Upwork Reviews
Read unbiased Upwork reviews from 79 verified users to discover if it's the best choice for you. Upwork is currently ranked #6 in the freelance platforms industry with an average star rating of 1.2 and sentiment score of -25%. Keep reading to learn more.
Upwork
Upwork provides businesses with access to a wide range of skilled freelancers, from developers to designers and writers. Its platform is designed to simplify the hiring process, enabling companies to find, hire, and collaborate with top talent efficiently.
Founded
2015
Location
San Francisco, United States
Industries
Freelance Marketplace, Marketing and Advertising, Creative and Design, Project Management
TrustScore
25
(out of 0 to 100)
Industry Rank
#6
Out of 7 tracked companies
Industry Standing
28.6%
Establishing market position
Sentiment Score
-25%
Customer overall sentiment score
Average Rating
1.2
Star rating out of 5
Total Reviews
79
Last updated: 2025-01-31 17:15:03
Industry Comparison - Freelance Platforms
| Company | Rank | TrustScore | Rating | Sentiment | Reviews | Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toptal | #1 | 84 | 4.4 | 69% | 50 | 22.3% |
| Freelancer.com | #2 | 84 | 4.5 | 64% | 592 | 26.8% |
| FlexJobs | #3 | 75 | 4.2 | 45% | 398 | 21.2% |
| Fiverr | #4 | 72 | 3.7 | 50% | 2,197 | 35.8% |
| Guru.com | #5 | 34 | 1.8 | -16% | 38 | 1.1% |
| Upwork | #6 | 25 | 1.2 | -25% | 79 | -2.0% |
| PeoplePerHour | #7 | 19 | 1.1 | -40% | 36 | -5.2% |
In the Freelance Platforms industry, Toptal leads with the highest trust score of 84%, performing 49.6% above average, while PeoplePerHour has the lowest trust score of 19%, 66.2% below the industry average. Toptal has the highest sentiment score of 69%, and Fiverr has the most customer feedback with 2,197 reviews.
Industry Average Rating
3.0
Industry Average Sentiment
21%
Industry Total Reviews
3,390
Upwork Trust Score
0
out of 100
Rating Score (40% weighted)1.2 / 5
Sentiment Score (60% weighted)-25%
TrustScore is a combination of 1 to 5 star rating (40% weighted) and -1 to 1 sentiment score (60% weighted) to provide an accurate and comprehensive measure of customer satisfaction. Learn more.
Upwork Sentiment Overview
Total Reviews
79
Positive
33%
26 reviews
Neutral
3%
2 reviews
Negative
65%
51 reviews
Upwork Customer Reviews
Upwork customers are most satisfied with Support (85%) and Value (75%), while being most critical of Support (48%).
Reviews by Category
Positive Feedback
Support
And upwork sucks at making it easy for someone who is not logged in to get support.
Support
This system feels like it s designed to profit from freelancers, not support them.
Support
The most used job was customer service returns, customer enquiries etc, other jobs were website support, graphic design, financial forecasting etc.
Negative Feedback
Support
My time and resources were wasted and job opportunities were missed because of the platform and the upwork s terrible support.
Support
Worst costumer support i have ever worst costumer support i have ever tried.
Most Recent Upwork Reviews
Positive Reviews
Highly Valuable Using Upwork. I used Upwork for my startup retail product online business for almost 3 years for many different jobs. The most used...
Neil Taylor
Absolute garbage system. Absolute garbage of a system. Upwork's the place to find bottle-of-the-barral clients and waste a ton of time. Every small job you...
Stephanie Jouppien
Will NEVER recommend . It's clear in Upwork policies that communications don't get taken off the platform for both freelancer and client safety. After 3...
Jemaine Finlay
Negative Reviews
there is no costumer support but a bot that doens't work and it's impossible to contact a human to help. plus you have to pay...
Dani Covarrubias
My account got suspended shortly after…. My account got suspended shortly after paying them, and there seems to be no direct way of contacting them...
Tyler
Thieves. In order you for to submit applications, you must use contacts. When I went to submit my proposals, my account was randomly suspended. I...
Dave Bugg
The sentiment analysis above has highlighted customer feedback at scale. The Upwork review below provides an expert take at the features that matter most to help you decide if this company is the right choice for you.
