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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
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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 geniep1
Florida
2 reviews
11 helpful votes
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January 5th, 2016

I joined Upwork about a year ago when my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer, and I decided that working as a freelance editor/proofreader would be a good way for me to earn money and stay at home with him. I completed my first assignment at Upwork two months ago, and the client never paid me, although my work was impeccable. Another client approached me about a job for which I wasn't qualified, and I turned it down. Upwork also kept telling clients that I was not a native English speaker, Not only was I born in New Jersey, but my English is practically flawless. One client wanted a freelancer with lots of experience who would work for minimum wage. Another client wanted me to send THEM money so I could work for them. I sometimes wonder if these jobs and clients really exist. I was forced to return to school in order to become a certified medical transcription editor in order that I might be able to find legitimate freelance work. They should call this site Throw Up Work. When I realized how bogus this site is, I felt like throwing up!

Date of experience: January 5, 2016

Thumbnail of user muhammada312
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 18th, 2020

Upwork is my Most Favorite Freelancing Platform. Where there are very good clients. And there are also very good designers Which gives you good quality work in good money

Date of experience: September 18, 2020

Thumbnail of user faranh
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 24th, 2021

I find this platform very much interesting and love to work on this platform. You can find a number of clients from different countries on this platform.

Service
Value
Quality

Date of experience: March 23, 2021

Thumbnail of user himalg
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 5th, 2020

If you deliver quality service and you have talent, there is unlimited opportunities in Upwork. I am glad that I have joined Upwork and am thankful for the opportunities.

Tip for consumers:
Stay patient and deliver highest possible quality service.

Products used:
Basic and freelancer plus program.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: July 5, 2020

Thumbnail of user kimd471
Georgia
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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July 23rd, 2020

I LOVE Upwork for so many reasons!

As a freelancer:
I get to read reviews of the clients I consider working with.
Using my tracker keeps me above reproach, and it proves I did the client's work.
Upwork guarantees my payment because I use the tracker.
Prospective clients can read reviews of what other clients say about me/my work.
Doing great work allows me to stand out in the crowd.
The ability to choose working with and contributing to clients I love!
I don't have to track down payments or deal with clients not paying at all.
I don't have to spend non-billable time generating invoices.
My taxes are calculated as a sole proprietor.
I diversify my income by working with 2-3 clients at a time, but have been working with my current 3 fabulous clients long-term, which keeps me out of the interview/client search mode.

Clients love getting honest reviews about the freelancers they choose, especially compared to the limited information you get from checking an employee's reference with an employer: title, salary history, service dates, and maybe if the employee is eligible for re-hire.

I believe in Upwork so much, I own UPWK stock and will continue to buy in!

Service
Value
Quality

Date of experience: July 23, 2020

Thumbnail of user rahantarivonym
Madagascar
1 review
1 helpful vote
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August 31st, 2020

One of things I enjoy working on Upwork is that wherever I am I can always work, when I'm on the go to any location, or when I'm on vacation, I can work and I can earn money.
The choice for the working schedule is also flexible, I can work for someone in Canada or in Paris or in the United States, I can arrange my schedule as I want. Thank you UPWORK.

Service
Value
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Quality

Date of experience: August 29, 2020

Thumbnail of user ataa1
Egypt
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 24th, 2021

From my experience, the Upwork platform cares about both the freelancer and the client rights and the freelancers exist on in are some of the best in the world

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: April 24, 2021

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

I have been using this platform for last 1 month and i am very happy to be a part of it. I have earned quiet alot of money as well as gained many contracts.

Date of experience: September 15, 2020

Thumbnail of user ahmadk44
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 22nd, 2021

I had a good time at UpWork. As I was new 2 months ago, they helped me a lot. The UpWork is for all who want to work for their family in their freetime.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: March 21, 2021

Thumbnail of user emmah55
Australia
1 review
4 helpful votes
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February 16th, 2016

WARNING to others - Upwork freelancers V T Nezwelt ripped me off $10K and didn't have the qualifications to complete the work despite claiming on Upwork's website that they did - this is the response from Upwork's legal counsel when I asked for help in getting my money back for an end product I can't use:

Upwork makes no representations about, and does not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of, the Freelancer Services; the truth or accuracy of Freelancer's listings on the Site; the qualifications, background, or identities of Users; the ability of Freelancers to deliver the Freelancer Services

Date of experience: February 16, 2016

Thumbnail of user richardy233
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 30th, 2020

Upwork us the best choice when you are new to online freelancing. Upwork is the best platform for new freelancers and many clients and freelancers are using upwork.

