In business since 2013, Upwork is one of the most well-known freelance marketplaces. With its lengthy tenure, Upwork now uses its proprietary data obtained from freelancer and client outcomes to continue improving its matching algorithms.
The platform offers clients space to list jobs, as well as browse through freelancer profiles in a wide range of categories. Freelancers with varying skill sets create profiles and bid on jobs by creating targeted proposals.
If you’ve had great experiences already, you might be inclined to keep selling freelance services or hiring freelancers using Upwork. But perhaps you’ve discovered some of the downsides. Here are some of the top complaints Upwork users have shared:
From Upwork freelancers:
Poor pay + steep 20% site commission
High competition makes it difficult to get hired
Time consuming account setup + project proposal preparation
From companies hiring Upwork freelancers:
Costly for both the company and contractor
Unsatisfactory dispute resolution
Freelancers changing agreed-upon rates
Issues with time tracking functionality
If you’re looking for the best Upwork alternatives for your unique needs amongst the plethora of freelance marketplaces, look no further. We’ve rounded up some other options for you — along with the pros and cons based on insights from real user reviews.
1. MVP Match — Network of Skilled Tech Talent
At MVP Match, we specialize in connecting freelancers in skilled technology disciplines like product management, design, and engineering with trailblazing teams building next-generation digital products.
A unique player among freelance platforms, we’re more than just a freelancer marketplace.
We’ve created a network of highly skilled talent across the digital product development space. Through our platform and services, technology startups and brands are sourcing top talent to scale their remote teams.
Pros for freelancers:
Personalized team helps you find jobs that fit you
Fair market value for your services
Quick hiring process
Cons for freelancers:
Rigorous screening and testing processes — accepting only the top 3% of freelancers
Not for the right platform for beginners
Pros for businesses:
Highly skilled freelancers
Hard-to-find talent handpicked for your company
Quick talent sourcing
2-week trial period — requires a low commitment to start
Cons for businesses
Only for businesses able to invest in skilled freelancers
Not for one-off freelance gigs
2. Fiverr — Affordable, Odd Jobs
If you’re looking for fixed-price projects at affordable rates, look no further than Fiverr’s services for as low as — you guessed it — 5 dollars. Fiverr freelancers offer many digital marketing services from graphic design, social media, web development, web design and more. And that’s just the start!
Skilled specialists may find it difficult to get paid what they’re worth on this platform, though for amateurs and new freelancers, it may be a good option.
Is Upwork better than Fiverr? Upwork is a better platform than Fiverr if you’re a client looking to make a job posting or a freelancer looking to bid on jobs. Fiverr’s platform is geared towards clients looking to browse through freelancers’ specific service offerings.
Pros for freelancers:
Low commitment
No applying to jobs needed; interested clients will reach out to you
Available in any country or region in the world
Easier to set up than Upwork
Cons for freelancers:
Frequent spam messages or scam attempts
New accounts don’t get featured, making it difficult to get jobs and reviews
20% fees taken from freelance sellers
Lack of seller support in dispute resolution
Pros for businesses:
Affordable services
Lots of categories
Easy to search
Cons for businesses:
Poor customer support or dispute resolution
Percentage of sellers with trained experience are low
Deception amongst sellers resulting in low-quality results
Language barriers may make it hard for parties to communicate
3. Freeup — Pre-Vetted Marketplace for E-Commerce Industry
The Freeup platform specializes in e-commerce, though it is not entirely exclusive. Freeup offers companies looking for vetted freelance providers a chance to describe exactly what they are looking for and get matched on-demand.
This model eliminates the time it takes to search through freelancer profiles or sort through applications. Companies receive an email with a candidate to interview, then decide whether to hire or move on to the next.
Pros for freelancers:
Opportunities for consistent work
Great for freelancers in e-commerce
Cons for freelancers:
Vetting processes eliminate many from using the platform
Issues with support
Pros for businesses:
Talent pool consists of only high-quality freelancers
Fast solution to fill your work needs
Cons for businesses:
Unable to make your own freelancer selection
Most ideal for e-commerce companies
4. Freelancer.com — High Volume Options
With over 62 million users and thousands of skill categories, Freelancer.com is a sizable Upwork competitor. The sheer volume of jobs and users looking for work on this platform may look like a positive, but user reviews warn to look out for spam.
