According to data compiled by Statista, 2017 had 57.3 million freelancers in the US alone. That’s impressive enough, but this number is set to increase by a whopping 90.1 million by 2028. If you’re eager to enter the freelancing game, this can be an incredibly lucrative way to bring in some extra cash.
One of the biggest challenges associated with freelancing is finding the right platform to sell your items/services. For many, Upwork has been considered one of the most popular options for freelancing businesses.
Upwork provides many benefits, including granting access to a large pool of potential clients looking for digital products and services.
But does it really live up to all the hype? In recent years, some have criticised the expensive fees, saturated selling community, and floods of scams.
Below, we place a critical lens on Upwork, highlighting all the potential pitfalls for businesses looking to sell digital products and services, while providing some top-ranking alternatives.
What is Upwork?
Before we jump straight in, let’s take a closer look at Upwork, and what it has to offer.
Upwork is a marketplace for freelancers specializing in fields like graphic design, writing, web development, and marketing, among other things. It allows professionals to connect with potential projects, liaise with clients, and receive payment for their work.
Upwork operates via bids, which means sellers can set any prices they like, and the buyers get to choose the best price offers. So, for example, if you were a business owner looking for a graphic designer to create your company’s logo, you could create a post on Upwork providing a project description along with qualifications/requirements for prospective candidates.
If your project generates interest, you will receive proposals from candidates who fit the bill. They’ll usually send over information about themselves and why they’re the ideal person for the job, and, most finally, the bid.
Bids can be either:
- Hourly: The rate the freelancer is willing to work is based on each dedicated hour.
- Fixed price: The fee they’re willing to work for the project’s duration.
New to freelancing or looking to level up? Dive into our ultimate guide — packed with tips to find clients, scale your business, and thrive without burnout.
Is Upwork legit?
Now it’s time for one of our top questions - is Upwork legit? If you’re new to freelancing, or just beginning your digital side hustle, you can rack up valuable experience on Upwork without having to cold pitch potential clients. In this respect, Upwork is a legitimate service.
Clients find freelancers on Upwork by searching for specific services on the platform, and if compatible, your profile will appear.
However, things aren’t quite as easy as they seem. The platform is likely full of workers offering similar products/services as you, and willing to take lower rates. This can hugely impact your earning potential, and even stop your venture in its tracks.
Tips to maximize your earning potential on Upwork
Now that we’ve covered the basics of Upwork, it’s time to delve into finding work on the platform.
If you’re a new user and don’t have a verified account on the platform, it may be difficult to get your first gig or sell your first product. However, there are a few things you can do to start building your reputation and gain future clients.
Be active on the platform
If you’re just getting started, it’s important to be active on the platform. While the goal may be having potential clients reach out for your services, you’ll need to put in the groundwork first. Dedicate time each day to checking the Talent Marketplace (the place where clients post job listings) and looking for jobs that are compatible with your skills/qualifications.
Being the first to submit a proposal greatly increases your chances of getting recognized by clients. Use your Connects (virtual tokens that freelancers use to submit proposals for projects) to increase your visibility in Upwork’s search results. The more Connects you use, the greater your visibility will become.
If you’ve just signed up with a basic account, you’ll be given 10 free Connects each month, which continue to roll over, expiring after one year. Users can earn more Connects by:
- Purchasing Connects (USD 0.15) or subscribing to the Freelancer Plus plan ($19.99 monthly) for an additional 40 Connects.
- Earning a Rising Talent Badge (30 Connects)
- Winning interviews from established clients (amount of Connects varies depending on the project)
- Completing a skills Certification (amount depends on the skill completed)
Optimize your profile
An optimized profile is essential if you want to build your client base on Upwork. This will increase your chances of getting noticed by prospective employers, and showcase your authority in a particular field.
Optimized profiles should include:
👩 Professional images: When clients visit your Upwork profile, your photo is the first thing they’ll see. Choose a clear, professional image that is representative of your brand. A headshot works well here, complete with professional attire, good posture, and plenty of natural light.
📣 Profile headline: Your Upwork profile has space for a headline. Make sure that you keep this as concise as possible while outlining your skills and areas of expertise.
📝 Profile overview: A profile overview allows you to go into further detail about your experience. Focus on areas of expertise you have to offer clients, as well as showcasing your achievements. You can also include a list of successful projects here you’ve previously completed on Upwork.
🗣️ Client recommendations: Once you’ve completed a few projects on Upwork, consider asking clients to vet you in the form of recommendations. You can display these as quotations on your profile.