Company Overview
Upwork is one of the most popular freelance platforms globally, connecting businesses with independent professionals and agencies. It leverages advanced algorithms and AI-driven tools to match freelancers with projects, ensuring efficiency and quality. With its vast talent pool spanning over 180 countries, Upwork stands out for its scalability, robust collaboration tools, and secure payment systems.
Industries
Freelance Marketplace
Marketing and Advertising
Creative and Design
Project Management
Target Audience
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
Large enterprises looking for project-based work
Freelancers and agencies seeking new clients
Unique Selling Points
AI-powered matching system that connects businesses with the most suitable freelancers.
Comprehensive project management tools, including time tracking and milestone-based payments.
Secure payment system that ensures timely and safe transactions for both clients and freelancers.
Pricing Plans
| Plan Details | Basic $0/monthly Renews at $0/monthly The Basic plan is ideal for businesses looking to post jobs and hire freelancers with no upfront subscription costs. It provides access to a vast talent pool and basic collaboration tools. Best For: This plan is best suited for startups and small businesses that need to hire freelancers on a project-by-project basis. It is also ideal for those who are new to freelance hiring and want to explore the platform without a subscription fee. No Free Trial Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms. | Plus $49.99/monthly Renews at $49.99/monthly The Plus plan offers additional features such as talent sourcing assistance and premium customer support, making it ideal for businesses with more frequent hiring needs. Best For: This plan is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that frequently hire freelancers and need additional support and features to streamline their hiring process. No Free Trial Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms. | Business $499/monthly Renews at $499/monthly The Business plan is tailored for larger organizations that require advanced tools, dedicated support, and enterprise-grade security features. Best For: This plan is ideal for enterprises and large organizations that require advanced tools, dedicated support, and enhanced security features to manage their freelance workforce effectively. No Free Trial Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms. | Enterprise $Custom pricing/annual Renews at $Custom pricing/annual The Enterprise plan is designed for organizations with complex hiring needs, offering custom integrations, compliance tools, and unlimited job postings. Best For: This plan is best suited for large enterprises with complex hiring and compliance needs. It is tailored for organizations that require custom solutions and integrations to manage their freelance workforce effectively. No Free Trial Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms. |
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| Payment & Billing | Payment Methods: Credit card PayPal Bank transfer Currencies: USD EUR GBP Billing Cycles: Monthly | Payment Methods: Credit card PayPal Bank transfer Currencies: USD EUR GBP Billing Cycles: Monthly | Payment Methods: Credit card PayPal Bank transfer Currencies: USD EUR GBP Billing Cycles: Monthly | Payment Methods: Credit card Bank transfer Custom payment solutions Currencies: USD EUR GBP Billing Cycles: Annual |
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Basic
$0/monthly
Renews at $0/monthly
No Trial
Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms.
The Basic plan is ideal for businesses looking to post jobs and hire freelancers with no upfront subscription costs. It provides access to a vast talent pool and basic collaboration tools.
Best For:
This plan is best suited for startups and small businesses that need to hire freelancers on a project-by-project basis. It is also ideal for those who are new to freelance hiring and want to explore the platform without a subscription fee.
What's Included
- Access to the freelancer marketplace
- Basic job posting capabilities
- Secure payment processing
- Time tracking tools
- Collaboration tools
- Freelancer reviews and ratings
- Mobile app access
- Basic reporting features
What's Not Included
- Dedicated account manager
- Talent sourcing assistance
- Advanced reporting
- Premium customer support
Hidden Costs
- 3% payment processing fee
- Additional costs for premium job postings
Payment & Billing
Payment Methods:
Credit card
PayPal
Bank transfer
Currencies:
USD
EUR
GBP
Billing Cycles:
Monthly
Free Extra Features
- Freelancer reviews and ratings
- Mobile app access
Plus
$49.99/monthly
Renews at $49.99/monthly
No Trial
Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms.
The Plus plan offers additional features such as talent sourcing assistance and premium customer support, making it ideal for businesses with more frequent hiring needs.
Best For:
This plan is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that frequently hire freelancers and need additional support and features to streamline their hiring process.
