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    Upwork

Upwork

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Overview

Upwork has a rating of 2.5 stars from 2,119 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Upwork most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and job success problems. Upwork ranks 6th among Freelancing sites.

  • Service
    477
  • Value
    459
  • Shipping
    253
  • Returns
    289
  • Quality
    453

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 16.7%
Positive
3
Neutral
0
Negative
15
View ratings trends
270
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How would you rate Upwork?
Top Positive Review

“Unlocking Freelance Opportunities with Upwork”

पपीता म.
4/23/24

Upwork has been my trusted platform for finding freelance opportunities and connecting with clients from around the world. The platform's vast network of clients and freelancers, comprehensive job listings, and secure payment system make it easy to find meaningful projects and build a successful freelance career. I appreciate Upwork's commitment to transparency and professionalism, as seen in its dispute resolution process and feedback system, which ensure fair and equitable transactions for both parties. Moreover, the platform's collaboration tools and communication features enhance teamwork and streamline project management. With Upwork, freelancing is not just a job—it's a rewarding and fulfilling career.

Date of experience: 4/22/24
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Top Critical Review

“Not worth it”

P X.
9/10/24

Business practices are arbitrary and unfair with the cost for freelancers of doing business on the site constantly increasing and various services and perks taken away. Not worth it for freelancers--and clients don't fare much better.

Date of experience: 9/10/24
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Reviews (2,119)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (91) freelancing platform (135) credit card (22) customer support (44) payment protection (24) freelancing site (80) bank account (20) freelancing career (25) post jobs (16)
Thumbnail of user maximh24
Ukraine
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 13th, 2021

-- To freelancers

I love Upwork's terms of service. Some freelancers might think it's too uncomfortable while using it. But actually, it's to protect all works and payments there. Highly recommend Upwork to freelancers. You'd better start work on Upwork with your new clients outside. Upwork will be the trustable third party to you.

-- To Clients
There are so many competitors there, though I feel happy to race with them. Clients would meet well-skilled freelancers on Upwork and get great deliveries. And Upwork will be a responsible third party between us. Hope we'd meet together there.

--- FYI, I suggest you study the Upwork policy carefully before beginning your work there.

Tip for consumers:
Welcome clients who want to hire professional freelancers on Upwork. Especially, you will get the best developers there.

Products used:
Web development

Date of experience: June 12, 2021

Thumbnail of user arnelc3
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 4th, 2020

When I start working upwork i felt difficult because of limited connects. And after I buy the connects Easy to find job, and hopefully the upwork give free connects to all freelancer so that we will work easy and to find client and we will income both sides.

Date of experience: December 3, 2020

Thumbnail of user andrianr
MD
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 5th, 2020

I use Upwork to find most of my work and I love it. There's plenty of work. The rates are good and the fees are fair. I recommend Upwork for everyone looking for work above every other site.

Thanks Upwork.

Date of experience: August 5, 2020

Thumbnail of user fernandad12
Colombia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 5th, 2020

The platform is a great way to find clients and projects that need my skill as a professional.
The constant upgrades to the platform also keep us motivated to make better portfolios and find better jobs

Date of experience: August 5, 2020

Thumbnail of user omerk21
Turkey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 5th, 2020

It brings workers and employers together in a suitable environment. You can see jobs that are in demand in the world, and you can do business in a worldwide competitive environment. Thus, you can see your limits as well as where you need to improve.

Date of experience: October 5, 2020

Thumbnail of user yannicka4
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 19th, 2020

Upwork is the place to be. I really love working on that platform because of the security and the reliability of their team. No scams, no unpleasant encounters because of the thorough screening of freelancers and clients.

Date of experience: June 19, 2020

Thumbnail of user sergeyl28
Ukraine
1 review
1 helpful vote
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March 15th, 2021

I am a freelancer on Upwork since it was Elance/oDesk 2014 year.
The main problem on the platform can be only in the first days after registration. Hard to find a few first projects and receive first positive feedbacks. After you receive the "Rising Talent" badge you can apply much more successfully on more and more projects. But of course, you have always search for new projects, even if you currently have some. That is the main rule for all freelance platforms.
If you are a client and searching for High-quality freelancers for your projects there are many tools to find the person you need.
One-time, or long-term projects.
High-rate or low-rate freelancers.
Any budget projects and freelancers are available only on Upwork.
So please welcome.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: March 15, 2021

Thumbnail of user joannah24
New York
1 review
9 helpful votes
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July 10th, 2017

I used Upwork for a month and they just suspend my account with 0 explanation. During the suspension, Upwork took all the money I earned from clients and gave no reason why I was suspended. Then they required me to upload my personal information (ID and bank statement) for further verification. After submitting required documents, Upwork just decided to ban my account and again with no explanation.

