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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.
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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.
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.
I am a semi-retired professional who came to the Upwork site with the best of intentions.
So far, I have exhausted my 'connects' within the first two weeks, and yes, I did end up working for one client (more on that later).
Other than that, no potential client ever got back to me.
Similar to social media, with its incessant 'you have a message' format, Upwork updates continuously, so it SEEMS to be in a freelancer's best interest to constantly monitor the site.
Well, bottom line, two almost wasted weeks.
The one client is proving to be very difficult (does not get back to me, rarely answers messages) and NO other responses from anyone.
The point about the client is that even though she is a legitimate person who does need something produced, even if you do manage to get hooked up through this website, it is not just 'do your job and you will be fine.'
Like many endeavors, once you do land a job, your trouble really starts then. But that's life, that's business, dealing with customers.
The problem is that Upwork truly makes it not worth even going out and finding the customers.
Right now it is Saturday morning, I am giving about five potential jobs until Monday to get back to me, and then I am closing the account.
What Upwork did positive was that it made me very happy to hear from my old full time employer who wants me to come back on a per-diem basis. Maybe I just needed to see what else was out there.
Thanks to Upwork, I told them I would come back, I start Monday.
Date of experience: March 10, 2018
Upwork has been a great influence in my life. I am able to work as per my own schedule on the projects I enjoy. It has brought a much-needed work-life balance for me.
Date of experience: October 28, 2020
Upwork is the site where I can get quality and good clients, projects and work.
Ive been a member since oDesk times and there a lot of changes, but all for better quality!
Date of experience: November 20, 2020
It has been great working as a freelancer on Upwork. The level of understanding and customer relationship is topnotch. Thanks for providing livelihood for the hopeless. Regards.
Date of experience: February 19, 2021
I had an AMERICAN client, fully verified and they closed their account as well as mine due to a break in agreements. They never gave me any evidence that this was done or why I would be punished due to another person.
Here's some advice, report them to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and they would be more out to help you.
Date of experience: June 6, 2016
I bid on several jobs and got none. Then I built my own website and hired someone to promote it. They said they would give my site backlinks. I later found out paying for backlinks was discouraged by Google. Was the five star rated freelancer so stupid that he did not know? So even five star freelancers are not helpful enough to give ANY positive return on investment. I am sure all clients would agree, upwork promotes fraudulent behavior in freelancers, for example it helps a freelancer to do a "course" or buy a review (which upwork does not do enough to prevent) or listen to some "expert" freelancer who is so incapable that his business relies on upwork to succeed. On top of that, you lose 20% of what you pay as upwork's commission fee, so if you pay $1000, you are actually paying the freelancer $800. This is a waste of money as I found out the hard way, and many freelancers indulge in black hat practices that will lower your site's rankings. Even upwork tests have been asking the same questions for years. There are many sites which give the questions and answers of upwork tests and freelancers use these to pass tests. People who are defending upwork obviously benefit a lot from all this, like Danny Margulies who has a private forum dedicated to succeeding on upwork, and people who regularly write mere words for $125 an hour. Stay away, and stay safe.
Date of experience: July 24, 2017
In my opinion, Upwork is the best service for Freelancers. It has the most work available for freelancers of all kinds. But, its commission (20%) is just huge.
Date of experience: April 16, 2021
I have worked on several freelancing projects on different sites. The experience with Upwork is far better than others since the clients are knowledgeable with proper requirement specifications.
Date of experience: June 14, 2020
I have been paid as premium membership.
I invested there 199$USD today and I recived money with Premium Area.
Why You say that is scam?
My payout details:
Date of experience: September 23, 2014
Upwork is good for a freelancer. Upwork totally change my life. I've worked here for more than 1+year and I'm learning and earning every day on this platform.
Date of experience: October 29, 2020
Over 5 years on UpWork I worked with many clients, and some of them became long-term ones. I had a great and fruitful experience using UpWork to look for projects worldwide.
Date of experience: July 13, 2020
I tried to register on Upwork twice. Both times the account was suspended despite the fact that I did nothing at all! I will look for another platform.
Date of experience: May 21, 2019
This is a great marketplace for online business. Because there are millions of sellers and buyers selling their services and buying the services at low cost and quickly.
Date of experience: April 30, 2021
Upwork is a great place to work on! Integrated business experience where I find all what I possibly need to work from all the tools and security standards till finding great clients from worldwide.
Date of experience: May 17, 2020
Upwork is the place to be if you want to go places. Work hard and you will be rewarded well. Clients can be at peace knowing that only the best talent reaches this platform.
