Upwork
The largest work marketplace: hire independent talent hourly, by fixed-price milestones or from a project catalog, with funded-milestone protection.
Upwork at a glance
Upwork — The largest work marketplace: hire independent talent hourly, by fixed-price milestones or from a project catalog, with funded-milestone protection. It offers a free plan and a free trial (Free Basic plan for clients; free sign-up for freelancers). Rated 4.2/5 from 16,841 reviews on Trustpilot. Best for companies hiring freelancers for ongoing, hourly or custom-scope work across any remote skill. It ranks #1 of 9 in our Freelance Marketplaces guide.
- Rating
- 4.2/5 Trustpilot
- Starting price
- Free Basic plan; clients pay up to 7.99%; freelancers 0-15%
- Free plan / trial
- YesTrial: Free Basic plan for clients; free sign-up for freelancers
- Guide rank
- #1 of 9 Freelance Marketplaces
About Upwork
Upwork is the largest open freelance marketplace, formed when Elance and oDesk merged and rebranded as Upwork in 2015. It is listed on Nasdaq (UPWK). Clients can post a job and review proposals, invite freelancers directly, or buy pre-packaged services from the Project Catalog. It covers almost every remote skill, from software development and design to writing, marketing, accounting and admin support.
Work runs on two main contract types. Hourly contracts use the Upwork Desktop App and Work Diary to log time, with weekly limits and a review window for the client. Fixed-price contracts are split into milestones; when the client funds a milestone before work starts, the money is held as project funds and released after the client reviews the submitted work, with a dispute process if something goes wrong. Upwork notes that unfunded milestones are not protected.
Fees apply on both sides. Freelancers pay a variable service fee of 0% to 15% per contract, and they spend Connects (USD 0.15 each, with 10 free per month for active Basic accounts) to send proposals. Clients on the free Basic plan pay a marketplace fee of up to 7.99% (3% for eligible US clients paying by bank account), Business Plus clients pay 10%, and a one-time contract initiation fee of USD 0.99 to 14.99 applies to new contracts. For US freelancers, Upwork collects a W-9 and issues Form 1099-K where applicable. Compared with Fiverr, Upwork is better for ongoing or hourly work and custom scopes; Fiverr is faster for small packaged tasks.
Upwork pros & cons
- Huge talent pool across almost every remote skill.
- Hourly contracts with Work Diary time tracking and fixed-price milestones.
- Funded milestones are held as project funds with a dispute process.
- Free Basic plan for clients; eligible US clients paying by bank get a 3% fee.
- Publicly listed company (Nasdaq: UPWK) that issues 1099-K forms to US freelancers.
- Fees stack on both sides: up to 15% for freelancers and up to 7.99% or 10% for clients.
- One-time contract initiation fee of USD 0.99 to 14.99 per new contract.
- Freelancers pay to apply with Connects, and the number needed varies by job.
- Fixed-price work is protected only if the milestone was funded in advance.
Key features
Upwork pricing
Prices change — confirm on Upwork's site before you buy.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Upwork?
Upwork is a work marketplace where businesses hire independent professionals on hourly or fixed-price contracts, or buy pre-packaged services from the Project Catalog. It is listed on Nasdaq under UPWK.
How much does Upwork charge clients?
On the free Basic plan, clients pay a marketplace fee of up to 7.99% on payments, or 3% for eligible US clients paying from a bank account. Business Plus has a 10% fee. A one-time contract initiation fee of USD 0.99 to 14.99 also applies. Fees as of November 2026.
How much does Upwork charge freelancers?
Freelancers pay a variable service fee of 0% to 15% per contract. Proposals use Connects, which cost USD 0.15 each; active Basic accounts may get 10 free Connects a month. Freelancer Plus costs USD 19.99 per month.
Is payment on Upwork protected?
For fixed-price contracts, money in a funded milestone is held as project funds and released after the client reviews the work, with a dispute process. Upwork cannot help recover payment for milestones that were not funded in advance. Hourly protection relies on time tracked in the Work Diary.
Does Upwork send US tax forms?
Yes. US freelancers submit a W-9, and Upwork files a Form 1099-K when applicable.
Upwork or Fiverr: which should I use?
Use Upwork for ongoing, hourly or custom-scope work where you want proposals and interviews. Use Fiverr when you want to buy a clearly defined task as a fixed-price package quickly.
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