Upwork special offers

Verified: Oct 10, 2026

Starting at

Client Basic: free to join; 5% marketplace fee per payment (3% for eligible US clients paying by checking account); contract initiation fee $0.99–$14.99 per new contract. Business Plus: 10% fee (8% via US checking), initiation fee only on contracts under $100 (up to $4.99). Freelancer service fee: 0–15%, set per contract.

Free to join and post jobs; you pay only when you hire

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Filing Specs

What We Like

Free to join, post jobs and browse freelancer profiles; you pay only when you hire
Business Plus adds Expert-Vetted talent and AI-curated shortlists
Protected payments for clients and freelancers

Considerations

Business Plus charges a higher fee per payment than Basic
Each new contract on Basic carries a one-time initiation fee, even with a freelancer you've hired before
Basic limits freelancer invites per job post and direct messages per day

Expert Verdict

Choose Upwork if you're hiring freelancers for complex or ongoing projects that benefit from proposals, vetting and protected payments. Business Plus costs more per payment but adds Expert-Vetted talent and AI shortlists. Read the Conversion Fee terms before any engagement that might become a full-time hire.

Top Alternative

Fiverr →

Fiverr sells pre-packaged gig services, which suits one-time, fixed-scope tasks where you'd rather buy a package than post a job and review proposals.

More Alternatives

LinkedIn Learning →

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Upwork is a freelance marketplace that connects businesses with freelancers in software development, design, writing, marketing, accounting and many other fields. Clients can join, post jobs and browse profiles for free, and pay only when they hire.

Clients pay a marketplace fee on each payment to a freelancer, with a lower rate for eligible US clients paying by checking account, plus a one-time initiation fee on each new contract. Business Plus charges a higher percentage, charges initiation fees only on small contracts, and adds Expert-Vetted talent, Uma (Upwork’s AI hiring agent for curated shortlists), centralized billing and payment terms for eligible US clients. Current fees are in the pricing box above.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to hire on Upwork?

Joining is free. On the Basic plan, Upwork charges a 5% marketplace fee per payment (3% for eligible US clients paying by checking account), plus a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99–$14.99 per new contract. Business Plus charges 10% (8% via US checking account) and charges an initiation fee, up to $4.99, only on contracts under $100.

How does Upwork compare to Fiverr?

Fiverr sells fixed packages, which can be quicker for small, well-defined one-time tasks. Upwork suits projects that need vetting, ongoing work or a proposal process to find specific expertise.

What is the Upwork Conversion Fee?

If you hire a freelancer you found on Upwork outside the platform within the restricted period, you owe a Conversion Fee based on their estimated yearly earnings. Client service fees you've already paid on that relationship reduce it, and it isn't refundable. The rate, period, minimum and maximum are in the pricing box above.

How does Upwork's freelancer service fee work?

Freelancers pay a service fee that Upwork sets per contract. It's shown before the freelancer submits a proposal or accepts an offer, and it doesn't change once the contract begins. The current range is in the pricing box above.

Advertiser Disclosure: Pricing checked Oct 10, 2026 on upwork.com. Prices change often, so check the official site before you buy.

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