📖 Add a portfolio: Adding a portfolio of your previous work is highly beneficial in securing potential jobs. Clients will be able to witness your expertise first-hand, making them more likely to consider working with you.
🏆 Skills and certifications: Upwork has a space dedicated to listing your skills and certifications. These could include completed courses, qualifications etc…
Turning on your Availability Badge will let clients know that you’re actively seeking work. This can be beneficial for securing work from clients who want to hire quickly.
Optimize proposals
After creating your profile, it’s time to start sending out proposals to clients. These should be written organically, and tailored to each client and the specific problem they need help solving. Avoid copying and pasting the same proposal multiple times at all costs.
Consider demonstrating real-life examples of how you’ve tackled similar projects in the past, giving examples from when you worked with previous clients.
Try not to make the proposal too lengthy - most employers won’t have the time to read a wordy document. Keeping things short and sweet at 200-300 words will allow you to get your point across without any unnecessary padding.
If you receive a reply from a client, make sure to respond promptly, ideally within the first few hours. A lot of clients will have questions about your skills/qualifications that they’d like you to clarify before hiring you for the role, so it’s important to respond ASAP.
Upwork even has some proposal templates available for free if you need some additional help getting started.
Consider boosting your proposal
If you find a role that you think you’d be a particularly good fit for, but multiple other clients are also applying, boosting your profile is a good way to get noticed. After you’ve written your proposal, set your rate, and added your cover letter, you can opt to ‘boost,’ your application, which will place it near the top of a client's list, increasing its visibility.
Bear in mind that due to the competitive nature of the platform, if another freelancer or several manage to outbid you, your name will be moved lower down on the list.
On the upside, it is completely free to boost your profile, and it won’t cost you any Connects unless the client interacts with your application.
Build relationships with your clients
If you want to generate more business in future, building long-lasting relationships with your clients that exceed the length of your project is important.
If they’re happy with your work, don’t be afraid to ask them if they have any other projects available to complete.
For example, if you’re a graphic designer who’s just created a new logo for a company, consider asking the client if they have other projects you might be a good fit for, like creating user interfaces on their apps or websites or designing a newsletter.
Explore how to grow your freelance career by diversifying your income and building passive revenue streams. Read our full guide for practical tips and strategies that will see your earnings take off!
Upwork pros and cons
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at how to improve your chances of securing a gig on Upwork, it’s time to delve into the platform’s pros and cons.
Upwork possesses many features, making it one of the top choices for freelancers today. It gives people the opportunity to work on their own terms, set their own rates, and provides the flexibility to choose projects.
On the flip side, its competitiveness and expensive fees can make it a financially unpredictable option for those looking to secure a steady stream of work.
Upwork Pros
✅ Skills: For potential employers, upwork has a huge selection of skills to choose from. Graphic designers, marketing or financial experts, developers, copywriters, virtual assistants, and even lawyers can all be found on Upwork. Some businesses have even built a team of full-time employees based on people found on the platform.
✅ Popularity: It’s undeniable that Upwork is one of the, if not the most popular hubs for freelancers. It has a total of over 5 million registered client accounts and over 12 million active freelancers, according to the Upwork Wiki. So whether you’re a client or a freelancer, you’re guaranteed to find demand for your specific niche here.
✅ Security: If you’re a client looking to hire a candidate for a role, you can rest easy knowing that the payment will be processed securely. Upwork uses Escrow (a third-party holding place for funds) for every transaction, so until a project has been delivered to your satisfaction, and you’ve checklist it as ‘done,’ your money won’t be sent to the contractor. Likewise, as a freelancer, you’re able to set up a payment schedule, according to which Upwork will disburse your available balance on time.
Upwork Cons:
❌ Pricing: What many clients consider to be a pro of Upwork, is a definitive con for millions of users on the platform. Because the bidding system allows each freelancer to set their own individual rates, many candidates with solid skills and qualifications lose out on work.
❌ High competition: Upwork’s freelancer count exceeds the number of active clients at least 3 times, making it an incredibly competitive space for those looking for work in already saturated niches.
❌ Fees: Upwork charges 10% service fees on all earnings made on the platform. This can prove to be a significant cut for many, especially since the rates are already so competitive.
❌ Scams: Upwork scams are often reported by former users of the platform. Scammers are known to create fake job postings to steal personal information, or create payment issues for freelancers. Scammers may ask freelancers for PINs, passwords, bank account numbers, routing numbers, and other financial information.
❌ Customer support: People often complain about the Upwork support team, who are chided for their inability to solve complex issues. As well as this, the support team is slow in providing feedback, which can prolong matters.
