Upwork Reviews from Real Users

What is Upwork?

In this article, we aim to point out both pros & cons of Upwork, show you the real Upwork reviews gathered from all over the web, and give you all the information necessary to answer this question for yourself: «Is Upwork worth it or should I find a better alternative?»

Upwork is a generic bidding freelance marketplace of non-vetted freelancers. Whew! Sounds complex, right? Let’s translate that definition to human language.

How Upwork works

Upwork website is a freelance marketplace, which means it serves as a place where employers who need to hire someone to do work for them can find independent contractors looking for jobs. Upwork freelancers can do any kind of work remotely — there are no other limits. That makes Upwork a generic freelance platform. Some platforms today are specialized, meaning they only work with one or several types of freelancers. For example, Upstaff.com only works with developers and 99designs only offers designers.

However, if you’re hiring talent to join your team and build a product with you in the long run, it is best to consider Upwork alternatives. You want vetted professionals, someone worthy of your time and money, someone you can fully trust to fill strategic full-time positions. You need to have more than their alleged portfolio to make an informed decision on whether or not they would be a good fit.

You need to have a complex vetting system to check whether they have the expertise they claim they have, how good their soft skills are, what their language proficiency is, and whether they would make a good cultural fit for your company. That is when marketplaces like Upstaff.com, with a pool of vetted professionals, come on stage and save the day.

What’s our proof? Numerous reviews from our customers say exactly this:

“Upstaff introduced us to a blockchain developer who nailed our smart contract needs and meshed with our team instantly. It’s like they knew our vibe from the jump!”

— Chris, Startup Founder

If you’re completely new to Upwork and don’t have a verified account yet, or even if you have one but it needs to be renewed, it may be not that easy for you to get your first job off the platform.

Since Upwork freelancers significantly outnumber the clients, chances are you will be getting many different bids ranging from incredibly low to unbelievably high ones. According to many Upwork reviews, such a system can make the hiring process on Upwork quite frustrating.

Finally, “non-vetted” means that Upwork reviews the applications of freelancers who want to join their marketplace just from the standpoint of whether they have enough professionals in that field represented on their platform or not. Upwork doesn’t have any special vetting procedures or tests that prove that the person joining the platform is indeed a professional who has the appropriate experience and skills.

Before we start digging into some dirty underwear, let’s agree on the following: eLance and oDesk were some of the first companies that have proven that freelance marketplaces were something the global economy was ready for.

Upwork Time Tracker

If you want to use the time tracker option, you’ll have to download their desktop app. Upwork tracker is usually used by freelancers who have committed to working on an hourly basis and need a proof of work to charge their clients.

When active, Upwork time tracker will be making the screenshots of everything that’s on your screen at random moments, 6 times per hour logged. If you’ve never used it before, don’t worry: before sending the screenshots to your client, the app will let you look through your Upwork work diary and delete all the images you don’t want to be seen if they happen to be.

Upwork Fees

Upwork employs a tiered fee structure aimed at incentivizing long-term client relationships: freelancers are charged 20% on the first $500 earned from a client, 10% on earnings between $500.01 and $10,000, and 5% on billings exceeding $10,000. For those who bring their clients to the platform through Direct Contracts, the fee is reduced to 5%. Enterprise engagements typically carry a standard 10% fee, though custom agreements may adjust this rate. Clients also face a payment processing fee of 3-5%, which varies depending on their location and chosen payment method.

$1000 project pricing comparison between Upwork and Fiverr

Upwork Tips

To reward a freelancer for exceptional work, clients can issue a bonus by accessing their Upwork contract and selecting the “Give a Bonus” option. Standard fees apply.

Upwork Pros & Cons

Before we start digging, let’s agree on this: eLance and oDesk were among the first companies to prove that the global economy was ready for freelance marketplaces. Their merger paved the way for Upwork, transforming freelancing and enabling millions of freelancers worldwide to connect directly with clients, ultimately leading to Upwork’s IPO in 2018 with a valuation of $1.6 billion. However, despite the positive impact Upwork has had, the freelance platform market has evolved, and today’s freelancing community has higher expectations and demands—ones that Upwork can’t always keep up with. Find below some advantages of using Upwork — according to Upwork reviews from actual users.

Upwork Pros

✍️Career-starting point

The bar to join Upwork as a freelancer is pretty low — you don’t need to have a bomb portfolio or years of experience in your field to start bidding for jobs.

