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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
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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 kenr314
Connecticut
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 2nd, 2021

Totally on top of their business and services from beginning to end! Highly recommended! Employee have a very positive attitude, are helpful and sensitive to the client's needs!

Service
Value

Date of experience: March 1, 2021

Thumbnail of user dmitriyr13
Ukraine
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 8th, 2020

Upwork is a great platform where you can provide yourself with work. Good thoughtful services provide great opportunities. I also like tech support. They are always on top.

Date of experience: July 7, 2020

Thumbnail of user alaas14
Egypt
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 14th, 2020

This is the best freelancing website I've worked with, for 7 years now, and they never failed to solve any problems I faced and everything is in order.

Date of experience: July 14, 2020

Thumbnail of user muhammady31
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 23rd, 2020

It is the great freelance market for the freelancer. Freelancers can make handsome money.
Upwork plays a vital role as a mediator between employers and employees.
Recommended.
Thanks,

Date of experience: July 22, 2020

Thumbnail of user johns1649
New York
4 reviews
8 helpful votes
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February 24th, 2017

I got lucky the 1st 2 people I hired so I was not expecting any problems. 2 of the next 4 people I hired were blatant scams who just ran the meter over night and did not provide anything like what I asked for. I tried to freeze the payment but because they had a work diary, easily faked, Upwork sided with them. They have also failed to correct any technical issues like rooms that won't close and blocked people who can still message me. What I find most interesting is that I gave up and closed my case threads almost 30 days ago. Yet there is always recent activity on them even though there is no messages or any views by me. I notice the most recent one, closed about 24 days ago, was viewed about 15 minutes ago. It must be a source of never ending entertainment for them to still be looking at it after all this time. They are to stupid to realize they have just seriously cost themselves much of my future business. I am only dealing with the current people I am happy with and not even going to be doing any new projects through that site. Hope it was worth it for the bit they did get.

Date of experience: February 24, 2017

Thumbnail of user ehtishama3
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 29th, 2022

I have been providing Amazon related services on Upwork from past two years and without any doubt this platform is the best for freelancers as well as clients. Best and active support. Love it!

Tip for consumers:
This ia the perfect freelance platform

Products used:
Its a freelance platform so I just bought the membership

Service
Value
Quality

Date of experience: July 28, 2022

Thumbnail of user germane3
Arizona
1 review
13 helpful votes
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November 19th, 2016

I had issues with the website since the beginning. I got a lot of spam and I actually got a virus on my computer. Someone send me an offer and said that could pay me outside from upwork. I did not get any money from outside the website because I hadnt even get the position. They suspended my account because of this and they didnt let me explain or defend my position. I lost all they time I invested on the website. Stay away from it. It doesnt work well.

Date of experience: November 19, 2016

Thumbnail of user masiht
Romania
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 18th, 2020

My focus was, is and always will be on GREATNESS and that's why I always WIN or LEARN!
Upwork gave me the opportunity to enjoy the taste of WINNING & LEARNING.
If you are a GREAT person, definitely Upwork is the right place for you.
Thank you Upwork for your valuable and high quality work.

Date of experience: November 17, 2020

Thumbnail of user visj
Turkmenistan
1 review
3 helpful votes
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March 1st, 2020

I found one client after a several days submitting proposals. Gained 300+ dollars. Verified my Passport and video chated with customer support. She approved my verification. After two days I got mail that says my account suspended. I send requested docs. Got another mail that my accound permanently deactivated. I cant login with my login. All my earnings I cant get. This is second time opening topic about this situation. First time one of moderator (Joanne Marie P) replied asking my email, after posting my email, that account also blocked. This is my 5th account. If cant trust the system how we can trust users, clients. Why not answering, only deleting and blocking, why not solving the problem? If there is misunderstanding or mistake, deleting or blocking is not solution.

Date of experience: March 1, 2020

Thumbnail of user jasong557
South Africa
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 8th, 2020

All my face to face work was over, thanks to COVID-19 BUT thanks to Upwork, my career can still continue. Upwork has opened SO many doors with regards to meeting new clients from all over the world! I have found myself getting fairly consistent work through Upwork and I'm looking forward to many more years of working with them. Thank you everyone!

Date of experience: June 7, 2020

Thumbnail of user victoriaz95
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 16th, 2022

Upwork is easy for designers to use and they offer consistent resources to help with sending out proposals - which is the main obstacle for most designers. Once the learning curve is passed, or you figure out everyone is just another human, it is easy enough to communicate and be able to help clients. My only note would be that the percentage Upwork takes from each job is rather high when compounded over time, and it would serve as a long-term incentive to encourage myself and others much more to stay on Upwork rather than it's growing competitors if the platform were to lower the % of funds taken from designers who have been with the platform pass a certain amount of time. Perhaps there can be tiers for loyalty. Other than that, the feedback that I get from clients is consistently positive about the platform, save for a couple people who get confused easily or simply haven't gotten used to it yet.

I've been on Upwork for many years and it has served me well in getting side work of all kind.

Tip for consumers:
There is payment protection for freelancers.