❌ Non-vetted freelancers: Clients have to exercise caution when hiring for a role, as Upwork doesn’t vet any of its freelancers. Anyone can sign up with an Upwork account, without the need for any qualifications/credentials. Therefore, there’s no real way to prove someone is capable of undertaking a job.
Upwork fees
As we pointed out, one of the biggest cons of Upwork are the high fees on the platform. As a freelancer, 10% of your earnings will automatically go to Upwork, so this will need to be factored in when setting your fees. This applies to both hourly rate and fixed-price rates.
Hourly rates
When you make an account with Upwork, you’ll be given a Work Diary. This is built into Upwork’s desktop app. The Work Diary keeps a record of your hours, showing clients your hours and screenshots of work-in-progress.
The app tracks scrolls, and keystrokes, and takes screenshots to monitor your completion of a project. Not all clients will require you to use this function and may allow you to log your hours manually instead. You can also turn the Work Diary’s tracker on and off whenever you need to.
Fixed-price fees
If you’re working for a client who’s accepting a fixed-price fee for a project, this means they’ve set aside a certain amount they’re willing to pay for the project. This method is often preferable, as it’s more straightforward for both clients and freelancers.
Instead of logging your hours/turning on the Work Diary tracker, the client will set milestones for you to complete along the way. These will consist of concrete deliverables that track the project’s progress. Once you’ve hit certain milestones within the project, you’ll be paid your deposit. The remaining fee will be paid upon the project’s completion.
If you need specific help calculating your fees, Upwork has a calculator feature that can help.
Top 5 Upwork alternatives
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at Upwork and the benefits/drawbacks for freelancers, it’s time to examine the competition. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular freelancing platforms out there, highlighting the most important features so you can make an informed decision on which is the right one for you.
Fiverr
Whether you’re new to the freelancing game, or you’re an old pro, chances are you’ve come across Fiverr.
Fiverr has benefited greatly from a high-profile TV and online advertising campaign, making it one of the most popular choices for prospective employees.
Fiverr is completely free to sign up, and unlike Upwork, you won’t need to spend your time scrolling through job listings. Instead, clients will contact you for work. This is reflected in the platform’s terminology, which classifies freelancers as “sellers” and clients as “buyers.”
When you’ve been given a job, this will be referred to as a “gig.”
Fiverr boasts a great customer service support team, with 24/7 help available should you require it.
On the downside, Fiverr charges a 20% commission fee on both hourly contracts and fixed-rate gigs. This is a further 10% compared to Upwork.
Freelancer.com
As the name suggests, this platform is designed specifically for freelancers working across a range of different niches. Some of the most popular roles on Freelancer.com include web development, design, writing, and data entry.
The registration process is free and easy to complete. You’ll just need to fill your profile with relevant skills and experience, then you can start the job hunt.
Once you’ve found an advert that appeals to you, you can send in a tailored pitch.
One of the benefits of Freelancer.com is that it allows you to create a comprehensive portfolio showcasing your work, including certifications, client reviews, and more.
The platform also regularly holds contests, where creatives (typically graphic design experts) can send in entries, gaining positive reviews and cash prizes if they win. Finally, Freelancer.com also has a live chat function, which means you can speak to your clients in real time if you need to check in on a project.
In terms of fees, Freelancer.com is completely free to set up, but you’ll be charged a 10% fee for every project you take.
While LinkedIn may not be the first platform that comes to mind when considering freelancing opportunities, it does have plenty of tools to offer in this respect. It’s a professional networking site that allows you to showcase successful projects, include a work portfolio, and connect with a wealth of job opportunities.
Like many platforms, however, it’s flooded with a sea of talented individuals, and you’ll need to make sure that your profile stands out to get noticed. Include any endorsements and recommendations from previous clients.
On the plus side, LinkedIn is free to sign up, and once your profile is ready to go, you can immediately start applying to jobs. If you want access to additional features, like profile analytics and AI tools, you’ll need to sign up for LinkedIn Premium, which starts at $29.99 per month.
People Per Hour
People Per Hour has quickly emerged as one of the top platforms out there for freelancers. It has a special artificial intelligence tool named Phoenix, which helps cut out unnecessary time spent sifting through job opportunities. Instead, Phoenix examines all your experience and skills, and instantly matches your profile to the jobs that are most relevant.
The sign-up process can take a little while, as you need to be approved by the moderation team before your account can be activated. To do this, you’ll need to send proof of identity, such as a driver's license, passport, or national ID.
Once you’re set to go, you can start checking out the job board, which will be tailored to your expertise.