Date of experience: July 10, 2017

Thumbnail of user nikkih107
Oregon
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 31st, 2020

I have made great connections on Upwork! I have been able to get a full-time job after working with a client on Upwork and I have had mostly great luck with the clients I have worked with. As a brand-new freelancer, Upwork has provided me with a great client base to start working with.

Date of experience: July 31, 2020

Thumbnail of user monzurahmedu
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 31st, 2022

I always wanted to be my own boss. So I was looking for something that can help me to build my career. I found Upwork and found my fortune. I was able to build a strong profile on Upwork through my work and my dedication. Now I'm a top-rated 'Admin support specialist' and working with various foreign clients successfully through Upwork. I'm a full-time freelancer on Upwork. So Upwork is a part of my life :)

Date of experience: January 31, 2022

Thumbnail of user hendras5
Indonesia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 20th, 2020

As I mentioned on the title, Upwork changed my life. I was a normal office worker, working from 8am to 6pm every single day. But since I joined to Upwork, I feel confident to leave my normal job to a full-time remote worker. Upwork made remote work became way much easier and safer for freelancer like me. I loved it!

Date of experience: August 20, 2020

Thumbnail of user shahdilk
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 12th, 2020

I have created my profile on this may. I have also an agency, so i applied for a job and yesterday i have completed a job for motion graphic by 2 days and where i got payed well and appreciation by client. Upwork is a platform of great opportunity. I just loved upwork. Well hoping for more opportunities from upwork platform.

Thanks

Date of experience: June 11, 2020

Thumbnail of user oluseunb
Nigeria
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 11th, 2021

Using Upwork has allowed me to build an amazing writing career and build a business brand. I strongly recommend using Upwork to help build your business and career as a freelancer or hire freelancers.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: May 10, 2021

Thumbnail of user lg41
North Carolina
1 review
9 helpful votes
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May 3rd, 2016

I will absolutely not be using UpWork again after the terrible experience I had. The client who had clearly scammed me and refused to pay for the work I had finished well before the deadline was credited back his money (he had only deposited $0.01 into escrow because he clearly knew he would be scamming the freelancer) after I filed a dispute with UpWork. They claimed the dispute was closed because each of us was credited the amount in escrow and I don't think my review of him is showing up now to warn others that he is a scammer! UpWork has no problem with allowing others to be cheated out of their labor after knowing full well what he did to me (and probably others). This is unconscionable, I am absolutely disgusted with this site. Please don't fall for their shady practices!

Date of experience: May 3, 2016

Thumbnail of user sam898518
Pennsylvania
1 review
2 helpful votes
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January 13th, 2024

The freelancers who work there are mostly hard-working, and the clients are mostly decent. However, nowadays Upwork is trying to exploit every possible penny from everyone, while providing no improved platform for more than 3 years. The system breaks down so often, scam job posts are everywhere on the platform, the support team can not be reached for freelancers, the chatbot help function does not work at all, and Upwork has doubled the long-term contract fee from 5% to 10% this year, while doing nothing, or even worse - cut the freelancers' phone support service... And their so-called auto-bot customer service or online chat service is just another failure - NEVER worked EVER - 1 bug after another! The current CEO should be fired immediately, since she has done nothing in more than 4 years... If any lawyer saw an opportunity, start a lawsuit against this company, every freelancer and maybe some clients could get compensated for Upwork's unreasonable poor service vs. high fees! Let the group sue start ASAP!

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: January 13, 2024

Thumbnail of user trasies
California
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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August 7th, 2020

Over the last few months Upwork has been my go-to platform to find work. Yes, Upwork is expensive, it is sometimes difficult to find quality jobs with trustworthy clients on the platform and there are always people outside of the US who will underbid me on projects.

