# Upwork vs Freelancer

Source: https://nachonacho.com/software-comparisons/upwork-vs-freelancer

Choose Upwork if you want curated talent options and team billing tools; choose Freelancer if you want to compare bids, run contests, or prioritize its published standard employer project fees. Both are active marketplaces where businesses can hire freelancers for fixed-price or hourly work. The deciding differences are Freelancer’s contest format and fee structure versus Upwork’s Business Plus hiring and management features.

## At a glance

| | Upwork | Freelancer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hiring formats | Job proposals and Project Catalog services | Project bids, contests, and services |
| Standard employer fees | Basic: 5% advertised; eligible U.S. bank payments: 3%; account rates may vary | Fixed-price: 3% or $3 minimum; hourly: 3% |
| New-contract fee | Basic Marketplace contracts: $0.99–$14.99 | Fixed-price project fee charged on award |
| Client plans | Basic and Business Plus: free to join; Business Plus: 10% service fee | Free employer account; Enterprise offering |
| Contests | Not published | Free to post and award; prize funded upfront |
| Managed talent options | Business Plus: Expert-Vetted talent and curated shortlists | Optional Recruiter upgrade; Enterprise talent networks |
| Payment protection | Escrow for fixed-price work; hourly payment protection | Milestone Payments and dispute resolution |
| Hourly tracking | Desktop time tracker and client Work Diary | Time tracking with client-visible activity |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, and Android | Web, iOS, and Android |
| Developer access | API access listed for Business Plus | Developer API |
| Support | Standard support; Business Plus premium support | 24/7 live chat |

## Which to choose

### Choose Upwork if

- Teams seeking Expert-Vetted talent and curated shortlists
- Businesses wanting centralized billing through Business Plus
- Clients buying predefined services through Project Catalog
- U.S. businesses eligible for Business Plus payment terms

### Choose Freelancer if

- Clients comparing bids on a posted project
- Businesses seeking multiple creative submissions through a contest
- Employers prioritizing Freelancer’s published standard project fees
- Clients who want optional paid project-posting upgrades

## Verdict

Pick Upwork when Expert-Vetted talent, curated shortlists, and centralized billing justify its client fees for your team. Pick Freelancer when you want freelancers to bid on a project or submit contest entries, and its standard employer fees suit your budget. Check the applicable fee before hiring: Upwork’s Basic rate can vary by account and payment method, while Freelancer lists additional charges for some payment methods and optional upgrades.

## Questions

### Is it free for employers to start on Upwork or Freelancer?

Both Upwork and Freelancer let employers get started without an upfront signup charge. Upwork charges client fees when payments are made and may charge a new-contract initiation fee. Freelancer charges a project fee when a fixed-price project is awarded or an hourly payment is made.

### How do Upwork and Freelancer employer fees compare?

Upwork advertises a 5% Basic client service fee, or 3% for eligible U.S. clients paying by bank account, plus a $0.99–$14.99 initiation fee for new Basic Marketplace contracts; some Basic accounts have different rates. Freelancer lists a 3% fee with a $3 minimum for fixed-price projects and a 3% fee on hourly payments. Other charges can apply on either platform.

### Can I run a design contest on both platforms?

Freelancer offers contests in which entrants submit work for a funded prize. Posting and awarding a contest carry no employer contest fee, though optional upgrades can cost extra. Upwork does not publish a comparable contest format.

### Which platform offers more help finding vetted freelancers?

Upwork Business Plus includes access to Expert-Vetted talent and curated shortlists. Freelancer offers a paid Recruiter project upgrade and Enterprise talent networks. The better fit depends on the type of sourcing help you need and its applicable fees.

### Do Upwork and Freelancer support hourly and fixed-price work?

Yes. Both Upwork and Freelancer support hourly and fixed-price freelance projects. Upwork provides a desktop time tracker and client Work Diary for hourly contracts; Freelancer also provides time tracking with activity clients can review.

### Can I hire and manage freelancers from my phone?

Yes. Upwork and Freelancer both offer iOS and Android apps that let employers post projects or jobs, communicate with freelancers, and manage hiring. Some Upwork features may require a browser.

### How do client payments work on Upwork and Freelancer?

Upwork offers escrow-backed fixed-price payments and hourly payment protection under its applicable terms. Freelancer uses Milestone Payments, which clients fund and release, and offers a dispute-resolution process. Review each platform’s protection requirements before starting work.

### Do Upwork and Freelancer offer integrations for custom workflows?

Upwork lists API integration access among its Business Plus features. Freelancer publishes a developer API. Confirm the access requirements and supported actions for your intended workflow before choosing either platform.

## Product pages

- Upwork: https://nachonacho.com/product/upwork-deal
- Freelancer: https://nachonacho.com/product/freelancer