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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
View ratings trends
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 milosm8
Serbia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 25th, 2020

Upwork platform is for professionals only. It is provided the best customer support as well as chat with clients.

Date of experience: June 25, 2020

Thumbnail of user asmj
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 24th, 2020

After working at Upwork, I have got the confidence to survive in life. My earning has changed my life.

Date of experience: September 23, 2020

Thumbnail of user aamirs20
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 6th, 2021

The best platform ever I found working online marketplace. Upwork should keep going as it is. I love Upwork.

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Value
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Quality

Date of experience: January 6, 2021

Thumbnail of user cloer3
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 16th, 2020

Upwork gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills to clients worldwide using a secure platform to do so.

Date of experience: October 16, 2020

Thumbnail of user olgae16
Ukraine
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 4th, 2020

Thanks to Upwork for opportunity of safety and interesting job. It helps me to find interesting photo editing projects

Date of experience: July 4, 2020

Thumbnail of user jamshaida2
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 9th, 2020

Having a great experience to working on upwork with different clients under the different region of world with freedom

Date of experience: May 9, 2020

Thumbnail of user bohdans4
Ukraine
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 6th, 2020

I strongly recommend using Upwork.
The platform is great if you find your niche.
You can try it and quit your normal job if it works well for you :)

Date of experience: July 6, 2020

Thumbnail of user dilawarh1
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 11th, 2020

Number one app for freelancing all over the world with quality support and good rules and terms and services

Date of experience: July 10, 2020

Thumbnail of user shahbazh3
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 15th, 2020

Feeling successful to be apart of upwork family!
Thanks for everything Upwork team!
All credit goes to my colleagues.

Date of experience: July 15, 2020

Thumbnail of user olegn6
RU
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 18th, 2020

I have a lot of experience in WEB programming. And only with Upwork - I was really able to build a working business!

Date of experience: July 17, 2020

Thumbnail of user efazs
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 8th, 2020

They have a very good support team who helps me out whenever I need help. It has been a good side-income for me.

Date of experience: October 8, 2020

Thumbnail of user asada12
Pakistan
1 review
4 helpful votes
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October 17th, 2017

Their policies to eat the commission of freelancer is gruesome. They try to grab the hard-earned money o freelancer in very brutal way

Date of experience: October 17, 2017

Thumbnail of user abdullaha325
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 24th, 2020

I started my career on Upwork and I'm satisfied.
Highly recommended to work on Upwork if you are a highly skilled person.
Thanks.

Date of experience: October 24, 2020

Thumbnail of user milevab
MK
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 1st, 2020

Upwork is the best option for freelancers so far. They provide payment security for your hard work, have the best clients out there.

Date of experience: December 1, 2020

Thumbnail of user michellej588
Nigeria
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 8th, 2020

Upwork is one of the best freelancing platforms in the world. I will strongly recommend for anyone who's looking for a freelancing opportunity.

Date of experience: December 7, 2020

Thumbnail of user michaell124
California
1 review
10 helpful votes
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May 4th, 2015

I just had my account shut down on elance as someone who was testing the waters to hire freelancers to complete programming tasks for my startup. I have to say the one freelancer I hired who accepted a proposal did an amazing job. I had one other one who flaked out, and no bites on the 5 other jobs I posted.

I think the reason my account was shut down is ludicrous. Because my jobs haven't led to activity? I posted 10 private jobs of which only 2 people applied for after I invited over 100? I don't understand why my account was suspended? If my jobs are private, it's not like others are out there trying to apply for them. Of the two people I hired, one completely flaked out on me mid-job, and the other completed the job and was paid upon completion. As far as I'm concerned they system failed me, which Is why I don't understand why my account was closed? What's the point of private listings, if you have to have them fulfilled? That's what I had understood one of the comforts of posting a private listing, as that I didn't have people applying for a job without me not issuing it. I had a strict criteria of candidates, of which none applied. I wasn't low-balling either, I agreed to pay their market rate. Was I supposed to withdraw my jobs after nobody qualified for them? Or should I have loosened up my requirements and given the work to someone who was unqualified? Or should I just not post requirements which might not find a qualified candidate and hire a proper firm? You've left me in the dark here with no reasonable explanation. The fact that I am expected to commission unqualified candidates is sheer lunacy. Perhaps I set the bar too high in hoping to use elance. Perhaps it's more for hobbyist programmers? I will be happy to take my business to any of the competing freelance companies.

