Upwork is the world’s largest general freelance marketplace, formed in 2015 from the merger of Elance and oDesk. Clients post hourly and fixed-price jobs in writing, design, development, marketing, admin and dozens of other fields, and freelancers send proposals to win them. Since 1 May 2025 Upwork charges freelancers a variable service fee of 0% to 15% per contract, shown before you apply, and proposals cost Connects, which you buy at $0.15 each.
At a glance
| What it is | A global freelance marketplace |
| Work types | Hourly, fixed-price, Project Catalog and direct contracts |
| Freelancer fee | 0% to 15% per contract, shown before you apply |
| Connects | $0.15 each; jobs need a set number per proposal |
| Free plan | Freelancer Basic, with 10 free Connects a month |
| Freelancer Plus | About $19.99 a month, with 100 Connects |
| Direct contracts | 5% fee on Basic, 0% on Plus |
How it works
You create a profile with your skills, portfolio, rate and work history. Clients post jobs, and you send proposals using Connects. If a client hires you, the work happens under an Upwork contract: hourly contracts track time, and fixed-price contracts use milestones held in escrow. You can also sell ready-made services through Project Catalog, or bring your own clients through direct contracts.
Fees and costs
Upwork’s help center describes a variable freelancer service fee between 0% and 15%, set per contract and locked once you start. Many freelancers report paying around 10% on typical work, with higher rates more likely in crowded categories. Connects cost $0.15 each, and each proposal needs a job-specific number of them. Freelancer Basic is free with 10 Connects a month. Freelancer Plus costs about $19.99 a month with 100 Connects and removes the fee on direct contracts. Withdrawal and currency conversion fees depend on your method and country.
Clients pay their own marketplace and contract fees, which can affect how they budget.
Winning your first contracts
New profiles compete with established freelancers, so start narrow. Pick one service, write a profile headline that names the result you deliver, and show two or three strong portfolio pieces. Apply to smaller, well-defined jobs posted recently, and write short proposals that address the client’s problem in the first two lines. Early five-star reviews matter more than early rates.
Pricing on Upwork
Because the fee comes off your earnings, price with it in mind. If you want $50 an hour net and your contract fee is 10%, you need to charge about $55.56. Raise rates as your Job Success Score and reviews grow.
Common mistakes
Many new freelancers spend Connects on vague or heavily contested jobs. Others send long, generic proposals or underprice so much they can’t afford to stay. Be selective, specific and realistic about rates.
Getting paid
Hourly contracts on Upwork come with payment protection when you log time through the Upwork desktop app, which records activity and screenshots so clients can review your work. Fixed-price contracts are protected through escrow: the client funds each milestone before you start, and the money is released when they approve your submission, or automatically after a review period if they don’t respond. Once funds clear Upwork’s security period, you can withdraw by bank transfer, PayPal, Payoneer or other methods depending on your country. Each method has its own fees and timing, so pick one that suits your currency.
Profile and reputation
Your Job Success Score is calculated from client feedback and contract outcomes, and it strongly affects how often you appear in search and invitations. Badges like Rising Talent, Top Rated and Expert-Vetted signal reliability and can lead to more invitations from clients. Keep communication clear, finish contracts properly and ask happy clients to leave feedback. One disputed or abandoned contract early on can hurt your score for months, so take on work you know you can deliver well.
Project Catalog and direct contracts
Project Catalog lets you sell fixed-scope packages that clients can buy without a job post, which suits repeatable services such as logo design or SEO audits. Direct contracts let you bring clients you found elsewhere into Upwork to use its payment protection, at a lower fee than marketplace work.
Owen’s take
Upwork has the most clients and the most competition. It rewards freelancers who specialise, apply carefully and treat every early contract as a reputation builder. Budget for Connects and the fee from day one.
Who it suits
It suits freelancers with a clear, in-demand skill who can write good proposals. It suits less well people expecting quick work without building a profile.
Similar options
- Fiverr lets clients buy your packaged services.
- Freelancer.com uses bidding and contests.
- Guru has lower fees on paid plans.
- PeoplePerHour is popular in the UK.
More options are in Freelancing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Largest pool of clients
- Escrow and payment protection
- Hourly and fixed-price work
Cons
- Variable fee up to 15%
- Paid Connects to apply
- Heavy competition
FAQ
How much does Upwork take from freelancers?
A variable fee of 0% to 15% per contract, shown before you apply.
How much do Upwork Connects cost?
$0.15 each.
Is Upwork free to join?
Yes, Freelancer Basic is free with 10 Connects a month.
What does Freelancer Plus include?
About 100 Connects a month and no fee on direct contracts, for about $19.99 a month.
When did Upwork change its fees?
The variable fee started on 1 May 2025.
