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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 zubairk8
Saudi Arabia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2020

I love upwork.com. It's a great platform yo do work. And the most important thing is that they provide payment protection.

Date of experience: December 21, 2020

Thumbnail of user shubhams60
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2020

Helped me earning lot of money through my skills. Really a best marketplace ever seen. Love you Upwork.

Date of experience: December 22, 2020

Thumbnail of user hamzata
Nigeria
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 21st, 2020

I've started using UpWork 4 months ago to kick-start my freelancing career and it's been a great experience all through.

Date of experience: December 20, 2020

Thumbnail of user varc1
Singapore
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 19th, 2020

I have engage this freelancer for our project and with all the delay which from the freelancer and we have already release 50% payment to him, he went missing and delay not responding for setting up our ecommerce for 8 months, i have informed Upwork in April 2020 but they claimed that the dispute only cover 90 days which i am 91 days. They contacted the freelancer and acknowledge the freelancer did not response to me and the freelancer did not response to them as well but they have no way to take further action, Upwork dispute is not able to protect the client like me as i already paid, the freelancer use the delay tactics and ignore my message to him, i waited for 3 months after he commit saying to delivered the completion in 2 weeks since June but he did not. I inform Upwork and they told me to end the contract and they will take the arbitration but end up they told me is a mistake as i already over the 90 days dispute and they cant do anything, i suggest to them they have to suspend th freelance account if the freelancer did not response to my case since he is counting working with others. I told Upwork that tis freelancer have been tell lies that he have the skillset to build the ecommerce store which he did not. I am very pissed on how upwork manage such matter and they even remove my comment on this freelancer as per attached, Upwork remove my comment and did not make necessary action against this freelancer, You never know this scammer can continuing using the way how he cheated me and delay the project using convid 19 as an excuse, server down etc. all the bull$#*!, to others. I strongly advise all of you using Upwork on the milestone releasing is never secure, freelancer can be missing after you paid him half way. He can do whatever you want him to do.

Date of experience: August 19, 2020

Thumbnail of user luisr104
Peru
8 reviews
16 helpful votes
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June 11th, 2018

I've found work on this platform, but I prefer to have it outside the platform because of the comissions... Too high

Date of experience: June 11, 2018

Thumbnail of user sreek7
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 27th, 2020

Upwork is the best place to post and find jobs. Its an awesome platform to show cast skillsets and get paid.

Date of experience: November 26, 2020

Thumbnail of user alia644
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 27th, 2021

Upwork is amazing platform for begineer to professional freelancer, i am 100% satisfied with upwork Support team and platform

Thank you

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: January 26, 2021

Thumbnail of user mariap1719
Mexico
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 31st, 2021

I'm new at Upwork but I have had a lot of opportunities to show my talent. I know my bussiness will grow in the future with my Upwork account.

Date of experience: July 31, 2021

Thumbnail of user davidr6322
California
1 review
2 helpful votes
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August 21st, 2023

Re: UPWORK Not!.
Q: Is UPWORK profitable?.
A: No, UPWORK is not profitable. In 2022, UPWORK'S net losses were a sad $89.9 million.
In a time when you should be making money— and you're not--it's time to rethink the business model.
FYI: It's no wonder UPWORK is a failing company. The website needs work—but UPWORK doesn't take to kindly to suggestions. For instance, to randomly reset our user privacy setting (to invisible to clients) is nonsense and the sad excuse for doing so is ridiculous. Upwork is not doing anyone a favor by blocking accounts and for such frivolous reasons as it's just doing dirty to freelancers and employers, alike. Plus, it was very childish of Upwork to suspend my account for suggesting they stop playing with our privacy settings and proves my point that UPWORK is useless.
Your account has been suspended. Please contact customer support.
I don't need to contact anyone. You're not the boss of me!.
Unfortunately, Upwork practices a crude and sloppy way of doing business. To treat its users with such utter disrespect is not good PR, for sure.
It's no wonder Upwork is suffering big loses when every day it wastes even more money, effort, and resources defending its stupid decisions on too many similar complaints. Without doubt, Upwork doesn't follow the SDLC or process improvement methodology. And surely Upwork never tests its website properly or with qualified users. And there are other problems with Upwork and its website too numerous to mention.
To be in business for profit or not—Upwork just doesn't have the know-how to get it right—which is indicative of piss-poor management. Just try to get in touch with them and you'll find it's intentionally a big hassle and indicative of people who just don't give a damn. So I don't see this iteration of Upwork lasting much longer as flushing good money down the toilet to support a crap site in dire need of a full upgrade by incompetent folks who are obviously clueless is evidently not the best investment.

