Upwork
The largest platform for ongoing freelance work and long-term contracts.
By Shaun · Co-founder
Upwork is the largest freelance marketplace by volume, with over 18 million registered freelancers across 180+ countries and approximately 796,000 active clients as of Q2 2025. It's publicly traded on NASDAQ (UPWK) and traces its roots to the 2013 merger of Elance and oDesk, rebranding as Upwork in 2015. The platform is designed for ongoing work: hourly contracts with time tracking and payment protection, milestone-based fixed-price projects, and long-term freelance relationships. Upwork changed its freelancer fee structure in May 2025 — the old 20%/10%/5% sliding scale no longer applies to new contracts. The current model charges freelancers a variable rate of 0–15% per contract, set at proposal time and locked for the life of that contract. Clients pay a marketplace fee on top: 5% on the Basic plan (3% for US ACH payments), plus a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99–$14.99 per new contract.
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Our Rating
8.3/10
Pricing
Free to join · client marketplace fee 5% (Basic) or 10% (Business Plus) · contract initiation fee per contract
Best For
Businesses hiring for ongoing projects, hourly contracts, and technical work
Category
SaaS
Quick Verdict
Upwork is the stronger platform for ongoing work, complex projects, and long-term freelance relationships — its contract infrastructure, payment protection, and talent depth are hard to match for sustained engagements. For defined one-off tasks where speed and fixed pricing matter, Fiverr is faster. If you're weighing the two: start on Fiverr for single deliverables, use Upwork when you need a working relationship over time.
Key Facts
| Tool | Upwork |
| Company | Upwork Global Inc. (NASDAQ: UPWK) — founded via Elance-oDesk merger 2013, rebranded 2015 |
| Best for | Businesses hiring for ongoing projects, technical work, and long-term freelance relationships |
| Starting price | Free to join; 5% client marketplace fee (Basic) + $0.99–$14.99 contract initiation fee per contract |
| Main limitation | Proposal cycle is slower than Fiverr for quick tasks; fee structure (client fee + initiation fee) adds overhead; first-time buyers face a learning curve |
| Last verified | May 11, 2026 |
Pros & Cons
What works
- 18M+ registered freelancers across 180+ countries — breadth of talent across 90+ service categories
- Hourly Payment Protection: logged via time tracking app; eligible hours are guaranteed payment
- Milestone-based escrow for fixed-price projects — client funds are held before work begins
- Expert-Vetted and Top Rated talent tiers for higher-value or complex work
- Built for long-term contracts: hourly billing, retainers, and ongoing project infrastructure
- Uma AI assistant integrated into the platform and Freelancer Plus subscription
What doesn't
- Fee structure changed significantly in May 2025 — freelancer fees are now a variable 0–15% per contract; legacy review copy citing the old sliding scale (20%/10%/5%) is outdated
- Client marketplace fee (5–10%) plus per-contract initiation fee ($0.99–$14.99) adds meaningful overhead at scale
- Proposal-and-hire cycle is slower than Fiverr's browse-and-buy model — not suited for tasks needing same-day turnaround
- Freelancer quality varies widely at the open-market tier; vetting burden falls partly on the client
- Connects system (required for freelancers to submit proposals) can deter lower-tier applicants on competitive categories
- Less intuitive for first-time freelance buyers than Fiverr's fixed-price catalogue model
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Client Basic (Free) | Free to join. Client marketplace fee: 5% on all payments to freelancers (3% via US ACH). Contract initiation fee: $0.99–$14.99 one-time per new contract. | Most buyers — standard access to the full talent marketplace and core platform features |
| Client Business Plus | Client marketplace fee: 10% (8% via US ACH). Contract initiation fee waived except on fixed-price contracts under $100. Subscription pricing — contact Upwork. | Teams needing Expert-Vetted talent access, curated shortlists, advanced reporting, and priority support |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing. Includes Upwork Payroll, configurable contracts, IP protection agreements, API access, and dedicated account management. | Large organisations with structured procurement, compliance requirements, or high freelance volume |
| Freelancer Plus | $19.99/month (or $27/month via Apple App Store). Includes 100 Connects/month and Uma AI assistant access. | Active freelancers who submit proposals regularly and need consistent Connects allocation |
Who It's For
Hourly contracts, time tracking, and long-term freelance infrastructure are purpose-built for sustained working relationships
Multi-week development projects with iteration cycles suit Upwork's contract model; deep pool of tech talent across 90+ categories
Enterprise plan covers Upwork Payroll, IP protection, configurable contracts, and dedicated support for structured procurement
Expert-Vetted and Top Rated tiers provide meaningful quality signals for higher-stakes work; vetting burden is lower than sourcing independently