What's Included
- Talent sourcing assistance
- Premium customer support
- Access to the freelancer marketplace
- Secure payment processing
- Time tracking tools
- Collaboration tools
- Advanced reporting features
- Mobile app access
What's Not Included
- Dedicated account manager
- Enterprise-grade security features
- Unlimited job postings
- Custom contract management
Hidden Costs
- 3% payment processing fee
- Additional costs for featured job postings
Payment & Billing
Payment Methods:
Credit card
PayPal
Bank transfer
Currencies:
USD
EUR
GBP
Billing Cycles:
Monthly
Free Extra Features
- Talent sourcing assistance
- Premium customer support
Business
$499/monthly
Renews at $499/monthly
No Trial
Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms.
The Business plan is tailored for larger organizations that require advanced tools, dedicated support, and enterprise-grade security features.
Best For:
This plan is ideal for enterprises and large organizations that require advanced tools, dedicated support, and enhanced security features to manage their freelance workforce effectively.
What's Included
- Dedicated account manager
- Enterprise-grade security features
- Custom contract management
- Talent sourcing assistance
- Premium customer support
- Advanced reporting tools
- Team collaboration features
- Secure payment processing
What's Not Included
- Unlimited job postings
- Custom API integrations
- Industry-specific compliance tools
- Advanced analytics dashboards
Hidden Costs
- 3% payment processing fee
- Additional costs for custom integrations
Payment & Billing
Payment Methods:
Credit card
PayPal
Bank transfer
Currencies:
USD
EUR
GBP
Billing Cycles:
Monthly
Free Extra Features
- Dedicated account manager
- Enterprise-grade security features
Enterprise
$Custom pricing/annual
Renews at $Custom pricing/annual
No Trial
Refunds are available for unused funds deposited in escrow, subject to Upwork's terms.
The Enterprise plan is designed for organizations with complex hiring needs, offering custom integrations, compliance tools, and unlimited job postings.
Best For:
This plan is best suited for large enterprises with complex hiring and compliance needs. It is tailored for organizations that require custom solutions and integrations to manage their freelance workforce effectively.
What's Included
- Custom API integrations
- Industry-specific compliance tools
- Unlimited job postings
- Dedicated account manager
- Talent sourcing assistance
- Premium customer support
- Advanced analytics dashboards
- Enterprise-grade security
What's Not Included
- Standardized pricing
- Basic reporting tools
- Limited job postings
- Mobile app-only management
Hidden Costs
- Custom API integration fees
- Additional costs for compliance tools
Payment & Billing
Payment Methods:
Credit card
Bank transfer
Custom payment solutions
Currencies:
USD
EUR
GBP
Billing Cycles:
Annual
Free Extra Features
- Custom API integrations
- Industry-specific compliance tools
Upwork is a reliable platform for businesses and freelancers looking for flexible, project-based work arrangements. Its robust tools and secure payment system make it a strong choice for most hiring needs.
Total Cost Calculator
Pricing Plan
Cost Breakdown
Plus Plan
Monthly Cost$50/month
Total Cost over 3 Years
Year 1$600
Year 2$600
Year 3$600
Total after Year 1
$600
Total after Year 2
$1,200
Total after Year 3
$1,800
Optional Add-ons
- Featured job postings
- Custom contract management
Extra Costs not Included
- 3% payment processing fee
- Additional costs for featured job postings
Explore Features
Feature Preferences
Select your feature requirements. Must-have features are essential for your needs, while nice-to-have features are beneficial but not critical.
Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) to select multiple features
Monthly Budget Range
Select your preferred budget range. This helps us find plans that fit your financial requirements.
Recommended Plans
Select features to get plan recommendations
Upwork Competitor Comparison
Select the features that are important to you. This will help us match competitors based on your needs.
Adjust how much you want to consider price in the comparison.
Features OnlyBalancedPrice Focused
Competitor Rankings
FiverrBest Match
Fiverr is a popular freelance platform known for its gig-based system, allowing freelancers to offer specific services at fixed prices. It caters to a wide range of industries, from graphic design to digital marketing.
Match Score: 0%
Fiverr typically has lower starting prices, but its service fees can add up for larger projects.
