The rise of freelance work has seen the emergence of a few freelance marketplaces that have taken over the market. The biggest platforms are famous worldwide and have gained many users thanks to their notoriety. Upwork was founded in 2013. It’s one of the most famous freelance platforms worldwide. In 2023, they generated $689.1 million in revenue and had around 18 million freelancers. Freelancer (or Freelancer.com) was created in 2009 in Australia. They generated 857.7 million euros in 2023 and have around 59 million users. While both platforms have successful freelancers using them, there’s a lot of competition, and every platform fits differently for different people. Discover which platform is right for you in this Upwork vs Freelancer guide.
We’ll also introduce alternatives and explain why being on multiple platforms could be the right solution for you.
Upwork vs Freelancer: For freelancers
Freelancers can thrive on both freelance platforms as there are many opportunities to find work on them. Upwork is often considered a professional platform with freelancers with varied skill levels. The website enables freelancers to create services they can sell or to apply to work on different projects.
Freelancer.com has a similar way of working for freelancers. They can bid on jobs and then have a chance to work on the project if they are selected by the client. The main issue with this way of working is that it can lead to the famous “race to the bottom” in which freelancers lower their prices to get the job over other freelancers. Since these platforms are huge and generate a lot of revenue, they attract a lot of freelancers, so the competition is intense. Plus, both platforms have bidding systems and credits, so you can’t bid for an unlimited amount of jobs. Instead, you need to bid for jobs you’re confident you can get.
Below, you will find the pros and cons of both platforms for freelancers:
Upwork pros:
- The website is simple to use.
- Benefit from a professional appearance.
- Customers have all kinds of budgets on the platform, and larger companies are also looking for freelancers.
- Flexibility between offering services and applying to complete projects.
Freelancer pros:
- It is one of the most famous platforms worldwide, with many clients and freelancers.
- Flexible payments because freelancers can charge customers on a project basis or hourly basis.
Upwork cons:
- The bidding system limits the number of projects you can apply to work on.
- Elevated commission fees.
- There’s a lot of competition between freelancers.
- In case there’s a dispute, the platform favors clients over freelancers.
Freelancer cons:
- The platform also has arduous competition.
- A lot of fees to cope with for freelancers.
- The bidding system creates an unfair system not based on talent but on bids.
Both platforms have the advantage of being massive and attracting many clients to their websites. On the other hand, they both use a bidding system to apply to work on jobs or projects. This system is unfair and can limit your chances of finding work. In addition, it only fuels the race to the bottom as freelancers feel pressure to land a job before they run out of bids, so they sometimes lower their prices.
Nonetheless, to increase your chances of finding work, you can be present on multiple platforms. This gives you more chances and also allows you not to be dependent on a single platform.
Upwork vs Freelancer: For customers
Both Upwork and Freelancer have enabled many customers to complete their projects with great results. They enable them to find multiple candidates and to choose the one they feel the most comfortable working with. Beyond a significantly different user interface, there are not many differences in how Upwork and Freelancer work. Both platforms offer some flexibility when it comes to how customers pay freelancers. They can choose to pay for an entire project or pay on an hourly basis. This is great for companies who need that flexibility or are on a tight budget they can’t go over.
Below, you will find the pros and cons of both platforms for freelancers:
Upwork pros:
- Many different services are available on the platform to complete all kinds of projects.
- Prices for all budgets, although the quality varies.
- The order process is safe and secure.
- A great interface to collaborate and complete projects.
Freelancer pros:
- Lots of freelancers are available on the platform.
- A safe and secure platform to make transactions.
- Flexible payment methods.
Upwork cons:
- The transaction fees are high.
- Scams do happen on the website.
- The bidding system is an unfair system that’s not based on talent.
Freelancer cons:
- Transaction fees.
- The bidding system favors some freelancers above others.
- The quality of work is uneven. Some unqualified freelancers are on the platform, so you need to be careful when choosing a freelancer.
Upwork vs Freelancer: Which one should I use?
We can’t choose a platform for you because it’s ultimately a personal decision based on preference. But we recommend trying a few platforms until you find the one that’s right for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all, and you might end up using multiple platforms regularly since they all have different benefits. If you’re a freelancer, you should diversify your sources of revenue. You should be on multiple platforms so you don’t depend on a single one.
Another option: ComeUp
There are many freelance platforms online for freelancers to find work and clients to find freelancers to complete their projects. ComeUp is a wonderful alternative to other larger platforms like Upwork and Freelancer. The platform attracts many visitors and clients while also remaining human size and accessible to all. Below, we’ll cover why we think ComeUp might be the perfect option for you.
ComeUp: For freelancers
The way ComeUp works is very different from Upwork or Freelancer. Freelancers have more freedom because they are the ones who offer their services for customers to buy. They choose their prices, what they offer, and delivery time to create a detailed service that clients can order to complete their projects. No more bids and applying for a chance to work on a project here. Clients come to find you. This flexibility empowers freelancers and puts them in a position to excel.
On ComeUp, freelancers can also maximize their earnings because they can benefit from a $1-only commission option. This is huge when you consider traditional freelance platforms usually take 10 to 20% commission. This commission can be accessed by subscribing to a monthly subscription that gives various benefits to subscribers, including this $1-only option.
The platform is also well-known for its helpful human customer service team. It’s possible to get in touch with a human representative from the first message sent, and they usually answer within a few hours or less (during working hours). It’s one of the main reasons they are rated so highly on Trustpilot.
Pros of ComeUp:
- The $1-only commission option enables freelancers to maximize their earnings.
- The platform is transparent about all prices and commissions.
- A responsive and present human customer service.
- Flexibility for freelancers as they choose their services, prices, deliverables, and delivery time.
ComeUp cons:
- There is some competition on the platform.
- You need to subscribe to a monthly subscription to benefit from the $1 commission option.
ComeUp: For customers
The platform works entirely differently from Freelancer and Upwork for customers. They have to search for services on the platform and order those services. In case they find a seller with the skills that match their needs but not the services, they can ask the seller to send them a custom offer. It’s a personalized service offer to do exactly what the two parties agree upon.
The platform works as a trusted third party, so when a customer orders a service, the money paid is placed in an escrow account. Once the order is completed, the seller is paid when the customer confirms the order. This ensures customers get precisely what they order.
Lastly, ComeUp has some of the best customer service. It’s possible to reach a human representative from the first message sent. They are known to be very helpful and reactive. It’s one of the main reasons why ComeUp has a high rating on Trustpilot.
ComeUp pros:
- Wide option of freelancers to choose from.
- Helpful human customer service.
- More human-sized alternative to larger freelance platforms.
- All freelancers are verified before they can devise and propose their services.
- A secure and protected website to complete payments and withdrawals.
ComeUp cons:
- The transaction fees.
Conclusion: Upwork vs Freelancer and Alternatives
Now you know all the pros and cons of Upwork and Freelancer.com. If you want to dive deeper into possible alternatives, we have an article covering the best freelance websites. We believe ComeUp is one of the best alternatives out there, and you can also leverage ComeUp with another platform like Upwork or Freelancer. Whether you are a client or a freelancer, using multiple platforms will give you more opportunities for success. We especially recommend trying a few platforms before choosing the one you prefer.
