Fiverr vs Upwork

by Gralio Feb 27, 2025

Fiverr and Upwork are both valuable platforms for businesses seeking freelance talent, but they cater to different needs and preferences. Fiverr is best for businesses seeking quick and easy solutions for individual tasks with transparent pricing. Upwork excels in providing a platform for managing more complex projects and fostering ongoing collaborations with freelancers.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 2697 reviews and 60 websites, saving 15 hours, 29 minutes of reading.

Fiverr

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Upwork

Website LinkedIn Twitter

About

Fiverr is a platform where businesses like yours can hire freelancers for a wide range of services, from logo design and website development to marketing and writing. It's known for its vast selection of freelancers across hundreds of categories, transparent pricing, and a user-friendly interface. You can find both individual freelancers and teams, making it suitable for both small tasks and larger projects.

Upwork is a platform that connects businesses with freelancers for a wide range of work, from simple tasks to complex projects. Companies can post jobs, review freelancer profiles, and manage payments all in one place. It's a popular choice for businesses of all sizes looking for a flexible and cost-effective way to find talent.

Summary

Main difference

Fiverr uses a gig-based pricing model where freelancers set their prices for specific services, while Upwork allows freelancers to set hourly rates or project-based fees, giving businesses more flexibility in budgeting. Fiverr emphasizes a streamlined process for finding and hiring freelancers for individual tasks, whereas Upwork facilitates ongoing collaborations and long-term projects.

Relative strengths of Fiverr (compared to Upwork)

Fiverr offers a wider range of services, catering to diverse business needs, from logo design to voiceovers.
Fiverr's gig-based pricing model offers price transparency and allows businesses to easily compare costs for specific services.
Fiverr's user-friendly interface simplifies the process of finding and hiring freelancers, making it ideal for quick and easy projects.

Relative weaknesses of Fiverr (compared to Upwork)

Upwork offers more flexibility in budgeting and payment options, with hourly rates and project-based fees.
Upwork's sophisticated search and filtering options make it easier to find freelancers with specific skills and experience for complex projects.
Upwork's platform is generally better suited for managing long-term projects and ongoing collaborations with freelancers.

Who should use Fiverr VS. Upwork

Fiverr connects businesses with freelancers for diverse services, from logo design to marketing. A global talent pool, transparent pricing, and user-friendly interface make it easy to find and hire freelancers. However, some users have noted inconsistent quality and potential upselling.

Upwork connects businesses with freelancers for diverse projects. Users praise the platform's user-friendly interface and global talent pool. However, some find the fees high and competition challenging for newcomers. It's best for companies seeking flexible staffing solutions, offering a wide range of talent across various industries.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
Suitable for a wide range of industries, including healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and more.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking a flexible and cost-effective way to find talent.
A good fit for businesses in various sectors, including E-commerce, Education, Media & Entertainment, and Software.

Fiverr and Upwork features

Supported

Partially supported

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Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Client reviews

Supported

Clients can review freelancers after an order is completed.

Supported

Clients can leave reviews about freelancers on Upwork, contributing to their Job Success Score.
Experience filtering

Supported

Fiverr allows filtering freelancers by experience level.

Not supported

Clients assess freelancer experience through profiles and proposals.
Skill-based search

Supported

Clients can search for freelancers based on their skills and professions.

Supported

Upwork supports searching for freelancers by skills via keyword search and category browsing.
Direct messaging

Supported

Fiverr allows clients and freelancers to message each other.

Supported

Clients and freelancers can communicate directly via Upwork's messaging platform.
Portfolio showcase

Supported

Fiverr allows freelancers to create portfolios and showcase their previous projects.

Supported

Freelancers can showcase previous projects in their portfolio.
Client requirement matching

Supported

Fiverr uses AI to match freelancers with clients based on project requirements.

Supported

Upwork matches freelancers with projects based on client-specified requirements using its algorithm.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

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Customer Service

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Ease of Use

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Reliability and Performance

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Ease of Implementation

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Scalability

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Fiverr and Upwork Pricing

Fiverr Pro offers a tiered subscription pricing model. The Fiverr Pro Essential plan is based on eligibility, requiring users to order services worth $1,000 or more annually to maintain access. The Fiverr Pro Advanced plan costs $129 per month and includes additional features. Fiverr also has a basic plan, simply called Fiverr, which is available for everyone.

Plans

See full Pricing page

Upwork offers three client pricing plans: Marketplace, Business Plus, and Enterprise. The Marketplace plan charges a 5% service fee and a contract initiation fee per contract. The Business Plus plan charges a 10% service fee with no contract initiation fee. The Enterprise plan requires contacting sales for pricing. All plans provide access to Upwork’s global freelance marketplace, AI-powered features, collaboration and project tracking tools, standard reporting, and flexible payment options. The Business Plus and Enterprise plans offer additional features such as access to pre-screened talent, expert talent matching, on-demand coaching, premium support, and monthly invoicing with Net 30 terms.

Plans

See full Pricing page

Fiverr and Upwork review insights

Users love

Wide range of services available, catering to diverse needs.
Global talent pool, connecting businesses with freelancers worldwide.
Transparent pricing, with gigs starting at affordable rates.
User-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and find services.

User-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
Wide variety of jobs and clients from around the world.
Secure payment system that protects both freelancers and clients.
Provides a platform for freelancers to connect with clients they may not have otherwise.

