The Complete Comparison Guide to Fiverr vs. Upwork

When it comes to e-commerce freelancing platforms, surely Fiverr and Upwork are the top two names. Freelancers can choose from a variety of gigs and offer frictionless work on both of these platforms. The platforms allow you to get paid for your work, communicate with clients, and network with other freelancers.

Over the years, many freelancers have experienced tremendous growth on these platforms, but that can’t be said for everybody. That’s why it’s essential you choose a platform that best fits your individual skills and services.

You need to survey each marketplace to know which one suits your skills better. Factors such as payments, safety, fees, and types of jobs offered on the platform are big considerations that will influence your growth.

Fortunately, we’ve made it easy for you, and you can simply go through our guide and decide for yourself.

Let’s get started.

Fiverr vs. Upwork: Top Sites for Freelancers

Let’s take a look at the differences, and similarities, between Fiverr and Upwork. 

Fiverr: The Marketplace for Freelance Services

Fiverr is a platform that is among the fastest-growing spaces for freelancers and clients who are looking to buy budget-friendly services.  Every 4 seconds, buyers purchase a gig on Fiverr. To date, the total transactions on Fiverr amount to more than $50 million. 

Known for its simple yet innovative logo, the platform hosts clients from various tech giants, including PayPal, Netflix, Google, and Facebook, among many others.

You can find jobs in multiple niches on Fiverr, including business, video & animation, data, lifestyle, programming & tech, music & audio, writing & translations, digital marketing, and graphic designing, to name a few.

Moreover, Fiverr makes it easier for clients to search for freelancers in a comprehensive manner. The search tools on Fiverr allow clients to filter through the platform and hire freelancers based on their specific needs. 

Fiverr is easy to use and offers freelancers ample work opportunities. Plus, you don’t need to wait around for your profile to get approved, making it possible for you to start working immediately.

If you want to, you can keep your real name private. That way, clients won’t be able to view your real name until you’re comfortable sharing the information. You can also use your brand’s name, remain anonymous, or choose a simple username for your profile, which is what clients will see when viewing your profile.

Fiverr for Freelancers: What’s it like?

Once you’ve signed up on Fiverr as a freelancer, the first order of business would be to create a Seller Profile. That’s how you begin marketing your skills and turn them into specific services that you’re going to sell on Fiverr. 

The clients view these services as “Gigs’ when they come across your profile.

As it is with marketing, you’ll need to find a method that’s creative and makes your profile and services stand out from the lot.  You need to present your skills and services in an attractive and appealing way. Keep in mind that when it comes to Fiverr, the clients scout the platform in search of freelancers who are best suited for their businesses. 

In addition to adding your bio and credentials to your profile, introductory videos about the skills and services you offer are paramount. It shows effort and dedication to the clients – the appeal is greater and adds a personal touch.

Fiverr allows freelancers to present their gigs in three different types of tiered packages. You can set varying amounts of workloads to different levels of pricing for each tier. Doing so allows the clients to choose from among the three tiers that best suit them.

When you’re done creating the tiered packages, your services get listed on Fiverr. Once a client chooses to avail themselves of your services, they will purchase one of the tiers from the package. 

After that, you can directly get in touch with clients, discuss the work, and that’s it!

Fiverr: Seller Levels and Buyer Requests

Fiverr has a system that ranks freelancers based on their growth and experience on the platform. It’s called “Seller Levels.”

Within these “Seller Levels,” there are four distinctions:

• New Seller: This level is the most basic level. 
• Level 1: These freelancers have completed a minimum of 60 days on the platform. You must maintain good stats and finish 10 projects to become a Level 1 Seller.
• Level 2: In addition to having impeccable stats, you’ll need to be an active seller for at least four months, earn more than $2k, and finish 50 projects.
• Top-Rated Seller: You’ll need to complete at least six months on the platforms. Good stats, earning more than $20k, and completing 100 projects are also prerequisites.

These levels are the direct representation of your reputation on the platform. Sellers higher up on the tiers enjoy perks, including better customer care, and quicker earning withdrawals. 

These tiers aren’t the only way you can sell your services on Fiverr, however. You can also check out jobs posted by companies and clients. You can also create new offers and send your bids for the posted projects – these are the “Buyer Requests.” 

Buyer Request bids are limited, however, they offer an effective way to reach out to clients as you wait for clients to buy the gigs you’ve posted on Fiverr.

