# Upwork Reviews **Vendor:** Upwork Inc. **Category:** [Freelance Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/freelance-platforms) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 3,195 ## 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 appreciate the **ease of finding work** on Upwork, praising its organized management and secure payment system. (665 reviews) - Users value Upwork for its **diverse job opportunities** and reliable client connections across various fields. (367 reviews) - Users value the **global client connections** and **secure payment processes** Upwork offers for freelancers. (358 reviews) - Users appreciate the **time efficiency** of Upwork, enabling convenient pay schedules and streamlined work management. (288 reviews) - Users appreciate that Upwork provides **global connections and security** , ensuring a professional and reliable freelancing experience. (266 reviews) - Talent Quality (231 reviews) - Payment Reliability (215 reviews) - Convenience (191 reviews) - Many Options (186 reviews) - Helpful (149 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users express concerns about Upwork's **high service fees** , which significantly diminish earnings, particularly on smaller projects. (474 reviews) - Users express concern over **high service fees** on Upwork, which significantly cut into their earnings on projects. (454 reviews) - Users find **job scarcity** on Upwork discouraging, struggling to secure work despite qualifications and feedback. (207 reviews) - Users find **intense competition** on Upwork discouraging, as it often overshadows their qualifications and achievements. (155 reviews) - Users highlight **systemic issues** on Upwork, including low-quality talent, high fees, and a frustrating proposal process. (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 has changed my life **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consulting | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I have clients I wouldn't have found on my own. There are so many amazing established businesses and startups looking for contracted help. The fees balance out with time I save by not doing my own invoicing, and I have peace of mind knowing my payments will always be on time. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** There are some jobs that aren't true freelance jobs. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** My Upwork profile acts as a website in a way. People can see jobs I've completed, read my reviews, and see my success rate. It helps me sell my services without having to do anything. ### 2. Gateway to Success with Genuine Opportunities **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Farhan Ahmed Kamal . | Ecommerce Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 12, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I appreciate that Upwork is not a fake platform; it has genuine people and real clean projects. Upwork opens the doors of success for anyone who wants to work, which is something I value highly. Thank you, Upwork, for helping me find long-term projects that increase my income, which is important for my family. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Connection purchase can hurt beginners who are starting from zero. The verification process is quite tough and difficult. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find long-term projects, increasing my income to support my family. It's a genuine platform with real projects, providing opportunities for anyone wanting to work. ### 3. Efficient Talent Sourcing, Needs Better Applicant Filtering **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Goods | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 23, 2021 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like hiring contractors on Upwork to fill in skill gaps on our team. It's really easy to find quality talent with lots of reviews, and get them hired quickly. It's easy to manage the relationship through Upwork. I've always been able to find someone to do what we need. Contract management is easy and solid, and initial setup was easy too. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It can be hard to know what to put into the job description, such as how much context about our business to provide. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the flood of applicants. **Recommendations to others considering Upwork:** I like to start as hourly and ask for estimates, then change to fixed price after selecting a hire. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork makes it easy to find quality talent with reviews, hire quickly, and manage the relationship. I always find someone to fill our team’s skill gaps. ### 4. Plenty of Contractors, Protected Payments, and Smart Job Sorting **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Danielle V. | Owner, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the amount of contractors available to choose from, knowing my payments are protected, review system, ability to sort job post requirements by location/availability/need. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I'm not sure I've run into anything that i dislike enough to list here. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I didn't have a qualified candidates in my local area, Upwork allows me to easily fill that need. ### 5. Upwork takes the place of a graphic designer in our sign shop **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Steve D. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork helps us save time by connecting our busy sign shop with skilled graphic designers. Rather than hiring a full-time employee and struggling to keep them occupied for 40 hours a week at a high salary, we turn to Upwork as needed. This allows us to bring in extra help when our current staff is too busy to handle all the design work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes, even after we've taken the time to explain all the requirements and upload examples, we find that, depending on the job, it can actually be easier to just do the task ourselves. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** This approach helps us keep our overhead costs low, since we hire graphic designers for individual projects rather than employing them full time. ### 6. Account Issues and Poor Support Overshadow Freelancer Access **Rating:** 1.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Monica P. | Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork offers access to a lot of freelancers. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Zero respect paid to freelancers. I don’t know how they function with so little support. And zero respect for clients. We had a small office and two people both accessed the account. Because of this, our account was suspended. Now one of the people no longer works at the company and Upwork refuses to unfreeze our account. We had to create an entire new one and the old one has been sitting there frozen for two years. We tried for six months to get it sorted but Upwork were impossible to deal with. Terrible company **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** None really. If they didn’t exist there would be some other way to find freelancers. ### 7. Easy Job Posting and Strong Candidates, Though There’s Room to Improve **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Whitney A. | Client Solutions Expert, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork was easy to find and review the details of each applicant, posting jobs was also simple and the candidates are good quality. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Downsides of Upwork are not always having access to people in same timezone depending on projects and budgets **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am able to hire people on an as needed basis and it's flexible. ### 8. Flexible, Easy Setup, and a Smooth Start on Tax Compliance **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jenn C. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** the freedom to work with anyone , at any time and have ease of tax issue to get started. also very easy to set up and implement an account. I use this platform daily and it is very easy to get paid from upwork as well **What do you dislike about Upwork?** the high fee associated with leaving to work outside of upwork, and the high fee when a client takes on a short term project. I wonder if there could be a sliding scale for project cost and support **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** solving the problem of finding new clients and having all work in the same place ### 9. Seamless Navigation, Excellent Freelancers, Needs Better Support **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Craig W. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 02, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork easy to navigate and full of very successful and accessible freelancers. The setup was seamless, making it extremely easy for a computer novice like me. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** No one was available over the weekend to solve a billing issue. Unable to add a second credit card. Have representatives available that answer quicker than 48 hours. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helped me find a competent book cover designer and someone to market my book on Amazon. It's easy to navigate, full of successful freelancers, and the setup was seamless. ### 10. Freelancing on Upwork **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Love O. | Data Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** The fact that when I submit proposal for a job, I can see when my proposal has been viewed and also when the client is interviewing or has hired a candidate. I just love that I get to see the process openly. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I dislike the fact that Upwork allows clients who are unserious about hiring to posts Jobs on the platform, thereby making us to spend connects on Jobs that might not be real or that the client isn't even ready to hire. I buy these connects. I'd want to maximise it's use until I land a full time Job on the platform. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork connects clients that need our services to us and allows us to bid for the Job. Upwork is one of the best freelancing platforms out there because through the platform, so many freelancers kick-started their freelancing career, including me. ### 11. Secure Payment & On-Hold System That Protects Projects **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Maaz M. | Designer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 22, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Their payment system and the onhold payment system because client cannot run away after project completion **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Connections and bids are little over priced **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Connecting client and a freelancer a proper platform to communicate in a secure way ### 12. A Trusted Freelancing Platform **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** katherine m. | Sales Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 13, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like best about Upwork is the flexibility and access to global opportunities. It allows me to work with clients from different industries while managing my time efficiently. I also appreciate the structured platform—clear contracts, secure payments, and transparent feedback—which creates a professional and reliable environment for both freelancers and clients **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I dislike about Upwork is the high level of competition, which can make it challenging for skilled freelancers to stand out initially. The platform fees can also feel limiting **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork addresses the challenge of linking businesses with skilled remote professionals by offering a reliable and well-organized platform for both hiring and collaboration. For me, it provides valuable access to clients from around the world, ensures secure and prompt payments, offers clear contract terms, and maintains a system that fosters transparency and supports lasting professional relationships. ### 13. Easily Find Great Clients for Side Gigs **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Samir M. | Product Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 23, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** The fact that I can find good clients easily when I am trying to do side gigs **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The recommendation engine is a bit chaotic like sometimes it highly recommend me in search and sometimes it is not **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Finding a good fit clients is the main benefit & also contract handling stuff ### 14. Quality work, Without being Overcharged **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jasmine L. | Director of Public Relations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Whenever I need work done on Upwork, somebody is always available because it operates in different locations. I can request a job late at night and have it done by the time I wake up because of this. The artists are usually highly trained in their area of expertise and charge very good prices. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes the workers have a small language barrier issue but I learned that if you are specific, clear and detailed that usually sorts out any kinks you may have. They are always willing to correct and make edits though. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is solving the issue of being overcharged for work that is subpar with artists you find via social media. They provide a review system that keeps people honest and aware of the person they choose to hire. ### 15. Great choice for finding expert freelancers, but with a short learning curve to comfortably use **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Davis F. | Product Development Engineer | CAD, DFM, Mechatronics, and Robotics Development, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is a great option for finding well-qualified freelancers in a wide variety of fields. As an engineer myself, I use it to access experts outside of my field to enhance the products and services that I offer to my own clients. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** There is a significant learning curve to using the platform. It's straightforward once you've become familiar with it, but more casual users often seem to struggle with the hiring process, timesheet tracking, and the like. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork to find qualified freelancers for short- and medium-term contract work, especially in product design and programming. ### 16. Intuitive Interface and Helpful AI, But Too Much Spam and Low Rates **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Brie Danielle B. | Chief Chaos Wrangler, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really like the user interface. It’s very easy to use and navigate it. It’s very easy to find what you’re looking for the AI writer is helpful and does produce some good outputs. I have been on Upwork on and off since 2012 there have been some great things about it over the years and unfortunately honestly the things I like about it are dwindling every year. I used to really love their pricing structure for their freelancers however, that seems to be changing quite a bit as well lately. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I do not like the amount of spam and scam jobs that are posted. Also, the jobs that are posted with their religious surveys. I don’t like that they are allowed on the site. They bog it down at times.I also really dislike the drive of hourly rates being so low that it’s difficult to stay working and actually making money. I also do not like their take on contracts and basically from my understanding you once you’re hired through Upwork with somebody you have to say on Upwork with them, depending on the type of contract, of course. I just feel like it’s saturated with people that are willing to work for nothing and lately with job posters who are wanting to pay nothing for quality work. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Unfortunately, right now it’s causing me more problems than solving. There is an ebb and flow though every year and I’m hoping that the flow will come back up after the first of the year. I used to solve the problem of they’re not being another site that hasn’t a lot of my type of work on there which is construction, accounting and operations management. It is, however, a very easy site to navigate that I will I will say. ### 17. Efficient Freelancer Hiring Platform with Room for Cost Improvement **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Retail | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really appreciate not having to 1099 contractors, which simplifies financial management for my digital marketing agency. The ability to easily screen candidates makes hiring a more efficient process. I find the time tracking feature very useful for keeping projects on track. It's extremely easy to create an account, and I really like the ability to have multiple financial profiles on Upwork. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I find the high fees for both me as the hiring company and for the contractor problematic. Also, sometimes it's not clear if my contracts are visible to the public. I need the option to keep them private sometimes. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me hire specialists for paid ads management, graphic design, and content creation. I like not having to 1099 contractors, the easy candidate screening, and the smooth time tracking. ### 18. Efficient Hiring with Robust Integration **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Brian S. | Chief Operating Officer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like Upwork's interface and the integration with a large number of freelancers. I can scan to find the specific skill sets I need very quickly, which makes hiring freelance development work much more efficient. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I would like a better way to use Upwork across clients without having to create new contracts every time. It was easy for me, but not as easy when adding in other stakeholders, especially because they don't have access to all of the same contracts. So it gets all muddied. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me increase capacity and scale by hiring freelance development work. I can quickly scan to find specific skill sets I need. ### 19. Upwork is the Place to Find Your Dreams! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** 💡 Theresa W. | Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 18, 2020 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like having a variety of work to choose from and to know it's a safe environment. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Nothing really. I have worked through Upwork for years because it's a great experience. **Recommendations to others considering Upwork:** Upwork is a great place to get started working remotely and to build your reputation and skills. Bid low and do a great job to build a great reputation. Many clients will teach you many new skills and software which you can then take to the next job for more money. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** When my grandchildren started coming along Upwork was a great place to come to find income that allowed me to also watch my grandchildren. I also like that I can work for a client for a short time and leave if it doesn't suit me without consequence. I can also complete long term jobs in a safe environment. ### 20. User-Friendly Platform for Freelance Collaboration **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Chuck B. | Marketing Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I especially like the formatting and the structure of the platform. I appreciate being able to select from among multiple bids for a project and also that I can further filter those results. It's easy to navigate and learn how to use. I was up and using the platform in under an hour, and I very much appreciate this ease of use. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I will admit that the billing structure is a little confusing at first. And it could be a little more flexible in how it invoices. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork lets us handle freelance work without needing a full-time hire. It's easy to use and quickly connects us with freelancers. ### 21. Upwork is Fabulous -- Most of the Time **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I can find people to help with projects pretty quickly and easily. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Two things: I cannot really tell if a person is qualified to take on a project. Anyone can say they can do something, and I have had a couple of bad experiences where people clearly had no idea how to do the job they applied for. The second is related. I cannot hep other employers by providing honest feedback. In both cases in which I honestly rated the person who did not complete an assignment, it came back on me ... I am absolutely sure now that all the employers do the same thing I do, which is to leave neutral or no feedback rather than risking the negative consequences of being honest. It's a real problem because I cannot rely on reviews to evaluate a candidate's quality. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I need lots of different specialists for specific jobs. The ability to hire someone to complete a specific task is invaluable. ### 22. Largest Freelancer Platform, But High Costs and Low-Quality Jobs Are a Challenge **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Media Production | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It's the largest freelancer platform in existence. That is the primary advantage that it has. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** When all is said and done, over the years Upwork has changed their platform to where it is VERY expensive to use. You get charged 10% of your income. The client gets charged. You have to pay to bid (generally), you have to pay to get your bid to the top of the list. Newbies and low-rated people can be shown above established, proven freelancers based on paying extra. Low pay and ridiculous expectations are now the norm on Upwork. It used to be a great source of high-quality jobs. Now it's a firehose of crap, low-paying jobs with the occasional needle-in-a-haystack decent job being present, but nearly impossible to find quickly enough to have any realistic expectation of getting your bid seen. As an "Expert-vetted" (top 1% of freelancers on the platform) freelancer with a 100% Job Success score, over 600 completed jobs, and over $900K in earnings, I now find it incredibly difficult to find decent projects with decent clients. The platform is so full of "meh" people from all over the world, that it's become almost useless to me. I will acknowledge that clients have filters available that enables them to find freelancers like myself, but every client wants a good deal and prefer to think they are going to get a "diamond in the rough" for cheap. So they simply don't use these filters (IMHO) and don't realize the