More steps than Fiverr: post a job, review proposals, interview, hire. Fiverr's browse-and-buy model is simpler for a first hire
The proposal cycle means Upwork typically takes longer to get to first delivery; Fiverr's gig model is faster for clearly scoped one-off tasks
How It Compares
| Dimension | Upwork | Fiverr | Toptal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring Model | Post job, receive proposals, hire | Browse gigs, buy fixed-price | Application + vetting + matching |
| Client Fees | 5% Basic / 10% Business Plus + initiation fee | Service fee varies by order value | Premium rates; no buyer fee listed |
| Turnaround | Slower — proposal cycle | Often 24–72 hours | Slower — rigorous pre-vetting |
| Long-Term Projects | Excellent | Limited — gig model is transactional | Excellent |
| Vetting | Top Rated + Expert-Vetted tiers | Fiverr Pro (hand-screened) | Top 3% claim; rigorous pre-screen |
| Best For | Ongoing work, complex projects | Quick one-off deliverables | Elite engineering and design talent |
Our Rating
Our Verdict
Upwork earns an 8.3 — a mature, well-structured platform for the use case it's designed for: ongoing freelance work, hourly contracts, and long-term working relationships. Its payment protection infrastructure, depth of talent across technical and professional categories, and contract tools are the strongest available in the freelance marketplace segment. Two things hold the score back: the fee structure adds meaningful overhead for clients (marketplace fee plus per-contract initiation fee), and the proposal-and-hire cycle is slower and more demanding than Fiverr's catalogue model — making Upwork a poor fit for fast, defined one-off tasks. If your hiring pattern involves sustained collaboration, multi-week projects, or technical work requiring iteration, Upwork is the right platform. If your pattern is quick defined deliverables, Fiverr is the more efficient starting point.
Browse UpworkAffiliate Disclosure: ToolNav earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial rating or recommendation. Pricing verified May 11, 2026 — may vary by region; always confirm at Upwork's official site before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Upwork charge clients?
Clients on the Basic (free) plan pay a 5% marketplace fee on all payments to freelancers, reduced to 3% for eligible US payments via ACH. There is also a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99–$14.99 per new contract. Business Plus clients pay a 10% marketplace fee (8% via ACH) but have the initiation fee waived (except on fixed-price contracts under $100). Enterprise pricing is custom. Check Upwork's pricing page for current rates — these figures are based on publicly available information as of May 2026.
What are Upwork's freelancer fees in 2026?
Upwork changed its freelancer fee structure in May 2025. The old 20%/10%/5% sliding scale no longer applies to new contracts. The current model charges a variable rate of 0–15% per contract, determined when a proposal is submitted and locked for the life of that contract. Legacy contracts started before May 2025 retain their original fee rate. Most freelancers report landing around 10% under the new structure. Check Upwork's support documentation for the current fee schedule.
Is Upwork better than Fiverr?
For different use cases, different platforms lead. Upwork is better for ongoing work, hourly contracts, and projects that require iteration and a sustained working relationship. Fiverr is better for defined one-off deliverables where you want to browse a portfolio, see fixed pricing, and get a fast turnaround. Most businesses use both: Fiverr for quick one-off creative or technical tasks, Upwork for ongoing relationships or complex multi-week projects.
How does Upwork payment protection work?
Upwork offers two types of payment protection. For hourly contracts: the Upwork Desktop App logs work via screenshots and activity tracking; any eligible hours logged are covered by Hourly Payment Protection — clients can dispute within a review window, but properly logged work is guaranteed. For fixed-price contracts: clients fund milestones into escrow before work begins, and funds release to the freelancer upon approval. Freelancers have 7 calendar days to dispute before funds auto-release to the client.
Who should NOT use Upwork?
Buyers who need a fast, fixed-price deliverable with same-day or next-day turnaround will find Fiverr's browse-and-buy model more efficient. First-time freelance buyers who want a simple experience without writing job posts or evaluating proposals may also find Fiverr less friction for a first engagement. Enterprise buyers with complex compliance, IP protection, or high-volume procurement needs should review Upwork's Enterprise plan, but may also evaluate Toptal for elite-tier vetting.
Is Upwork safe for clients?
Yes — Upwork is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: UPWK) with established payment protection infrastructure. Escrow-backed milestones and Hourly Payment Protection are genuine safeguards for both parties. As with any marketplace, quality varies across freelancers — the Top Rated and Expert-Vetted tiers provide additional signals for higher-stakes work. Upwork also has a dispute resolution process and optional third-party arbitration if a contract goes wrong.
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