Yes, Upwork Is Legit: What You Need To Know in 2026

Upwork is a respected and safe platform where freelancers can find work — and businesses of all sizes can hire freelancers. 

As a longtime Upwork user myself, I’m here to break down exactly what makes Upwork a legit place to find work and hire talent. This guide will detail everything you need to know about Upwork’s history, fees, security measures, and more. 

Why you can trust me

I became a full-time freelance writer and search engine optimization (SEO) consultant in 2019. At that time, I signed up for several freelance marketplaces. Six years later, Upwork is the only one I’ve stuck with, as it is the most straightforward, scammer-free, and lucrative option of the platforms I tried. 

In my time using Upwork as both a freelancer finding work and a client, I’ve: 

• Completed 39 freelance jobs for clients on the platform.
• Maintained long-term contracts with multiple clients (ranging from two to four years in length).
• Achieved a 100% Job Success Score (JSS), which is a metric that measures how satisfied clients are with a freelancer’s work on Upwork.
• Received Top-Rated Plus and Expert-Vetted talent badges. (These talent badges are a great way to quickly assess how much experience, and what kind of performance, a freelancer has on Upwork.)
• Hired 11 freelancers to produce quality work for my business.
• Obtained a five-star client rating from the freelancers I’ve hired — on Upwork, freelancers can leave clients reviews and vice versa. Viewing the reviews of anyone you want to work with is a great first step during your vetting process.

Since 2021, I’ve also written more than 100 articles for this resource center, many of which required me to research and understand the nuances of how Upwork works. 

You can visit my Upwork profile or view my author page to verify the information I’ve shared about my experience on the platform.

What other freelancers and clients have to say about Upwork

You don’t have to take my word alone for why Upwork is legit. Check out what these other Upwork users have to say about the platform:

“Upwork is the best platform to hire skilled professionals when we’re not looking for a full-time employee. All the companies in our portfolio use Upwork to find talent across a wide range of fields.”
— David Merry, partner and co-founder, Kinetic Investments

“I appreciated how user-friendly and approachable [Upwork] felt, especially compared to the more complicated setups of other platforms. It made getting started far less intimidating.”
— Pam Cheney, brand identity and web designer

“I’m a big proponent of Upwork … because it has definitely opened up opportunities and skill sets that we’d otherwise not be able to readily get.”
— David Barnes, head of marketing, The Workplace Depot

“[Something] about Upwork that I don’t think a lot of people realize is that it gives you an opportunity to learn. I’ve worked with clients all over the world, and I’ve found that everybody does something differently. You learn how to build yourself and be well-rounded to accommodate those needs.”
— Catherine Marsden, virtual assistant and data entry specialist

“Upwork made getting started so easy that if it wasn’t for Upwork, I probably wouldn’t have given freelancing a try … On Upwork, I feel safer taking on new clients, so I can focus on getting the work done.” — Mateja Miladinović, editorial and graphic designer

7 qualities that make Upwork legit

I’ve identified seven specific qualities that point to Upwork’s legitimacy as a source of work and freelance talent. 

1. An established history

The company started in 1999 as Elance, ultimately going through a series of mergers and name changes before becoming Upwork in 2015.

Through that time, regardless of name, our platform has been a trusted marketplace for freelancers and clients. In 2024 alone, Upwork had a $4 billion gross services volume (GSV) and paired clients and freelancers from more than 180 countries.

2. Availability of in-demand skills

Over 125 areas of work are represented on Upwork, so there’s a good chance you can sell your services … or find someone with the specific experience you need. 

But the most popular and in-demand skills on Upwork vary from year to year. As of January 2025, the most in-demand skills on our platform include:

• Accounting and consulting
• Coding and web development
• Customer service and admin support
• Data science and analytics
• Design and creative
• Sales and marketing

Our researchers have also found that an increasing number of clients are taking a skills-based approach to hiring. This means companies are less concerned with someone’s level of education or university degree and more interested in specific skills and real-world experience.

So whether you’ve obtained a PhD in computer science, are a self-taught graphic designer, or are a beginner seeking your first customer support job, there’s room for everyone who’s ready to deliver high-quality work to clients on Upwork.

And if you’re interested in hiring an entry-level professional, a seasoned pro, or an expert with hard-to-find skills, you can find the right type of freelancer on Upwork, too.