pain points they are likely to experience (bad communication, language barriers, etc.) but trying to get a deal. I can't say that this is all Upwork's fault, but it certainly encourages me to stay off the platform as much as my business allows. What they really need is a "Top-tier" marketplace that only select freelancers and clients can access, making it much easier for established freelancers to connect with solid clients. That's what Upwork USED to be (as opposed to Freelancer.com and Guru.com that were the ones filled with crap jobs and nickel-and-dime freelancers). I'm supposed to say “I received a gift card for sharing my honest review.” **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Right now they aren't solving much of anything. Too many nickel-and-dime projects and too many worldwide freelancers trying to get them. ### 23. Easy to Find Contractors, With Helpful Admin Support **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rita B. | Project Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 04, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** How easy it is to find contractors and the support provided by Admin if needed **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I have not found anything that is dislikeable yet about Upworks **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Independent contractors from around the world thereby giving me access to the very best within my budget ### 24. Overall Good Platform But Needs More Anti-Scammer Vetting! **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Samantha M. | QA Engineering Manager/Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** It has helped me to build my independent practice and connected me to invaluable clientele, for which I remain eternally grateful! **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Lately, it has been rife with low-quality survey type work, gigs for impossibly low pay, "ghost-jobs" and scammers, although some of this is due to the state of the market. Two years ago, this platform allowed a scammer to begin a "contract", through which they stole 2 hours of my time, and possibly sensitive data of mine as well, and their profile was banned before I could be compensated (so I paid for this, which is not right!). This bad actor should have never been allowed on this platform in the first place. Please do more to keep those "survey sites", low-ballers, and scammers out of here so that this remains a high-integrity, high-quality platform!! I realize that Upwork gets paid up-front regardless, even for scammers (also not right!) but please do right by those who deliver the quality work that makes this a top work platform! Thank you for your time and consideration. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Provides opportunities for independent software QA practitioners like myself (though lately the quality of offerings has declined) ### 25. Effortless Expert Connection, Needs Pricing Transparency **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Scrubinskin L. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love how easy it is to connect with experts in every field of business on Upwork. It is easy to pay experts and reach out to them when I need help. I appreciate that Upwork is my go-to for outsourcing projects to experts and getting advice. The platform is pretty easy to use and understand. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I would love if there was a function where you can see average cost for a project without haggling with each expert. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Upwork for outsourcing projects to experts and getting advice, which simplifies connecting and paying experts. It's my go-to for email marketing, imaging, QuickBooks help, and website management. ### 26. Great for Finding Long-Term Collaborators, But Needs Better Search **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Annali W. | Marketing Manager, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like finding good people on Upwork that I can have longer term relationships with for work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The filtering and search functionality isn't the best. I would like more insight into people's portfolios or work before discussing with them. It's a little bit of a hassle because I have a freelancer account too, and the accounts are kind of merged and blended, making it difficult to log in. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork allows me to take my current designs and extrapolate them into production design on an as needed basis. ### 27. Great Talent Pool, But Fees and Messaging Need Improvement **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Touré O. **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that Upwork has a large marketplace with a wide talent base, so I can generally find what I'm looking for. It's also fairly easy to use, being pretty clean and intuitive. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The fees are getting out of hand, I'm thinking about leaving the platform because the fees are so high even for people I find myself. The messaging interface is extremely frustrating, especially since I can't delete or hide messages. I have a lot of freelancers messaging me even though I'm not interested, and it clogs up my message feed. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves talent search by being a marketplace that brings me closer to talent, making it easier to review applicants without extensive searching. It helps me hire and onboard overseas talent more efficiently from a payment and processing perspective. ### 28. Easy to Use and Makes Finding the Right Freelancer Simple **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I love being able to choose the freelancer who’s the best fit for me. It’s easy to see who has the most experience and the right capabilities for what I need. I also like that I can use it for every project, since I use it every week and always have projects going. On top of that, it’s incredibly easy to use. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The customer service isn't the best. Sometimes freelancers don't do the work they promise and aren't always so quick to get back with a solution. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I don't have to hire full time staff and can easily find people for every aspect of a project. ### 29. Trusted Platform for Building Freelance Career **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Neha G. | Creative Fashion Designer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 22, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is very easy to use and straightforward to set up, even for beginners. The platform has a wide range of useful features, from project search filters to secure payment systems, which make freelancing smooth and reliable. I don’t use it frequently, only depending on the projects I get, but whenever I do, the experience is excellent with reliable clients and smooth communication. Customer service is responsive and helpful whenever I need assistance, and the integration of different tools on the site makes project management simple. Overall, it’s a complete and user-friendly platform that truly supports freelancers in building their careers. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Sometimes there are small service fees but I see it as fair for the security and opportunities the platform provides. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of connecting freelancers with reliable clients from all over the world. It provides a secure platform for finding projects, managing work, and receiving payments safely. This benefits me by giving access to quality opportunities, reducing the stress of finding clients independently, and allowing me to focus on delivering my best work without worrying about payments or contracts. ### 30. Effective Recruitment Platform with Some Communication Challenges **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jay A. | Performance Test Lead, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like the fact that I get to know what they've done. It has a good payment system, which is kinda good to take some of the work out of that. That's probably the best thing that I wanna get back at work. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** It's really difficult to communicate sometimes, and I'm worried about giving honest feedback because of how the other person might react. Also, the fees are a little bit high. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork lets me reach out globally to find quality people easily, reducing my legwork. ### 31. Effortless Talent Acquisition with Upwork **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mitch W. | Licensed Insurance Broker, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that on Upwork, I can find qualified people who are not demanding a high rate of pay for their services. I just like the ease of being able to find people. I feel very comfortable with being able to message people in a secure provider. The initial setup of Upwork was fairly easy for me. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I don't like the finders fee to hire someone **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork provides access to ready-to-work freelancers, making it easy to find qualified people who don't demand high pay rates. ### 32. Effortless Hiring with Robust Controls **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Anthony N. | Senior Attorney - Criminal Defense, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I appreciate how Upwork made it really easy to find, screen, interview, hire, and pay contract workers for SEO work. I like its ease of use. It's great that communication and payment are all within a controlled environment, ensuring accountability for everyone. I also find the reviews very helpful. The initial setup was very easy too. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Some people had lots of open jobs which they later said were closed just not in Upwork system. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork makes it easy to find, screen, interview, hire, and pay contract workers for SEO work, all within a controlled environment ensuring accountability and ease of use with helpful reviews. ### 33. The Upwork Platform Review **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Leatra G. | Freelancer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 22, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that there are a lot of projects to choose from. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I don't really like the way the connects system is set up. I think it has changed a few times over the years and now some of the jobs are so high in connects that, I don't really work on as many projects as I used to. I feel if there is goingnto be a system like this in place, it should maybe feel like the freelancers are getting a deal on the connects and the projects. So, maybe if 10 connects are purchased, they should receive 5 more for free. Something to keep all of the artists coming back. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I see that Upwork offers more resources for those interested in learning AI. Unfortunately, it has not directly benefitted me as of yet, but I love having those options on the Upwork platform in case I want to expand or improve my skills. ### 34. Upwork allowed me to break free from the rat race **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mary T. | Editor/Ghostwriter, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I use Upwork both as a client and a contractor. When I decided I wanted to go to work for myself full-time, Upwork made that possible. It took some time to get enough clients to make a living, but now that I've built a reputation, I actually make more than I did working a standard 9-5. There is no shortage of work, and with Upwork handling the escrow accounts, I feel secure in knowing I'm actually going to get paid at the end of the project. I'm genuinely very grateful for Upwork. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I do think their fee is a bit too high, and it only seems to increase all the time. Additionally, I'm not sure why they hold funds for five days once a client has approved a project. In my mind, the assumption should be that the client has reviewed the submission, and if they have approved it, their happy with the quality of work. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork brings the talent right to the employers/individuals looking to hire, and it brings the work straight to the contractors. In addition, since it handles the escrow process, everyone is kept safe. ### 35. Great platform for freelancers looking for flexibility to find clients **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Chikodi E. | Investment Banker and Finance Associate, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Large client base - Upwork attracts a lot of clients to the platform Relatively reasonable service fee - Upwork takes a typical service fee of 10% which is reasonable. They recently added a 5% and 15% fee structures to some fields but those are rare One stop platform - Upwork integrates zoom meetings, meeting scheduling, messaging, ability to send attachments to its platflorm which makes it seamless to do everything on the app without needed to use other apps Good dispute process - Upwork has its own free mediation process and paid external arbitration process which helps for dispute Good payment collection system - Upwork assist with billing clients and the process is seamless **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Customer support could do better to understand freelancer's queries and not issue template responses The connects system which promotes bidding for jobs is good to weed of spamming but the amount of connects required for jobs needs to be reduced **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork is solving a couple of problems for freelancers which include: 1. Finding clients/jobs - Upwork brings the clients to freelancers 2. Billing support - Upwork bills clients directly and remits to freelancers 3. Reducing scam clients - Upwork actively investigates reports of scams and bans offending clients from platform 4, Dispute resolution - Upwork assists with mediation and offers arbitration when there are disputes This benefits me greatly as I don't have to worry about doing any of these and just focus on working for my clients ### 36. Best Platform for Freelancers and Clients **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Juliene F. | Marketing, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes it easy to connect with clients from all over the world. The platform is user-friendly, has a wide variety of job categories, and provides secure payment protection. I especially like the ability to build long-term client relationships while also having access to short-term projects. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The service fees can feel high, especially for smaller projects, and sometimes the competition makes it difficult to land new contracts. Additionally, navigating disputes or customer support can be a little slow at times. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the challenge of finding reliable freelance opportunities by bringing clients and professionals together in one trusted space. It removes the uncertainty of searching for work independently, since projects are clearly outlined, payments are protected, and communication is streamlined. For me, this means I can focus on delivering quality work instead of worrying about whether I’ll get paid or where to find my next client. It also gives me the flexibility to choose projects that align with my skills and career goals, which helps me grow my business steadily. ### 37. Upwork Makes "A World of Difference" **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** DARRYL E. O. | Creator/Producer/Host, Higher Education, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 23, 2021 **What do you like best about Upwork?** As the creator and producer of Beacon College’s TV show "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity," I work within the tight budget constraints of a nonprofit school producing a nationally focused program that broadcasts on PBS stations. Upwork gives me the flexibility to set a budget and source skilled professionals who can handle cinematography tasks at rates I can afford—often delivering work that not only meets expectations but sometimes elevates the quality of our show. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Some freelancers have expressed concerns that payments aren’t released promptly and that Upwork’s service fees represent a significant portion of their earnings. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** As the creator and producer of Beacon College’s TV show "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity," I work within the budget constraints of a nonprofit institution producing a nationally focused program. When covering stories across the country, it’s often more cost-effective to hire local professionals through Upwork rather than send familiar freelancers and incur expenses for airfare, lodging, meals, rental cars, and day rates. Upwork has consistently connected me with skilled, budget-conscious talent who deliver quality work that meets broadcast standards. ### 38. Beneficial platform for job opportunities **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Anna H. | Customer service agent, Security and Investigations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 19, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork makes the process of searching for jobs an easy and smooth process. They offer many filters and advanced filters that are used to narrow down the search results. The amount of jobs and the variety of jobs that are offered is great. Upwork offers jobs for anyone, no matter your skills, experience, etc. Everyone is bound to find a job that they want to apply to. I also like how Upwork has their site organized. It makes it so easy to navigate through the site to find exactly what I need to find. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I'm not a fan of the credits and bidding system that Upwork has. I understand why it's in place and the purpose of it. I wouldn't say that I dislike it but more so that im not too keen of it. If there ever comes a time where credits run out on the account then more has to be purchased. The only way to apply for jobs is by using those credits and bidding. If you don't have credits and can't purchase more, at the moment, then no jobs can be applied to. That puts a damper on things! **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork does a great job at offering legitimate, remote jobs that can be done at home. There are so many different work from home scams these days. It can be hard to distinguish the scams from the real work. Upwork helps to take that worry away by showing me nothing but legitimate job opportunities. This allows me the ability to earn extra income. So two problems that Upwork solves and helps me benefit from!! ### 39. A Reliable Platform for Freelancers to Find Quality Work **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Diomar D. | English-Portuguese Brazilian Translator | Data Entry Specialist | Transcriber , Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork has been a game-changer in my freelance career. It provides access to a global marketplace of clients looking for a wide range of services, from writing and design to development and marketing. The platform makes it easy to search for jobs, submit proposals, and manage contracts all in one place. One of the features I appreciate most is Upwork's escrow system, which helps ensure that payments are secure and on time. The time tracking tool and work diary are also useful for hourly projects, providing transparency for both freelancers and clients. Disclosure: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. The opinions are my own. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The service fees can feel high, especially for newer freelancers just getting started. Additionally, competition can be intense, so it takes time and effort to build a strong profile and win consistent work. But once you establish credibility, Upwork can become a steady source of income. Disclosure: I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. The opinions are my own. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I’ve been using Upwork since the oDesk days, completing over 30 contracts in areas like translation and transcription. One of the hardest parts of freelancing is finding trustworthy clients and ensuring payments go smoothly. Upwork solves both of those problems by giving me access to a global client base and handling contracts, escrow, and payment security. For me, that’s been a huge benefit. Instead of worrying about chasing down invoices or struggling to find new leads, I can focus on delivering quality work. The platform makes the process simple: job discovery, communication, and payment are all in one place. Over the years, this has allowed me to build long-term relationships with international clients while keeping my freelance career flexible and stable. ### 40. Worth Exploring for Freelancers **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** James S. | Staff Writer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** The best thing about Upwork is that you see there are jobs available in your field and related fields. The clients have the openings up and there's definitely something for everyone depending on their skill set and experience. I've found quick gigs, short-term projects and clients I've worked with for years now on Upwork. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Having to wait 4-5 days to be paid on top of the client finally getting around to OK your work is very annoying. Three days should be the lengthiest end of your wait for funds. Some might complain about the Connects system but having been on Upwork for over 10 years and coming over from eLance prior to it merging with oDesk, the payout time has been my main issue with the platform. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Nothing, really. I'm a contributor/worker and Upwork has the work up for me to pursue if I wish. Again, it would be great if the payout time was shortened to 3 days at most but outside of that, Upwork is very "Help yourself" with work and I dig that. ### 41. My experience using upwork **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sofia N. | Freelance Writer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I find Upwork very easy to use. The interface is straightforward, and I appreciate that they sometimes give free connects. Building my profile and landing clients was surprisingly simple right from the start. I also really like the search function and filters. They make it quick and efficient to narrow down jobs that fit my skills. I haven’t had to use customer service yet, so I can’t speak to that. However, overall, my experience setting things up and getting started has been smooth. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One drawback is that a large share of job postings now involve AI in some way, which makes searching feel a bit uncomfortable if you’re not experienced with it. Another issue is transparency: I’ve come across jobs where the real requirement is leaving positive reviews, but you only find that out after spending connects to apply. It makes the process a little frustrating since you can waste resources on opportunities that aren’t what they seem. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork solves the problem of connecting freelancers with clients. Instead of spending time cold pitching or searching for opportunities on different platforms, I can go to one place where clients are already looking to hire. This benefits me by making it much easier to find freelance clients and start building working relationships quickly. ### 42. Upwork has been a fantastic platform **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shabi A. | Virtual Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is super helpful because it connects me with clients from all over the world, offering a range of projects that match my skills. The payment system is secure, so I feel confident I’ll get paid for my work. I also love the flexibility to choose projects and set my own schedule. Plus, the reviews help build my credibility, making it easier to land future work. Overall, Upwork makes freelancing smoother and more reliable. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The downsides of Upwork can include connect fees, especially for beginners like me, which can take a chunk out of my earnings. It can also be very competitive, making it tough to stand out among a large pool of freelancers. Sometimes, clients may not fully understand the value of my work, leading to lower-paying jobs or difficult negotiations. Additionally, there are occasional issues with clients who don't respond or provide unclear instructions, making the workflow harder to manage. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps me find freelance work easily. It connects me with clients from around the world, so I can choose projects I like. It also makes payments safe and easy, so I don’t have to worry about that. Upwork saves me time and lets me focus on doing good work. ### 43. Best choice for Freelancers **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Zeenah Z. | Peer Tutor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that there are a lot of jobs available and that you can see a companies reputation. It helps me choose clients and if you do have an issue, they do an investigation and make a decision if you get paid. It helps my peace of mind knowing that my work is protected. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** The fees are high. I understand that they need something from the jobs they arrange, but it's more than it should be. If they had a year cap for the year or after so long, they no longer take as much, then it would be more fair. I've worked for years with clients and they still take fees. I think 5%-7% would be fair, but it's as much as 20%. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is ensuring that I get paid for the work that I do and that the jobs I apply to are real. ### 44. Reliable Platform with Secure Payments **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** María Angélica E. | Virtual Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like most about Upwork is how easy it is to build and improve your profile. I can filter the job categories I want to search for, and I can easily track my proposals both on the website and in the mobile app. I also like that it offers a video call option without needing to pay for a membership, which makes it easier for clients to contact you directly. Upwork posts thousands of job opportunities every day, making job searching simple — with the right filters, you get a smart and tailored job search experience. Plus, the platform suggests job listings that match your profile. Another thing I really appreciate is that there are also many job opportunities in Spanish, which allows me to work in my native language. It is also great that if you report a suspicious job post or a scam, the support team quickly removes the fake profile and even refunds your Connects. Finally, withdrawing payments is very easy, with several options available, which is very convenient. "I received a gift card for sharing my honest review". **What do you dislike about Upwork?** What I dislike about Upwork is the service fees. I find them quite high, especially when you are just starting out on the platform. Not every client relationship lasts more than six months, which makes it hard to lower the percentage fee. In the beginning, the more you earn, the more you end up paying in fees. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Once, I had an issue signing a contract with a client, and the support team helped us solve it quickly and effectively. ### 45. Trusted Platform with growing opportunities **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ivana C. | German-English-Croatian Translator | AI Model Trainer & MTPE Expert, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I really enjoy working on Upwork. I started about three years ago, and it was the beginning of my freelance journey in translation and AI-related projects. It’s helped me grow so much—both by improving my existing skills and learning a ton of new ones. What I love most about the platform is how seriously they take safety. These days, you always have to be cautious about scammers or clients who don’t pay. Upwork makes that a lot less stressful by verifying payment methods, so you know who you can trust. And if something still feels off, they’re quick to step in and investigate. That peace of mind makes a huge difference. I received a gift card for my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** One thing I’m not too happy about is that Upwork recently raised their service fee on most projects from 10% to 15%. It might not sound like a huge jump, but when you're working regularly, it definitely adds up over time. I understand platforms need to make changes to stay sustainable, but it still feels a bit discouraging—especially for freelancers who’ve been loyal to the platform for years. I just hope they continue to improve other areas to balance it out. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork helps freelancers feel safe making money online—something that’s not always easy these days. It also solves the problem of being tied to one location by allowing you to work with clients from anywhere in the world. ### 46. Digital Illustrator review **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Paula T. | Freelance Illustrator and Portraitist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Flexibility, work in my field that is not otherwise easy to find, a time tracking app, legal and payment backup. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** Double Dipping: Freelancers have to pay to bid AND Upwork takes 20% of the fee. Take it or Leave it Bidding: You have to pay for connects to bid for jobs that you are unable to ask any questions about. If the client provides a vague job description--extremely common--there's no way to clarify. Vague Job Descriptions: I've contacted Upwork six times regarding vague and nearly identical quality of their AI-generated job descriptions. These tell absolutely nothing about the style of illustration the client wants, the age range of the book, the art style, the number of pages/illustrations, etc. If I read the word "whimsical" one more time, I'm going to scream. Why can't clients be encouraged to provide an image of the style they're looking for? These may be great jobs with great clients, but all I can do is either skip them or gamble on wasting connect money. I've left the platform completely for months. Now I look from time to time, but it's become a low priority because of this impossible and incredibly frustrating situation. Scams: These seem less than they used to be, but they're still out there. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** There appear to be less scam jobs. Often, by the time that I can get to a scammer email, the client has been removed from the platform. But they have NOT solved the vague job description issue well at all. ### 47. A Mixed Bag of Talent and Frustration **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Diana P. | Translateor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** Upwork is a fantastic platform for finding and hiring freelance talent across a huge range of industries. What I appreciate most is the immense and diverse talent pool. You can find experts for virtually any project, from web development and design to writing, marketing, and legal services. The user interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate, which makes the process of posting a job and sifting through proposals very straightforward. The built-in project management and payment features are also a major plus. The platform handles contracts, invoicing, and secure payments, which gives both clients and freelancers peace of mind. For hourly contracts, the time tracker with screenshots provides transparency and confidence that you're only paying for work that is actually being done. For fixed-price projects, the escrow system ensures the freelancer doesn't start work until the funds are secured and that the client doesn't release the payment until they're satisfied with the work. The review and rating system is a great way to vet potential hires and build a reputable profile for yourself. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** While the platform has many strengths, it's not without its flaws. My biggest concern is the quality of customer support. When issues arise—especially concerning scams, disputes, or account verification problems—the support team can be slow to respond and often provides generic, canned replies that don't actually solve the problem. This can be incredibly frustrating, particularly when a project or payment is on the line. Another downside is the prevalence of low-quality proposals and scams. While Upwork has a vast talent pool, it also has a high volume of unvetted freelancers who may submit generic, AI-generated proposals or try to take the project off-platform, which can be risky. This means you have to spend a significant amount of time sifting through numerous applications to find a few genuinely qualified candidates. The "Connects" system, which requires freelancers to pay to apply for jobs, can also be a barrier for new talent trying to get a foothold on the platform. Finally, the fees can be quite high, which impacts a freelancer's take-home pay and, in turn, can affect the rates they charge clients. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** The platform's built-in escrow and payment system is a major benefit. For fixed-price projects, the client funds the project upfront, so I'm assured the money is there before I start. For hourly contracts, the time-tracker provides proof of work and payment protection, eliminating the risk of not getting paid. This has saved me from having to chase payments or deal with financial disputes. As a freelancer, Upwork gives me a massive client base that I'd never be able to access on my own. It connects me with businesses from around the world, allowing me to find work regardless of my physical location. ### 48. Great Platform for Freelancers, But Barriers for Beginners **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Gina F. | Freelance Recruiter, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** What I like most about Upwork is the opportunity it gives freelancers to find contract work while feeling supported and protected. I appreciate the transparency in payout schedules and the security of knowing that once a contract starts, there’s a system in place that backs me up. The platform also allows me to check an employer’s history before accepting a job, which helps ensure legitimacy. Overall, the rating system between employers and freelancers makes it a solid tool for anyone starting out in the freelance world. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** On the downside, I really dislike the current Connects system. For freelancers who are just trying to get started, it feels discouraging to have to pay for Connects on top of already having 10% of earnings deducted per hour. This creates an extra barrier for those struggling to land their first opportunities. Additionally, despite Upwork’s safeguards, there are still quite a few scams that slip through, which can make the experience frustrating at times. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** Upwork gave me the chance to break into the freelance world, especially in the beginning when free Connects made it easier to get started and test the waters of the industry. It provides a structured and safe environment where freelancers and employers can connect without as much risk of unreliable contracts or negative experiences. For freelancers, it’s a platform that makes entering the market more accessible, and for employers, it offers a vetted way to find talent with a clear record of past work and reliability. ### 49. Exceptional Developers, Smooth Process, and Great Value **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Allen D. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I discovered a fantastic individual who is terrific to work with and truly skilled in software. Not only is he an excellent developer who communicates easily and responds quickly, but his services are also affordable. The entire process is smooth—you negotiate with several people, and they place bids on your project. Once you select someone, I make the payment. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I have been so pleased with the results I am getting that I keep on doing more projects I had not planned on, and I guess that is a good thing. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have someone I can afford to do the project with now, that I couldn't before. ### 50. Upwork helps me find quality clients **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kim K. | Bookkeeper, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Upwork?** I like that I have control over who I choose to work with. It is very easy to use and releases funds to me after a certain timeframe even if the work isn't "approved" yet by the client. This helps because sometimes clients are forgetful :) I use it every day and have plenty of potential clients that reach out directly to me. I received a gift card for sharing my honest review. **What do you dislike about Upwork?** I think that a lot of people don't have realistic expectations about what someone should be paid. They want "expert" advice for $5.00/hr. It would be helpful if maybe Upwork could suggest an appropriate price range for payment. **What problems is Upwork solving and how is that benefiting you?** I work very part time and would never be able to find such limited and flexible hours locally. I homeschool and have unpredictable times during the day that I work so not having to be logged on during certain hours of the day is very helpful and allows our family to continue homeschooling. ## 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=4&qs=pros-and-cons§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-27+05%3A30%3A32+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=5c41b637-f538-461c-b3e0-223a8da0147e&secure%5Btoken%5D=f498e8552e81a4c1c94570286ea1e4439de8ed472c8e6db6f948cb5959f54116&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) - [Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/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 Work Management](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) - [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 (455 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)