They are horrible. Every freelancer I've gotten from Upwork has cost me more to fix the small job they have done. There's absolutely no customer service! I would stay away

I have read your review. UpWork is bad place for clients and for freelancers. I had issue as freelancer with and got to get help in their community. They have some old time working freelancers who provide suport. I went with my problem which was very simply ( client asks paypal details from me) and insted to get advice or support in forum I was verbally violated by those freelancers, they offended me and it was not one but 4 freelancers who verbaly abused me in the sam time! So the point is, they have `own`freelancers who are there to scam new clients, and if you are not satisfied with job as client it is your problem according to them! New freelancers have no chance. I am also very clsoe to get belive that they have own client too who used new freelancers to work for free and then when they have to pay for freelancers work, UpWork suspends account!

No i have reported them to the FBI and the BBB. I have been kicked off of there when i was being harnessed. Not a good business nor business practices. I have every right to press charges on all of them.

Yes it is legitimate. It's the product of a merger between oDesk and Elance.

However I cannot recommend them. I worked for three years with oDesk. I had a very high rating, I had constant work, and I was making acceptable money (US $15/hour). However since oDesk merged into Upwork, I've only had one small job. They seem to be catering mostly to very low pay clients. Even though I still have a high rating, I never get hired and almost never even get a reply when I apply for a job. It's totally changed. ODesk always was responsive and seemed to care about their freelancers. Upwork does not.

I'm now looking for alternatives for working. Six months of no work with Upwork after three years of constant work with oDesk doesn't make me optimistic about things improving.

Yes, they are legit. They are worldwide and growing. They offer webinars for freelancers to learn the ins and out of the freelance world.

Stay away, a deceptive and fraudulent company for both freelancers and buyers.

Hello all start reporting Upwork to the FCC and the Securities and Exchange Commission thats the federal level then also each state in the US has a consumer protection agency at that states Attorney generals office also each state has a labor board that you can report to so thats the state level you can also report to and this info is for both Freelancers and people or companies that hire the Freelancers that have been wronged by Upwork If there is money being held by Upwork some states will suspend them from doing any business in that state until these issues are resolved in some states you can literally shut them down and flood them with legal issues such as state licenses and getting bonded in that state etc etc
I had several thousands of dollars invested in Upworks stock since they became a publicly traded company but after reading all the nightmare reviews I have dumped all the stocks I had in this company I wish you all well and remember there are scammers on both ends here but when the base company seems to also be scamming Freelancers and the people or companies hiring them just is not a good formula for an investment or to do business with in any form

$#*!!
How can it be legal legitimate?
Even they suspended many freelancers with no reason.
Do you think all of them are scammers?
Huh?

We spent $21000 US on Upwork. We paid very fairly around the $13 -20 area and when we felt we were getting scammed we immediately cut the freelancer. We reviewed each accordingly so that other employers did not get scammed. Upwork fielded complaints from freelancers that we dropped and then threatens to drop us. We immediately informed the freelancers that we liked and are forced to go outside the system. Upwork truly does not have a management staff that understands both sides of the freelance formula. I am quite sure that upwork has some unreasonable employers but we are not one of them. BUT we will not tolerate poor work, late work, or being scammed. The monitoring system is a bit rigged and you can surely expect to pay more than they advertise per hour. Upwork is missing a great opportunity by interfering in the free market and by playing judge and jury. My name is Mark Nejmeh realroofers@gmail.com 732-995-3914 and I will be happy to answer questions

Technically they are, because they have a user agreement which allows them to do what the heck they like - so I don't think they're outside the law.

However - like I say in my review, they are currently withholding $85 from me that my clients have paid in, although the work has been delivered and well-received. If thats not outside the law, so be it... but ethically, it's way out there.

They've stolen from both me and the client - just because I won't sent across a photocopy of my UK ID, to a faceless American company. Wouldn't touch with a barge pole. And am going to forfeit the money (though will certainly be complaining on sites like this in the hope they read... hey upwork! There are websites where you have freedom of speech and the right to express an opinion, you know!), because I'd rather hold onto my privacy, than claim the cash.

Not at all, it's just Elance undercover. They aim to get cheap freelancers, once you get to the top they will take you down just to ensure they will have low rates.