• Bookmark

    Upwork

Upwork

Write a Review

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
See all photos
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
See positive reviews
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
See critical reviews

Reviews (2,119)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

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 muhammada334
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
November 2nd, 2020

I've excellent experience on upwork it is providing extraordinary services to their sellers everyday and the latest update is very good to have gigs... Highly recommended

Date of experience: November 1, 2020

Thumbnail of user fahimuli
Bangladesh
1 review
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
July 6th, 2020

Upwork is really a great freelancing site for those who prefer learning and earning!
But that 20% from freelancers earnings is also excessive from my perspective!

Date of experience: July 6, 2020

Thumbnail of user masuda5
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 7th, 2020

Very helpful for freelancers. I've helped some friends joining this community since it worked well for me and now my friends are also spreading the word.

Date of experience: September 7, 2020

Thumbnail of user hisealoraylu
Hong Kong
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 27th, 2023
Verified purchase

My account has been suspended for one month, the customer service said it was a bug, but the technical team can't solve it and keep me waiting. I wonder if the technical team is really working.

Tip for consumers:
Upwork suspended my account for no reason, the customer support said it was a bug and the technical team was working on it. However, I have been waiting for a month and there is no progress at all. Every time I asked the customer support, they sent the same reply asking me to keep waiting.

Products used:
The freelancer on Upwork

Service
Value
Quality

Date of experience: June 27, 2023

Thumbnail of user milwaukeej
Texas
1 review
8 helpful votes
  • Send Message
January 5th, 2018

I had hired a freelancer through upwork to design retail packaging for my product. I followed all the steps required through upwork, including a well-written contract with all the specifics. I paid the first payment in advance as I was asked by the freelancer. The freelancer failed to communicate after that and extracted the second payment out of escrow. When I lodged a complaint about it, I kept getting poor responses focused on giving me excuses on why and how they cannot get a hold of the freelancer and long cumbersome details on what an 'escrow' means etc. My point was that I essentially paid for a a product that I did not receive and the entire point of going through a company such as Upwork is that in such cases they can be the mediator. After a few weeks of writing long emails, I gave up. I kept being passed from one person to another and eventually was spending more in time dealing with the inefficient customer service at upwork rather than my business. It may be a good portal to find cheap skills but it is a high risk model due to its poor management. I would suggest to try one of the other websites, with better customer service.

Date of experience: January 5, 2018

Thumbnail of user jeann108
Australia
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
August 27th, 2020

If it wasn't from Upwork, I certainly would have been homeless by now.

With the whole world now resorting to online alternatives for their usual go-to places to get stuff done, Upwork was already far ahead of anyone in this business with the quality and reliability of the services they offer to their clients as well as freelancers. I think of Upwork as being one of the best 'employment broker' out there, having a solid customer base with a proven history of positive long-term client relationships. I have been on Upwork on a daily basis for almost a month now and have already had more than 15 successful proposals and over 10 contracts. By working with clients from all over the world looking for skilled and professional people, Upwork has been constantly working 24/7 on linking those clients with freelancers that would suit their needs best.

At the end of the day, I believe that it is clear to everyone that it is in Upwork's interest to look after everyone relying on their platform and services to earn a bit of money, be it their clients, the freelancers, or even themselves. As long as all of our goals are aligned, I can't think of any reason for which I would give them anything less than a 5-star rating.

To Upwork: Keep up the great work, keep growing and keep improving the design and ease of use of this golden platform of yours!

Date of experience: August 27, 2020

Thumbnail of user kimb1021
California
1 review
10 helpful votes
  • Send Message
May 13th, 2016

They will hold your money and suspend your contract AS THEY SEE FIT. I've had to hire a lawyer to get my monies due plus 25 hours of work they FROZE me out of and denied my right to work. Please write the California Attorney General and the Labor Board (National and local agencies) to complain. I see a HUGE CLASS ACTION lawsuit in their future. Shameful, unethical ILLEGAL practices.