Date of experience: May 4, 2015

Thumbnail of user titob2
California
2 reviews
17 helpful votes
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January 4th, 2016

J M's review ("Be careful with these guys") further down says it all. I don't want to totally put down UpWork. There's still legitimate work there, but it's harder to find, and UpWork simply doesn't care about freelancers.

I worked as a freelancer for oDesk for about three years. I had constant work, I was making decent money, and I felt well treated by oDesk. When I had a question or problem, I was treated with respect. It was a good service.

That all changed when it became UpWork. The other reviewers who say UpWork doesn't care about freelancers are 100% correct. When it was oDesk, I was a top rated freelancers with a 4.99 rating and I had constant work. After it became UpWork, the rating system changed. At some point I lost my Top Rated status but was never notified about it, then after a while I became Top Rated again, but with absolutely no changes in my status. I wasn't working at all during that period. With oDesk, I always knew how my status was calculated. Under UpWork, it's a mystery.

When there were technical problems with oDesk, they responded immediately; UpWork just makes excuses and tries to shift the blame. Their site frequently goes down, but when I've reported it, they've claimed it was a problem with my computer (it's not - I've been a a computer professional for decades and know when the problem is my computer and when it's the site).

For nearly three years, oDesk was the only place I looked, but that's ended. I had constant work with oDesk, but since it became UpWork I've had only one very small job even though I've been looking constantly. I'm still looking for work on UpWork, but I'm now also looking for other sources of work.

Losing oDesk was a major loss for the freelancing community.

Date of experience: January 4, 2016

Thumbnail of user luciann3
Michigan
1 review
5 helpful votes
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August 6th, 2019

Be very careful on how you will choose the freelancers. It is easy for a freelancer to scam a client, especially with a long term contract and Upwork will most likely side with them. The freelancer's reviews do not reflect reality. Upwork will side with the freelancer even though the proofs are evident. I hired a freelancer to build an app. In the length of a few months, I paid him a deposit and few milestones. After I paid him over $1800 he told me he has some health issues and that the delivery of the next milestone will be delayed. Not only that the milestone was past due but I couldn't leave feedback anymore. When I looked at his profile again I notice another client gave him a bad review and that the freelancer took his money without delivering the work.
I contacted Upwork and gave them all the proofs and screenshots they need it to see how the whole contract proceded. In fact, those were not even necessary since everything happened on the platform. Escalated to a supervisor and she said she will forward the information to a Trust and Service department but nothing happened. I asked the freelancer to at least provide me the source files for whatever he worked until now so I can take the files to another freelance/company to finish the app. No response from freelancer. Now a few months have passed and the freelancer has 5 more contracts opened and he is "Top-Rated" with 100% job success. UPWORK should realize that clients are the ones that bring money to the platform and with situations like this not only that clients will leave the platform but will also discourage others from using the company. So my advice to you is to get files throughout the process in case something will happen before the contract will end or better yet use another website that will give you more protection.

Date of experience: August 6, 2019

Thumbnail of user mdapelm
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 3rd, 2020

I love to work at Upwork. Because Upwork help me and family by jobs in Upwork. Upwork is great. I'm doing work here about 7 years.

Date of experience: June 3, 2020

Thumbnail of user rubyp77
Philippines
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 8th, 2020

You can choose task, who you can work with and very convenient. I am confident about my salary that I can have it after 2 weeks.

Date of experience: December 7, 2020

Thumbnail of user chiragj2
India
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 11th, 2020

I got many clients from Upwork and really good planform for freelancers and startups. I started using it since 2017 and its really boost my career.

Date of experience: December 10, 2020

Thumbnail of user salmanr10
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 18th, 2020

Upwork is a best plateform where only serious people can hire freelancers and can be get hired. Means upwok has good good control over standard.

Date of experience: June 18, 2020

Thumbnail of user emanr4
Egypt
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 23rd, 2021

Wonderful site easy to deal with helps you to get opportunities, very safe, i recommended it very much

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Value
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Quality

Date of experience: February 22, 2021

Thumbnail of user sobian1
Pakistan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 26th, 2020

Upwork is excellent job portal platform for me as freelancer. Im find my 1st job as freelance designer.

Date of experience: October 26, 2020

Thumbnail of user ahnafm
Bangladesh
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 22nd, 2021

Upwork is a very professional freelance marketplace. I have worked on many websites but Upwork is the best.

Tip for consumers:
Spend your valuable time properly in Upwork.

Products used:
This is a freelance marketplace so I have to work with clients easily through that site.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality

Date of experience: April 22, 2021

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