Remember that the competition on Fiverr is quite intense. But that’s pretty normal since the platform is very easily accessible and popular.

Once you get your first few clients and receive good reviews, it’ll become easier for you.

Upwork: The Platform to Start Your Freelance Journey

The e-commerce freelancing platform Upwork is the biggest competitor to Fiverr. It has seen unprecedented growth over the past years due to its versatile and easy-to-use features.

Big conglomerates like GoDaddy, Bissel, Airbnb, and Microsoft are regular Upwork clients. So when it comes to credibility, you’ve got nothing to worry about. 

Unlike Fiverr, Upwork offers you three ways to get projects. These include:

• Talent Scout: The employers are paired with freelancers through recruiter services.
• Project Catalog: You post and sell various projects.
• Talent Marketplace: You send proposals to the job posts and get employed by the clients.

Upwork offers an expansive and versatile space for freelancers and provides freelancing jobs in a variety of niches. These are finance & accounting, admin & customer support, writing & translation, sales & marketing, design & creative, development & IT, lifestyle, technology, and beauty, among others.

Unlike Fiverr, however, you can’t simply begin working on Upwork right away. 

After creating your seller account on Upwork, the moderators will need to approve your profile. Although a setback, it’s yet another safety mechanism that protects both you and your clients.

Just as it is on Fiverr, efficient marketing on Upwork is key. You need to present your profile and the gigs in a way that’s innovative and attractive. 

You can take up projects on an hourly basis, or f that’s not your style, there are long-term and short-term projects that pay on a “per word” basis as well.

In addition to efficient marketing, knowing how to set optimal rates for your work is essential. If you wish to learn more about that, check out this YouTube video by Upwork.

Clients on Upwork can also search for freelancers on the basis of skills and availability. If you choose to work on Upwork, make sure you keep your skills and available hours updated.

Upwork for Freelancers: What’s it like? 

Getting started on the platform is easy. You simply need to make a seller account for yourself. Next, choose whether you want to work for international clients or those closer to home. 

Another aspect you need to mind is the concept of “Connects.” It’s a virtual currency on Upwork that freelancers use when applying for jobs within the platform. 

Once you’ve finished setting up your profile, Upwork provides the freelancers with 10 Connects. That’s the Basic plan, and yes, it’s free. Upwork also offers a paid Premium plan, and if you purchase this plan, you’ll receive 80 Connects on a monthly basis. 

On Upwork, you have the option to post gigs. By doing so, potential clients will be able to view your gigs and hire you directly. 

Another alternative is by using Connects. You can scan through the Upwork Marketplace, look for jobs that fit your skills, and apply for them using your Connects. It’s important to be aware that different job postings require a different number of Connects. For instance, there are jobs that require at least 2 Connects, while some require either 4 or 6 Connects.

Another feature of Upwork is that you can boost your proposals. Boosting puts your proposal at the top of the list and allows more visibility. And that means a higher chance of getting that project.

All in all, we recommend you use your Connect wisely.

Upwork: Talent Badges

Upwork offers Talent Badges to its freelancers based on certain fixed criteria. It’s similar to the Seller Level that Fiverr uses.

These are:

• Rising Talent: This badge is usually awarded to freelance who’ve recently joined the platform. The criteria include a fully completed profile, good feedback from clients, and following the platform rules.
• Top Rated: The badge is awarded to the platform’s top ten percent of talents. You must regularly get good feedback and become reputed on Upwork to get this badge. It also requires over 90% Job Success Rate, consistency, and high activity on Upwork.
• Top Rated Plus: For this badge, you must maintain a strong reputation for a year and complete work on at least one big contract. Earning a minimum of $10k in the past year is another prerequisite. Also, you must maintain the Top Rated badge.
• Expert-Vetted: This is the top 1% category of freelancers on Upwork. To get this badge, you’ll have to go through a pre-screening test by experts and Talent Managers.

The difference between Fiverr and Upwork is evident. The Seller Level criteria of Fiverr depend more on stats, whereas to earn a Talent Badge on Upwork, you’re required to pass through a more comprehensive criterion.

Fiverr vs. Upwork: Which One is Better for You?

These freelancing platforms are among the most well-known sites for freelancers around the world. At the same time, there’s a big difference between the two.

Let’s discuss which one is better for you.

