Upwork

Review:

Upwork is an online freelance marketplace that gives employers access to more than 18 million freelancers from around the world, including the U.S. More than 30% of Fortune 500 companies have used Upwork to connect with talented, independent professionals.

Pros:

• Brands such as Airbnb, Dropbox, Microsoft, Samsung, and more use Upwork to find quality freelancers.
• Employers can post projects at no cost or choose from paid options, depending on their hiring needs.
• Millions of projects are posted on the platform with over 5,000 skills represented across more than 70 categories.
• AI-matching technology instantly generates a freelancer shortlist based on your project requirements.
• Employers can connect with a remote workforce representing 180 countries.
• You can receive invoices through Upwork's platform to easily pay for the work you've authorized.
• Projects include social media visibility on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Employers have access to individual freelancers' profiles and can see their ratings.
• There are two local offices in the USA.
• Upwork is more affordable than competitors like FlexJobs.

Cons:

• Upwork's basic plan excludes advanced candidate management tools.
• Some freelancers might be deterred by having to pay a fee based on their earnings.
• There are no options to search for projects by employer, which can make it difficult for freelancers to find you.
• There are no multilingual site options, which may limit the number of registered users.

Reputation:

Although more than 140 complaints were logged against Upwork on Better Business Bureau, most queries received attention from them.

On Sitejabber, Upwork has more than 2,700 reviews and a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. On Trustpilot, the platform received also received 3.3 stars based on the reviews of more than 9,000 users.

Upwork vs. Fiverr:

Both Upwork and Fiverr provide platforms for employers to find talented freelancers. Upwork offers free basic project adverts but employers are charged 5% of each project. With Fiverr, employers choose from customized service packages to connect with qualifying freelancers, so prices vary. Both charge freelancers a fee based on their earnings.

Upwork vs. FlexJobs:

Upwork and FlexJobs both advertise freelance and remote vacancies, but the former allows employers to post projects for free and only pay freelancers for their work. By contrast, FlexJobs charges $399.00 per month. Both platforms have a global reach, but only Flexjobs offers social media promotion for added visibility.

Upwork vs. Guru:

Both Upwork and Guru connect employers with talented freelancers. While Upwork offers employers a basic free plan, employers are charged a 5% fee for each project's payment. Guru doesn’t charge for posting projects and employers only pay a small fee for each paid invoice. Only Guru offers freelancers a free option where no deductions from earnings are made.