Pros for freelancers:
Lots of jobs available
Easy application process
Anyone at any skill level can use it
Cons for freelancers:
Locked or retracted payments while the platform investigates client issues
Many illegitimate jobs
Poor user interface
Fixed fees across ongoing work
Subscription fees if applying to more than 8 jobs a month
Pros for businesses:
Choose how you pay, hourly or fixed rate
Easily communicate with your hire through private chat options
Cons for businesses:
Large number of profiles make it difficult to find the right person for your job
Less expensive compared to Upwork overall, but service upgrades raise the fee
Lower quality compared to Upwork
5. PeoplePerHour — Gig & Job Listing Combination Platform
PeoplePerHour (PPH) is unique in that it offers the best of both worlds in the Fiverr vs. Upwork debate. The PPH platform uses the “hourlies” equivalent to the service gigs of Fiverr, plus employer posted jobs, similar to Upwork. Unlike Fiverr and Upwork, this UK-based company mainly caters to the European market rather than operating internationally.
Pros for freelancers:
Low fees
Many jobs available
Easy application processes
Site is easy use and navigate
Cons for freelancers:
20% fees plus additional charge during disputes
Customer service typically sides with hiring company
Tough competition
Illegitimate job postings
Pros for businesses:
PPH supports businesses in selecting the right candidate
Easy hiring process
Jobs are free to list
Cons for businesses:
More expensive than Upwork
Large pools of applicants for jobs
Customer service is difficult to reach
6. Hubstaff Talent — Small Fixed-Rate or Hourly Project Listings
A smaller player amongst freelancer marketplaces, Hubstaff Talent is a free platform for companies to list small projects at fixed-price or hourly rates..
If you use Hubstaff Talent, it’s important to know their standard policy is to let freelancers and hiring clients resolve issues amongst themselves. This can have both advantages and disadvantages depending on your case. But for a free platform, it’s definitely an Upwork alternative to consider.
Pros for freelancers:
Receive emails with recommended jobs fitting your profile
Send messages to your potential clients
No bidding on jobs, simply apply and interested clients will reach out to you
Cons for freelancers:
Low job availability
Time tracker tool has bugs which can lead to client issues
No support from Hubstaff Talent admins in disputes
Pros for businesses:
No hidden fees, charges, or markups
Many filters to find the freelancer you’re looking for
Tools to easily monitor freelancer workflows
Cons for businesses:
Difficult to verify worker’s credentials
Not ideal for complex projects
7. Outsourcely — Job Board to Hire Direct
The Outsourcely platform is an online job board where companies are typically looking to hire remote workers direct and long term. Both full-time and part-time remote jobs are available on this platform.
Pros for freelancers:
Find long or short term remote work
Free for the freelancer
Cons for freelancers:
Often lower-paying roles
Low volume of jobs to search
Pros for businesses:
Post a job or search for a worker
Interview and hire direct
Find talent from all over the world
Cons for businesses:
Verification processes can be difficult
Customer service can be poor
Not a mobile-friendly site
8. Guru — Less Crowded Option for Beginners
Guru is a freelance marketplace that not only offers marketers, writers, and designers an opportunity to find work, but also other professional fields such as architects, legal counsel, secretaries, and more.
Pros for freelancers
Easy to set up, navigate and apply to jobs
Opportunities for freelancers in niche services
Better for new freelancers since it’s less crowded than other platforms
Cons for freelancers
Limited quality opportunities
Website bugs can create communication issues between freelancers and clients
Pros for businesses
Affordable options
Cons for businesses
Reports of scams and low quality work
Project management issues
Niche Alternatives:
Credo for Digital Marketing
If you’re looking for a marketplace with strict vetting processes for digital marketers or search engine optimization (SEO) specialists, Credo is a great option. Different from standard freelance marketplaces offering a range of services, Credo stays in the digital marketing realm.
Textbroker for Outsourced Writing
When outsourcing your company’s writing needs, why search through crowded online marketplaces? You skip sourcing altogether through a service like Textbroker. Textbroker pre-vets freelance writers with the content marketing and copywriting skill sets your business needs.
For Skilled Tech Talent, Choose MVP Match
If it’s a network of skilled tech talent you’re looking for, MVP Match is your answer.
We’re not a marketplace. We’re an organization solving hiring needs for the world’s builders and visionaries in the digital product realm. If you’re looking to hire, reach out to us and let us find the talented freelancers you need.
If you’re a freelance product manager, engineer or designer, join our freelancer network and let us help you find your next opportunity.