🦸‍♂️Most popular freelance platform

Upwork boasts having millions of freelancers on their platform ready to bid for your job posting — which makes it a good choice if you need to hire lots of people fast or need a very specific set of skills.

“I needed a niche developer who could handle an obscure tech stack, and Upwork had dozens of options within hours. It’s like a talent buffet.”

— Sarah L., Project Manager

💸Payment protection

Upwork offers a decent escrow payment system that protects both clients and freelancers — you won’t release the funds until the agreed milestones are met, and as a freelancer, you know that the money is there waiting for you when the job is done.

“The payment setup on Upwork saved me a headache — client paid upfront, I did the work, money dropped — no chasing people down.”

— John D., Web Designer

Upwork Cons

Worst Upwork Reviews from Freelancers

Like everything in life, Upwork has its downsides too — here’s what Upwork reviews say about that:

🥸Upwork connects — you can buy them, but can you keep them?

This freelancer says “Good luck with that” after his account with the prepaid connects  gets suspended:

😓High competition

It’s easy to join alright, but getting your first job as a newbie with no Upwork feedback is a whole different beast — you’re up against seasoned freelancers who bid low just to keep their ratings up.

Upwork’s marketplace has countless competitors. According to available stats, the website has at least three times more freelancers than active clients. Competition is a good thing since it encourages better quality as well as cheaper prices for buyers. As we’ve seen, the clash between United States freelancers and freelancers from countries with lower costs of living has, over the years, created two major problems: an insurmountable entry barrier for new freelancers and dumping.

A real problem exists on bidding freelance platforms like Upwork. Freelancers who had better skills have left for good, since they do not want to compete with less qualified contractors. These contractors win multiple projects by bidding at an extensively lower rate, and the job success rate along with quality on Upwork has universally decreased.

“I sent out 20 proposals in my first week on Upwork and got crickets — took me a month to land anything because I had no reviews yet.”

— Emily R., Graphic Designer

🟥It’s pricey

Upwork fees can sting a little bit — they take a cut from both ends: freelancers lose up to 20% of their earnings at the beginning, and clients pay a 5% fee on top of what they’re already spending.

“I made $500 on a job, but after Upwork’s cut, I walked away with $400 — it’s not awful, but it adds up quick.”

— Carlos M., Developer

😤Upwork scams are a thing

Upwork reviews are filled with unfortunate stories written by former customers who were scammed. This happens because freelancers go through few basic verifications that include no background checks or vetting procedures. So, employers often wonder, “Is Upwork safe, or are there decidedly better options?”

🤢Non-vetted freelancers

Because everyone and their dog can join Upwork, you’ll see a flood of freelancers bidding super low prices just to snag a gig — which can make it tough to spot the real pros amid the noise. They are not verified.

“I posted a job and got 50 bids in a day — half of them under $10/hour — sorting through that mess to find someone decent was exhausting.”

— Anna P., Startup Owner

💩Poor customer support

One of the most common grievances seen in practically every unfavourable Upwork review is the platform’s customer service staff and their incapacity to resolve any complicated problems their consumers may face. They take a long time to provide you feedback, they are rarely flexible or interested in helping you with your issue, and worst of all, they appear to think that the house always wins.

Therefore, it could be time to adjust your expectations if you’re depending on them to support you.

Reviewing Upwork Customer Experience: Freelancers

Best Upwork Reviews from Freelancers

Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what it’s like to use Upwork — starting with the freelancer side of things.

How to join Upwork as a freelancer? Pretty straightforward — sign up, fill out your profile with your skills, experience, and a quick bio, and you’re in. No intense vetting, no big barriers. But that’s where the ease can turn into a grind.

Bidding wars

Once you’re in, you’re thrown into a sea of competition. You’ve got to buy “Connects” (Upwork’s currency) to bid on jobs — think 2-6 Connects per proposal, and they’re not free. Newbies often burn through these fast without landing a gig, especially with no reviews to back them up.

“I spent $20 on Connects my first month and still didn’t get hired — felt like I was shouting into the void.”

— Lisa K., Virtual Assistant

Fees eating profits

If you do land a job, Upwork takes a sliding cut — 20% on your first $500 with a client, 10% after that, down to 5% if you rake in over $10k with them. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a chunk out of your paycheck.

Success stories exist

That said, some freelancers thrive. Build a solid profile, rack up good reviews, and you can start picking gigs instead of begging for them.

“After months of grinding, I hit my stride — now I’m booking steady $50/hour jobs. Upwork’s chaotic, but it can pay off.”

