“Have you noticed? Upwork seems to operate more like a gambling platform than a freelancing site. The increased prices for connects, the need for connects to boost bids or earn the 'Available Now' badge – it feels like freelancers are being taken advantage of at every turn.
Consider this: for every job posted, Upwork can potentially pocket $300-$500 in connects from freelancers, even for projects as low as $50. On top of that, they take a 20% commission from both clients and freelancers, meaning they could be making hundreds from a single $50 job. It's starting to feel less like a fair marketplace and more like a gamble.
I'm skeptical that Upwork will prioritize improving its system for the benefit of middle-class freelancers anytime soon. It seems like more than 20% of freelancers have already migrated to platforms like Fiverr due to these practices.
Upwork, are you willing to address these concerns and make changes that support the freelancing community, or are you solely focused on catering to agency profiles? Clarification would be appreciated." #Upwork”
“I WAS a long time customer on Upwork. all starts good. Last company I worked with was Rakvin from India. Agreed on 3000 USD contract with 4 milestones ( 900, 900, 900, 300) after each payments it took them always very long time to raact and now I know why. Upwork is protecting you only 30 days after payment. So finally I lost 2700 USD because after its up to freelancer to refund you or not! I will NEVER again work with Upwork. Their protection of clients who pay in fact their comision is not ok. I know, I should have read and understand T&C but not everybody is speaking 100% English :((..very expensive lesson for me. No application-no money.! do NOT work with this company or anybody who is proposing a work!! scammers!!”
“I am a long time customer. all starts good. Last company I worked with was Rakvin from India. Agreed on 3000 USD contract with 4 milestones ( 900, 900, 900, 300) after each payments it took them always very long time to raact and now I know why. Upwork is protecting you only 30 days after payment. So finally I lost 2700 USD because after its up to freelancer to refund you or not! I will NEVER again work with Upwork. Their protection of clients who pay in fact their comision is not ok. I know, I should have read and understand T&C but not everybody is speaking 100% English :((..very expensive lesson for me. No application-no money.!”
“I was really getting into UpWork, they seemed to have a good pool of talent with a good user system. Then they suspended my account for absolutely no reason saying they were trying to protect me.. Nothing had gone wrong.. And so I've lost time and had to send Passport and a Bank Statement (which they requested, but after sending a Bank Statement they said they actually wanted a PayPal statement) so I've sent a PayPal statement now and waiting for a response. What a waste of time. Whoever decided to suspend my account for no reason is a complete idiot. This company should be ashamed at themselves. On another another, you only get 15 invites per listing, unless you want pay 30 USD to be able to invite more freelancers. Just seems like a poor way to go about things especially when all freelancers lose 20% of payment to UpWork. TWENTY PERCENT! And UpWork still want hirers to pay 30 USD to invite people.. Crazy! I'd say look for alternatives.”
“My system was hacked when I exposed it to one of their freelancers from a foreign country. I contacted upwork and they said they would investigate. I supplied them with proof. They said they could not prove the freelancer was involved my system hack even though I had my system running for seven years prior and had not been hacked once, until the day I gave the freelancer access to my system. The freelancer kept oddly stating during the process that my system was not secure, even after I explained to him that the only reason it wasn't "secure" was because I was giving him access!? I believe he was doing this to lay the groundwork for an explanation as to why my system was hacked, once it was hacked (my phone system and associated calling account was drained of funds). So as a way of throwing me a bone, upwork said I could give the freelancer whatever feedback I felt was needed. After serious delays in upwork posting my review of the freelancer, I checked back a month later and found that my feedback was removed. They then stated they cannot have somebody giving negative feedback to one of their good freelancers (meaning one that makes them a lot of money). I noticed numerous other negative feedback scores given to the same freelancers who had their negative feedback details removed. Upwork is protecting a hacker for their own bottom Dollar.”