Service
Value
Quality

Date of experience: January 15, 2022

Thumbnail of user ammark13
Canada
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 21st, 2021

I'm a new freelancer on Upwork platform and my feedback is as follows:
- It has potential clients
- Contract assignment and the follow up is so handy
- Interface is very clean, easy and user-friendly

These above mentioned methods provided me finding reliable clients and boosted my self-esteem in terms of working on this platform. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Regards,
Ammar Khan

Date of experience: February 20, 2021

Thumbnail of user hannaha90
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 31st, 2020

This site is AMAZING! Even a college student like me could get a job there, unlike LinkedIn or OnlineJobs where they only hire real professionals. It also comes with its own desktop app that TRACKS YOUR TIME for you! So you can automatically track your hourly payments, as well as your progress on the work. Literally the only downside to this site is the connect system, but as long as you're picky with where you apply, you get over it really quick. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Date of experience: August 30, 2020

Thumbnail of user josephm1473
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 13th, 2020

Upwork is fine. It solves some problems for freelancers, but not all. You have decent payment protection, but you still need to understand how to navigate your own industry. It has a great built-in testimonial system that rewards successful contracts, but you're ultimately still at the mercy of your clients. Messaging and file sharing is in place, but with limited features. You can meet clients but can't take them off platform for 2 years. It's not perfect, it's not bad. It's fine.

Major problem: I suspect that there is an implicit regional bias at play that fails to properly navigate the realities of a global economy, which results in tons of freelancers getting paid poorly, and mid-high earners thriving on regional/racial bias.

Another problem: there are lots of predatory clients on the platform seeking to exploit anyone and everyone with crafty language and false faces. You learn to take care of yourself quite quickly on Upwork.

Lastly, Upwork is very clearly foremost a business. This is not a problem, but it is something to be aware of. Upwork functions in a way that best suits their bottom line. They are not FOR clients. They are not FOR freelancers. They are FOR profits. As long as you understand this and don't expect anything otherwise, you can approach the system from a business-oriented perspective. Is the cost of Connects worth the potential profit? Will a premium account result in a net gain for my bottom line? In this regard, I have no problems with the way Upwork operates. It's a tool, and you can use it - or not.

Date of experience: July 13, 2020

Thumbnail of user eyads4
Turkey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 18th, 2022

I have been able to quit my normal job and become a full time freelancer, and build and connect with amazing clients that I'm working with for the longer term. Thank you Upwork!

Service
Quality

Date of experience: July 17, 2022

Thumbnail of user pablor64
Argentina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 16th, 2020

My digital nomade project grew in one year in a great way. There is always work and great feedback can be established with clients. It's excellent. Recommended

Date of experience: June 16, 2020

Thumbnail of user similoluwai
Nigeria
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 25th, 2020

Upwork is a really wonderful place to be a freelancer.

Starting from the protection of freelancers and clients to perfect setup that makes it so comfortable to get anything you can imagine done.

Date of experience: December 25, 2020

Thumbnail of user applep3
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 22nd, 2020

Only at work, I felt secure when applying and finding clients. Compare to other platforms only here I have security that there is no scam and you will get paid by the client.

Date of experience: November 22, 2020

Thumbnail of user andriane
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 27th, 2020

Upwork was literally a game changer for me. It changed my life in any perspective. Learned new things. Discovered people and most of all, developed a trust between a client and the freelancer.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: December 25, 2020

Thumbnail of user ankitg25
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 10th, 2020

Upwork is really a professional platforms, providing n no. Of opportunities, payment protection. I recommend to use this platform both as service receiver and as a freelancer.

Date of experience: December 9, 2020

Thumbnail of user amand21
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 29th, 2020

I just love to work with Upwork. Its more Secure for both sides, there is no other Platform like Upwork, honestly speaking for getting the Jobs there so many Portals in this World and i have only Account with Upwork, no one can beat Upwork, they are Hero's to provide you Best and the Best.

Cheers!

Date of experience: August 27, 2020

Thumbnail of user muhammadr42
GB
1 review
11 helpful votes
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November 26th, 2018

They are terrible company. If you dont trust me then please go ahead and try it...
I have hired a lady for website... she has given no input to get any work done in last 4 weeks and guess what they keep taking money from my account. After several messages i decided to cancel the contract but Next week they took money again from my account.
REMEMBER, ONCE YOU HAVE PUT YOUR ACCOUNT DETAIL YOU CAN NOT CANCEL IT. TRY IT.
Where ever they are they are making fortune from UK market and because they are international and out side of UK so they dont fall under UK legislation...
Please please just careful using this platform, you just lose the money and regret...

Date of experience: November 26, 2018

Thumbnail of user matthewo323
Nigeria
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 14th, 2021

Upwork is a great and trusted Upwork space, where you can get trusted people to work on your project, I would highly recommend it for anyone and everyone.

Date of experience: December 12, 2021

Thumbnail of user innab12
RU
1 review
3 helpful votes
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April 22nd, 2022

An excellent platform to find long-term and temporary cooperation all over the world. The support service works well, quickly helping to resolve issues for both customers and freelancers.

Products used:
I use the Upwork platform to find work, both permanent and temporary.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: November 11, 2021

Thumbnail of user danj27
Pakistan
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
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October 28th, 2014

Very helpful people and very good escrow payment system. Working there for quite some time and never faced issues regarding client payments.

Must better than Freelancer.com.

Service
Value
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: October 28, 2014

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