Love it!
Date of experience: April 23, 2021
I have subscribed on Upwork in 2017, but I haven't got any job, and my account has been disabled due to my failing to get any project because I didn't have any experience in my field, I had forgotten about work as a freelancer. And after 3 years until now at the beginning of the current situation, I come back with good experience in my field, so I contacted the Upwork support and I followed the instructions to get my account activated again. After that in about a month, I have submitted a lot of proposal without getting hired, until I got my first 5$ project, and from this point, my successful story starts with Upwork and in about a month or less I achieved more than 1k $, I am only work in part-time in Upwork, indeed I am preparing to make Upwork my full-time work. I have worked on other freelance platforms but Upwork is the best because on Upwork you get what you deserve due to the review system, but on other platforms, you can work and get nothing.
Date of experience: June 30, 2020
Warning! DO NOT WORK FOR UPWORK!
There are many scammers on UPWORK, but most of all after you do work for people they can remove the contract and YOU WILL NEVER GET PAID! UPWORK makes it very difficult to contact them regarding issues. Very unprofessional. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME.
Also you cannot access your money until you hit $100 which is a very long time worth of work, and I imagine many people do not get their money as I will not!
Don't waste your time!
Date of experience: December 2, 2022
My Name is Summer Khan and I'm a Professional Graphic Designer. I start my Journey from Fiverr But When Somebody ask me to try Upwork then I realize Upwork is a Professional Platform for a Professional Skill Person. I'm very Happy to work on Upwork. Thank You Upwork Community to Give us such a Great Platform their we show your skill and earn some Money. :)
Date of experience: April 3, 2021
Upwork is a great platform to find work and professional talent. As a freelancer, It is a safe and easy way to find new clients and just search for the projects that you are good at.
Products used:
Platform
Date of experience: February 24, 2021
I've been looking for and trying different sites to earn money. Just Upwork that I find
Better conditions. You start and you hit the whirlpool of orders.
Thanks, Upwork for this opportunity!
Date of experience: August 13, 2020
I was recommended to Upwork by a colleague who knew I was interested in locating some writing gigs to help generate some additional income. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the volume of potential "requests for proposals" available to generate opportunities. Eventually, I learned to differentiate between those that paid poorly and those that rewarded the freelancer appropriately for the investment of time. The variety of potential opps required me to properly focus my search for clients. Within a month of joining I had generated over $1,000 in revenue and met very professional and interesting clients. The fee charged by Upwork for building a platform that facilitates finding clients is well worth it. The interface, billing, and payment features are easy to adapt and make the whole process of receiving funds exceptionally easy. I would highly recommend becoming a member if you are interested in locating gig work as a developmental editor, copy-editor, proofreader, or even very creative writing of courses and presentations.
Tip for consumers:
Well worth the investment
Products used:
Freelance Services
Date of experience: February 7, 2021
Not only is their website terrible to work with, they appear to be stealing money from my freelancer. I just logged on to re-hire a freelancer I hired in February. That is when I saw a message from him that he left back in February after the job was done. I copied the message below
Hi MarkI hope everything is fine with you. I have big favor to ask. Upwork suspended my account without giving any reason. Which is very strange to me. All my feedback is very good, clients were happy with the work i did for them, i am doing projects currently. I don't see what that reason could be. But from what i read now online it's not for the first time that this happened at upwork, which is alarming! They basically block freelancer accounts (including account balance) without any explanation and don't respond to any form of communication. I am experiencing this now with them. They took money from my balance and i believe returned it to your account. I have big favor to ask, i hope you value the work i did for you and would like to pay me for the work i did i would be very grateful.
So, I looked at my account and see Upwork billed my credit card twice for this job and credited back one of the charges. So Upwork took my money and did not pay the Freelancer. My credit card company has pulled back the money Upwork took and I just paid my freelancer on PayPal. This company cannot be trusted.
Date of experience: April 9, 2019
Till now I have 5 months in Upwork, I found the opportunity to improve my skills and to earn a lot of money. I really like freelancing on Upwork very nice experience.
Date of experience: November 24, 2020
Upwork is a great platform for freelancing. They provided excellent support for a freelancer that wishes to connect wi employers around the globe and all is done in a very secure way.
Date of experience: December 17, 2020
I've been using Upwork for 4 months as a freelance designer. Upwork is a great platform for clients who are looking for professional freelancers and vice versa.
Tip for consumers:
For every professional freelancer in almost every field, you should try Upwork
Products used:
Freelance project
Date of experience: December 26, 2020
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