Upwork is the largest general-purpose freelance marketplace most UK freelancers will ever use, and the one most small businesses turn to first when they need a designer, developer or writer by Friday. It is also the platform people complain about most, usually for the same handful of reasons: the cost of bidding, the fees, the security holds, and the way an account can be suspended by an automated check.
An honest look at Upwork for UK freelancers and the businesses that hire them: which of its six offerings earn their fees, how payment protection really works, and where the complaints are justified.
All 6 ways to use it reviewed in the guide above.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Talent Marketplace (hourly & fixed-price contracts) | Anyone starting on Upwork | 4.7/5 | Read |
| 2 | Project Catalog | Repeatable, well-defined jobs | 4.5/5 | Read |
| 3 | Freelancer Plus | Freelancers bidding heavily or bringing clients | 4.4/5 | Read |
| 4 | Client Basic plan (free to join) | Small businesses and first-time clients | 4.2/5 | Read |
| 5 | Business Plus | SMEs running several contractors | 4.2/5 | Read |
| 6 | Enterprise, Any Hire & Upwork Payroll | Companies with their own talent to onboard | 4.2/5 | Read |
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