Is Upwork good for freelancers?

Upwork is an online marketplace where people can find freelance job offers from employers looking for help with various projects or tasks. The process of finding jobs through this website varies slightly depending on your location. If you're in Europe, UpWork operates as Europe Workforce (EW), while if you live in North America, Upwork operates under its own name.

In addition to providing a place for companies to list available positions they'd like filled, Upwork also features a community-based platform that allows workers to post profiles outlining their skillset and experience. Users who are interested in working for a company via Upwork can then search out those opportunities by browsing listings posted by other members.

While Upwork has been around since 2012, many critics accuse the platform of being rife with scams and sketchy practices. Many prominent figures within the industry have publicly criticized Upwork over concerns related to worker safety, unfair wages, and poor customer support. In response to these criticisms, several major changes were made to the platform throughout 2020. However, not everything went smoothly.

The platform was hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for digital services plummeted due to shutdowns caused by lockdowns across much of the world. As such, many employees found themselves unable to pay rent, buy groceries, or even afford medical bills—let alone make ends meet. This led to claims that some workers had become trapped at home without any income whatsoever.

Since Upwork’s inception, there have been numerous reports of fraudsters manipulating the system to take advantage of eager potential clients. For instance, one former employee claimed she lost thousands of dollars after submitting bids for fake projects designed solely to con unsuspecting customers into paying more money than they should've. Another user said he won $1 million in fraudulent payments from a client located halfway around the globe.

Many others reported similar stories, all claiming to be victims of scam artists operating in countries ranging from Australia to Japan. Some of them alleged that Upwork staff failed to address these issues despite knowing of ongoing schemes. One person wrote a public letter addressed to CEO Michelle Gregoire asking her why the company did nothing once she alerted them to a problem. They received no reply. A month later, another person sent Gregoire a screenshot showing how easy it would be for scammers to exploit loopholes in Upwork’s payment system. Yet again, Grecoire responded saying “we will continue to improve our security systems and processes, but we don't want to discourage legitimate providers from joining us."

After years of criticism, Upwork finally decided to overhaul its entire business model in March 2020, which included banning specific types of fees that allowed scammers to profit off of vulnerable clients. While these measures helped curb the number of complaints, the following months saw countless new accounts accused of committing fraud against innocent individuals.

To add further insult to injury, Upwork introduced additional fees for certain transactions including listing fee reductions, monthly subscription charges, and extra administrative costs associated with bidding on projects. These added expenses put freelancers in precarious position as they struggled to cover basic living costs. And yet, Upwork still refuses to refund affected parties.

With so many negative headlines surrounding Upwork, it might seem difficult to determine whether or not using the platform is worth the risk. So let’s take a look at the current state of things. Is Upwork worth it 2021?

Is Upwork a good site for freelancers?

If you plan on making use of Upwork to secure paid gigs, it helps to understand exactly how the platform works before signing up. Here's what you need to know:

You'll first need to create an account. You can either do this directly through the website or through the mobile app. Once logged in, click on Projects " Join Now. From here, fill out the form provided by Upwork detailing the type of project you’d like to bid on. Afterward, you’ll receive an email inviting you to join. Click on Invite Friends to share the link with anyone else you wish to invite. When someone clicks on it, they’ll see the same invitation page as yourself. Simply enter their details and send them the link.

When your friend accepts the offer, you’ll receive an email stating they’ve joined. Your profile will automatically update with information regarding your availability.

From here, you’re free to browse relevant job posts and apply for them until deadlines pass. Depending on the country you’re based in, however, you may only be able to submit applications for open positions listed on EW. It's important to note that you cannot choose whether or not you accept a particular gig unless you explicitly sign off on each opportunity.

Once accepted, your task begins. You’ll typically need to complete assigned projects within set timeframes. Payment usually comes in two forms: hourly rate or flat rate per completed assignment. Since most projects require multiple phases, you’ll likely end up splitting fees between different stages of completion. Unfortunately, fees vary greatly depending on where you live, which means you could end up getting shortchanged if you reside somewhere outside of the US or EU.