Account setup is free on People Per Hour, but the website does charge a service fee. This is based on your lifetime billing per buyer. So, if your lifetime billing per buyer is under $350, your service fee will be 20% (after tax).
Guru
Boasting a network of 2 million freelancers and 800,000 employers, Guru is one of the most popular freelancing platforms out there today. Similar to others on our list, you’ll be able to view prospective jobs and connect with clients as soon as you’ve signed up.
To be an approved Guru freelancer, you’ll need to verify your ID by sending in personal documentation and your credit card information. This, along with Guru’s SafePay (a secure payment system) makes Guru one of the top freelancing platforms on our list, ensuring that both you and the client are protected.
On your Guru profile. You can include a number of different details, including skills, previous experience, and even your hourly rate, so clients can decide if you’re a good fit for them.
Guru is free to use, but you will be charged a service fee, which is only slightly superior to Linkedin, at 9%.
Bear in mind you’ll also need to pay an initial $4.95 fee to process your ID verification.
Alternatives to freelancing websites
Though the alternative Upwork freelancing platforms mentioned above can be great places to make money, they’re also incredibly competitive and can be costly.
If you’d like to make the most out of your business, branching out beyond the confines of Upwork can be incredibly lucrative. Here are some of the ways you can scale your ventures today.
Selling digital products
Digital products are intangible goods that are sold via electronic devices. Unlike physical products you can hold in your hands, digital products allow you to “experience” them via your web browser or device.
Some of the most popular types of digital products sold online include:
- Ebooks
- Downloadable guides
- Paid communities
- Apps
Basically anything within a digital environment that can be created, distributed, and consumed.
Selling digital products online provides a wealth of different benefits, including:
💰 Sell over and over again: Unlike physical products which you eventually run out of, digital products can be sold indefinitely without needing to order more stock or contend with complex supply chains.
📈 Scale quickly: If you start experiencing a growing demand for your products, you don’t need to worry about physical storage space, or ramp-up manufacturing.
💸 Generate passive income: Digital products provide one of the easiest ways to make money. While it can take a little while to build consistent sales and promote your products, once you’ve done the initial graft, you can sit back and relax as the money filters in.
✈️ Freedom: Selling digital products gives you freedom and flexibility, allowing you to spend more time pursuing your hobbies and doing the things you love.
🌎 Reach: The reach of digital products surpasses their physical counterparts. They’re more accessible to prospective purchasers both in pricing and in location.
💲 Low startup costs: Most digital products don’t involve a hefty upfront investment to get started - you can simply choose to build something that fits your budget. All you really need is reliable WiFi, a device to create on, and your own free time.
With Whop, you can start reaping these rewards immediately. It doesn’t matter how niche or specific your idea is—if it’s digital, there’s a place to sell it. Whop is your hub on the internet, with a wealth of helpful apps allowing you to create a storefront that perfectly matches your vision.
After you’ve listed your digital products, you can apply to Whop Discover - a great way to get your store seen by more people. You’ll receive payments whenever anyone makes a purchase and the best thing? Whop's fees start at just 3%.
Selling digital products can see you earning big bucks in no time - but how do you get started? Read our guide for turning your next big idea into income quickly and simply.
Creating your own online course
Depending on the freelancing services you have to offer, creating an online course is a great way to cash in on your skills. Creating courses online allows you to explore your interests in-depth while spreading your knowledge to millions of keen learners.
Online courses provide a number of benefits - they’re scalable, easy to market with the right platform, and have very low overhead costs. On top of all this, they’re a great source of passive income.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, but you’re not sure where to start, Whop can help. Whop has a built-in Course app, which allows you to create a comprehensive course in a matter of minutes.
Whop’s course builder allows you to add six types of lessons to your course, including:
- Text: Upload rich text content.
- Video: Upload video content.
- PDF: Upload PDF files.
- Multimedia: Upload rich text, video, and files.
- Knowledge Check: Add a quiz for your members with no final grade.
- Quiz: Add a quiz for your members with a grade and a completion requirement.
It’s an amazing way to sell access and start earning money – and Whop makes the whole process as easy as possible.
Want to design you own course on Whop, but don’t know where to get started? We’ve got you covered. Explore our guide to the secrets of creating a lucrative course that gets people talking.
Creating your own storefront
If selling digital products doesn’t apply to you, Whop is also a great space for freelance services.
With Whop, you can create a storefront for your freelance services, complete with a wealth of customizable features to make your profile stand out.
You can add the Files app to share your portfolio, use the Chat app to chat with potential clients and employ the Content app to showcase your work. There’s even a Video Call app that allows you to meet and chat with clients.