Fiverr vs Upwork: The Pre-Screening Criteria

As mentioned earlier, the feedback and rating system and their implication vary on these platforms. 

To get the Expert-Vetted Badge, Upwork requires you to go through a Pre-Screening test. This is not required on Fiverr.

Through the badges system, Upwork ensures that freelancers are awarded based on the quality of work they produce and the skills they possess.

The site ensures that clients receive only the high-quality work that they are looking for. 

Upwork maintains a high level of integrity by:

• Holding skill tests online.
• Displaying feedback, ratings, success stories, and scores on freelancer profiles for clients to view before hiring.
• Interviewing via chat and video calls.
• Having mandatory identity verifications.

Clients on Upwork even have the option to hire recruiting professionals by opting for the Upwork Pro feature. Through Upwork Pro, the platform does the heavy lifting for the client and searches for freelancers based on their needs.

This feature is not available on Fiverr. Instead, clients have limited options when it comes to selecting a freelancer for their projects. Similar vetting options and skill tests are absent on Fiverr.

Fiverr vs. Upwork: Work Quality

Expecting quality work when hiring an employee is a given. But it’s not as easy as it seems due to the sheer number of freelancers on these platforms.

You’ll find a wide variety of professionals possessing varying levels of skills on both Fiverr and Upwork. But there’s a big difference when it comes to classifying potential freelancers.

Upwork allows clients to search for freelancers on the basis of specific niches and skill sets. You can check out the profile of potential freelancers and analyze their individual talents. You can also find out the charges set by that freelancer, their ratings and feedback, badges, and so on. 

Similarly, Fiverr also offers its clients similar features. You can make use of the search bar and type in keywords. That will take you to another window with a list of talents according to your search.

Fiverr offers an incredible feature in this regard: When you search for a keyword, you get a list of individual talents and a detailed package comparison. Such features make it easy to compare talents based on what they are offering.

Fiverr vs. Upwork: Costs and Pricing

Making a seller profile on both these platforms doesn’t cost any money. The differences lie in what comes after that.

Upon signing up on Fiverr, you can begin creating and posting your gigs immediately after. But there’s something called Fiverr Pro. Fiverr Pro doesn’t cost anything – but there’s a catch. Any freelancer can apply for a Fiverr Pro status through an application. 

In contrast, on Upwork, other than the free Freelancer Basic Upwork plan, it’ll cost you $14.99 to upgrade to Freelancer Plus. 

Upgrading to Freelancer Plus on Upwork comes with a variety of perks. These include:

• You can keep your earnings private, so they won’t show on your profile.
• If you decide to take a break, your account will remain active.
• When sending proposals, you can view competitor bids, which allows you to play higher bids.
• Customized profile URL.
• You receive 80 Connects in one month.

Fiverr vs. Upwork: Payments

Being reputed freelancing platforms, they offer safe payment mechanisms.

On Fiverr, freelancers receive their earnings within the platform. However, the holding period is quite long, which isn’t ideal. Upon approval, every payment needs to clear a holding of two weeks. Freelancers can only withdraw their earnings only after this period.

However, if you’re on a higher Seller Level, you can withdraw your earnings faster, but that comes with a cost. You’ll need to pay a 1% commission fee for that.

There are four ways in which you can withdraw earnings on Fiverr. These are:

• Direct Deposit: You’ll be charged $1 on every withdrawal. This option is only available for freelancers in the United States.
• Bank Transfer: You’ll be charged a base fee of $3 on every withdrawal. Based on your currency and location, there may be additional fees.
• Fiverr Revenue Card: Withdrawals in less than two days cost $1, while those within two hours cost $3. 
• PayPal: Withdrawal is free of charge.

Payment mechanisms on Upwork are safe and quick. Upwork offers payments within the platform that is secure and fast. But how fast?

Well, that depends on the type of contract you’ve entered into with your client. 

• Tips: These are payments in the form of bonuses. It takes five days for these payments to be available for withdrawal.
• Fixed-price Contracts: These payments take five days from the date on which the client has approved the milestone to become available.
• Hourly Contracts: These payments are subjected to weekly billing cycles.

Payment protection is available for both fixed-priced and hourly projects. 