Date of experience: November 29, 2020

Thumbnail of user sourcingr
Illinois
15 reviews
15 helpful votes
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April 5th, 2020

My system was hacked when I exposed it to one of their freelancers from a foreign country. I contacted upwork and they said they would investigate. I supplied them with proof. They said they could not prove the freelancer was involved my system hack even though I had my system running for seven years prior and had not been hacked once, until the day I gave the freelancer access to my system. The freelancer kept oddly stating during the process that my system was not secure, even after I explained to him that the only reason it wasn't "secure" was because I was giving him access!? I believe he was doing this to lay the groundwork for an explanation as to why my system was hacked, once it was hacked (my phone system and associated calling account was drained of funds). So as a way of throwing me a bone, upwork said I could give the freelancer whatever feedback I felt was needed. After serious delays in upwork posting my review of the freelancer, I checked back a month later and found that my feedback was removed. They then stated they cannot have somebody giving negative feedback to one of their good freelancers (meaning one that makes them a lot of money). I noticed numerous other negative feedback scores given to the same freelancers who had their negative feedback details removed. Upwork is protecting a hacker for their own bottom Dollar.

Date of experience: April 5, 2020

Thumbnail of user nadimy
Lebanon
1 review
15 helpful votes
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September 4th, 2014

Elance closed my account after i posted a job and paid 5$ to promote better my job. They charged me and simply closed my account. When i tried to login i got this message: Your Elance account is expired.

I tired to contact the support team. I got this reply:

Hello XXX XXX,

I've reviewed your account with our team and it seems your account was closed due to irregularities detected by our system.

We regularly review member accounts to ensure activity follows Elance policies and guidelines. If you wish to review our Terms and Conditions, please visit:
http://www.elance.com/p/help/tos/index.html

I understand your concern, but in discussing this with our team I am not able to reverse the decision.

Regards,
Elance Policy Team

################################

Then I asked them to close my account so i can register it back,

But they didn't, and I am still getting emails from them on how to complete my JOB:

Need some inspiration
To finish that job post?

Hello XXXX,

Been too busy to finish that job post?

Perhaps a little inspiration will remind you of why you came to Elance in the first place.

1. Browse our 3 million freelancers
2. Check out our Skills Directory
3. View average hourly prices for jobs
4. See trends in online work
5. Visit our Testimonial Center
Skilled freelancers are available now for jobs large and small, helping you grow your business fast.

Work Differently,
The Elance Team

How should I finish posting my job if they closed my account?

I recommend you to stay away from Elance!.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: September 4, 2014

Thumbnail of user muhammada496
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 7th, 2022

Very helpful marketplace for freelancers and businesses. Freelancers can find some great clients and businesses can find reasonable freelancers to handle their jobs.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: January 7, 2022

Thumbnail of user gitap6
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 6th, 2020

The best site for the best freelancers. I am also privileged to work here for the best clients. I Will definitely work here for years to come and as long as I can.

Date of experience: June 6, 2020

Thumbnail of user jamesk149
Australia
1 review
16 helpful votes
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May 8th, 2016

I recently used Upwork for my design work and hired a freelancer.
Everything went well, I hired them using my Upwork's website, conversed with the freelancer through the website and used Paypal and paid using their system. Everything went smooth. However few weeks later, I wanted to post another job ad and found that my account has been suspended. They requested for information such as, How did I find the freelancer?, How did I interact with the freelancer?, How did I pay?.
The most stupid part is that they have full access to my profile. They can go into my account and clearly see how I did all those things. However as I needed to have my account in working order, I provided all my evidence - snapshots of our conversation, and my job add status stating "PAID". They however came back and said simply - Your account has been suspended and will not be reviewed again. What kind of BS is that?
So I tried speaking to the 4 of their customer service, whom are clueless and cannot help in any way whatsoever and a manager. They all had the same reply - They dont have any information. They also wouldnt give me their complaints department's details, continuously closed my requests, and one of them even hung up on me. And all I was asking for was a VALID reason as to why they would close a paying customer's account? There are so many of these sites out there and better ones too. So with the increased competition in the market, it doesnt seem sensible to be going around closing paying customer's account. If there was an option to for a 0 star, that is what I would give them. 1 star seems TOO high.

Date of experience: May 8, 2016

Thumbnail of user dhirajg1
New Jersey
1 review
5 helpful votes
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November 8th, 2017

This is a scam sites. Fake reviews and fake companies. Fake reviews and fake companies. Fake reviews and fake companies. Fake reviews and fake companies. Fake reviews and fake companies.

Date of experience: November 8, 2017

Thumbnail of user amyb847
Connecticut
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 27th, 2020

I started my freelancing career on Upwork/Elance several years ago. Every year, I find more great clients and make more money on Upwork. It really helped me grow my business.

Date of experience: May 27, 2020

Thumbnail of user amandah351
Pennsylvania
2 reviews
7 helpful votes
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June 11th, 2021

The reviews here just DON'T MATCH UP with other sources. See attached screenshots from the BBB (Better Business Bureau), Yelp, Consumer Affairs and The RipOff Report.

BBB - 1.11 stars out of 5
Yelp - 1 out of 5 stars
Consumer Affairs - 2.4 out of 5 stars
RipOff Report - 126 complaints
Go to these sites and do a search for Upwork.

I was with Elance and smelled slime when the merger took place. I never joined.
A few years ago the ratings for Upwork on this site were in the toilet.
On these other sites I've listed, they are STILL in the toilet.

