Upwork pros and cons
freelancers on upwork
Upwork is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to over 30% of the Fortune 100 with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential. Our talent community earned over $3.3 billion on Upwork in 2021 across more than 10,000 skills in categories including website & app development, creative & design, customer support, finance & accounting, consulting, and operations.
Upwork has revolutionized the way people work and find job opportunities. With its vast network of freelancers and businesses, Upwork has become a one-stop shop for businesses to find the right talent and for freelancers to find meaningful work. However, like any platform, Upwork has its pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look:
Pros of Upwork:
- Access to a Large Pool of Talent: With millions of freelancers from around the world, Upwork provides businesses with a vast pool of talented professionals to choose from. Whether you need a web developer, graphic designer, or writer, you’ll likely find the right person for the job on Upwork.
- Convenience: Upwork offers a convenient platform that makes it easy for businesses to post job listings, find and hire freelancers, and manage projects. The platform also provides tools to help businesses and freelancers communicate, collaborate, and track progress.
- Affordability: One of the main benefits of Upwork is its affordability. Freelancers set their own rates, and businesses can choose the right person for the job based on their budget. This makes it an ideal platform for small businesses and startups looking for cost-effective solutions.
- Flexibility: Upwork allows businesses to find talent and work from anywhere, at any time. This makes it an ideal platform for remote work and gives businesses more flexibility in how they operate.
Cons of Upwork:
- Competition: With millions of freelancers on the platform, it can be challenging to stand out and find work. Freelancers may need to lower their rates to win jobs, and businesses may have trouble finding the right person for the job with so many options.
- Quality of Work: While there are many talented professionals on Upwork, the quality of work can vary greatly. Businesses may need to invest time and effort into finding the right person for the job and may also need to provide clear guidelines and expectations to ensure quality work.
- Fees: Upwork charges a fee for using its platform, which can add up quickly for businesses. This can reduce the affordability of the platform, especially for businesses hiring multiple freelancers.
- Trust and Security: Hiring a freelancer can be a risky proposition, and there’s always the potential for issues to arise. Upwork provides some protection for businesses and freelancers, but there are still risks involved, and it can be challenging to resolve disputes.
- Upwork reviews: Your profile serves the same purpose as a general résumé for prospective employers. You can’t get work without one.
Fill out the job type you’d like to do, the specific areas in which you’re skilled and your level of expertise. This is all self-reported, so be honest. If you get hired for jobs you can’t deliver on, your account could be put on hold or closed.
In conclusion, Upwork offers a convenient and cost-effective way for businesses to find talented professionals and for freelancers to find meaningful work. However, there are pros and cons to consider, and it’s important to weigh them carefully before using the platform.
Here’s some additional information on how freelancers can stand out from the crowd on Upwork:
- Build a Strong Profile: Your Upwork profile is your virtual resume and the first impression you make on potential clients. Be sure to include a professional headshot, a clear and concise summary of your skills and experience, and relevant samples of your work. Highlighting your strengths, niche expertise, and unique qualities can help you stand out from the crowd.
- Specialize in a Niche: Specializing in a specific area of expertise can help you differentiate yourself from other freelancers and increase your chances of getting hired. Consider identifying your areas of expertise and focusing on projects that align with those skills. This will help you build a portfolio of relevant work and demonstrate your value to potential clients.
- Network and Build Relationships: Networking and building relationships on Upwork can help you establish yourself as a trusted and reliable professional. Engage with potential clients, offer to help with projects outside of your scope, and participate in relevant forums and discussions. This will help you build a positive reputation and increase your chances of getting hired.
- Offer Competitive Rates: While it’s important to set rates that are fair and reflective of your skills and experience, offering competitive rates can help you stand out from the crowd. Be sure to consider your costs and the market rate for your niche when setting your rates. Offering discounts for repeat clients or long-term projects can also help you stand out and win more business.
