Creme de la Creme vs Upwork
Creme de la Creme and Upwork are both freelance sites. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $1,000 on Creme de la Creme and $850–$1,000 on Upwork, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Updated · from each platform’s published fees and payout terms · how we verify
Key differences
- On a $1,000 payment you keep about $1,000 on Creme de la Creme and $850–$1,000 on Upwork, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Both pay out via Bank transfer. Only Upwork offers PayPal, Payoneer and M-Pesa.
- Creme de la Creme screens providers before they can join, while Upwork is open to anyone.
- Only Upwork lists built-in payment protection (Fixed-price: client funds are deposited before work starts. Hourly: protected when you log time with the Upwork time tracker).
- Upwork is the older platform — founded in 2013, 2 years before Creme de la Creme (2015).
- Creme de la Creme is based in France, Upwork in United States.
- Creme de la Creme focuses on France, while Upwork operates internationally.
Which should you choose?
Choose Creme de la Creme if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
- You are an experienced professional ready to pass a screening.
- You live in France.
Choose Upwork if…
- You want to withdraw via PayPal and Payoneer.
- You are just starting out and want to sign up without a screening.
- You want built-in payment protection.
Side by side
Creme de la Creme
A French marketplace for top freelance developers, designers, and product talent on company missions.
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Upwork
One of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world, covering everything from development and design to wri…
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|---|---|---|
| Type | Freelance sites like Upwork | Freelance sites like Upwork |
| Category | General Marketplace | General Marketplace |
| Vetted | Yes | No |
| Work from home | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | 0% for freelancers - client pays commission | 0-15% variable service fee per contract (5% on Direct Contracts, 0% with Freelancer Plus) |
| Minimum payout | — | Varies by method, from $5 via Direct to Local Bank |
| Payout speed | — | Hourly: 10 days after the billing week ends (5 days sooner for Top Rated), fixed-price: 5 days after the client approves (clients have up to 14 days t |
| Payment protection | — | Fixed-price: client funds are deposited before work starts. Hourly: protected when you log time with the Upwork time tracker |
| Withdraw via | Bank transfer | Direct to Local Bank, PayPal, Payoneer, Direct to U.S. Bank, Wire transfer, M-Pesa, Instant Pay (US) |
| Availability | France, Europe | Worldwide (180+ countries) except Cuba, Iran, North Korea and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, suspended in Russia and Belarus |
| Local to | France | — |
| Founded | 2015 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Paris, France | Palo Alto, California, United States |
| Stock ticker | — | NASDAQ: UPWK |
| iOS app | — | App ★ 4.6 |
| Android app | — | App ★ 3.6 |
| Popularity | 56 views · 0 likes | 118 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Creme de la Creme or Upwork?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $1,000 on Creme de la Creme and $850–$1,000 on Upwork, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Where are Creme de la Creme and Upwork available?
Creme de la Creme: France, Europe. Upwork: Worldwide (180+ countries) except Cuba, Iran, North Korea and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, suspended in Russia and Belarus.
Which is easier to join, Creme de la Creme or Upwork?
Upwork — anyone can sign up, while Creme de la Creme screens providers before accepting them.