Whop provides you with every service imaginable you need for freelancing, allowing you to create products, fix prices, advertise your services, connect with customers, and process payments.
Ditch Upwork and start making money With Whop
Though Upwork and some of the other top freelancing websites we’ve discussed in this article do have benefits, they also come packed full of challenges. The high fees combined with the formidable competition makes securing work feel almost impossible.
One of the key skills attributed to great freelancers is adaptability. Many of the most accomplished freelancers achieve success by diversifying their businesses into different products and niches. Thankfully, Whop allows you to do just that.
Whop allows you to do so much more than simply create a digital storefront for your services. You can also build and sell your own course, and create a wealth of digital resources for prospective customers.
So, whether you want to scale your money-making opportunities, or branch out into other ventures, Whop is the ultimate platform for freelancers just like you.
Ready to take control of your freelancing career? With Whop, you’ll keep more of what you earn and unlock new income streams through courses, digital products, and more. Join Whop today and start scaling your success!
FAQ
What are some of the most in-demand skills on upwork?
There are several skills on Upwork coveted by potential clients, some of the most popular niches/industries in 2024 included:
- Generative AI modeling
- Development and IT project management
- Digital marketing campaign management
- Executive virtual assistance
- Medical virtual assistance
- Logo design
In addition to these, other skills like email marketing, content writing, editing, and bookkeeping are also growing fast on the platform.
Can you quit Upwork?
If you decide that Upwork isn’t the right freelancing platform for you, you can simply quit by visiting the Settings section on your dashboard. After you’ve navigated this, click Account Management and Control. Select Close account, and choose Confirm.
Will I still get paid if I end a contract on Upwork?
If a client has ended a contract without releasing funds or checking off a milestone, you’ll need to start a dispute process that the client can either accept or reject. If the client accepts, your funds will be paid. If the client refuses to pay for completed work, you can contact Upwork Support at https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us
Is Upwork good for beginners?
If you’re just getting started out in your freelancing career, Upwork might not be the best fit. It’s incredibly difficult to gain traction on the platform as a beginner (even with all the free Connects you’re granted each month).
Can I hide my earnings on Upwork?
Yes - you can hide your earnings on Upwork, but you’ll need to be a member of the Freelancer Plus subscription. As well as hiding your earnings, Upwork Plus comes with some other features that may be beneficial for freelancers, including:
Viewing competitor bids: You’ll be able to see how much others have bid for any given project.
Connects: Members of Freelancer Plus will be given an additional 90 extra Connects per month.
Customization: You’ll have access to customization features, including a custom URL so that clients can easily locate your profile in future.
What do the badges mean on Upwork?
If you’ve been playing around a little on Upwork, you may have come across some profiles that have special badges attached to them. But what do they mean? And how can they benefit you?
- Rising Talent: This badge is awarded to newer freelancers who have joined the platform, and have been met with success in their respective fields. This badge may be awarded even if the freelancer hasn’t completed any contracts yet.
- Top Rated: The Top Rated badge is for freelancers with a long history of success with a variety of different clients. They have consistently received positive feedback and have a high Job Success Score.
- Top Rated Plus: This is similar to the Top Rated badge, with the Plus awarded specifically to freelancers with a proven history of success completing large projects.
- Expert Vetted: This is the most prestigious badge on Upwork, and is reserved for the top 1% of using the platform. This is determined via a screening process, and only Enterprise and Business Plus clients will be able to view the badge.
- Availability badge: This is the blue badge you can turn on to show clients that you’re ready and available to receive new work. Clients will be able to see this by turning on the "Available now" filter.
Who is the highest earning professional on Upwork?
Evan Fisher is one of the highest-earning freelancers in the world on Upwork, with over $2,000,000 in Upwork earnings. He boasts Upwork’s Expert Vetted badge, and subsequently built multiple businesses out of the work completed on the platform and beyond. Evan earned over $1,500,000 on Upwork in his first four years as a freelancer.
Can I get a refund on Connects that I used to apply for jobs on Upwork?
Usually, you won’t be able to get a refund on Connects that you’ve already used to apply for jobs on Upwork. There are, however, a few special circumstances.
- Client cancellation: If a client decides they want to cancel a project before it’s complete, your Connects will be returned.
- Job removed: If a job that violates Upwork’s Terms of Service is removed, any Connects used for a proposal will be returned.
- Violations: If you’ve applied to a job that’s since been removed due to violation guidelines, or the proposal is fraudulent, the Connects will be returned to you.
