Top 21 Best And Worst Things About Upwork

When you’re looking for freelance work, Upwork is a great place to start.

It’s a trusted platform that has been around since 2015, which makes it one of the longest-running and most reputable freelancing platforms out there.

But how does it stack up? What are the best and worst things about Upwork?

In this blog post, we’ll talk about what makes Upwork such a great (and not-so-great) platform for finding clients for your freelance work.

Takeaways
1. Upwork’s Permanent Ban: Don’t Fear It! Understand why you shouldn’t be afraid of Upwork’s permanent ban and how to avoid such situations.
2. Ethical Client Acquisition: Build your client base the right way by learning how to get more clients on Upwork without resorting to dishonest tactics.
3. Monetizing Your Freelance Writing: Explore strategies to monetize your freelance writing business on Upwork and beyond, turning your passion into profit.
4. LinkedIn for Job Searching: Expand your freelance opportunities beyond Upwork by utilizing your LinkedIn profile for effective job searching.
5. Understanding Upwork’s Functionality: Get started on Upwork with confidence by understanding how the platform works and how it benefits freelancers.

What Is Upwork?

Upwork, formerly known as oDesk, merged with Elance in 2015 to form one of the largest freelance marketplace sites. It currently has over 12 million registered freelancers spread all over the world. And over five million registered clients are looking for freelancers to complete all kinds of projects for them.

If you’re new to freelancing on Upwork, don’t worry! Our comprehensive guide on how Upwork works for freelancers will walk you through the process, helping you get started on the right foot.

The Best About Upwork

1. You Can Meet Clients All Over The World

This is especially great if you’re looking for a remote job but want to travel at the same time—you can work wherever you have an internet connection. You could even work from home for a client in another country!

2. The Range Of Jobs Available Is Truly Impressive

A quick search on Upwork will turn up hundreds of thousands of jobs, from freelance writing gigs to software development projects that pay tens of thousands of dollars per project. Whatever skills you have, chances are there are clients out there looking for someone with those skills.

3. There’s A Huge Talent Pool

One of the best things about Upwork is that there are literally thousands of freelancers in every conceivable field. This means that clients can find someone who has exactly the right skill set to complete their projects, while freelancers can work with dozens of different clients at any given time.

4. It’s Free For Clients!

That’s right – there’s no cost for you to hire freelancers on Upwork. There are also no fees for how much you pay your freelancers – whether it’s $10/hour or $100/hour, you pay your freelancer directly and in full (minus any payment processing fees).

Upwork’s permanent ban might sound intimidating, but fear not! Discover the reasons why you shouldn’t be afraid of Upwork’s permanent ban and learn how to avoid such situations with our expert tips.

5. The Flexibility Of The Platform

You can look for jobs from all over the world—no matter where you live—and work as much or as little as you want! You can even set up recurring payments for long-term clients who want to hire you regularly and pay automatically after submitting a task.

6. It’s Easy To Use

You don’t need to be an expert in anything to get started with Upwork. Once you sign up and create your profile, you can start bidding on jobs right away.

It’s very beginner-friendly—they even have a tutorial that walks you through the process of making your profile, bidding and communicating with clients, so even if you’re completely new to freelancing, you can still get started with confidence.

7. It’s Free To Sign Up And List Your Services

Yes! It’s free to sign up and list your services, and even easier to find clients. Once you’ve signed up, you can set your own hours and negotiate what you’ll be paid. You can find shorter jobs or full-time gigs, depending on your needs and preferences. And if you’re worried that working remotely will make it harder for you to get work done, don’t be—Upwork is a great way to network with other freelancers and find opportunities for collaboration.

8. The Freedom To Work From Anywhere In The World

If you’ve ever had to deal with a daily commute or rush hour traffic, you know how exhausting it can be. When your job is remote, you can wake up, grab your laptop, and get to work right away. No more traffic jams or crowded subways!

9. The Ability To Set Your Own Hours

The best thing about working remotely is that you’re free to work when you’re most productive. Maybe that’s at night after your kids go to sleep or early in the morning before they wake up. With remote work, you can set your schedule to fit your lifestyle.

Honesty is the best policy, even on freelance platforms. Explore our article on how to get more clients on Upwork without lying, cheating, or stealing to master ethical strategies for increasing your client base.

10. Insanely High Hourly Rates

Freelancers who use Upwork consistently report earning higher hourly rates than those who go it alone. Why? Because clients come to Upwork specifically looking for top talent. They know that freelancers here are experts in their field and will deliver work of exceptional quality—so they’re willing to pay top dollar for it. No need to spend hours haggling over prices or undercharging for your skills—Upwork makes sure that clients know what true experts command.

11. The Flexibility To Take On As Many (Or As Few) Projects As You Want

With all the job postings on Upwork, you can easily find the perfect project for your schedule and your skills, and start working on it ASAP. And best of all? You can take on as many projects as you want. Want to spend the day typing up some Instagram captions? Go for it! Or maybe you’d rather spend the day crafting clever ad copy? We won’t stop you! The choice is yours!

The Worst About Upwork

1. It’s Hard To Stand Out

Upwork has become more competitive in recent years as more and more people choose to freelance. That means there are fewer clients than there are freelancers looking for work, which can make it difficult to find projects that fit your skills and experience level. You’ll need to work hard to make sure your profile stands out from the crowd.