Key Differences: Fiverr focuses on predefined gigs, while Upwork allows for custom job postings. Fiverr's pricing is more transparent, but it lacks the robust project management tools that Upwork offers.
When to Choose: Choose Fiverr for smaller, predefined tasks with clear deliverables.
When Not to Choose: Do not choose Fiverr if you need long-term collaboration or custom project management tools.
Toptal
Toptal is a premium freelance platform that connects businesses with the top 3% of talent in various fields, including software development and design.
Match Score: 0%
Toptal's pricing is premium, starting at $60-$100 per hour, while Upwork offers a wider range of price points.
Key Differences: Toptal offers a more selective talent pool, ensuring high-quality professionals, but at a significantly higher cost compared to Upwork.
When to Choose: Choose Toptal for critical projects that require top-tier professionals.
When Not to Choose: Do not choose Toptal if you have a limited budget or need a variety of skill levels.
Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is a global freelance platform that allows businesses to post projects and receive competitive bids from freelancers.
Match Score: 0%
Freelancer.com may have lower initial costs due to competitive bidding, but Upwork's pricing is more predictable.
Key Differences: Freelancer.com focuses on a bidding system, while Upwork emphasizes matching freelancers based on skills and experience.
When to Choose: Choose Freelancer.com for small-scale projects with a tight budget.
When Not to Choose: Do not choose Freelancer.com if you require advanced project management tools or long-term collaboration.
User Feedback
Signup Process Difficulty
Easy
Time: The signup process takes approximately 10-15 minutes, depending on the level of detail added to the profile.
Required Technical Knowledge: No advanced technical knowledge is required to use Upwork. However, having a clear understanding of your project requirements and budget can help streamline the hiring process.
01
Create an account by providing basic personal or business information.
02
Verify your email address and complete your profile with detailed information about your skills or hiring needs.
03
Post a job or browse through freelancer profiles to start hiring.
Watch Out For
Difficulty in verifying email addresses due to spam filters.
Incomplete profiles leading to limited visibility.
Confusion about service fees and payment terms.
Common Praise
Upwork offers a vast network of skilled freelancers, making it easy to find the right talent for any project.
The platform's secure payment system ensures trust and reliability between clients and freelancers.
The time tracking and collaboration tools streamline project management and ensure transparency.
Common Complaints
The service fees for freelancers can be high, especially for smaller projects.
Some users report difficulty in finding high-quality talent for niche industries.
The customer support response time can be slow for Basic plan users.
Success Stories
A small marketing agency scaled its operations by hiring a team of remote freelancers through Upwork, increasing its revenue by 50%.
A startup successfully developed its mobile app by hiring a team of skilled developers on Upwork, saving 30% of its budget compared to traditional hiring.
A freelance graphic designer found consistent work through Upwork, building a portfolio and earning a six-figure income within two years.
Potential Deal Breakers
High service fees for freelancers can deter experienced professionals.
Limited support for Basic plan users can lead to frustration during disputes.
The platform's algorithms sometimes prioritize new freelancers over experienced ones, affecting visibility.
Final Verdict
Upwork is a versatile freelance platform that caters to a wide range of hiring needs, from small businesses to large enterprises. Its robust tools, secure payment system, and vast talent pool make it an excellent choice for project-based work. However, its service fees and occasional challenges with finding niche talent may be drawbacks for some users.
Upwork Pros
- Access to a global talent pool with diverse skills.
- Advanced project management tools, including time tracking and collaboration features.
- Secure payment system that ensures trust between clients and freelancers.
- Flexible pricing plans to suit different business needs.
Upwork Cons
- High service fees for freelancers, especially for smaller projects.
- Limited customer support for Basic plan users.
- Challenges in finding high-quality talent for niche industries.
Recommended For:
Upwork is ideal for businesses seeking flexible hiring solutions and freelancers looking for diverse job opportunities. It is particularly suited for project-based work across various industries.
Not Recommended For:
Upwork may not be ideal for businesses with very tight budgets due to its service fees. It is also not recommended for those seeking highly specialized talent in niche industries without extensive vetting.
Upwork is a reliable platform for businesses and freelancers looking for flexible, project-based work arrangements. Its robust tools and secure payment system make it a strong choice for most hiring needs.
Frequently Asked Questions