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Fiverr vs Upwork
Fiverr and Upwork are both freelance sites. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $800 on Fiverr 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 $800 on Fiverr and $850–$1,000 on Upwork, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Fiverr has the lower minimum payout ($1 vs $5).
- Both pay out via PayPal, Payoneer and Bank transfer. Only Upwork offers M-Pesa and Instant Pay.
- Fiverr is the older platform — founded in 2010, 3 years before Upwork (2013).
- Fiverr is based in Israel, Upwork in United States.
Which should you choose?
Choose Fiverr if…
- You want to cash out small amounts.
Choose Upwork if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
- You want to withdraw via M-Pesa and Instant Pay.
Side by side
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Fiverr
A gig-based marketplace where freelancers package their services as fixed-price offers that clients can buy in…
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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 | Gig Marketplace | General Marketplace |
| Vetted | No | No |
| Work from home | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | 20% seller commission | 0-15% variable service fee per contract |
| Minimum payout | $1 PayPal, $10 Payoneer, $20 bank transfer | Varies by method, from $5 via Direct to Local Bank |
| Payout speed | 14 days after order completion (7 for Top Rated, Pro and Seller Plus), Early Payout for a 1% fee | Hourly: 10 days after the billing week ends (5 for Top Rated), fixed-price: 5 days after approval |
| Payment protection | Order funds held until delivery is approved | Escrow for fixed-price, hourly payment protection |
| Withdraw via | PayPal, Payoneer, Bank transfer (via Payoneer) | Direct to Local Bank, PayPal, Payoneer, Direct to U.S. Bank, Wire transfer, M-Pesa, Instant Pay (US) |
| Availability | Worldwide | Worldwide (180+ countries) |
| Founded | 2010 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Israel | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Stock ticker | NYSE: FVRR | NASDAQ: UPWK |
| iOS app | App ★ 4.9 | App ★ 4.8 |
| Android app | App ★ 4.5 | App ★ 4.6 |
| Popularity | 49 views · 0 likes | 93 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Fiverr or Upwork?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $800 on Fiverr and $850–$1,000 on Upwork, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
How fast do Fiverr and Upwork pay out?
Fiverr: 14 days after order completion (7 for Top Rated, Pro and Seller Plus), Early Payout for a 1% fee. Upwork: Hourly: 10 days after the billing week ends (5 for Top Rated), fixed-price: 5 days after approval.
Where are Fiverr and Upwork available?
Fiverr: Worldwide. Upwork: Worldwide (180+ countries).