Upwork vs Fiverr: How Do They Compare?

Upwork vs Fiverr – let the battle of the freelance platforms begin! Which one should you be using to find freelance projects? Common sense would suggest both platforms are a good addition to your gig search.

Fiverr and Upwork, however, come with distinctive characteristics, benefits, and shortcomings.

Understanding how the two platforms are different from each other will help you make the most of the opportunities they put on the table.

Upwork vs Fiverr: The Main Similarities

A few things make Fiverr and Upwork very similar to each other.

Both are freelance platforms. They aim to connect freelance professionals and clients. You set up a profile and you present skills/competencies. Potential clients can review this information to determine if you’re a good fit for their projects.

Fiverr and Upwork also make it possible for clients to leave feedback after an interaction they’ve had with you. Such feedback can help others determine if you are a reliable service provider that they should pursue a relationship with.

The Most Important Upwork Characteristics

Now, let’s discuss the features that make Upwork and Fiverrr unique. Once we’re done with the review, we can draw some general conclusions about the platform that’s better suited to your freelance job search needs.

Upwork, formerly known as Odesk, has been around for a long time. Eventually, the platform acquired Elance – another popular freelance network. The two were rebranded as a new product – Upwork.

For many freelancers, Upwork is the go-to platform for longer projects. It also tends to be favored by enterprise and other big clients.

The most important Upwork characteristics that differentiate it from other platforms include:

You can apply to client projects or you can create your own service offering that clients decide to buy
Both hourly and fixed (per project or per milestone) payments are supported
Payments and time tracking are both guaranteed through the platform
Talent scouts can recommend projects to freelancers or they can guide clients through the selection of the right professional

The Most Important Fiverr Characteristics

In Fiverr, you set up your service or offering. The client is the one who decides whether to hire you or not. You don’t apply to jobs per se. Rather, you are featured in a talent catalog that clients can review and make hiring decisions.

The most important Fiverr characteristics include:

Payments are guaranteed, just like they are on Upwork
Early payout options are available (if you choose a subscription plan)
You can offer multiple gigs that will appeal to different client groups
There is no need to go through the cumbersome bidding process, the client is the one who has to make the first move

Upwork vs Fiverr: Comparing Shortcomings

While Upwork and Fiverr are both good choices for beginners and those who want to add a few more projects to their freelance roster, both of the platforms have important disadvantages that have to be mentioned.

The most important Upwork shortcomings include:

You need to buy connects in order to apply, very few connects are made available each month for free
If you don’t want to spend your money on connects, you’ll have to buy a paid membership
There are additional fees – a 10 percent service fee will be applied to your earnings before you get paid
Getting customer support can be a challenging task, especially if you’re dealing with a more complicated situation
There are lots of scam offers and the support team does very little to filter those out
Many clients have unrealistic expectations when it comes to pricing – so many are looking for niche professionals who’ll be willing to work for five dollars per hour

The bad things about Fiverr are similar to an extent but here’s what you need to know about the platform:

There is a 20 percent fee that would be taken out of your earnings before getting paid
The competition is huge and since you’re doing no bidding, you’re waiting for a potential client to find you in a sea of talent
There is a waiting period to get paid (unless you opt for a paid subscription)
Customer service can be slow and ineffective

As you can see, both platforms take a cut out of your earnings and both of them struggle with customer service. Choosing one or the other mainly depends on the manner in which you intend to get new gigs.

Should You Choose Upwork or Fiverr

Most freelance professionals have profiles on both platforms. You never know where an opportunity will originate from. While maintaining both profiles can be a bit cumbersome, a multi-channel approach is one of the essentials to get noticed and build a solid clientele.

Generally speaking, Upwork makes sense for those who want to get bigger projects for larger clients. It will also appeal to the freelancers who like a proactive approach towards pitching.

Setting gigs on Fiverr and making sure your profile is polished enough will be sufficient in the beginning. Eventually, you will get noticed and you’ll have some potential clients contacting you. The number of clients you get to convert will then be dependent on your communication skills, pricing policy, and persuasiveness.

Upwork vs Fiverr: Is There a Better Alternative?

Most freelancers start their career on a platform like Upwork or Fiverr.

Eventually, however, they get tired of the fees, the limitations, and the technical issues that often accompany the operation of such large portals.

It’s ok to set up profiles on both Upwork and Fiverr. It’s ok to apply for projects that you enjoy. However, we’d recommend against spending too much money on those portals. The competition will be fierce and a lot of international freelancers will be willing to do work for pennies. Getting noticed isn’t guaranteed if you spend money on your pitches. Unless you have a very niche, specific set of skills, investing in your Upwork or Fiverr presence doesn’t make sense.

A few other approaches will be much more effective and financially sound in the long run. You can get new clients by:

Being active on social media, especially on professional networks like LinkedIn
Being active in online communities dedicated to your industry (Reddit is a great example of a platform that can help you find work)
Starting your own website or blog
Doing some paid promotion on social media and within the Google search results
Cold pitching, especially if you have identified the right prospects and you’ve personalized your message
Attending industry events, seminars, and trainings in your city
Connecting with other freelance professionals and establishing your business network

Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr allow for limited growth. They restrict opportunities and you are obliged to force their rules. You can’t take relationships out of the platform and you’re stuck paying the incredibly high fees. You also have to spend money on your applications while tens and sometimes even hundreds of other freelancers are also applying.

Final Thoughts: Should You Use Upwork or Fiverr

Both Upwork and Fiverr are legit. Both of the platforms are reputable and they’ve been around for some time.

You aren’t going to lose anything if you decide to test these freelance networks.

Signing up for a new account will give you access to some free perks (you’ll get free connects on Upwork, for example) that you can use to test the opportunity.

If you do sign up for an account, make sure your presence is outstanding. Create a polished profile, add your portfolio, and your certifications if you have any. Work on a few projects and deliver amazingly so that the customers leave positive feedback.

Once you get a couple of client reviews, you’ll start getting contacted by clients without needing to do additional work.

We can’t determine if Upwork or Fiverr is better for you. The list of pros and cons is long for both of the platforms. We certainly believe there are superior ways to find freelance gigs that don’t involve spending a lot of your hard-earned income on fees.

Still, try those two networks, especially if you’re brand new to the world of freelancing. In time, you will determine whether maintaining your profiles makes sense or if you should be moving on to something bigger and better.