Tip for consumers:
Go Irish!

Products used:
None

Date of experience: August 21, 2023

Thumbnail of user sallyr127
Australia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 10th, 2020

I am (was) a client. I don't want something for nothing, but I also don't like being stolen from. Upwork advertise in Australia, using an australian site, my account was set to Australian Dollars, so the site should then either state US infront of freelancer rates, OR, I should feel confident that as my currency is set to Australian Dollars I am viewing rates in Australian dollars (a no brainer really). No! They advertised in australian dollars, billed me in australian dollars BUT charged my card in US dollars. So the $1500 AUD that I budgeted suddenly becomes $3420 AUD, unknown to me. When I brought to their attention they were hedgy, gave differing responses, and pointed me to some fine print buried in the terms and conditions that says they bill in USD. Well then either advertise in USD or notify the client that we are viewing AUD rates but will be charged in USD. RIP OFF. Stay away from these sharks. My accountant tells me the invoices are useless as they say I've only paid $500 when I've paid over $850. RIP OFF as I say! I feel sorry for the freelancer who did an amazing job until I pulled the plug. No-one benefits when platforms steal like this.

Date of experience: March 10, 2020

Thumbnail of user judihg
France
3 reviews
20 helpful votes
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June 18th, 2016

Jobs for 10$ are you kidding me?! It's devaluation of designer creativity. They shouldn't allow jobs for less then 100$.

Date of experience: June 18, 2016

Thumbnail of user kaleemd
Pakistan
1 review
17 helpful votes
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November 17th, 2019

Very Very Very Bad and True Horror for Honest Freelancers.

They never support their Freelancers and Providers and It seems they are Cheating their Freelancers themself.

Truly Not Recomeneded!

Date of experience: November 17, 2019

Thumbnail of user nadjam3
Serbia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 3rd, 2021

All I need to tell you is that you have to be insistent and patient. At beging take small jobs, built up your profile and you will see.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: February 2, 2021

Thumbnail of user nickg467
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 24th, 2020

I was struggling to find local photography jobs during covid! All the local small businesses I would reach out to would either not making as much money due to covid or closed because covid. I had client and jobs lined up before all the covid closures after that each client I had prior just isn't able to afford hiring a photographer at this time. Desperate for work I looked online and found Upwork! Quickly I got a photography job for $150 and I haven't stops since! It is now 9/23/2020 and I and working on 3 jobs from upwork. 1 for $250, another for $100, and the last for $500. All are clients I would have NEVER had access to and for that I TRULY Thank Upwork.

The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is simple! I pay 14.99 a month to be a member (my choice) and I have also been on the site for a little bite hitting 100% Job Success and Rising Talent, soon to hit even higher goals hopefully! I feel for people like that they should START to get discounts on the 20% that Upworks takes from the job I. E. The job for $500 Upwork is going to take $100 of that;( That SUPER sucks! The client reached out to me and I am experienced in the website for thing like that I thing the site should only charge 10% at the most! I now bring value to the website. Say once you hit 100% Job Success you now only pay 15% then at rising talent it goes to %10. I think that would be an amazing idea to reward people. If Upwork implemented a system like that doesn't have to be those exact number but just a similar thing that would be game change to all freelancers out there!

Hope this info help the next freelancer!

Nick Gonzales
Owner
SOS Photography

Date of experience: September 23, 2020

Thumbnail of user matejm16
Slovakia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 12th, 2020

UpWork is a Professional Freelancer Platform where you can build up nice career and find a lot of interesting projects.