As mentioned previously, Upwork does provide tools to identify potential scams. To keep track of pending bids, head to My Jobs " Completed Bids. This tool lets you monitor every project you’ve worked on, allowing you to check outstanding requests and refunds. There's also a section specifically dedicated to unpaid invoices. All in all, Upwork makes managing finances relatively straightforward.

Is Upwork a reliable site?

Despite Upwork’s reputation, the majority of reviews left on review sites claim the platform delivers quality results. According to data collected by ReviewMeNot, 64% of reviewers rated Upwork positively overall and 63% gave it high marks for reliability. Additionally, 74% of reviewers thought the platform was trustworthy.

However, other sources paint a less rosy picture. Business Insider conducted an investigation into dozens of cases involving dishonest contractors trying to manipulate Upwork to line their pockets. Their findings revealed widespread evidence of deceitful tactics used by some employees in order to maximize profits.

For example, one contractor claimed that his employer requested him to log daily hours on projects regardless of whether or not he delivered anything meaningful. Others described managers who asked them to charge higher rates whenever they felt like it. Still others claimed they were pressured to accept lowball offers just to avoid losing access to the platform altogether.

These allegations aren't isolated to the past few years. Multiple former workers shared similar anecdotes back in 2016, accusing the platform of withholding promised earnings. Even though these problems persisted long ago, Upwork refused to respond accordingly. Instead, they simply changed policies. That's right — instead of fixing something that wasn't broken, they doubled down on bad decisions.

According to a report published earlier this year, Upwork took decisive action to correct some of these issues in late 2019. But even though they implemented stricter rules, it didn't stop unscrupulous employees from exploiting loopholes in the system to steal funds from honest workers.

One woman, for example, was hired in January 2018 to assist with social media marketing for a fashion brand. She agreed to a 10 percent commission split upon completing assignments. Despite having little previous experience in the field, she managed to rack up hundreds of billable hours. Upon receiving notification of her success, however, she noticed discrepancies in her paycheck. Her final invoice reflected 1,000 hours worth of work rather than the 500 hours she believed she earned.

She reached out to Upwork twice requesting compensation, both times she got nowhere. Eventually, she filed a lawsuit alleging Upwork committed breach of contract. Later, she learned that another member had already taken credit for the disputed hours. Fortunately, she eventually settled out of court.

Can you actually get work on Upwork?

Getting started on Upwork doesn't necessarily mean you'll start earning money immediately. Most clients prefer to hire professional workers with extensive portfolios. As such, it takes time to build credibility among prospective employers who often rely heavily on ratings and feedback.

Additionally, many freelancers struggle to land regular contracts because they lack visibility. Clients rarely spend enough time searching through lengthy resumes and proposals when hiring agencies. Therefore, if you don't show that you have previous experience doing the exact thing required, you may never hear back from potential employers.

That being said, there are plenty of ways to increase your chances of landing steady contracts. First, try creating a compelling portfolio highlighting your best work. Next, explore posting on Upwork Talent Groups, which provides exposure to millions of active users. Finally, take part in discussions relating to your area of expertise and participate in groups created especially for freelancers.

It's important to remember that Upwork isn't perfect. Just as there are shady characters lurking on platforms like Reddit and Twitter, there are also reputable freelancer communities built around integrity. Take advantage of these resources, learn about ethical standards, and always prioritize transparency.

Upwork is one of the most popular platforms where people can find freelance work online. It has been around since 2009 and has helped thousands of professionals connect with clients all over the world. But how exactly does it work? And are its workers safe or even legitimate? We've got answers.

In this article we'll talk about everything from whether or not you should use UpWork as a client (or worker) to whether or not it's possible to earn six-figure salaries through it. Let's dive in!

How much do Upwork freelancers make?

According to Upwork’s own data, 90 percent of contractors using the site reported that they earned more than $50 per hour during their last project. The average hourly rate was said to be $78.32, which translates into an annual salary of roughly $6,000 per month. That means some workers could potentially earn up to $72,000 annually if they worked full time.

