Upwork vs. Fiverr: Which Is Better for Freelancing?

Antonnette Smith

Hi. I'm Antonnette, a UGC freelancer with over eight years of experience in the industry. Navigating the world of freelancing can be challenging, and choosing the right platform is crucial to your success. Today, we're diving into an in-depth comparison of the two most popular platforms – Upwork and Fiverr. Let's explore which platform might be the best fit for your freelancing career.

Both Upwork and Fiverr offer incredible opportunities to connect with clients worldwide, but they operate in slightly different ways. On Upwork, freelancers can use Connects to submit proposals for freelance jobs or list services in the Project Catalog. It supports both hourly and fixed-rate projects, making it ideal for everything from one-time gigs to long-term partnerships. 

Fiverr, on the other hand, allows freelancers known as Sellers, to create package services called Gigs, which are listed at a flat rate. It's primarily focused on one time projects, although Fiverr Pro sellers can offer hourly work.

On Upwork, you'll find a diverse range of clients, from solopreneurs to large enterprises. In fact, 145,000 clients spent at least $5,000 on Upwork last year. Fiverr also caters to a wide variety of clients, but the average spend is significantly smaller around $205 per year. 

Upwork has several profile badges that reflect your expertise and skills, such as Rising Talent, Top Rated, Top Rated Plus, and Expert Vetted Talent. Upwork offers additional diversity and skill certifications that can help you stand out.

While Fiverr has seller levels that range from new seller to top rated seller, on Upwork, you can use Connects to submit proposals or respond to client invitations. Fiverr does not allow freelancers to apply to jobs directly, which can limit your opportunities to find work. Upwork charges a 10% service fee on all earnings, while Fiverr takes a 20% cut. This difference can significantly impact your overall income, especially on larger projects. Upwork offers unique features like hourly payment protection, direct contacts, and access to Uma, Upwork's Mindful AI with a Freelancer Plus subscription, as well as Upwork's desktop app that automatically tracks your time and submits it for client review.

Fiverr has options like Seller Plus, which offers help from a successful manager with the Seller Plus subscription. In addition to these Fiverr subscriptions, they offer Fiverr Pro and promoted gigs and a curated catalog to enhance your visibility, offering business clients an easy to access collection of Fiverr's best freelancers. 

However, Upwork's features can offer more security and convenience. For instance, Upwork offers a secure system for payment with a security period process for different contracts. Upwork's workflow ensures that freelancers and clients are on the same page before starting a project.Clients cannot start a contract without the freelancer's acceptance. Clients and freelancers have 24 hours to cancel an order without penalty. It's easy to filter job listings by client budget, hiring history, and more. Making it easy to find the right type of job. 

On Fiverr, it's harder to change the direction of a gig once purchased. And all gig cancellations can negatively affect your rating. Sellers and freelancers cannot browse job listings.

In conclusion, the right platform for you depends on your specific needs, service offerings, and preferences. In my experience, Upwork offers more opportunities, better protections, and a more streamlined process for freelancers. If you're serious about building a sustainable freelancing career, I highly recommend giving Upwork a try.

Have questions or thoughts? Drop them in the comments down below. I'd love to hear about your experiences working with Upwork and Fiverr. Don't forget to subscribe for more tips and tricks for freelancing on Upwork. See you in the next video.

The information in this video was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Our team works to consistently publish new content that is current and accurate; you can find the most up-to-date information on the Upwork Resource Center.