UUpwork
Freelance marketplace to land remote clients — writing, design, dev, marketing — with long-term contracts and global pay.
About Upwork
Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces, where you make money offering services to remote clients worldwide — writing, design, development, marketing, virtual assistance, consulting and more. Unlike quick-gig platforms, Upwork is strong for landing ongoing, higher-value contracts and building long-term client relationships. You create a profile, send proposals (using 'Connects'), and bill hourly or fixed-price; payments are protected through escrow and milestones. Upwork's freelancer service fee changed in May 2025 from a flat 10% to a variable 0–15% set per contract (most freelancers effectively pay around 10–13%). Common comparisons: Upwork vs Fiverr — Upwork suits proposals and long-term clients, Fiverr suits fixed-scope gigs buyers order directly. Frequent searches: how to make money on Upwork, Upwork fees and Upwork for beginners. Best for skilled freelancers who want steady, higher-paying client work rather than one-off micro-gigs.
Curious what this could actually earn you?
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What you can do with it
- Freelance services (writing, design, dev, marketing, VA, consulting)
- landing long-term remote clients
- building a freelance career
- higher-value contracts.
Pros
- Strong for long-term, higher-value client contracts
- Escrow and milestones protect your payments
- Huge range of categories and global clients
- Builds a real freelance career, not just one-off gigs
Cons
- Variable 0–15% service fee plus paid Connects to bid
- Competitive — winning early contracts takes effort
- Proposal-based: you pitch rather than receive orders
- Client/payment disputes can be slow to resolve
Frequently asked questions
Quick info
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