Upwork provides seven ways to withdraw your earnings:

• M-Pesa (available only for freelancers in Kenya)
• Payoneer
• PayPal
• Instant Pay (commission fee of $2 on every withdrawal and available only for freelancers in the United States)
• USD Wire Transfer (commission fee of $30 on every withdrawal)
• Direct to Local Bank (commission fee of $0.99 on every withdrawal)
• Direct to US Bank (free of charge, only for ACH)

Fiverr vs. Upwork: Consumer Protection Safeguards

Protecting their users from fraudulent activities is something both these freelancing websites take very seriously. They both offer in-platform payments as a way to safeguard the interests of both the freelancers and their clients. When we talk about Customer Support, it’s pretty lackluster for both Fiverr and Upwork.

Fiverr customer care isn’t quite stellar and consistent. Although their site boasts of 24/7 customer support, it takes some time to reach out to them for them to get back to you.

At most, it takes 24 hours for a response from Fiverr Customer Support. But even that isn’t consistent throughout. The Fiverr Help Page is also very limited. The platform lacks a chatbot or live chat service. In addition, Fiverr tends to favor buyers over freelancers in case of a dispute. It’s important to consider these points if you choose to freelance on Fiverr.

However, the situation isn’t much better at Upwork. Upwork does provide services such as a chatbot, but the programmed responses are painfully limited. Getting in touch with “human” customer care gets quite hard. Even if you’re lucky and get hold of them, the response is slow and mostly useless. So, when and if you do come across a dispute, we suggest reaching out on their social spaces, regardless of the platforms.

Fiverr vs. Upwork: Pros & Cons

Fiverr

Pros	Cons
Many freelancer resources available	There’s a project cap of $10k
Service ads are complimentary	Service fee of 20%
There’s no joining fee	Unavailability of hourly projects

Upwork

Pros	Cons
Payroll enrollment doesn’t include any service fee	The complexity of service fees
Support from recruiters	Connects cost money
Hiring is made easy and effective through various criterion	Connects are extremely limited, making it harder for new freelancers.

FAQs

Which one is better for freelancers: Upwork or Fiverr?

These e-commerce freelancing platforms come with pros and cons. Check out the table in our guide. If you’re someone who’s certified and has a lot of credentials to show, we’d advise you to choose Upwork. On the other hand, if you’re budget-oriented and are looking for simple, basic work, Fiverr will be a much better alternative.

I’m a beginner freelancer. Which freelancing platform do I go for?

As mentioned in our guide, we highly recommend Fiverr for beginner freelancers. Not because there’s a shortage of work on Upwork for beginners but rather because Fiverr offers better opportunities for this category of freelancers. Gigs are divided into levels based on your skills on Fiverr. That allows companies and clients to view freelancers accordingly. 

Which one is cheaper: Upwork or Fiverr?

These freelancing platforms charge users in a variety of ways. As a freelancer, you can either charge on a “per hour” basis or per project. That goes for both Upwork and Fiverr. As a client, Fiverr is a much cheaper alternative when we talk about the basic plan. But if you wish to hire the best-skilled freelancer, you might’ve to shell out a bit.

Is Upwork easier to use compared to Fiverr?

Not necessarily. Both these freelancing sites are easy to use and simple for anyone to get used to. Navigating these platforms is made easier thanks to their smooth and efficient user interface.

Are these platforms safe?

Both Upwork and Fiverr have mechanisms in place to protect both freelancers and their clients. They are among the most reputed and trusted freelancing platforms. 

The platforms have active customer care support as well. So, if you get into a fraudulent agreement, you can always reach out to customer care.

Closing Thoughts

Upwork and Fiverr are among the top freelancing platforms to ever exist. These e-commerce freelancing sites are easy-to-use, simple, and offer a smooth interface. They attract a variety of people offering various services, making them a perfect domain for booming businesses searching for such talents.

At the same time, when it comes to the Fiverr vs. Upwork debate, it simply comes down to your personal preference. 

Choose the platform based on the type of services you wish to offer and the skills you possess. Doing so will not only help to avoid confusion but it’ll also assist you in attracting the right clients.

Select a platform that works best for you and your team. We’d recommend Fiverr if you wish to offer basic services. However, if you’re a specialist and wish to get paid accordingly, you’ll be better off working on Upwork.

Regardless of which platform you end up choosing, make sure:

• You’ve got credentials and certifications.
• You have a plethora of work samples.

Staying organized and timely is yet another prerequisite if you wish to succeed on these platforms. Here’s our guide on Calendly Alternatives.

We hope our guide has helped you in clearing your doubts. Let us know which platform you chose and why.