— Mark S., Developer

“Once I got a few 5-star reviews, clients started reaching out to me — took time, but it’s a game-changer.”

— Rachel T., Content Writer

Reviewing Upwork Customer Experience: Clients

Now, let’s flip it — what’s it like hiring on Upwork?

Posting a job

Easy enough — write up what you need, set a budget, and watch the bids roll in. You’ll get a mix of freelancers, from total rookies to pros with years of experience.

Finding the needle in the haystack

Here’s the catch — you’re the one sorting through the pile. Some bids will be laughably low, others sky-high, and figuring out who’s legit takes time and a sharp eye.

“I got 30 bids in 24 hours — half were copy-paste nonsense, but I found a gem who delivered a killer app — it’s a gamble.”

— Tom B., Entrepreneur

Payment safety

Upwork’s escrow system is a plus — you fund milestones, review the work, then release the cash. No pay-until-you’re-happy vibes.

Quality varies

You might score a rockstar who over-delivers, or you might end up with someone who ghosts mid-project. It’s all on you to vet them upfront.

“My first hire flaked after a week, but the second one built my site in record time — Upwork’s a rollercoaster.”

— Jenna W., Small Business Owner

“Found a designer who turned my rough idea into a slick product mockup — worth the hunt through the bids.”

— Evan P., Product Manager

Upwork Reviews Bottom Line

So — is Upwork legit? Yes, it’s a legitimate freelance platform. Been around for years, born from the merger of eLance and oDesk — and now it’s massive. Does that mean it’s perfect for everyone? Nope.

If all you need is a quick one-off job — say, a logo tweak or some data entry — Upwork might just do the trick with its huge pool of freelancers ready to jump in. But if you’re trying to build something serious, like a startup product that needs a reliable, skilled developer for the long haul, you might find yourself drowning in bids and still not getting the quality you need.

That’s where a platform like Upstaff.com steps up — we focus on connecting you with vetted developers who’ve already proven their chops, so you’re not rolling the dice on untested talent. Upwork’s a decent starting point, but it’s not the full picture.

Upwork FAQ

👮‍♀️Is Upwork safe?

Yeah, it’s safe in terms of payments and basic legitimacy — escrow protects your money, and it’s a well-established platform. But safety in terms of quality? That’s on you to figure out who’s trustworthy.

💸How much does Upwork cost?

For clients, it’s a 5% fee on top of what you pay freelancers. For freelancers, it’s 20% on the first $500 per client, 10% up to $10k, then 5% after that. Plus, those connections cost extra to bid.

👀Are there good freelancers on Upwork?

Absolutely — some are top-notch. The trick is finding them among the crowd. Reviews and portfolios help, but it’s still a bit of a hunt.

Reviewing Upwork Alternatives

Not sold on Upwork? Here are some other spots to check out:

• Fiverr: Great for quick, cheap gigs — less focus on long-term hires.
• Toptal: High-end talent, heavily vetted, but pricier.
• Upstaff.com: Our wheelhouse — vetted developers for startups, no bidding mess, just pros ready to dive in.

Upstaff.com vs Upwork

Here’s how we stack up against Upwork — no fluff, just the facts.

🎯Hiring Process

Upwork: You post a job, get flooded with bids, and spend hours sifting through profiles and proposals. It’s on you to spot the winners.

Upstaff.com: We do the heavy lifting — you tell us what you need, and we match you with vetted developers who fit the bill. No endless scrolling is required.

💥Quality of available talent

Upwork: A mixed bag — you’ve got everyone from beginners to experts, but no one’s checking their skills upfront.

Upstaff.com: Only the good stuff — our developers are pre-screened for tech skills, soft skills, and cultural fit, so you’re starting with quality.

💸Cost of service

Upwork: 5% client fee, plus freelancers lose 5-20% per job. Hidden costs like time spent vetting add up too.

Upstaff.com: Transparent pricing — you pay for the talent, we handle the vetting, no surprise cuts or bidding wars.

🔥Why Upstaff.com Could Be Your Next Move

Upwork’s a bustling marketplace, but it’s not always the cleanest path to talent. At Upstaff.com, we’ve built a tighter system—think developers who’ve shipped DeFi platforms, IoT setups, and mobile apps that work. We’ve got quotes from clients who’ve seen the difference:

“Upstaff’s vetting saved us weeks of trial and error—our dev jumped in and crushed it.”

— Laura H., Tech Lead

There is no lowball chaos, just pros who get it. Do you have a project that needs real skill? Drop us a line, and let’s make it happen!