3. Built-in collaboration and contract tools

One of the reasons I like Upwork is that it offers every tool I need to manage a project. I can do everything all in one spot, including:

• Sending proposals to clients
• Reviewing freelancers’ portfolios 
• Issuing payments to freelancers
• Requesting payment from my clients
• Logging, or reviewing, hours worked on a project
• Keeping track of tasks and project milestones
• Instant messaging, file sharing, and holding audio or video meetings

As a freelancer, I find Upwork makes the process of finding and onboarding a client extremely simple. And as a client, I like that I don’t have to figure out every aspect of organizing contracts and paying freelancers in different currencies — using Upwork from start to finish makes the process smooth for everyone. 

4. Multiple security measures

I also appreciate that Upwork takes security seriously. The platform offers several features to help its users stay safe. These include:

• Two-factor authentication (2FA). You can add an extra layer of security to your Upwork account by turning on 2FA. This requires anyone logging into your account to enter a verification code delivered via text, our mobile app, or a third-party authenticator app.
• Project funds. This Upwork approach keeps clients’ money secure and helps freelancers get peace of mind about being paid. When you work on a fixed-price project through Upwork, milestone payments are held securely as project funds by Upwork until the work is completed and approved. 
• In-app messaging. Upwork requires its users to keep all pre-contract messages on the platform. This is for everyone’s safety. If you’re messaging with a client or freelancer and think the conversation is heading in a suspicious direction, you can stop responding and flag messages for the Upwork Trust and Safety team to review. Plus, all of your communications are in one convenient place! 
• Reporting tools. Upwork’s reporting tools let you flag job posts, profiles, and portfolios for review. If you see anything suspicious at any point in your search for a job or a freelancer, you can let the Upwork team know. Your report will be confidential, too. A member of our support team may reach out to you for more information, but we won’t let the person or company you’ve reported know who you are or the details of your complaint.
• Payment protection. Upwork payment protection gives both clients and freelancers added peace of mind when it comes to exchanging money through Upwork. Clients get the work they’ve paid for, and freelancers don’t have to chase down clients to request payment.

5. Straightforward service fees

Upwork charges fees to both clients and freelancers who use the platform. These can include:

• Freelancer service fees between 0% and 15% of total earnings 
• Client service fees and contract initiation fees, which vary by account type and contract amount
• The cost of Connects, which are used to submit proposals, boost freelancer profiles, and more
• Optional membership fees for Freelancer Plus or Agency Plus accounts

Personally, I’ve never been bothered by Upwork’s fees. I save a lot of time by using Upwork, since I don’t have to post the same job to multiple boards or manually issue invoices and configure different payment methods. This saves me a lot of (nonbillable) administrative time. 

Plus, Upwork is very transparent about their fee structure. This makes it easy for me to consider fees as a cost when calculating my hourly rate or project budget. 

6. A reliable client base

While a platform’s clients aren’t the only marker of legitimacy, many reputable and well-known companies choose to use Upwork — including Microsoft, Zendesk, Amway, and PGA of America. 

And even Upwork uses Upwork to hire freelancers. Independent creatives, support specialists, engineers, and writers — among others — work on the Upwork platform … for the Upwork platform.  

In my six years on the platform, I’ve sent proposals to, engaged in interviews with, and worked on projects for several companies I immediately recognized from my day-to-day life. 

But I’ve also had great experiences working with many of the smaller and no-less-trustworthy companies using Upwork. In fact, two of my first contracts on the platform were with a small home services company and a solo entrepreneur.

7. A pool of reliable freelancers and agencies

Many reputable freelancers use Upwork, too, including folks who are building a successful freelancing career through the platform. 

Pro tip: If you’re a client with a Business Plus or Enterprise account, keep an eye out for Expert-Vetted badges on freelancer profiles. This indicates the freelancer is part of the top 1% of talent on Upwork.

Some freelancers on Upwork are like me: they work with a handful of clients and do all the work themselves, occasionally bringing on another freelancer to help as needed. 

But many Upwork users have gone on to build entire agencies through the platform. Take Keenan Theron as an example. When his security company went bankrupt during COVID lockdowns, he pivoted to remote work and started taking on jobs through Upwork. After six months, Theron was so busy that he decided to build a team — starting with his family and friends. 