But those numbers don't tell us much about Upworks' actual payout structure. When asked about compensation packages, only 7% of respondents chose “salary” as their preferred option. Most opted for other options like base pay plus bonuses, commissions, tips, etc. Some respondents also noted that they were unsure what kind of payment would come next after signing a contract with a new employer.

This lack of clarity isn't necessarily bad because Upwork allows any type of agreement between parties—whether its by oral contracts or written ones. All you need to do is sign your name under terms you're comfortable with. However, it may mean that your expectations aren't met when working with certain companies. For example, if a company doesn't want to offer commission payments but wants you to get paid via another method instead, there might not be anything you can really do about it.

That being said, many employers prefer to stick to standardized agreements so they know what to expect from both sides. This makes things easier for them and their employees. On top of that, having a standard contract helps protect both parties against fraud and ensures compliance with local laws and regulations. If you're looking for guaranteed income, then Upwork may not be right for you.

Is it worth freelancing on Upwork?

If you're considering pursuing a career in remote work, then yes, absolutely! There are plenty of benefits to doing so, including flexibility, higher earning potential, less stress, and freedom overall. You can literally choose to live wherever you'd like, set your own hours, take vacations whenever you feel like it, and spend money however you please without worrying about getting fired.

While these perks are great for those who enjoy traveling the world while making ends meet, others see it differently. Many people think that living out of a suitcase sounds romantic until you realize that you miss out on all kinds of activities and socialization opportunities that city life offers. Plus, unless you manage to land yourself steady gigs at multiple locations every year, you won't save very much money compared to someone who works locally.

However, if you love the idea of moving somewhere else and just need something consistent and reliable to tide you over, then Upwork will definitely help. According to research conducted by Upwork itself, 35% of contractors believe that Upwork allowed them to "meet important people" and "gain valuable skills." Another 32% pointed towards learning new languages, developing professional relationships, gaining confidence, and finding long term employment as key reasons why they joined the platform.

And although Upwork certainly has its flaws, such as poor communication with clients, high competition, and low wages, it remains one of the best places to begin freelancing today. Just remember to keep your eyes peeled for scams and avoid falling victim to common pitfalls.

Can you make 6 figures on Upwork?

Yes, though it depends entirely upon your experience level and skill set. At the end of the day, no matter what your profession is, you can probably make more money elsewhere, too. With enough dedication, drive, hard work, and creativity, anyone can achieve success. So, before joining Upwork, ask yourself whether or not you're ready to put in the effort needed to reach your goals.

It takes grit, perseverance, and persistence to succeed at anything. Even if you decide to pursue a lucrative career path on Upwork, chances are you'll face obstacles along the way that require extra mental strength. These challenges include dealing with difficult customers, handling rejection, competing with other members, etc., but nothing beats real-world training. After all, you never stop growing, so learn from experts and follow mentors.

The bottom line is that if you're willing to go above and beyond for a paycheck, then you can surely pull off big projects on Upwork. Of course, you must first gain necessary knowledge and develop specialized expertise, but once you figure out what you want to do, focus on building your portfolio, networking, and reaching out to relevant contacts. And always try to stay positive, regardless of setbacks.

Is Upwork a good place to start freelancing?

Although Upwork is far from perfect, it still serves an essential purpose for millions of individuals worldwide. Before deciding whether or not you want to join the ranks of digital nomads, consider how much free time you currently have available to dedicate toward your dream job. Also, look at your current qualifications and checklists to ensure you possess the required talents and experience.

To become successful on Upwork, you need solid technical abilities, exceptional writing skills, strong organizational capabilities, and a lot of motivation. In addition, you should aim to improve your soft skills such as public speaking, presentation techniques, negotiation, marketing, salesmanship, leadership, management, customer support, teamwork, and problem solving among others. Once again, there is no substitute for practical education and hands-on practice.