Date of experience: June 12, 2020

Thumbnail of user piercies
New Jersey
1 review
10 helpful votes
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January 28th, 2014

As a freelancer, I have had no problem with this website before. I see many people complaining about safety concerns, but I've never even thought of relying on Elance to protect me. Elance is simply to get me in touch with prospective clients. You have to make sure to take steps necessary to protect your money and work on your own. They do have some useful services (such as Escrow and WorkView), and while they have their faults, a bit of caution will keep them from being abused. I never send full copies of my work until the Escrow is funded, but I also don't ask for it to be funded until it's completed on my end and give frequent notice of my progress; if your freelancer doesn't do this, then ask for them to do so through the job. If a job is cancelled, I also keep a copy of it and make regular checks (usually once a month) to see if anything I sent has been posted elsewhere; if it is, I just issue a DMCA take-down notice and harass them (without the help of Elance) until they take it down and stop using it online.

Most of the bad experiences listed here spawn from people putting way too much faith in a single website with their money. YOU need to learn to take the initiative necessary to keep your work and money as a freelancer safe. Elance is there to help you meet people and take some simple jobs - not to be your mother.

A lot of people also seem bitter about disputes not being in their favor when they very well should not be. If the client specifies you are to do something or use something specific, if you don't do this and don't warn them beforehand, then of course they're not going to pay you. If a professor tells you to type something and you hand it in written, of course he's just going to put it in the trash can next to his desk. You need to follow the directions of the clients to ensure nothing is against you.

You should also go through the ToS with a fine-tooth comb to avoid having your account closed. "But it should be clearer!" The ToS is fairly clear, but let me guess... you haven't read it? You oughta at least do that if you're putting your time and money into a website for freelancing, whether it's Elance or anything else.

Date of experience: January 28, 2014

Thumbnail of user greyh1
Canada
6 reviews
45 helpful votes
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June 19th, 2015

The following site is the definitive expose of the iWriter scam and the information there applies to many other freelance writing sites as well.

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BELIEVE THE INFORMATION YOU FIND THERE.

http://the-giant-iwriter-scam.blogspot.ca/

One of the biggest online scams right now is in the "freelance writing" area.

The biggest company in this area is called iWriter and it is maybe the biggest online scam period.

Ignore all the fake positive reviews and fake websites recommending iWriter while pretending to be independent, they are all a part of the scam.

Iwriter is not just a huge scam, it is maybe the biggest of all the online scams.

There is an awesome website that uncovers the whole iWriter scam in great detail. The site is hilarious and extremely well-written.

It's also very thorough and comprehensive, maybe the best resource available yet on the iWriter scam.

That website shows clearly how fraud is not just peripheral to iWriter, but on the contrary, EVERYTHING at iWriter is fraud and scamming.

IWriter needs to be exposed to everyone until the iWriter scam is finally shut down.

Date of experience: June 19, 2015

Thumbnail of user georgew491
Kenya
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 6th, 2020

My life was tranformed the day I discovered this great platform. I now have a work-life balance because I have control over my time and schedules!

Date of experience: May 6, 2020

Thumbnail of user aartip5
Uganda
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 16th, 2020

Best Platform to grow. Upwork team helped me to secure my account. Safe & secure. Many features in Upwork make it best among rest freelabcers site.

Date of experience: October 15, 2020

Thumbnail of user nugyent
Viet Nam
1 review
6 helpful votes
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August 27th, 2017

Upwork never allows for freelancers to signup.
They are even making old top freelancers suspended or blocked
It's awful

Never signup there!

Date of experience: August 27, 2017

Thumbnail of user daniellar14
Philippines
1 review
1 helpful vote
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October 13th, 2020

It is indeed the gamechanger for freelancers. It gave me the opportunity to share my skills while achieving the remote work experience.

Date of experience: October 13, 2020

Thumbnail of user rajua19
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 1st, 2022

I am very lucky to join in Upwork marketplace. I run my business through Upwork. It is one of the biggest marketplaces in the world.

Date of experience: January 31, 2022

Thumbnail of user aamira18
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 15th, 2020

Good platform for all the freelancers.! It difficult to get a new job as a newbie and you have to purchase the connects as well.!

Date of experience: September 15, 2020

Thumbnail of user ranvirs7
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 20th, 2020

Upwork provides the freedom to choose the right project as per the skillsets and I got to work with amazing clients and explore my potential.

Date of experience: December 18, 2020

Thumbnail of user ahmeds177
Egypt
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 15th, 2020

Upwork is the best platform for freelancer and gaining good experience
I have been working for 1 year and Highly Recommended!

Date of experience: August 15, 2020

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