Today, Theron’s agency Workiflow has a core team of 15 people and continues to hire freelancers on Upwork as needed.

Read transcript

How does Upwork work?

Whether you’re using Upwork to find a job or a freelancer, various features — including security measures, collaboration tools, and Uma, Upwork’s Mindful AI™ — make it a great place to grow your business.

Hiring a freelancer

The process of hiring a freelancer can vary slightly based on the type of Upwork account you have, but it typically entails:

1. Writing and submitting a job post to the Talent Marketplace™, which is where any client can share project details and collect proposals from freelancers
2. Reviewing freelancer profiles and the proposals you receive
3. Turning on instant interviews, which allows freelancers to interview any time using Uma
4. Booking an interview or paid consultation 
5. Agreeing on contract terms, including payment structure, rate, and deliverables
6. Funding the project 

A few Upwork features make this process easier, including:

• Uma for help writing job posts, conducting interviews, and more
• Talent badges and JSS details on every freelancer profile
• On-demand shortlists of qualified freelancers (available to Business Plus customers upon request)
• Positive reviews and negative feedback from prior clients visible on freelancer profiles

Finding freelance work

When working as a freelancer on Upwork, you can offer paid consultations, run ads to boost your profile, respond to invitations, and submit proposals for interesting jobs.

My typical process for finding work involves:

1. Reviewing new jobs posted to Talent Marketplace
2. Using Connects to submit proposals to jobs I’m interested in
3. Chatting with potential clients over Upwork Messages or on a video meeting
4. Agreeing on project rate and duration, including milestones or hours per week

I rely on several Upwork features to help me find work, including:

• Creating saved searches with my favorite job filters
• Using the “heart” and “thumbs down” buttons on job posts to curate a list of opportunities I’m interested in 
• Boosting my proposals with Connects
• Checking to see that a prospective client has a verified billing method 
• Creating a portfolio and selecting jobs to highlight when submitting a proposal

Frequently asked questions about Upwork

Still have questions about what makes Upwork safe to use? Check out the answers to these frequently asked questions.

How can you tell if a freelancer on Upwork is legit?

The best way to tell if a freelancer on Upwork is legit is to look for an identity verification badge — a blue checkmark next to the freelancer’s name. If the freelancer hasn’t yet been asked to verify their identity, they may not have this badge. In that case, look for:

• Reviews from prior clients
• Examples of completed work in the freelancer’s portfolio
• Earnings to date on Upwork 

If you suspect that a freelancer’s profile isn’t legit, you can report them to Upwork for further review.

How do you know if an Upwork job is legit?

There are a few ways to assess if an Upwork job is legit, including checking for:

• The client’s job posting and payment history 
• A verified payment method
• Reviews from other freelancers
• Job descriptions that don’t mention requiring a freelancer to pay the client, buying gift cards, cashing checks, or transacting in cryptocurrency
• Job details that respect the Upwork Terms of Service and don’t include off-platform contact information

If you find a job that you suspect is a scam, please report it to Upwork promptly using the on-page reporting tools.

What are the disadvantages of Upwork?

Unfortunately, Upwork opportunities are limited to work you can do at home, on your computer. If you’re looking for local jobs, driving work, construction work, or jobs in the service industry, Upwork probably won’t be the right fit.

Some Upwork users also find the platform’s service fees to be a disadvantage, while others find the fees a fair trade for easy access to jobs and secure payments.

Does Upwork pay real money?

Yes, clients using Upwork pay freelancers real money. These payments are processed on Upwork and funds are deposited into freelancers’ accounts of choice. While Upwork does use a credit-style system called Connects, these virtual tokens are purchased by freelancers (or provided as part of a Freelancer Plus membership) and are used for on-platform transactions like submitting proposals. Freelancers are not paid for their work in Connects.

How does Upwork compare to other freelancing websites?

To learn how Upwork stacks up against other freelancing platforms, check out our deep dive articles that break down fees, work options, and more:

• Upwork vs. Fiverr
• Upwork vs. Toptal
• Upwork vs. Freelancer.com
• Upwork vs. Guru

Try Upwork for free

But the best way to see exactly how Upwork connects freelancers with clients who need their skills, while working to keep all parties safe, is to give it a try yourself. There’s no cost to sign up for Upwork, so you can explore the platform and see just how easy it is to find or post a job. Create an account today to get started.

‍

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.