Lastly, remember that Upwork is here to serve you and provide value. While many companies tend to exploit their contractors, giving back is part of the gig economy culture, after all. Thus, treat your Upwork assignments as temporary jobs rather than permanent careers. Take pride in your achievements, share your successes with others, and give credit where credit is due. Never forget that everyone started somewhere.

When thinking of ways to earn money as an independent worker, you might think that Upwork isn't up your alley. The website has come under fire from many different sides over its years in business and some people even consider it evil. But does this mean it can't be used by anyone looking to find work online? Let's take a closer look at how Upwork works so we know if it's right for you or someone else who needs help with finding clients.

With more than 5 million registered members worldwide (and another 15 million on waitlist) actively using the site, Upwork boasts a huge potential pool of prospective employers looking for freelance workers like you. With all these numbers comes plenty of criticism regarding the company itself. However, there are also those who see value in the platform and use it regularly themselves. We're going to explore both sides here, but first let's start with the basics.

Why is Upwork not good?

Upwork was founded in 2009 and quickly became popular among companies seeking employees. It began as a job board where businesses could post open positions they were hiring for directly through the site. This made it easy for individuals searching for jobs to browse listings and apply individually without having to go through recruiters or middlemen. In 2012, Upwork expanded into being a full-service solution for finding remote staff, allowing them to hire individual contractors directly instead of only posting openings.

Since then, the site has grown immensely and now offers several other services including one called Proposify which allows you to "manage projects privately" while still retaining ownership of intellectual property. While most of us agree that Upwork is probably better known for its hourly marketplace, however, others point out that it's actually been growing steadily since 2013 when it opened its own microtask marketplace specifically for short-term gigs such as web design, programming, etc., in addition to long-term contracts.

The main issue with Upwork is its high fee structure, particularly when compared to similar sites such as Freelancer.com and Fiverr. These platforms charge no fees whatsoever because they function much differently from Upwork. Instead of listing specific job titles and offering contract opportunities, they allow anyone looking to buy/sell something on the internet to list whatever they want, offer bids, negotiate prices, and receive payments via PayPal. On top of that, they often require buyers to pay extra for shipping costs and international transactions. As a result, UpWork earns revenue off each transaction rather than charging upfront per client hired, whereas competitors do just the opposite.

It's important to note that Upwork provides access to thousands of highly skilled professionals around the globe who would love to get paid for their skills. If you've got experience as a designer, programmer, writer, photographer, videographer, researcher, project manager, virtual assistant, salesperson, cook, cleaner, driver, teacher, nurse, artist, mechanic, accountant, carpenter, graphic designer, gardener, IT specialist, painter, electrician, plumber, dentist, real estate agent, lawyer, interior decorator, doctor... well, I'm sure you get the picture. Unfortunately, none of these options will make you rich unless you become successful enough to run your own company or team. To put things simply, working independently means doing everything yourself—which includes marketing yourself effectively.

That said, Upwork may be bad for a lot of reasons aside from hidden fees. For example, there are horror stories circulating claiming that scammers preyed upon unsuspecting sellers trying to sell their digital artworks through the platform. Some claim that they lost hundreds of dollars after sending files to buyers only to discover later on that they didn't end up liking the final product once they saw it. Others claim that they sent proof of originality to buyers only to realize later on that they had stolen photos or videos from other sources. Finally, there are reports of artists getting ripped off because buyers wouldn't return messages left behind asking for refunds due to dissatisfaction with their creations.

Of course, these aren't isolated incidents either. There are countless complaints posted on forums within the site and elsewhere across social media complaining about shady practices on Upwork. Even though new filters were introduced in 2017 aimed at preventing scams, fraudulent activity continues to thrive on the platform.

What are the cons of Upwork?

Aside from potentially losing money, time, energy, and dignity, there are quite a few negative aspects associated with Upwork. Here are just a handful of examples.

1. Low payment rates. Since Upwork operates on commission basis, users won't necessarily see large checks every month. Most earnings range between $25-$50 per week depending on the type of gig you choose. Of course, you'll need to reach certain milestones before cashing out completely, but usually you'll be earning less than minimum wage.