Date of experience: June 11, 2021

Thumbnail of user saurabhs48
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 20th, 2020

The quality of projects & clients that you get here is what makes this site the best in the world. Early payments to freelancers during Covid was the best decision.

Date of experience: July 19, 2020

Thumbnail of user sunilk22
India
1 review
7 helpful votes
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March 9th, 2017

They charge high rate of commission and transaction fee extra (20%+0.99%), which is comparing high to other sites. They suspend your account just because client is not choosing you (Nonsense). This was good until unless it was Odesk. Now it is an organization of robbers, cheaters, biased and racism persons. As per my worst experience with Upwork, requesting all please DO NOT OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT IN UPWORK. Better sites listed below:

Toptal
Elance
Freelancer
Craigslist
Guru
99designs
Peopleperhour
Freelance Writing Gigs
Demand Media
College Recruiter
GetACoder
IFreelance
Project4hire
SimplyHired

Date of experience: March 9, 2017

Thumbnail of user mikes2575
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 4th, 2020

To the self-entitled reviewers who can't read or follow the necessary policies that is required of any successful business or community of legitimate members: "Read & comply the instructions. Contact UW Support (anytime) if you have a legit problem. Otherwise, don't embarrass yourself with egocentric rants."

I've been writing professionally for more than 40 years, I have a dozen external, longstanding clients.and joined Upwork about 5 years ago. I've subscribed to no less than 9 other online platforms over the past 10 years. One by one, I have canceled all but Upwork. I long ago realized that I was wasting my time with any but UW.

Some of my projects require subcontracting services such as graphic arts, technology or other computer geek-type stuff. Maintaining both a freelancer & client accounts, being somewhat techno-stoopid, I can rely the company's focus on providing a human Support staff (available 24/7/365) & constant monitoring/anticipation of trolls/hackers/scammers, I can in turn provide one-stop service & to my clients.

Upwork's business model is why it is the most successful (among so few) publicly-traded freelancer companies. Its focus on service, security & protection of both freelancers & clients from the wannabe's & whiners is why I can have a 100% rating (and make a couple of bucks).

"Read & comply the instructions. Contact UW Support (anytime) if you have a legit problem. Otherwise, don't embarrass yourself with egocentric rants."

Mike S.

Date of experience: September 4, 2020

Thumbnail of user daled11
California
1 review
8 helpful votes
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May 29th, 2014

I have now spent well over a week in the process of finding a good writer for a $5000+ project, and I found one through Elance. I have absolutely no objection to compensating any intermediary that helped us find a way to work together. But with my brief experience with them there is no way I would enter a business relationship with Elance. After a series of baffling and maddening interactions with them over the past week, and twice waiting 15 to 20 minutes on hold, I now find: In addition to their bizarre "credit card authorization process" (unlike anything anywhere else in the use of a credit card), it is their actual policy to charge an amount to my credit card in excess of what I authorized! They actually think that's OK by condescendingly reassuring me after the fact that there will be a refund "in 10 days or so"! (The California BBB will be fascinated to learn about this, and there may even be a young Assistant DA in or around Mountain View looking for an interesting way to spend a month or two.) I know incompetence, arrogance, and an ethical tin ear when encounter them. When things start out rife with these "little early signs" it never gets better, only worse. I finally did last what I should have done first, which is to look up on the internet whatever reviews from Elance users I could find. Wow! I had to tell of a perfectly good writer I could not proceed, and apologize profusely for wasting his time. Back to Square One, and immensely grateful to be there.

Dale Delmege
760-4154-0128

Date of experience: May 29, 2014

Thumbnail of user dissolvedg
Romania
1 review
10 helpful votes
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January 9th, 2018

I've had a freelancer Upwork for a while now, and I've only recently begun to apply again. I had just gotten my first job and finished it successfully when I got an email notifying me that my account is suspended. Apparently, Upwork thinks that the reason you don't get jobs is because your skills aren't right. This assumption is pretty infuriating by itself, given that there's so much competition and many of the clients end up not picking anyone. Plus, why would you offer so many connects + the option to buy more if you don't want us to use them?
"Our decision is based on a careful review and the fact that you have submitted a high number of proposals for jobs on our site without many contracts or earnings. Unfortunately, this means the jobs posted by clients are not a good match for your skills."
This is one big sad joke. Ignoring the fact that they take more than 20% of the money, why wouldn't they give freelancers a chance to build up a client base? Why did they suspend my account only after I got my first job?
I wrote to them, sent out diplomas and certificates, they wrote back that their decision is final, ignoring my arguments alltogether.
In over 5 years of professional experience I've never had one negative feedback, everybody was always very pleased with my work (including the one Upwork client), and they dare to tell me my skills aren't fit for the clients? Outrageous.
STAY AWAY! Exploitative and unfair system!

Date of experience: January 9, 2018

Thumbnail of user birenn
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 22nd, 2020

In pandemics I lost my Job, I was looking for some other option, I found video about freelancing on upwork that video change my life.
I started Freelancing in Upwork in June, in starting I faced trouble to getting project, but after applying some tricks I getting project

Date of experience: November 22, 2020

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