Upwork vs Truelancer
Choose Upwork if you want a larger published talent pool and paid access to advanced hiring tools; choose Truelancer if avoiding a marketplace fee as a buyer matters more to you. Both are active freelance marketplaces where businesses can post projects, review freelancers and pay for work. Their clearest difference for a buyer is the fee structure: Upwork charges clients a percentage of freelancer payments, while Truelancer says it charges buyers no marketplace fee but passes through payment-processing fees on deposits.
Last updated October 31, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Upwork | Truelancer |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer marketplace fee | Basic: 5%; Business Plus: 10% of freelancer payments | No buyer marketplace fee |
| Other buyer charges | Basic: $0.99–$14.99 initiation fee per new contract | Deposit-processing fees vary by payment method |
| Published talent pool | 18+ million freelancers across 180 countries | 2M+ freelancers across 120+ countries |
| Client plans | Basic and Business Plus; free to join | No buyer membership plan published |
| Assisted hiring | Business Plus curated shortlists and Expert-Vetted talent | Prime talent sourcing and managed projects |
| Contract types | Hourly and fixed-price contracts | Hourly and fixed-price projects |
| Hourly work | Desktop time tracker and weekly billing | Hourly project postings; Prime time-tracking tools |
| Payment protection | Hourly protection; fixed-price milestones funded in escrow | Safe Deposit; payment released after approval |
| Mobile access | Web, iOS and Android apps | Web and Android app |
| Support options | Client support; Business Plus 24/7 premium support | Prime dedicated support |
| Freelancer fees | Variable service fee of 0%–15% | Service fee of 8%–10%, depending on membership |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Upwork if
- Businesses seeking access to Upwork's larger published talent pool
- Teams that need tracked hourly contracts
- Clients seeking Expert-Vetted talent and centralized billing through Business Plus
Choose Truelancer if
- Buyers seeking no marketplace fee apart from applicable deposit-processing costs
- Teams wanting freelancer proposals and Safe Deposit payments
- Clients interested in Truelancer Prime's managed sourcing and projects
The verdict
Pick Upwork if its larger published talent pool, hourly tracking and Business Plus hiring and billing features justify its client fees for your team. Pick Truelancer if you want to hire through a marketplace without a buyer marketplace fee and are comfortable checking the processing cost of your chosen deposit method. Both offer a managed hiring option, so compare those services separately if you want someone else to source talent or oversee the project.
Upwork vs Truelancer: common questions
- Is Upwork or Truelancer cheaper for clients?
- Truelancer says it charges buyers no marketplace fee, though payment-processing fees may apply when depositing funds. Upwork's Basic plan charges 5% of freelancer payments plus a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99–$14.99 for a new contract. The total cost depends on the contract and payment method.
- Do clients need a paid plan to hire on Upwork or Truelancer?
- Upwork's Basic client plan is free to join, with fees charged when hiring and paying freelancers. Truelancer publishes no buyer membership fee and says it charges buyers no marketplace fee, but deposit-processing fees may apply.
- Which has a larger published freelancer pool?
- Upwork reports more than 18 million freelancers across 180 countries. Truelancer reports more than 2 million freelancers across more than 120 countries. Those figures describe the platforms' published pools, not the number available for a particular project.
- Can I hire for both hourly and fixed-price work?
- Yes. Upwork offers hourly contracts with desktop time tracking and fixed-price contracts with funded milestones. Truelancer lists both hourly and fixed-price projects and describes time-tracking tools for its Prime managed service.
- How do payments for fixed-price work compare?
- Upwork has clients fund fixed-price milestones in escrow and review submitted work before releasing payment. Truelancer describes Safe Deposit payments that clients release after approving the work.
- Can either platform help source freelancers for me?
- Yes. Upwork Business Plus includes curated shortlists and access to Expert-Vetted talent. Truelancer Prime offers talent sourcing, pre-screening and an option for project management.
- Can I manage hiring from my phone?
- Upwork publishes iOS and Android apps for clients to post jobs and manage work. Truelancer publishes an Android app for posting projects, managing proposals and collaborating with freelancers.
- Do freelancers pay fees on either platform?
- Yes. Upwork publishes a variable freelancer service fee of 0%–15% on earnings. Truelancer publishes a freelancer service fee of 8%–10%, depending on membership.