Users dislike

It can be difficult to get in touch with some freelancers, due to time zone differences.
The quality of work can be inconsistent, and it can be challenging to find highly experienced freelancers for projects with lower budgets.
Some freelancers may try to upsell services beyond the initial gig description, leading to unexpected costs.
Fiverr’s commission fees can be high, especially for lower-priced gigs.

High fees for using the platform.
The "Connects" system is expensive and many feel it is exploitative.
Many low quality proposals and jobs being advertised.
Difficult to get started as a new freelancer due to competition.

Fiverr and Upwork Ratings

G2

4.3/5

(434)
Capterra

4.8/5

(425)
Glassdoor

4.3/5

(3081)

G2

4.6/5

(1850)
Glassdoor

3.8/5

(617)

Company health

Employee growth

8% increase in the last year

6% increase in the last year

Web traffic

7% decrease in the last quarter

12% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

August 2018 - $111M

September 2016 - $169M

Which platform offers better curation of freelancer quality?

Fiverr and Upwork offer different approaches to curation. Fiverr emphasizes showcasing freelancer portfolios and skills, using AI for matching, and offering the "Pro" tier for vetted talent. Upwork also uses skill-based matching and client reviews but highlights its algorithm for suggesting relevant jobs and various pricing tiers for different business needs. Neither platform guarantees perfect quality, but Fiverr's Pro tier provides a more curated selection compared to Upwork's broader marketplace approach.

How do Fiverr's "gigs" compare to Upwork's project postings?

Fiverr uses "gigs," which are predefined service offerings by freelancers with set prices. Upwork uses project postings where clients describe their project needs and freelancers bid with proposals and their desired rates. Essentially, Fiverr emphasizes freelancers showcasing their services, while Upwork focuses on clients outlining their project requirements.

What are the advantages of Fiverr?

Fiverr offers a wider range of services and a larger global talent pool compared to Upwork. Users praise Fiverr's transparent pricing model, with clearly defined gig costs upfront. The platform is also known for its user-friendly interface, making it easier to navigate and find the services needed.

What are the disadvantages of Fiverr?

Fiverr's disadvantages include inconsistent work quality, potentially making it challenging to find highly skilled freelancers for budget-conscious projects. Some freelancers may attempt to upsell additional services, leading to unexpected costs. Finally, Fiverr's commission fees can be substantial, especially for lower-priced gigs.

Is Fiverr cheaper than Upwork?

Fiverr's pricing model is based on individual projects ("gigs"), where freelancers set their own prices, and Fiverr takes a commission. Upwork charges clients a sliding commission fee based on the total billings with a freelancer, while freelancers also pay a commission based on their earnings. Therefore, a direct price comparison isn't possible without considering the specific project and freelancer rates. While Fiverr gigs may appear cheaper initially, the final cost depends on the project scope and potential upsells. Upwork's commission structure might be more advantageous for larger projects due to its percentage-based fees. Ultimately, the cheaper option depends on the specific needs of the project.

Alternatives to Fiverr and Upwork

Twine

Twine is a platform that connects businesses with a large network of freelance professionals across the globe. Companies can post projects and find freelancers with skills in areas like marketing, web development, and AI. Twine offers tools to manage payments and streamline the hiring process, helping businesses find and hire freelancers efficiently. It's used by various sizes of companies, from small startups to large enterprises.

Wethos

Wethos is software designed for freelancers and agencies to manage their business operations. It provides tools for creating proposals, sending invoices, and receiving payments, all within a single platform. Wethos offers pre-built templates, pricing recommendations, and contract terms to streamline administrative tasks. It also allows for team collaboration on projects. Wethos aims to help independent professionals efficiently manage their business and increase their earnings.

lemon.io

Lemon.io is a freelance platform that connects US companies with vetted software developers from Eastern Europe. Unlike platforms where anyone can offer services, Lemon.io pre-screens developers for coding skills, English proficiency, and work experience. This saves you time and ensures you're presented with qualified candidates who have been personally interviewed by the Lemon.io team. The platform is free for developers to use; companies pay a commission on top of the developer's rate. Lemon.io focuses on providing long-term developers for projects rather than one-off tasks.

PeoplePerHour.com

PeoplePerHour.com is a platform where businesses can find freelancers for a wide variety of tasks, from writing and design to development and marketing. Businesses can search for freelancers with specific skills, see their hourly rates and reviews, and hire them for individual projects. PeoplePerHour.com offers a secure environment for payments and communication, and provides customer support for both businesses and freelancers.

Cisco Routers

Cisco Routers are powerful networking devices designed for businesses of all sizes, especially large enterprises and service providers. They form the backbone of computer networks, enabling devices to communicate with each other and access the internet. Cisco Routers offer advanced security features to protect sensitive data, reliable connectivity, and specialized options for industrial settings. Known for their reliability and robust features, they are a trusted choice for businesses that require a high-performance and secure network infrastructure.

Wix

Wix is a website building platform focused on providing businesses with user-friendly tools to create an online presence. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, and features like e-commerce tools, scheduling, and marketing integrations. With Wix, businesses can build a website, manage sales, and engage in digital marketing activities, all from a single platform. The platform caters to a wide range of users, from small businesses to larger enterprises seeking an all-in-one solution.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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