Upwork was like the king of the freelance job listing world, together with Freelancer, a marketplace website for who else, freelancers. Until strong tides hit it, topping its once-formidable walls. Now, Upwork is probably among the most hated freelance platforms in the world, as candidates have turned to other platforms that yield them better results.
Do Upwork reviews agree? Yes, and Upwork has received many negative reviews lately. So, should you still try it even if better and more efficient platforms are available? Let’s discuss this freelancing platform’s good, bad, and blackish aspects.
Is Upwork Worth It?: What Has Changed On The Platform Since Its Heyday
Considering the changes this freelancer marketplace has undergone since its founding, many have asked, “Is Upwork worth it?” Let’s examine those significant changes before heading over to the discussion:
- Beginning with probably the latest. This is all over the news. From the first of May this year, a new system has been introduced for the Freelancer Service Fee. From the standard flat fee of 10 percent, a variable fee will now be applied, which ranges from zero to 15 percent, determined on a per-contract basis. Among the biggest things leading to this fee change are the project scope and the subscription type for freelancers and employers. Yikes.
- The Connects system has been introduced. Before this, everyone can apply for as many jobs as they wish on Upwork. Not anymore. Upwork now requires freelancers to have sufficient Connects before successfully submitting their applications. Various jobs have various numbers of Connects. If those Connects run out, then you will either have to wait until the next day or purchase them. In other words, you must invest in your employment. Like placement fees.
- But then again, there are also those changes that are on the good side, such as one of the ultimate favorites, Boosted profiles, now appearing in more places. This means that Boosted profiles will appear on top of relevant talent search results immediately for interviews and in the recommended freelancers, just like the “you might also like” feature on social media. However, yes, of course, you must pay for your profile to get a boost.
Is Upwork Dead?
Many bloggers say Upwork is now “dead” and has gone from good to “trash.”
“It’s the platform I started my life as a freelancer. At the time, it was a toss-up between Fiverr and Upwork, there weren’t many options. Having freelanced during that golden era, contrasted to the connect system now, the platform has changed. A lot,” wrote Chris Hoskins on Medium.
Meanwhile, according to Kevin Gabeci from Medium as well, Upwork went from good to trash in just two years.
The Good in Upwork
Here are the features on Upwork that several people love:
- It’s still free to get started on Upwork. It’s as easy as creating a profile on LinkedIn and then applying. As simple as this.
- Upwork is still a melting pot for high-paying jobs. You can choose whether you want to be paid hourly or per project.
- You can filter jobs on the Upwork Talent Marketplace according to category, budget, project length, hourly or fixed-price, and experience needed to find the right jobs for your unique skill set.
- Another new feature. There’s now the Escrow fixed-price payment protection, where clients’ funds get to. This is to protect employees from being scammed, which is excellent since other freelance platforms would unfairly favor paying clients rather than workers who sign up there for free. Under the Escrow system, freelancers get paid automatically after two weeks, whether or not the client has approved or disapproved of the project.
- Next up is the Hourly tracking that, interestingly, makes it more secure, knowing that freelancers get paid for their work hours.
- The Talent Badges recognize freelancers for their diligence. More of these means standing out from the pool of applicants.
- The Contract to Hire feature allows you to browse full-time employment opportunities and test-drive positions.
The Bad in Upwork
There’s the good in Upwork, then there’s the bad. The really bad:
- Competition is tough. The more freelancers sign up for the platform, the harder it is to get accepted for your desired job.
- Much of Upwork is Review-based. While employers can find and hire you even if you do not have reviews on your profile, like fresh graduates. The best and better-paying jobs rely on reviews so clients can determine their work ethics and principles.
- Upwork gets a share each time you get paid. Should this be expressed even more? When “cuts” get into the scene, that’s when things become blurry.
- Still, it is virtual. So, if you are required to work outside the regular hours in your country, you will have to. That means staying late or waking up early for interviews when your client is in New Zealand or Australia.
The Ugly in Upwork
The first thing about Upwork that will make you find another platform is the time it takes to get hired. Before, just a few days or a few weeks after you’ve sent your applications, you will get responses. Now, you’ll either have to wait several weeks to get a response, or you won’t get a response. Did you just waste time applying? You will tend to ask yourself. Plus, scammers are now on Upwork, so be careful.
Secondly, the Connects system is not the most promising new feature of the platform. Upwork is seemingly taking advantage of individuals’ dire need to find a job where they can experience a work-life balance to earn more profits. This should be okay, but if it’s happening at the expense of freelancers, that’s when things become unfair.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, with Upwork being betted as one of the top contenders for the best freelancing platforms in the world, the pressure is on, and there are high stakes, as well as expectations, for how the platform can help people find freelancing jobs or gigs. However, Upwork is making it ever more challenging for freelancers to get jobs, enabling them to seek opportunities for other platforms despite not being as popular as Upwork.