped me find the right person. The platform itself is easy to use. Setting up a contract takes just a couple of minutes, and managing everything afterwards is straightforward. Overall, it’s been a really solid place to get work done and collaborate with people from all over the world. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think the service fees can feel a bit high at times, especially for long-term or larger projects. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it definitely adds up. Also, some parts of the interface (like messaging and file sharing) can be a little clunky. It works, but it could definitely be smoother. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork makes it easy to find the right people for very specific tasks without having to hire full-time staff. Instead of spending weeks searching locally, I can quickly connect with freelancers who have the exact skills I need — whether it’s drafting, BIM work, design, or software setup. It saves me a lot of time, helps me scale my workload when things get busy, and lets me work with talented people from all over the world. ### 2. Effortless Hiring and Upscaling with Caveats **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kelsey P. | Creative Service and Technology Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** -Easy to navigate the platform -AI assistance when developing a job -It is quick to get a job up and get resumes -Wide variety of talent and skillsets -Secure -Has an app to manage projects/jobs on the go **What do you dislike about Upwork?** -Messaging is cumbersome, especially when scheduling meetings -Fee increases -Talent pool is inundated with low quality talent, even when you try to filter it through the project settings -Not all talent is the actual talent, but a middle-man/women -Need experience to really understand what to look for in good quality talent. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The biggest challenge to me is finding the right talent for a project. Upwork provides a large database of talent and tools to drill down to specific skillsets which are important. Because of that the speed at which I can get a project going is greatly increased. ### 3. A trustworthy resource for locating freelance opportunities **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sabri S. | trainer, Consulting, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 10, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Connecting with clients worldwide is made simple by Upwork. The job search and proposal system are well-organized, and the platform is easy to use. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** For new freelancers in particular, the service fees may seem excessive. Because there is fierce competition, winning the initial projects may also take some time. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Without the need for agencies or direct contacts, Upwork assists independent contractors in locating remote work opportunities. I can track work, manage contracts, communicate with clients around the world, and get safe payments all in one location. This facilitates more organized and accessible freelance work. ### 4. Great Experiences Hiring on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nico H. | Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that it is easy to hire freelancers, there are millions of freelancers on the platform so I can almost always find the person I need for either of the companies I own. I also love that I can hire very quickly and the process is very smooth. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I don't like that Upwork sends me so many emails about hiring. I know when I need to hire, and I go directly to Upwork when I'm hiring. Other than that, I really like it. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem: When I'm in a pinch I know I can find someone on Upwork who's solid and can help me within a day or so. The process is very quick which I love. I like that I can message freelancers as well as post a job. ### 5. Access Global Talent with Ease on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Omar K. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 12, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that I can get talent on the fly from around the world, and specific areas of the world have specific emphasis of talent. I can search by specific regions and work with them there, which is beneficial because I can leverage specific types of work where there's an affinity, like, for example, Indians typically being great with numbers. I also like working with people that are in my same time zone. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The messaging system on Upwork can sometimes be difficult for going back and forth about projects. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find cost-effective and talented professionals globally, with the ability to search by region to match specific work needs. I appreciate the instant access to capable freelancers and the regional affinity for certain skills, like numbers with Indian freelancers. ### 6. Effortless Global Hiring with Minor Hurdles **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Miller L. **Reviewed Date:** January 29, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the fact that with Upwork, I can find qualified candidates at a price I can afford, especially since I am a small business owner on a budget. I am also pleased with the feature that allows me to verify and approve the hours logged by the freelancer before payment is issued. Additionally, I appreciate the easy access to talent from across the globe, which allows me to find a vast pool of qualified candidates. The initial setup of the platform was very easy for me. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Because of the vast pool of candidates, it can be quite time consuming to sift through qualified candidates to create a shortlist. Also, many candidates who are recommended by the system have a longer history on Upwork, which causes rising talent to be drowned out. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork for easy access to a global talent pool, finding affordable and qualified candidates. I like verifying and approving logged hours before payment. It saves me money but sorting through candidates can be time-consuming, and rising talent may get overlooked. ### 7. Effortless Talent Sourcing and Management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Lisa K. | Sales Manager Corporate and Association Group, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 22, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that I can contract what and when I want, review contractors' portfolios, chat with them in the app, and upload any documents or video instructions. Upwork is easy to use, has a fast response, and provides access to great talent abroad at a lower cost. I also like the screenshots feature to review timesheets and work in progress. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** can't think of anything **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork frees up my time for tasks I do well by having a VA handle other tasks. I can contract what and when I want, review portfolios, chat, and upload documents. It's easy to use, with fast responses and great talent at a lower cost. ### 8. Effortless Hiring and Secure Collaboration on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Accounting | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love being able to work within a secure app on Upwork where I can communicate, send messages, upload, and share files. It's incredibly convenient to schedule Zoom meetings directly within the app without having to worry about separate accounts or sharing meeting IDs. Everything remains secure, which is a huge plus for me, especially when dealing with sensitive information. The process to set up Zoom meetings is intuitive and keeps track of time spent and hours my freelancer has worked, which is very helpful. I also loved how easy it was to get started with Upwork. Their tools, even the AI help to create my job listings, make it super easy to post a job in just a matter of minutes. It was fantastic that I found someone quickly to hire. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I'm not really bothered by much on Upwork. If there's any small thing, it's probably the sensitivity of some words. Upwork sometimes thinks the words I use are against the rules because my work involves discussing money, like payroll and budgets. It occasionally seems like Upwork thinks we're discussing making payments outside the contract, which can be annoying when you get flagged. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me quickly find qualified bookkeepers without a lengthy hiring process. I can immediately view their skills, reviews, and past projects, making it easier to decide and budget accordingly. ### 9. Verified Clients & Payment Assurance Make Upwork a Winner **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Raza A. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 18, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork because it helps me get a very selective and interested clientele who are genuinely interested in our services. I find verified clients very beneficial as they provide clarity that the client is legit and means serious business. I also like the decent messaging system and most importantly, the escrow funds feature, which ensures payment safety. Additionally, the initial setup of Upwork was easy. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I feel that Upwork's arbitration is more inclined towards clients and not freelancers. I think all communication should be seen and all angles of client servicing along with delivery should be taken into consideration. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find selective and serious clients. The verified client feature ensures legitimacy, and the escrow funds provide payment safety. The messaging system is decent. ### 10. Upwork Review **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dan B. | Owner and Creative Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It's convenient, I can find projects, work and get paid from home. I can be my own boss and choose projects and other freelancers using search features that promise the best jobs and workers for my needs. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Upwork used to rank freelancers based on quality of work, talent, and performance via client reviews and scores. Now, Upwork uses a pay to play scheme that ranks you higher through the use of "connects" which cost money. It's not performance or talent based. So, if you want to show up as a top prospect to clients, you need to use connects to boost your ranking. You also use connects to promote yourself and to show clients that you are available. So, you now you need to pay for membership, pay to promote yourself and run ads, pay to indicate that you're available, and then Upwork takes 10% out of whatever you earn. Additionally, having a complimentary "Agency Account" used to be free, and allowed you to team up with other freelancers and create your own online agency. Now you need to pay for another membership to have an agency. So, all in all, it's difficult to make and clear the same income I was making before, and to rank as high as I did before. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of having to leave home and work for someone else. It solves the difficulty in finding projects. It solves the difficulty in finding top talent that can assist me with graphic design needs. ### 11. Access Global Talent with Caveats in Communication **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** David K. **Reviewed Date:** January 25, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I appreciate Upwork for allowing me to get the best talent regardless of geography. It's great to find experts who can solve my problems quickly, more efficiently than I could by learning myself. The escrow process is reassuring because it ensures that both parties are committed to the project's success—the freelancer is motivated to deliver high-quality work on time since they want to get paid, and I feel financially protected in case things don't go as planned. The initial setup was also very easy. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It's sometimes hard to determine if the person I'm talking to will be the one doing the work. There seem to be a large number of agencies or brokers involved. Upwork has been getting better at this, but it isn't until we do the interviews that this comes to light. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork allows me to complete short-term projects without hiring full-time staff, access global talent to solve problems quickly, and feel financially protected with the escrow process, ensuring timely and high-quality work. ### 12. Great for Hiring Freelancers, Mixed Freelance Experience **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Olena T. | Founder of Wear 2 Conquer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that reviews on Upwork are clear, and you can see what specific projects someone has worked on in the past. It's great to see the reviews of the talent and how many projects the talent I’m interested in has completed. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I do not have a good experience with the freelance end of Upwork. I had an issue where a customer who was interested in hiring me ended up in hours of video calls that led nowhere, which was a waste of my time. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to hire freelancers for fixing my websites. I like the clear reviews and seeing the specific projects others have completed. ### 13. Serious Trust Issues Despite Convenient Features **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mateusz P. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 26, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Nothing really. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I would rate Upwork as a 1-star service because the first two contractors we hired did not work out. There clearly was no vetting process conducted by Upwork. The first contractor was deactivated after one week due to a violation of their terms of service (explanation: someone else was doing the work, not the person we hired) and the second person had a criminal record, which made us decide not to proceed. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** We used Upwork to hire a senior CRM developer to audit and improve our systems, boosting our customer data handling. We appreciate being able to post jobs to vetted contractors (note: not upwork) and the time-tracking and payment features help monitor work hours without extra software. ### 14. Effortless Setup, Exceptional Service **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bryce B. **Reviewed Date:** January 24, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork quick, easy, and friendly to use. It’s a very valuable service because it allows me to communicate with several different individuals, giving me the opportunity to pick the one I feel is most qualified to help resolve my issue. I was happy to have found someone who was dedicated and experienced. The setup was extremely self-explanatory, from inputting personal information to setting up a password. On a scale of one to 10, it's a 10 in terms of ease. I heard great things about Upwork from an attorney who referred me, and I couldn't be more pleased. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I was pleased with everything that upward had to offer. There was nothing that I disliked. