The rise of freelance work has seen the emergence and dominance of two platforms. Upwork was launched in 2013 and has around 18 million freelancers in their database. They generated $689.1 million in revenue in 2023. Fiverr debuted in 2010 and has around 380,000 active freelancers. They generated $391.5 million in revenue in 2024. But which is better? Upwork or Fiverr. It can be hard to choose the right platform for freelancers and clients. We created this guide to help you find the right platform.
We’ll also dive deeper into why you could consider other platforms than these two, which have most of the attention.
Upwork or Fiverr for customers
If you’re looking to complete your projects with the help of online freelancers, it’s possible to do so with either Upwork or Fiverr. Nonetheless, the experience provided by each website will be very different. Upwork is often considered more professional and flexible for customers. They can either post a project and have freelancers apply for a chance to complete the project or choose a freelancer who offers services related to that project. Fiverr is often considered more affordable. But you pay for what you get, and the quality can be low.
We have gathered a list of all the advantages and disadvantages of using each platform.
Upwork
Advantages of Upwork:
- Many different kinds of services are available.
- You can find services for all budgets.
- The system makes the order smooth and safe.
- The user interface is simple and easy to use.
Disadvantages of Upwork:
- The transaction fees are high.
- Some scams take place on the website.
- The quality of freelancers can vary a bit.
Fiverr
Advantages of Fiverr:
- Basic low-quality services are very cheap.
- A significant range of services is offered on the platform.
- The platform makes it easy to work with other freelancers and place orders.
Disadvantages of Fiverr:
- Expensive transaction fees.
- Many scams happen on the platform.
- The quality is immensely uneven, as many freelancers are not qualified.
Is there an alternative solution to Upwork or Fiverr to complete my projects?
Upwork and Fiverr take up so much attention that it’s easy to forget there are many other platforms available. These platforms are great alternatives to both giants as they have different benefits and often boast more serious freelancers. There is higher quality work, and freelancers are more qualified as they have gone through a longer and more thorough verification process.
In addition, these platforms often have fewer scams and deal with them better as they are not the primary targets. The support team is also easier to contact as you can reach out to a human customer service team member in no time instead of going back and forth with a chatbot.
Upwork or Fiverr for freelancers
Both Upwork and Fiverr boast millions of visitors. That’s a huge opportunity for freelancers to find clients who need their services. Unfortunately, the intense competition on the platform makes it challenging to stand out. In addition, the varied talent level makes it difficult for freelancers who sell high-quality services to get clients even though they have far more skills.
Each platform functions differently. On Upwork, freelancers can offer their services or apply to work on projects. This flexibility is advantageous, but it can also make it complicated to prioritize one way of working. On Fiverr, freelancers can create their services, choosing their prices, what they sell, and their delivery times.
The biggest downside of these two platforms for freelancers is that clients are much more protected and favored during disputes and other issues. Freelancers are at the mercy of biased decision-making, which can be brutal in some cases.
Upwork
Advantages of Upwork:
- The opportunity to sell services more professionally than on Fiverr.
- A more flexible way of finding clients.
- Find clients with reasonable budgets.
- The interface is easy to use.
Disadvantages of Upwork:
- The commission fees are high.
- Harduous competition between freelancers.
- Sometimes, the platform sides with clients when there are disputes.
Fiverr
Advantages of Fiverr:
- Lots of people browsing and potential clients.
- Flexibility when it comes to selling and talent.
- Good website design.
- The order process is straightforward and facilitates collaboration.
Disadvantages of Fiverr:
- An extremely high commission.
- High risk of scams with an easy registration process.
- Customers are almost always favored in disputes.
- The ruthless competition leads freelancers to lower their prices. It creates a race to the bottom.
Both Fiver and Upwork have successful freelancers earning a living with the platform, but the ruthless competition makes it difficult. In addition, the platform has a reputation for siding with freelancers a bit too often. That’s a major concern as all your hard work can be jeopardized, and you can end up not getting paid for the work you complete.
Which should I pick, Upwork or Fiverr?
This is a question asked often in the freelance world. Both platforms are massive and have huge earning potential for freelancers. Unfortunately, the competition is fierce, and these platforms hold too much power over users. While it’s always good to leverage them, it might be best not to rely only on them.
Consider using other platforms. Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, you can have one main platform and leverage a few others. This will ensure you are not reliant on a single source to work and give you opportunities to succeed somewhere else in case one platform does not work out.
If you believe that you should focus on a single platform, then test out a few and choose the one you prefer. Give yourself plenty of time and invest effort to make sure you’re not making a hasty decision and choose the best platform for yourself.
ComeUp an alternative to Upwork or Fiverr
One of the best platforms to offer your online freelance services, ComeUp has been around for more than 10 years in the French market although they recently launched internationally. There are a few factors that set the platform apart from competitors.
ComeUp for customers
For customers, ComeUp is a great option because of the platform’s safety and security. All freelancers are checked before they can offer their services, and the services are verified to make sure they provide a real added value. When a customer places an order for a service on ComeUp, they pay for it right away, and the money goes into an escrow account. The freelancer gets paid only once they deliver the order and the customer confirms it. This avoids any negative surprises.
In addition, ComeUp has one of the best customer service teams in the industry. You can contact a human representative from the first message sent through the help center, and they will answer within 24 hours (during business days). ComeUp’s customer service team is one of the main reasons they are rated so highly on Trustpilot.
Advantages of ComeUp:
- A wide selection of freelancers to choose from.
- Some of the best human customer service.
- A human-sized choice compared to large freelance websites.
- Freelancers are verified before they can make and propose their services.
- Safe and protected platform to complete payments and withdrawals.
Disadvantages of ComeUp:
- Some transaction fees on the platform.
ComeUp for freelancers
There are many advantages to using ComeUp for freelancers. The first is the $1-only commission option, which enables freelancers to maximize their earnings. It’s a significant argument when you consider platforms like Fiverr or Upwork charge up to 20% commission rates. The only downside to the option is that it requires a monthly subscription. This subscription is not very expensive nonetheless, and freelancers usually profit from the plan from the moment when they receive their first order.
Beyond the $1-only commission, the working conditions and ComeUp’s transparency are also important reasons why it is one of the best platforms. ComeUp is transparent about how the platform works from a monetary standpoint, how the algorithm works, and how freelancers can rank their services higher to get more orders. The platform has been committed to improving the working conditions for its freelancers. They work actively with Fairwork to create better working conditions for all platform users. In 2023, they were scored as the best freelance platform in the study, tied with another platform. Despite that, the platform doesn’t want to stop there. There’s still a lot to do to improve worker’s conditions.
ComeUp advantages:
- The $1-only commission.
- The platform is transparent.
- Human customer service that’s always ready to help.
ComeUp cons:
- You need a monthly subscription to have the $1 commission.
- A little bit of competition on the website.
Conclusion: Find the platform that’s right for you
Now you know everything you need to know about Upwork and Fiverr, and you also know an alternative. We recommend trying a few platforms until you find the one for you. Even if you do find one platform you prefer over others, be careful not to become too dependent on it. Instead, put your eggs in different baskets to diversify your sources of revenue.
With ComeUp, you can maximize your earnings with a $1-only commission option. Sign up and create your first service to discover why ComeUp is a great platform where freelancers thrive and succeed.