Date of experience: May 13, 2016

Thumbnail of user heshamk1
Egypt
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
February 1st, 2021

I could simply say that you can easily find a real job at Upwork as a Full time and you can also meet very nice people from the whole planet. Great experience to work with Upwork!

Tip for consumers:
Best experience and you will get money

Products used:
Freelance service

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: February 1, 2021

Thumbnail of user fernandod71
Brazil
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
November 2nd, 2020

I've worked on some other platforms before and Upwork is by far the best one. Awesome clients, very realists, fair budgets. The 20% is a high tax, but it's the price for the service they offer.

Date of experience: November 2, 2020

Thumbnail of user taufikr1
Indonesia
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
January 28th, 2021

At first I thought it would be difficult like people say, but after trying to apply and get a job the first time, it was really amazing. The payment system is also very safe and fast

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: January 27, 2021

Thumbnail of user diannac47
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 12th, 2020

Upwork is really legit, you can apply for many jobs and reasonable pay rate:)
I would love to recommend this to all of my friends who are looking for Remote jobs

Date of experience: June 11, 2020

Thumbnail of user stevenr83
Texas
2 reviews
10 helpful votes
  • Send Message
March 22nd, 2016

I was interviewed on Skype by a person who got my contact from Upwork. He said he was from a company whose logo is HIPP- Hallmark IELTS Prep Program. He claimed he would give me a job with his website. Subsequently he asked if I knew someone who "make hjim happy for a week for $500 and then sent a msg from*******304 with a picture of a BJ and it said $500.
Does Upwork review job offers? Why does it not have a way to let the company(upwork) know that there are aholes out there who are doing this kind of thing.
This was very insulting and has completely turned me off of the website and made me question all online jobs.
I would give zero stars if I could.

Date of experience: March 22, 2016

Thumbnail of user hassann21
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 10th, 2020

If you work Hard so definitely up work will chnage your lifestyle this is one of a most readable and secure platform for freelancers and clients I love you up-work :)

Date of experience: June 9, 2020

Thumbnail of user hawkw
California
1 review
5 helpful votes
  • Send Message
January 26th, 2017

I had heard that the customer service on this site was terrible, and really just unnecessarily rude, but for some reason I had to see if for myself. I started a profile, and wasn't really prepared to do it all in one sitting - I wanted to spend a couple days perfecting it. The first night after creating the profile (and before even attempting to get any gigs) I get this long drawn out and really just cold and rude email detailing all the UPWORK POLICIES I was violating with my unfinished profile - really? I haven't even finished it yet! Needless to say I deleted the account - I can't even imagine what's its like trying to handle a problem with these people. Also - didn't receive any sort of "sad to see you go" email or any attempt to figure out why I canceled. They were just like SEE YA

Date of experience: January 26, 2017

Thumbnail of user dilipkumarm
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 21st, 2020

I am new on UpWork, when I joined, though it would not for me and could get any job but after few days a got my first job and completed and got 5 stars.
I believe I can earn lakhs of USD from UpWork.
Thanks, UpWork.

Date of experience: September 21, 2020

Thumbnail of user rharrie97
GB
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
April 12th, 2023

-It cost roughly £7.50 to apply for a semi popular job (20-50 people applied)
-You have to pay to say you are available for the job (despite having just applied for the job) This price can go up or down depending on "demand."
-The £12 membership only gives you 80 connects for the month. If you bid for a semi popular job you half your connects, whilst having to spend 20-30% of them on saying that you are available for the month.
-On top of this they take 20% of earnings, you also loose out each time over transfer costs.
-I'm pretty sure the clients don't know they take 20% and so continue to low ball you.
-In the automatic Upwork contract you have to give over your files (the files you work on) which is absurd and should be down to you.
-Very little response from Upwork if you need help/ when the community is angry. So many people spoke out about the connects system and they SHUT DOWN those forums. (Example of someone complaining below)

As you can imagine when applying for jobs you apply to multiple, and it simply isn't doable with Upwork. It costs and arm and a leg to apply to two-three jobs with the next person quickly outbidding you so you stand no chance. Joke of a website who don't care about the freelancers who make their site work. I would be fine the 20% off my earnings if they got rid of the connects.