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork for law help with civil cases. It's quick, easy, and user-friendly, making it invaluable for finding dedicated, experienced professionals. It enables communication with several individuals, allowing me to choose the most qualified person to resolve my issues. ### 15. Freelancer's Hub for Finding Warm Project Leads **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Victor L. **Reviewed Date:** January 24, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the new interface on Upwork; it's very user-friendly and has a lot of great features to help me keep on top of my work. It helps me stay organized and communicative with clients. I like how the tabs let me find the kind of projects I'm looking for, whether they're best matched or US-based. The initial setup was very easy, not complicated at all. Upwork also solves the need to search and market for leads since the people on there are already warm leads looking for someone to complete work for them. I rate it a 10, as it's a great platform to use. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I feel that the time tracker can be improved by allowing a setting to use for screen shooting whatever browser window you are working with versus the whole desktop. I also would like to see an option to allow the clients to pay monthly like a subscription-based model, so for projects such as WordPress maintenance that may be a reoccurring monthly cost. I would also like to see a more fair percentage taken from my payments. Right now it's pretty high and I lose a lot of money due to the fee that is charged. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find project leads without needing to market for them, as they are already looking for freelancers. The new interface keeps me organized and enhances communication with clients, while also allowing me to find projects easily. ### 16. Global Talent Access, Easy and Efficient **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Andrea D. **Reviewed Date:** January 23, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork gives me access to thousands of talented people from around the world who are willing to work hard. The email chat function is great because I don't need to log in; I can just reply to emails. I also like using the messages within the app. Another feature I enjoy is being able to check out a talent's portfolio without having to contact them. The initial setup was really easy, and I actually prefer Upwork over Fiverr. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I find the milestones function a bit complex. I'd prefer it to be simpler, like having a monthly account where I can upload money and fill the milestones from there instead of funding each milestone one by one and going through all the steps. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to hire talent for video editing, photography editing, and social media management at reasonable prices. It gives me access to thousands of talented people worldwide who are willing to work hard. ### 17. Upwork: Fast Staffing, Simple Setup, but Inconsistent Talent Pool **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Michael H. | Chief Executive Officer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork allows me to see what someone really looks like out in the wild, so I don't have to gamble on whether or not they have decent work. It certainly gives us the ability to go fast without having to bring on full-time help. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It's sometimes saturated with less than desirable talent from time to time and people that don't really showcase their work. So, it's a catch-22 at times. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves fast staffing needs, letting us hire experts without long-term commitments. It helps us see freelancers' real capabilities, reducing the risk of poor performance. This speeds up our processes without needing full-time hires. ### 18. Effective for Finding Professionals, Needs UI Enhancement **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Holly H. | Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 21, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork for finding professionals to do various tasks for my small business like web development, marketing, and SEO. I appreciate that it allows me to find the professionals I need at a reasonable price with a clear budget. It's easy to find people, see their reviews, and get a clear idea of what it's gonna cost me, all in a very short, fast amount of time. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think sometimes the interface is a little confusing about where I find projects and where I communicate with them. And how I stop and start projects. Basically, all of the inner workings of it. Finding somebody is easy, but then actually managing a project, communicating on the project, and paying out the project can be challenging. Like, it's just not very intuitive and super clear. Sometimes I can start an email thread on an old project that I'd already paid out and not the project that I'm on, so it's not always very clear which project I'm communicating on. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork allows me to find professionals at a reasonable price with clear budgets and reviews from others. ### 19. Effortless Talent Acquisition with Upwork **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stephen E. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like how Upwork helps us find exceptional talent that works seamlessly with our teams. It's remarkable that the talent is available when and where we need it, regardless of our hiring particulars. Upwork has been a tremendous help in saving time, energy, and effort. I also find it easy to work with and appreciate that the initial setup was very easy. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Making a more clear distinction between bringing your own talent and hiring contractors through the platform has been really helpful in letting us manage international staff. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps us find remarkable talent available when and where we need it, saving time, energy, and effort. ### 20. Lifeline for On-Demand Specialist Needs **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jackson W. | Freelance UI/UX Designer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork's platform to have very low friction, making it easy to use and sort by different criteria. I think it's a great brand, and I've been with them since they were Odesk way back in 2013. It’s easy to search and find very specific types of technical or artistic roles, which I might not otherwise connect with. Upwork gives me peace of mind for billing and reviews, streamlining the process significantly. The initial setup was a breeze, and their team really streamlined the onboarding flow. I'm particularly impressed by how well the platform scales my team's capabilities, allowing us to take on more complex projects with confidence. Overall, Upwork has become a strategic asset for my business, acting like a lifeline in high-speed environments by enabling me to find reasonably priced specialists to fill technical gaps or add specialized expertise. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I'm just trying to figure out how they can stay ahead of the game in such a changing environment. With new technological advances, they probably need to continue to innovate to stay relevant. And it's also a crowded space with other competitors who do what Upwork does. So how can they innovate their way to the top? And how can they get the word out to more people to join their website and stay active on it, participate, and grow? These are concerns I have for them. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork as a lifeline in high-speed environments to find reasonably priced specialists. It helps fill technical gaps, scale my team's capabilities on demand, and tackle larger, more complex projects. It also streamlines the process with easy sorting, peace of mind for billing, and finding specific technical or artistic roles. ### 21. Fast Hiring, Diverse Experts, High Fees **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ashley P. | Usability Tester (Freelance) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really like that I can put up a job posting on Upwork within just a couple of minutes. Usually, within an hour or so, I have people who have applied to the role, which is super helpful when I need to hire at the last minute or quickly. I also appreciate the variety of professionals in different industries on Upwork, ensuring that I always get someone to at least submit a proposal when I put up a post. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes when I put up a job posting, nobody applies. It's kind of discouraging, especially when I'm used to getting applications. Also, I don't like having to pay so much in fees to hire someone. It didn't use to be like that, so it's relatively new. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork lets me quickly find experts and people eager for project-based work. It handles payroll complexities, crucial for a solopreneur like me, and supports my business growth by streamlining hiring across various tasks. ### 22. Access to Niche Expertise with Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Janalee S. | Owner & Managing Director, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the reviews that Upwork is showing me so I can feel more confident about the level of real-world experience the individual has and what people who have hired them really thought. I've been using Upwork for probably about ten years, and I think the reviews overall are high quality. I also appreciate that Upwork gives us a lot of people to sort through to find the right fit from a pay and experience level for our agency. We've been able to tap into more individuals that have expertise we need, especially in niche applications that we don't manage on a daily basis in-house. Also, setting up an individual project is very easy; it's a no-brainer to go in and set up any new projects that we want to hire for. We've seen the value in the service since we started using it fairly early, and we've remained strong in our interest in working with Upwork. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I experienced a situation where someone we hired on the platform threatened to give us a bad review if we didn't give them a good rating when we were actually very disappointed in their work. I ended up rating them higher than I wanted to. This kind of issue could detract from the quality of reviews employers give to freelancers. However, it only happened once over ten years, so I think it's a small detractor overall. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to access niche expertise and help manage our internal capacity constraints, and with Upwork I can find the right talent from a large pool of individuals. It helps me match freelancers to our pay and experience needs. ### 23. A super reliable platform for scaling support in a growing marketing business **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rachel S. | Principal Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes it easy to source skilled assistants quickly without wasting time. The talent pool is deep, global, and searchable in a way that actually supports serious hiring. For a marketing firm, the ability to find support across admin, marketing, and operational tasks in one place is a real advantage. The platform saves time, reduces friction, and allows me to scale support as needed. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Like any large marketplace, quality can vary and it still requires discernment. You have to be clear in your scope and selective in hiring to avoid mismatches. Fees can also add up over time, especially for long term engagements, but that is the tradeoff for access and convenience. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of quickly finding reliable support without lengthy hiring cycles. For my marketing firm, it allows me to delegate execution work efficiently so I can stay focused on strategy and growth. It reduces operational bottlenecks and makes it easier to test working relationships before committing long term. ### 24. Streamlined Talent Acquisition with Global Reach **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sean M. | Founder/Creative Director/Photographer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** The thing I like most about Upwork is how easy it is to find a group of people who are talented and interested in the project that I have. They're also helpful because I can state a budget, and if it's within the talent's price range, they can feel free to bid on the project, rather than me having to reach out to 30 different individuals to check their availability and interest. It just makes it easier to post once and have a bunch of applicants apply for the project. I can review them, check their portfolios, and see who best fits my project. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I have come across is finding the right talent but that just took a little bit more time. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is a single place to find talent worldwide, fitting my budget and project needs. It simplifies finding qualified people, letting me post once and review applicants instead of reaching out individually. ### 25. Effortless Hiring, Global Talent Access **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jamie N. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork really easy for hiring people because I can see portfolios and reviews, which helps me understand what candidates have done before for other businesses. The process is straightforward, and I don't need to vet candidates much as Upwork handles contracts and other formalities. What I like most is the ability to hire people from different countries like Pakistan, India, and the Philippines, which is great since my company is based in the US. I really like how Upwork incorporates AI; I just need to describe a task briefly, and it creates a detailed job description for me, which is very helpful. The pricing is also really good, and there's no middleman involved. The setup was quite easy as well, without too many hiccups, aside from the verification process. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Some of the messaging on Upwork doesn't work well for me. I kinda struggle with keeping track of messages and proposals because there are so many. So, maybe a better tracking system would help. Also, sometimes people respond to my proposals using AI, which makes it hard for me to evaluate their responses. I'd prefer if they replied in their own words, even if it's not as polished. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find Upwork makes hiring people easy by providing portfolios and reviews, handling contracts, and enabling quick hiring. It also helps us hire internationally and creates job descriptions with AI, which is super helpful. ### 26. Great Platform for Finding Clients, Needs Better Project Matching **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Quan l. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork helps me connect with clients I normally won't find outside of my network. You're able to find many clients on the platform. It's valuable to me because it helps me find a consistent workflow, providing another avenue and channel for consistent work. That's what makes it valuable to me. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Upwork doesn't always show the project that best matches my skill sets. I've been using it for four or five years, and it's clear from my profile that I'm an industrial designer, product designer, making prototypes, and doing some engineering and CAD work. However, the algorithm sometimes still shows me projects that don't fit my skill set, like UX user interface projects. Another issue is with the review and job success score. I've maintained a 100% success rate for the most part until one client recently brought it down to 94% despite fulfilling all their requirements. There's no option to negotiate with Upwork to remove that one project's impact after having successfully completed 40 or so other projects. The initial setup wasn't super easy; I needed to do a video call to verify my identity, which is understandable, but still not very straightforward. Additionally, friends outside of the US find it hard to get projects on Upwork, so location can affect the experience. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find freelance projects as an industrial designer. It helps me connect with clients I wouldn't find otherwise and provides a consistent workflow. I appreciate being able to find many clients on the platform. ### 27. Efficient, Easy-to-Use Freelance Platform **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Suzanne D. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really like that you can see a contractor's previous work on Upwork. This is very helpful when I'm looking for a specific style or professionalism. I also like the feature that allows me to read other users' reviews. I love the dashboard and find it very easy to use. The initial setup was so simple; I was immediately able to get in and start looking for the contractor we needed, which was crucial as we were under a deadline. I have already recommended Upwork to others. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The one and only thing for me is that sometimes I'm not sure how to end a contract or when to end a contract. Some of the contractors don't mind if you leave it open while others prefer you close it as soon as the project is complete. But that might be on my end that I just don't know what the best protocol is. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork lets us get work done like translation, graphic design, and editing without needing full-time hires. It's a go-to for tasks that our team can't handle internally. ### 28. Efficient for Hiring, But Frustrating Website Issues **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jake B. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** One thing I like about using Upwork for hiring decisions is that I can see ratings and previous work of freelancers to ensure they're a good fit. I really do like that. My favorite thing about Upwork is that it keeps all my business-related discussions on the same website, making management easy. I appreciate the organization Upwork provides. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I experience serious and frequent delays when trying to use Upwork. The website sometimes refuses to load when I try to pay someone or check a freelancer's message, even though my internet works fine with other websites. It's an intermittent issue, but it often happens at inconvenient times, disrupting my workflow and video production. I also have to use Trello to communicate with multiple freelancers at once because Upwork doesn't currently offer a way for group communication. Furthermore, there are fees to consider when using Upwork. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to hire scriptwriters, thumbnail designers, and video editors. It helps by showing ratings and previous work, making it easier to evaluate if they're a good fit. I like that it keeps all business discussions in one place, simplifying management. ### 29. Efficient Freelancer Sourcing for Specialized Creative Skills. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Zack K. | Content Manager / Producer, Internet, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like using Upwork for getting creative work done with specialized, skilled freelancers around the world. I appreciate its talent sourcing features and filtering, which give me the ability to find very specific creative contractors at any time of day/year. The existing global network of contractors is already onboarded and ready to work via Upwork, making it easy to start projects quickly. We all have an existing rolodex in our heads, but that doesn't necessarily mean those folks are available this week, or even this quarter. Upwork's talent sourcing features help me find contractors I've never worked with before, who are qualified for the project and ready produce high-quality work, now. Starting a working relationship on Upwork allows me to further build my network of freelancers, and scale my team's output without committing to longer engagements or full-time hires. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** There are currently a lot of extra clicks to get work done, to pay out contractors, and to revisit past contractors to start new projects. This could be smoother. I would also like recommended Milestone breakdowns or templates depending on the type of work. For example, a video project is always going to have different phases: Script, Storyboard, V1, V2, V3 etc. Could this be a project template with milestone calculations already suggested? Saves clicks and time. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to get specialized creative work done quickly, solve resourcing issues, and find new, high-quality freelancers for niche tasks. It helps me source talent globally and build my freelancer network, which is vital given our lack of full-time creative staff in a startup. I run the Marketing dept, which always needs to make creative stuff and experiment! ### 30. Time-Saving Platform with High-Quality Freelancers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mark W. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork for the high quality freelancers it provides, which saves me a lot of time vetting people. I generally find freelancers who are very good and meet the quality I expect. I appreciate how intuitive the profiles are, with lots of information that helps me determine if a freelancer is good before I even start chatting with them. The requirement for freelancers to upload their past work is really helpful in the vetting process. The communication functionality is very good, allowing me to attach images and files directly in the chat, making it seamless to communicate with freelancers without needing much communication outside of Upwork. Lastly, the billing process is very straightforward, and setting up is pretty seamless. The tax preparation information is very straightforward as well. Overall, Upwork makes it easier for companies by reducing the time spent on vetting and allowing more focus on getting the job done. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The only thing I would improve is just basically the fees are on the high side. But still, I think I save money using freelancers on Upwork versus hiring a full-time employee, so the value for money is definitely there. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves my problem of vetting high-quality freelancers and saves me lots of time. I can focus on projects instead of spending time interviewing candidates and figuring out who can do the job well. ### 31. Effortless Talent Acquisition and Automation **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mike C. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork for my creative businesses, specifically architectural photography and cinematography, to hire contractors for photo and video editing. My primary photo editor, who I found through Upwork, has been with me for 5 years. It's a great platform that makes my life easier and saves a lot of time. I love how communicating with my editor and getting him paid is super simple and automated. I've recommended Upwork to many of my clients and colleagues who are looking for marketing and admin support. I like that it automates payments, setting boundaries, and communication, which makes everything easier and saves time. The initial setup of Upwork was really easy, and I'd rate it a 9 out of 10. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It's pretty saturated with talent because it's a great platform, so when putting up job postings you just have to be specific to be able to sift through the mess. Perhaps having more advanced filtering options. A lot of them send me generic responses and it's a bit frustrating sometimes because I tend to get a lot of people who send templatized messages. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find quality talent fast. It automates communication and payments, making everything easier and saving me time. ### 32. Streamlined Freelance Hiring with Intuitive Platform **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sara D. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love Upwork's platform because it's really simple to use and their app is extremely intuitive. It helps me create amazing connections and networks with other designers, which is essential for completing my work. I truly couldn't do as much or make as much without Upwork. It's incredibly easy and intuitive to set up, and I appreciate that I can add my accountant as a member to help organize the back-end payroll stuff. Also, I love all of the freelancers on Upwork and the protections they provide. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I haven't found anything I really dislike about Upwork. The only thing I would change is having separate charges for each freelancer rather than a single bill when I pay multiple freelancers. This would help with my back-end accounting per project. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find and vet amazing designers quickly, saving time from posting job openings. It allows me to take on short-term projects without the pressure of maintaining an employee, not cutting into my workload or work time. ### 33. Efficient Talent Sourcing, Payment Flexibility Needed **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Neil A. | Director Of Product Development, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I think the interface works well. It's easy to find good talent. Once I find good people on Upwork, I can continue hiring them for project-based work. As I'm looking for a contractor, I can see their previous work and appreciate the reviews collected and the amount of money they have transacted through Upwork. This gives me a sense that the person is going to work out and has the experience I need. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think sometimes on some of my bigger projects, the idea of having to pay upfront for the entire project is a little annoying. I'm forced to set up milestones, and I think the milestones work okay but I don't know that all the talent want to use Milestone. Some of my larger projects I've had to put money into Upwork long before the project is completed. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find specific talent quickly for short-term projects in the book publishing industry, offering a wide variety and ensuring they meet my project needs. ### 34. Effortless Resource Management with Upwork **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Saurabh S. | Founder **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that the escrow feature in Upwork ensures that our payment amount is fixed, and it's only released once the work is done, which provides a lot of security. I also appreciate that Upwork provides the best ratings and helps me see the success rate, which I think is the best thing for evaluating the output. Additionally, the initial setup was very easy and straightforward. I just signed up, provided all the necessary information, updated the account details, and it was ready to go. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I would say, like, with some of the resources, they are showing us as a rising talent. But, we are not getting the results, like, as what we expect. So maybe a bit more strict on giving them tags of rising talent or giving them best like, reviews. Like, after giving reviews also, I have seen some of the resources are not best. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves a major problem by allowing us to quickly find resources when we can't hire immediately, so we post jobs and get the solution right away. ### 35. Cost-Effective One-Stop Shop Despite Clunky Interface **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 27, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like using Upwork because the fees are cheaper compared to other platforms. It's a one-stop shop for an author, handling formatting, illustrating, covers, etc. I also appreciate that the quality of freelancers is comparable to Fiverr, and although it takes a few people to find the right fit, it's worth it considering the cost-effectiveness. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I don't think it's very easy to navigate. I don't understand how the milestones work. I can't find messages. I think it's clumsy to work in. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to get my books formatted professionally and quickly. It's cost-effective with cheaper fees and serves as a one-stop shop for an author—formatting, illustrating, covers, etc. ### 36. Effective Hiring Platform, But Costly for Freelancers **Rating:** 1.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jerry W. | Co-Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I can find freelancers pretty easily on Upwork. It was a long time ago, but I think the initial setup was easy back then. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** As a freelancer, Upwork takes 20% of my income. I have to manually add my time due to security issues or recording my screen(s). Because of this, Upwork provides me no protection and I've lost lots of money. It's upsetting and frustrating. It feels like Upwork doesn't give a shit about their freelancers anymore. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find freelancers for my projects easily. However, as a freelancer, I face issues with high fees and lack of protection, leading to financial losses. ### 37. Effortless Freelancing and Hiring on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Daniel W. | Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 21, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I definitely like the ease of finding people for specific tasks that I'm looking for. I think Upwork is a pretty solid platform. I mostly value the search functions, especially for finding people to do certain jobs. The filtering system is quite helpful for checking how much they're charging or their previous experience. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The main one that I can think of is having to switch accounts from freelancer to, you know, hire. As somebody who has both, that's kind of annoying to have to keep going back and forth. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to easily find freelancers for specific tasks without needing full-time hires. The platform's search and filtering functions are quite helpful, streamlining the process of finding the right people for my business needs. ### 38. Reliable Platform with a Wide Range of Freelancers for Every Budget **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** John B. | Media Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 24, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Reliable and a variety of freelancers at all skill and price levels. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** More freelancers than I expected that have no experience and no trackrecord. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Finding talent for very specific tasks in marketing and publishing. ### 39. Upwork Makes It Easy to Use and Find the Right Help **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Teresa A. | Licensed Practical Nurse, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 24, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Easy to use. Easy to find the right help **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Nothing. I like how Upwork is set up with easy to use **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It help me find a beta reader for my book in my niche ### 40. Effective Platform for Gigs and Visibility Boost **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Joshua K. | Voice-Over Artist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really appreciate Upwork's positive feedback loop. The more work I do, the more the platform recognizes my efforts and makes my profile more visible. I also value the badges, having achieved Top Rated freelancer status a few months ago. Setting up Upwork was easy for me, despite being new to freelancing and the platform itself. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike the connects system. It was tolerable a few years back, but at some point, the cost became astronomically higher, like 3-4x the connect amount for submitting a proposal compared to the 2022-2023 era. I think the cost needs to be reined in a bit. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork provides both a job board and the ability to market my own offerings, which is unique compared to other platforms. ### 41. Flexible Freelancer Platform with Room for More Customization **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** William M. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that I can review the workers' backgrounds on Upwork. Their profiles plus chat messaging let me see their technical backgrounds and ask questions, which helps me verify their qualifications. Upwork provides accountability controls that allow me to view work performed and decide when to pay. Although portfolio links have some influence, they are not the most important factor for me. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Maybe if I had more "granular" control over who responds to me the better. When I post a job I get too many responses. For example, for a tee shirt design project I may want an artist who is 14-18 years old and only lives in Boston, San Francisco, Baltimore, and New York. I do not believe I can filter the response channel like that? **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork for solving software-based problems that I can't solve myself, like logo designs and shopping cart page appearance. ### 42. Great place to make some extra cash **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Alisha A. | Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I think upwork is a great place to make some extra cash. I do find it difficult sometimes to be chosen for a job or task but you have to be persistent. It's great to have a place to go where I can make some extra money for my family. I received a gift card for sharing my honest opinion. I'm going to keep putting myself out there and keep making money. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I love the FAQ section and I receive frequent emails on tips to have a better resume or how to stand out which is so helpful and nessesary. I would recommend Upwork to everyone! **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I've had a couple employers choose me on upwork and Upwork has sent me emails right away letting me know those accounts were terminated due to being scammers. I received my connects back for applying and protected by upwork. I feel safe on there because of it. ### 43. Great for Finding the Right Talent and Aligning on Scope Before Hiring **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Adam N. | Managing Partner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I’ve been able to find talent that fits our needs and to discuss and evaluate their understanding of the scope and goals before hiring. I have successfully used the platform on multiple occasions and found some very talented people. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The platform can be hard to use for communication. We work with large files which can be difficult to share. The platform is easy to use for the most part, but some of the transactional details have caught me off guard. For example, marking a milestone as complete triggers an immediate payment in full without a confirmation step. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Finding talent quickly with minimal risk. Particularly helpful in finding specialized talent! ### 44. Easy-to-Use Platform with Great Professionals **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Publishing | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 12, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** First of all, it’s a very easy-to-use, user-friendly platform, and I can find great professionals here to meet my work needs. It is easy to pay and contact the professionals. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** So far, I haven’t had any complaints at all. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** As a book publisher, I used to struggle to find good editors. Since joining Upwork, though, it’s been a whole different ballgame. I needed excellent editors to revise my manuscripts, and on Upwork I finally found them! ### 45. Effortless Job Bidding, Major Revenue Boost **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Corey V. | Chief Content Curator **Reviewed Date:** January 21, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really appreciate how easy Upwork makes it to connect with potential customers, bid on projects, and get paid. I like that I can browse available jobs and apply on the spot, which is the biggest revenue driver for me on the platform. The bidding system allows me to see where I stand compared to other applicants, so I can decide whether to invest more connects or money to try and get a specific job. Lastly, the initial setup was very easy, which made getting started a breeze. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It would be preferred that after a certain threshold users can apply for instant pay. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork makes it easy to connect with potential customers, bid on projects, and get paid. It's the biggest revenue driver for me, allowing me to browse jobs and apply instantly, deciding where to invest effort based on my standing among other applicants. ### 46. Effortless Contractor Hiring with Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rich S. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork is easy to use and provides access to plenty of resources and contractors. It's helpful to find people based on location or project cost and see their experiences and what they've done. I've found that it easily helps find skilled contractors to get the work done as needed. The initial setup was very easy, with no issues at all. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Have not had any issues **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find Upwork helps easily hire skilled contractors to get work done as needed. It's easy to use with plenty of contractor resources. I can find people based on location or project cost. ### 47. Skilled Freelancers That Help Me Scale My Business **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Eileen J. | Author, Speak and Coach, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I value the ease of use and the the ability to connect with such skilled freelancers. I rely on freelancers to help me scale my business and assist me with task I am unable to accomplish myself. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike having to continuously pay fees for milestone for an ongoing project. I rather pay a one time fee as opposed to paying mutilple fees on a consistant basis. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is assisting me with saving time, energy and dealing with task I prefer to outsource. ### 48. Effortless Access to Quality Freelancers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ryan C. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork for its ease of use and ease of posting jobs. I also appreciate the quality of applicants it brings in and being able to set my own price. The platform opens access to a world of freelancers I wouldn't know where to find or contact otherwise. Plus, the fact that I can post a free job is beneficial, as sometimes the responses are amazing and help push a project forward. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It's becoming too automated with the postings - let me have total control over what the post is. You can suggest things via AI but it's become reliant on these features and it's very frustrating. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork gives me access to a world of freelancers I wouldn't find otherwise, and it's easy to use. I can post a free job, which helps me decide whether to move forward with projects without upfront costs. ### 49. Freelancer Payment Protection and Access to Quality Clients on Upwork **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Caitlin G. | Senior Manager (RN) of Published Resources, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 25, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I appreciate most is the payment protection. With features like the Time Tracker for hourly projects and mandatory escrow for fixed-price contracts, Upwork ensures that I always receive payment. This takes away the usual stress of invoicing, following up, and having awkward discussions with clients, so I can concentrate fully on delivering quality work. Another major advantage is the vast and varied client base. Although it requires some effort to sift through opportunities, the platform does a great job of helping to connect with large companies and verified mid-sized businesses that are prepared to pay competitive rates for specialized expertise. I also find the option to create specialized profiles extremely useful for reaching different client segments more effectively. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The biggest pain point is the "Connects" system, which feels like a compulsory barrier to entry and a constant financial drain. The cost of submitting proposals (often 8-16 contacts per job) has inflated significantly during my time as a freelancer, turning proposal writing into a gamble. There is no Connect refund if the client never views or hires, which is problematic, because there are many people who post jobs and never return. Secondly, the platform is full of low-budget clients and poorly defined job postings, requiring considerable time investment to filter out scams or "race-to-the-bottom" opportunities. I've never had much luck with customer support when reaching out. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork primarily solves some major freelance headaches: 1) Payment Risk: Their escrow and Time Tracker guarantee payment. 2) Clients: It provides a massive, global marketplace for finding large or specialized contracts. 3) Admin Work: It centralizes contracting, time tracking, and invoicing, saving some non-billable time. ### 50. Effortless Task Outsourcing and Talent Discovery **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bert V. | Head Differencist and Lead Consultant **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork for the easiness of putting in a task and finding different profiles. It has a good flow for describing a task, so I don't have to think about that much. I just type in my expertise, and the variety of profiles helps in quickly selecting someone with the expertise and cost pricing that fits my needs. I also find the initial setup of Upwork to be quick and easy. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The weekly payment for a recurring task doesn't ask if I want to continue another week and so it kept running and kept hiring the person while I intended to stop the task already. Could be improved. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to delegate tedious tasks like admin and accounting, which saves me time. Its interface makes task description simple, and it helps me quickly find skilled freelancers with the right expertise and pricing. ## Upwork Discussions - [Is Upwork better or Fiverr?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/upwork-is-upwork-better-or-fiverr) - 3 comments, 4 upvotes - [What is Upwork used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-upwork-used-for) - 2 comments, 2 upvotes - [As a new user of Upwork, how can I effectively use its proposal bidding system to increase my chances of winning projects?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/as-a-new-user-of-upwork-how-can-i-effectively-use-its-proposal-bidding-system-to-increase-my-chances-of-winning-projects) - 2 comments, 1 upvote - [How Can I grow more on Upwork?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-can-i-grow-more-on-upwork) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [Is there any plan to reduce/increase the service charge by Upwork?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-there-any-plan-to-reduce-increase-the-service-charge-by-upwork) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [View Upwork pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/upwork/reviews?page=3§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-17+10%3A29%3A09+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=5ee77e27-71df-4e84-bf80-02446c38163e&secure%5Btoken%5D=f5d568320feb4b276b66b1158dffcc492b75c8dc33192097653dc3b68f570366&format=llm_user) ## Upwork Integrations - [Adobe Acrobat](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-acrobat/reviews) - [Adobe Illustrator](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-illustrator/reviews) - [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-photoshop/reviews) - [Asana](https://www.g2.com/products/asana/reviews) - [AWS Auto Scaling](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-auto-scaling/reviews) - [AWS Lambda](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-lambda/reviews) - [Behance](https://www.g2.com/products/behance/reviews) - [Calendly](https://www.g2.com/products/calendly/reviews) - [Canva](https://www.g2.com/products/canva/reviews) - [ChatGPT](https://www.g2.com/products/chatgpt/reviews) - [ClickUp](https://www.g2.com/products/clickup/reviews) - [Dropbox](https://www.g2.com/products/dropbox/reviews) - [Fiverr](https://www.g2.com/products/fiverr/reviews) - [GHL](https://www.g2.com/products/ghl/reviews) - [Google Analytics for G Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/google-analytics-for-g-suite/reviews) - [Google Workspace](https://www.g2.com/products/google-workspace/reviews) - [Labelbox](https://www.g2.com/products/labelbox/reviews) - [LinkedIn Job Search](https://www.g2.com/products/linkedin-job-search/reviews) - [Literatu for Google Docs for G Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/literatu-for-google-docs-for-g-suite/reviews) - [Microsoft Excel](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-excel/reviews) - [Microsoft Word](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-word/reviews) - [monday AI Work Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/monday-com/reviews) - [Payoneer](https://www.g2.com/products/payoneer/reviews) - [QuickBooks Online](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-online/reviews) - [Salesforce Headless 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/reviews) - [Slack](https://www.g2.com/products/slack/reviews) - [TimeTracker.pro](https://www.g2.com/products/timetracker-pro/reviews) - [Zapier](https://www.g2.com/products/zapier/reviews) - [Zoom Rooms](https://www.g2.com/products/zoom-rooms/reviews) - [Zoom Workplace](https://www.g2.com/products/zoom-workplace/reviews) ## Upwork Features **Platform Basics** - Payment - Project Management - Dashboard **Generative AI** - AI Text Summarization **Hiring** - RFP Creator - Messaging - Freelance Screening - Freelance Profiles **Platform Performance** - Interoperability - Performance **Project Management** - Calendar - Guidelines and Policies - Workflow Builder - Digital Asset Management **Platform Content** - Contracts - Request Tool - Selection Management - Invoicing Tool - Proposal Tool **Payment** - Payment Automation - Secure Payments - Multi-Currency Payments - Multiple Payment Methods **Platform Additional Functionality** - Reporting - Mobility - Portal ## Top Upwork Alternatives - [Fiverr](https://www.g2.com/products/fiverr/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (456 reviews) - [Bark.com](https://www.g2.com/products/bark-com/reviews) - 1.6/5.0 (322 reviews) - [Toptal](https://www.g2.com/products/toptal/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (269 reviews)