2. No Health Insurance

One of the biggest downsides of freelance work is that it usually doesn’t include health insurance or other benefits that come with full-time employment. If you’re used to having health insurance through an employer, this can be a big adjustment for your finances and lifestyle as a whole. We recommend researching freelancer-friendly health insurance options before making the switch from full-time employment!

3. Not All Clients Are Respectful

Some clients will treat you like dirt no matter how much you bend over backward to please them. If you’re lucky, they’ll simply be unappreciative and demanding; but at worst, they’ll be rude, belittling, and unprofessional.

You don’t have to put up with this! If you encounter a client like this on Upwork, either send him or her a friendly but firm message expressing your concerns, or simply leave the job and move on to someone else who will appreciate what you can do.

4. It’s Hard To Find Clients Who Will Pay What You Deserve

If you’re just starting out, it might seem like any client who hires you is more than happy to pay whatever they can get away with, and they’ll use the fact that you’re just starting out and don’t have experience with their business as an excuse to pay less than what you’re worth—even if you’ve got tons of experience in the field itself. Don’t let them! Go ahead and charge what you’re worth—and if they can’t afford it, maybe they need to hire someone else.

Looking to turn your writing passion into a lucrative career? Learn effective ways to monetize your freelance writing business and watch your earnings soar while doing what you love.

5. No Retirement Benefits

Like any freelance work, Upwork doesn’t offer retirement benefits. This means that if you want to save for retirement, you’ll need to set aside money on your own for that purpose.

6. Clients Can Take Advantage Of You

One of the most important things to know about Upwork is that clients are in charge. If they want to change the terms of your agreement with them, or if they want to request more work from you than originally agreed upon, there’s not much you can do about it-especially if their complaint is that there isn’t enough work for them to do.

You can file a dispute with Upwork, but it may be difficult to get your money back if you’ve already completed the work and been paid for it.

7. The Fees Are High

Upwork charges 20% of your pay for each job. That means if a client pays you $200 for a project, Upwork takes $40 from that before you get paid.

8. It’s Too Hard To Find Good Freelancers

It’s true! There are so many options for different contributors, and it can be tough to figure out who’s going to be the right fit for your project. To make it easier to figure out who’s going to be a good fit, use Upwork’s pre-made project templates as a guide when you’re creating your own project description.

You’ll see questions and details that will help you hone in on what you need from your contributor, which will make it easier for them to know if they’re the right person for the job.

While Upwork offers great opportunities, diversifying your options is wise. Check out our guide on using your LinkedIn profile for job searching to discover how to expand your freelance horizons beyond the platform.

9. There Are Scammers Everywhere

You’ve got to be really careful about who you hire because there are a lot of scammers out there. And even if you can tell the difference between people who are really good at what they do and people who are just trying to get your money, it’s still hard to find them.

10. There’s No Way To Save A Draft Of Your Proposal

Upwork doesn’t let you save drafts of proposals, which means you can’t look over your proposal one more time before hitting “send.” Make sure that when you’re writing proposals, you take all the time you need to write them—and don’t do it on an empty stomach!

Wrapping Up

Overall, Upwork is a great place to find freelance work. The site has plenty of jobs available and allows users to easily search for them based on their skills. It’s also fairly easy to apply for these jobs, which makes the process all the more accessible. However, Upwork has a few downsides, mainly due to some of its fees. 

These are not deal-breakers for most, but it’s worth mentioning that there are freelance sites that offer no fees whatsoever so long as you find your own clients and make your own income.

Further Reading

How to Remove a Bad Review on Upwork: Discover effective strategies to address and potentially remove negative reviews from your Upwork profile.

An Honest Upwork Review: Get insights from a freelancer’s perspective about the pros and cons of using Upwork as a platform for remote work.

Tips for Creating the Best Upwork Profile: Learn valuable tips and tricks to optimize your Upwork profile and stand out among other freelancers in your field.

People Also Ask

What Are Some Of The Best Things About Upwork?

Upwork has been around for a long time, so it has a big pool of experienced freelancers who’ve worked with clients ranging from startups to enterprise-level businesses. That means that there’s a high chance that you’ll be able to find someone who can do the job well. Upwork also has built-in communication tools so that you won’t need to use outside apps, and it has a built-in payment system as well.

Why Is Upwork Worth It?

If you’re a freelancer, you can make some extra cash. If you’re an employer, you can find a lot of skilled workers for your project.

What Are The Best Parts About Upwork?

You can connect with businesses all over the world, and the site has very few restrictions on what types of projects are posted.

What Kinds Of Jobs Are Available On Upwork?

Jobs include writing, web development, graphic design, and marketing. On Upwork, you can find both full-time and part-time gigs. Many of the jobs require strong writing skills or a background in web development or graphic design.

What Is Upwork?

Upwork is a platform where employers and freelancers meet to work together on projects.

How Do People Find You On Upwork?

You can be found on Upwork by completing your profile, including information about your skills, experience, and education. You can also apply for jobs through the platform that interests you or have been posted by clients.

Are There Different Kinds Of Freelancer Work On Upwork?

Yep! In fact, you can do all kinds of things: you can copywrite, design, code, take photos, manage social media accounts, draw comics, do research… really just about anything. You might want to check out our job listings to see the variety of tasks that are available.