Products used:
Upwork as a freelancer

Service
Value
Quality

Date of experience: April 12, 2023

Thumbnail of user kettouz
Algeria
41 reviews
54 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 12th, 2016

The site is so encouraging! What has attracted me more, is the different free tests which can help evaluating freelancers' level! I really, appreciate this!

Date of experience: September 11, 2016

Thumbnail of user mohammada450
Pakistan
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
July 13th, 2021

On Upwork i feel more relax as compared other freelancing platforms. You will find only professional and long term clients on this website. Thanks Upwork

Tip for consumers:
Best place for all freelancers

Products used:
Freelancing

Date of experience: July 13, 2021

Thumbnail of user keng65
New York
1 review
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 5th, 2017

Too many problems to make it worth it. I was able to rehire a freelancer I have worked with many times with Elance through Upwork, but never able to pay them through their system. Tried and tried to get Upwork to fix the issue, but they never resolved the broken links for me to access my account. Had to pay my freelancer through paypall. Done with Upwork. Elance was great. Upwork sucks.

Date of experience: September 5, 2017

Thumbnail of user chandrabirr
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
July 8th, 2020

Upwork is one of the best Freelancer.com website and can get good business from there, I love to work with this and yes i would recommend to the CEO and Managing Director that Kindly please take look about the fake project issue, and also there are some improvement is important about the the project fee which is 20% you can less that fee like less then 300 USD 30% and more then 500 USD for 15% and then 750 USD 10% like that.
And also without verified project cant post project.
Small suggestion for you!

Date of experience: July 7, 2020

Thumbnail of user sergd1
Albania
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
July 19th, 2020

I really happy to to be a part of Upwork family, its helps me to get a new levels in my life, to be a independent person who can live like he want and where he want, an example I am working now near the sea and before I was in a closed room and long way to work and back, now everything is changed, I do not need to spend time on road to work and back and can live like I want, thanks Upwork!

Date of experience: July 18, 2020

Thumbnail of user hirenkumark1
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
November 24th, 2020

I have started working on Upwork at the start of 2020, So far it has been a beautiful journey and hoping for the best. Highly recommended for the talent that is seeking for an opportunity.

Date of experience: November 24, 2020

Thumbnail of user jamesj2643
GB
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
April 25th, 2022

You need to be very careful about choosing freelancers. The quality might be pretty inconsistent. Also I had a situation when the freelances just went MIA and I ended up wasting a lot of time.

Date of experience: April 24, 2022

Thumbnail of user romeos26
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 29th, 2020

I'd started on Upwork more than two-plus years ago from scratch and I'm proud of what I'd achieved and found SUCCESS on Upwork. I truly believe that "An Hour Work is surely An Hour Pay".

Thank you, Upwork

Date of experience: September 28, 2020

Thumbnail of user ericl1745
Utah
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
October 29th, 2023

What a horrible business. They know of the fraudent freelancers who are working on their site and stealing money from customers and they don't do anything against it! Stay far away from them.

Tip for consumers:
Stay away from them

Products used:
Developer

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: October 29, 2023

Sitejabber for Business

Gain trust and grow your business with customer reviews.

From the business

Find freelancers and freelance jobs on Upwork - the world's largest online workplace where savvy businesses and professional freelancers go to work!

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user visitors
Visitor S.
Typically does not respond to reviews

How do I know I can trust these reviews about Upwork?

  • Sitejabber’s mission is to increase online transparency for buyers and businesses
  • Sitejabber has helped over 200M buyers make better purchasing decisions online
  • Suspicious reviews are flagged by our algorithms, moderators, and community members
Have a question about Upwork?