But once you understand the system, once you build a clientele, once you learn to identify great clients before you submit proposals, and when you can show clients that your value is based on the quality of your work, not your cost, then Upwork is one of the best sites in the market to find good projects.

I have recommended Upwork to numerous other freelancers since the start of Covid, it is the one site where I can consistently find great projects and where clients are not requesting that I lower my rates. There are many things that Upwork can improve, but the fact that they deposit money in my bank account weekly and I can focus on work and not invoicing and collections keeps me coming back.

Date of experience: August 6, 2020

Thumbnail of user waynel56
Canada
1 review
8 helpful votes
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September 18th, 2017

I worked at Upwork very hard and so I had good work history.
By the way one of my clients had problem at his bank account and so my Upwork account was closed by this problem.
I cannot work at Upwork anymore.
I think that it's not my false and that is client's problem.
The Upwork is very very very $#*!.

Date of experience: September 18, 2017

Thumbnail of user annae27
Slovenia
1 review
9 helpful votes
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May 8th, 2016

Offers nothing special to freelancers and doubles their fees. Does nothing to support small freelancers or prevent its freelancers from being scammed. Don't post your bad reviews on their forums, they just delete them.

Date of experience: May 8, 2016

Thumbnail of user yousufw
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 19th, 2020

Upwork is the most reliable and professional platform for the clients and freelancer.
Keep up the good work. And I love the way upwork keep branding its clients and freelancers.
This platform.is heaven. For freelancers.

Date of experience: October 19, 2020

Thumbnail of user yogesht7
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 30th, 2020

Well, how should I start... i am so much happy now due to ability to work from anywhere. As i was not at all happy while working in city, but upwork allowed me to get 3times more salary than i was getting in company with 100times less stress. So now i enjoy my work, and can command good money for my service. Thankyou Upwork!

Date of experience: June 30, 2020

Thumbnail of user thamera17
Yemen
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 10th, 2021

This Freelancing website is one of the best. They work hard to make the business run. Recently the provide the below
1- Free connects, 2- Video conference via Zoom, from time to time they encourage us to make some interviews with some of their buyers, and musch more.

Date of experience: January 9, 2021

Thumbnail of user lyc6
California
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
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March 20th, 2022

I am a member and I requested to submit my proposal but it doesn't allow me to send it so I sent 6 emails to customer support and I have no response. A couple of od days later, Upwork wants me to pay my renewal membership fee because I am almost expired. I guess I need to pay the money so I can submit my proposal.

Products used:
find an online job.

Service
Value
Quality

Date of experience: March 20, 2022

Thumbnail of user davidc19
Missouri
16 reviews
112 helpful votes
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June 4th, 2013

Freelancer promised everything and did nothing, and I mean NOTHING, but took the escrow money, almost $1000. So I disputed it. Elance didn't even read the dispute, told me to pay $133 to some other website to dispute it? WTF? When I contacted Elance they said "Elance is not a legal decision-making entity and therefore cannot investigate the facts or judge who is right or wrong. Elance cannot decide how funds should be divided between the parties." WHAT THE F? What good is using elance if they can't refund money? Isn't that the entire point of using elance, that if the freelancer does nothing i can dispute it and get a refund? I might as well just hire anyone online and not even use elance, refund policy is the same.

Date of experience: June 4, 2013

Thumbnail of user giannit7
Italy
2 reviews
8 helpful votes
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October 30th, 2013

I am a happy Elance.com user.
It's true: it's not that easy to find your first work.
This is due to the fact that you have to "fight" with many competitors all over the world.
Thus, just make sure to have a good profile, to distinguish your offers from other "copy-and-paste" ones, to Always be kind with buyers.
You can see this as a long-term investment: once you find the right buyers, and you are able to proove your skills, they will for sure get back to you with new projects, and you may even no more have to look for new projects on your own.

At least, give it a try!

Date of experience: October 30, 2013

Thumbnail of user samz8
BA
15 reviews
130 helpful votes
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July 20th, 2015

They are not pro and they change their website name every 6 months because of bad reviews on internet.
If you check on inernert for name upwork you will find "prior odesk"

They are full time scammers

Date of experience: July 20, 2015

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