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Freelancer vs Upwork
Freelancer and Upwork are both freelance sites. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $900 on Freelancer 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 $900 on Freelancer and $850–$1,000 on Upwork, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Upwork has the lower minimum payout ($5 vs $50).
- Both pay out via PayPal, Payoneer and Bank transfer. Only Freelancer offers Skrill. Only Upwork offers M-Pesa and Instant Pay.
- Only Upwork lists built-in payment protection (Escrow for fixed-price, hourly payment protection).
- Freelancer is the older platform — founded in 2009, 4 years before Upwork (2013).
- Freelancer is based in Australia, Upwork in United States.
Which should you choose?
Choose Freelancer if…
- You want to withdraw via Skrill.
Choose Upwork if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
- You want to cash out small amounts.
- You want to withdraw via M-Pesa and Instant Pay.
- You want built-in payment protection.
Side by side
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Freelancer
A global freelance marketplace where clients post projects and freelancers bid on them, alongside contests for…
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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 | No | No |
| Work from home | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | 10% or $5 minimum on projects | 0-15% variable service fee per contract |
| Minimum payout | $50 after withdrawal fees | Varies by method, from $5 via Direct to Local Bank |
| Payout speed | — | Hourly: 10 days after the billing week ends (5 for Top Rated), fixed-price: 5 days after approval |
| Payment protection | — | Escrow for fixed-price, hourly payment protection |
| Withdraw via | PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill, Wire transfer | Direct to Local Bank, PayPal, Payoneer, Direct to U.S. Bank, Wire transfer, M-Pesa, Instant Pay (US) |
| Availability | Worldwide | Worldwide (180+ countries) |
| Founded | 2009 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Stock ticker | ASX: FLN | NASDAQ: UPWK |
| iOS app | App ↗ | App ★ 4.8 |
| Android app | App ↗ | App ★ 4.6 |
| Popularity | 42 views · 0 likes | 94 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Freelancer or Upwork?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $900 on Freelancer and $850–$1,000 on Upwork, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Where are Freelancer and Upwork available?
Freelancer: Worldwide. Upwork: Worldwide (180+ countries).