- Provide Exceptional Customer Service: Providing exceptional customer service can help you stand out from the crowd and build a positive reputation on Upwork. Respond to clients promptly, communicate effectively, and go above and beyond to deliver high-quality work. This will help you establish a positive relationship with clients and increase the likelihood of getting hired for future projects.
By following these tips, freelancers can differentiate themselves from the crowd and increase their chances of getting hired on Upwork. It takes time and effort, but by focusing on building a strong profile, specializing in a niche, networking, offering competitive rates, and providing exceptional customer service, freelancers can establish themselves as top-notch professionals in their field.
Whether you are looking to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, or build a loyal following, I can help you achieve your goals. In addition to my experience in social media, I am also skilled in video creation.
Whether you need a promotional video, an explainer video, or a brand video, I have the skills and creativity to bring your vision to life. I understand the importance of telling a compelling story through video, and I can help you do just that. I have worked with a variety of clients, ranging from small businesses to large corporations, and I have a proven track record of success.
I would be honored to bring my expertise to your organization and help you achieve your marketing goals. Please let me know if you would like to schedule a call to discuss your needs in more detail. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
A results-driven digital marketer with over 8 years of experience in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns. Expert in using data-driven insights to identify target audiences and deliver personalized marketing strategies across multiple digital platforms.
Proven track record of increasing website traffic, boosting conversion rates, and generating positive ROI for clients. Strong understanding of SEO/SEM, social media advertising, email marketing, and content marketing.
Experienced in project management and team collaboration, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and certifications in Google Analytics and AdWords. Best regards, Anestis Kalligas Check My profile and some of my case studies.
https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01e8768f5539358590

Upwork’s top 10 most in-demand tech skills:
Upwork’s top 10 most in-demand tech skills:
Upwork’s top 10 most in-demand marketing skills:
- Social Media Marketing
- Lead Generation
- SEO
- B2B Marketing
- Marketing Strategy
- Social Media Management
- Email Marketing
- Marketing Research
Upwork’s top 10 most in-demand customer service skills:
- Customer Service
- Customer Support
- Email Communication
- Phone Support
- Email Support
- Communication Etiquette
- Online Chat Support
- Answering Product Questions
- Data Entry
- Administrative Support
Can you make good money with Upwork?
Among the list of most in-demand skills, those with the highest year-over-year growth on the Upwork platform are Web Programming (43%), Web Design (31%), and Social Media Marketing (25%).
“After years of working in customer service at various brick-and-mortar businesses, I switched to working on Upwork and was immediately blown away by the demand for my services and how my skill set and client base were growing everyday, thanks to the platform,” said Chloe Bahal, a customer service expert. “I’ve been on Upwork for almost 10 years now and have worked with many interesting businesses — from electric scooter companies to bookstores — all while having the financial freedom to spend more time with my loved ones and the flexibility to work from wherever I want.”
Connect with skilled, global, and in demand talent on Upwork’s work marketplace.
Is it hard to get paid Upwork?
Get paid
Upwork freelancers can get secured payments via PayPal, direct deposit or wire transfer.
All of your hourly projects are billed weekly. You’ll get paid after you and the client review the work, 10 days after the billing period ends. If a project gets dropped before it’s finished, that’s when Hourly Protection and milestones come in handy. If you think you weren’t compensated fairly, Upwork has a dispute process.
Fixed-price projects start paying out as you hit agreed-upon milestones. You can begin a dispute if the client fails to pay for a milestone or refuses to pay for what you think is completed work.
About Methodology:
Skills data was sourced from the Upwork database and is based on gross services volume from January 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021. Each skill had a minimum of 500 projects posted during the period. Year-over-year growth was estimated by comparing the gross services volume in 2021 to gross services volume in the same period in 2020.
About Upwork:
How can I get a job at Upwork?
Upwork is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to 30% of the Fortune 100 with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and freelancers to work together in new ways that unlock their potential. Our talent community earned over $2.5 billion on Upwork in 2020 across more than 10,000 skills in categories including website & app development, creative & design, customer support, finance & accounting, consulting, and operations.