2. Poor customer support. When problems arise, Upwork doesn't always provide timely responses. Many complain they don't hear back from representatives until days after submitting tickets. After waiting weeks to receive any kind of reply, you're forced to contact third parties who specialize in contacting Upwork reps outside their network. And even if you manage to speak with someone who understands your issues, chances are they won't have authority to resolve anything. Plus, sometimes Upwork representatives seem overwhelmed by requests coming in at the same time. They tend to ignore emails and chats and often respond hours later when asked again.

3. Lack of transparency. Often times, the information shared publicly on Upwork profiles is vague and misleading. Users reported receiving fake resumes filled with false accomplishments without knowing why. Other times, people claimed they were contacted by foreign call centers posing as legitimate Upwork contacts. A common problem was that clients weren't able to verify whether they'd received quality work done by applicants or not. All in all, it seems that Upwork takes advantage of its users' lack of knowledge about the industry in order to keep making profit.

4. Fraudulent activities on the platform. One major reason why Upwork gets a bad rep is because of fraudsters preying on desperate sellers. Sellers whose accounts were suspended face additional hurdles in reinstating them as their funds mysteriously vanish. Meanwhile, buyers who purchased items from sellers have been duped too. Their purchases suddenly disappear, leaving them unable to obtain refunds. Scams involving cryptocurrency wallets are rampant too. You should avoid dealing with sellers who ask for sensitive information such as passport copies, bank account details, credit card number, and email addresses. Don't send payments to accounts you haven't verified beforehand. Avoid clicking links inside emails or texts. Never share logins or passwords.

5. Limited resources. Aside from poor communication, there are other obstacles keeping you from reaching success on Upwork. First, it limits your ability to track feedbacks and ratings. Second, it forces you to compete against big teams and corporations with unlimited resources. Thirdly, it makes it difficult for newcomers to learn how to market themselves effectively. Lastly, although Upwork claims it's building a career pipeline for talented individuals, it's hard to tell how effective that really is. Unless you already possess strong networking connections, you'll likely remain unemployed indefinitely.

6. Unethical competition. Although Upwork tries to promote fair play, the way it sets its rules often pushes competitors toward unethical behavior. For instance, Upwork prohibits users from lying about their credentials in order to boost their reputation. Yet, according to testimonies, this rule is routinely broken by experienced workers. Another thing to remember is that it's nearly impossible for newcomers to build credibility fast enough to stand a chance against veterans. People who spend months or years perfecting their profile tend to outperform newer ones overnight. That's why many veteran workers try to sabotage newcomers' efforts. Some pretend to be dissatisfied customers in order to give low reviews. Others create multiple profiles solely designed to mislead potential employers.

7. Spamming. Not only is spamming illegal, it's frowned upon by Upwork's leadership. According to them, it affects the overall user experience negatively. Furthermore, spammers risk suspension and permanent banishment from the platform altogether. Still, despite all these measures, spam remains widespread. Messages containing links leading to malware downloads and phishing attempts are typical.

8. Competition bias. Despite Upwork's best intentions, the nature of the platform inherently creates competition biases. Because everyone competes against each other for the attention of the very same employer(s), it becomes increasingly harder to rise above the noise. At the same time, it's almost impossible to succeed if you focus exclusively on small, local markets. What happens is that some people believe they deserve higher paychecks based on the amount of effort spent on their profile alone. Others assume they're entitled to bigger bonuses because they managed to land a significant deal last year. Regardless of what you decide to pursue professionally, Upwork tends to push you towards becoming a jack of all trades, master of none.

9. High cost of onboarding. Getting started on Upwork requires spending money on premium subscriptions. Once you do, you'll have to invest more time learning how to navigate the platform properly. Without proper training, you could waste precious time browsing irrelevant products and applications. Worse yet, you could end up wasting money on subscription upgrades you don't need.

10. No benefits other than cash compensation. Unlike traditional employment relationships, Upwork treats you like a contractor.