Upwork Vs. Fiverr: Hire Quality Freelancers In 2023

The debate of Upwork vs. Fiverr is a tough decision because it can sometimes come down to quality versus budget. You need quality work on projects to make a profitable business, and freelancers make things more cost-effective for you.

With millions of freelancers available on both platforms, getting freelance work that matches your goals isn’t difficult, but the time and money put into hiring them are different on each platform.

We’ve put together this handy blog post comparing Upwork and Fiverr to help you weigh the pros and cons of each platform and see which one best suits your business needs.

Upwork Vs. Fiverr: Overview

Upwork is one of the largest online platforms to hire freelancers. It connects businesses with a global network of over 12 million freelancers.

With Upwork, you can post jobs and receive proposals from job seekers within minutes. Once you’ve found the right freelancer for the job, you can work together using Upwork’s secure platform.

Fiverr is another popular online freelancing platform. It focuses on connecting businesses on a budget to service providers who offer “gigs” starting at $5.

Fiverr is an excellent option if you need to find freelancers to do a one-time job or a small project.

Using Upwork

Upwork is one of the best freelancing sites to start your search for the best freelancers. It’s a where small businesses can post their projects and freelancers’ proposals to work on them

The beauty of Upwork is that it gives you access to a global pool of talent to build potentially long-term relationships with many freelancers.

Here are a few features of Upwork that you may appreciate to hire the right people and get your projects done quicker:

Talent Marketplace

The Talent Marketplace is a handy tool for clients and freelancers to discover one another.

Upwork’s Talent Marketplace, apart from other similar platforms, focuses on self-service research. Clients can use Upwork’s tools to define jobs, find freelancers, and invite freelancers to apply for the job.

Talent Scout

The Talent Scout recruiters help you match your business needs with the right talent on Upwork. You can use Talent Scout to quickly identify and connect with high-quality freelancers for your project.

They get to know the talent on Upwork individually and assess their skills. This helps them match clients with the right talent.

Your Talent Scout recruiter will generate a pre-vetted shortlist from the freelance platform of the best matches from the Upwork global talent community.

Project Catalog

With Project Catalog, you can discover ready-to-purchase projects built by experts, with room to customize the project to fit your job needs.

You can look at projects side-by-side and use ratings and reviews to discover the best expert for your needs. Before buying their project, you may get to know the professionals and ensure they are the best match for you.

Pricing

Upwork charges client fees for using their website to find someone for your project.

In April, the Upwork Basic and Upwork Plus client subscriptions were combined into a single marketplace plan.

Under the new plan, all clients will have access to most of the services formerly available only to Plus subscribers and pay a certain proportion on every transaction.

For fixed-price and hourly jobs, Project Catalog projects, bonuses, and BYO contracts, the marketplace fee is 5% of all payments.

Workflow

The first way to find candidates on the Upwork freelance platform is to search by specific skill categories.

The categories available on Upwork include writing, website development, design, accounting, customer service, consulting, mobile development, virtual assisting, marketing, sales, and more.

Different criteria can be used to sort the search on the Upwork platform. These include:

• Project budget
• Language
• Freelancer’s experience
• Completion rate
• Total freelancer earnings

The search results will bring you to the Upwork freelancers’ profile page. It’s a little more time-consuming because it resembles going through employment applications.

If you are pressed for time and don’t want to take the time to search Upwork Freelancer profiles, you can post your project on Upwork and let Upwork freelancers come to you.

The more specific you are on your project, the better quality proposals you will receive. Here are a few things to consider in your posting:

• Screening questions for the project
• The budget you are willing to spend
• The deadline for the project
• Skills required
• Project description
• Files needed for the project

Hiring: Candidate Pool

Upwork puts a lot of work into the freelancer profiles so that you can find out as much as possible about a candidate before you interview them.

In each profile, they list the Upwork work freelancers have had, how much they’ve earned on Upwork, how many hours they have worked for clients on Upwork, and their education.

This way, you can review everyone more thoroughly than a regular resume and weed out the top freelancers who would work best with you.

Besides great profiles, an Upwork Talent Scout recruiter can help connect you with the right freelancer for your needs and provide valuable insights into the hiring process.

Working with a recruiter can save time and effort searching for the perfect freelancer for your project. In addition, you may be able to get a better deal on Upwork freelancers through a recruiter!

Pre-Screening

Pre-screening by Upwork means less work on your end. You can quickly get the best freelancers just by signing up.

Freelancers register with Upwork and submit their information, but not everyone is accepted (this may be determined by demand in specific industries in addition to the quality checks).

Upwork verifies the freelancer’s identities before they’re allowed to join the platform. Verifying freelancer identities ensures that only legitimate freelancers are allowed on the site, and you can avoid scammers.

Freelancers take a series of tests to promote and demonstrate their skills before they bid on your jobs. These tests are designed to assess their skills and abilities in specific areas in ways you can review their work.

Another benefit of using Upwork is its system to identify and authenticate their Top Rated freelancers.

To be a top freelancer, they must have a 90% or higher success rate, monthly earnings of at least $1,000 (USD), and three months or more of active involvement on the platform.

You can also do your own pre-screening for any freelancer by looking at the ratings, reviews, and feedback left on the freelancer’s profile by former clients.

Dispute Resolution

While most projects are completed successfully, there are occasions when disagreements arise between a client and freelancer. In such cases, Upwork offers dispute resolution services to help reach a resolution.

Upwork’s dispute resolution process is designed to be fair and efficient and has helped resolve many disagreements.

For clients, this process begins with contacting customer support and providing relevant documentation.

A customer support representative will then reach out to the freelancer on Upwork to discuss the situation and try to resolve the matter.

If an agreement can’t be reached, the case will be given to a mediator. The mediator will review the case and reach a decision based on the evidence provided by both parties.

This decision is binding, meaning both the client and freelancer must comply.

Pros & Cons Of Upwork

Pros

• A large pool of potential freelancers
• Different freelancer fee price points
• Payments to the freelancer are made through Upwork, no setting up separate payment arrangements
• A dedicated manager is available to help your business
• Freelancer reviews are available to look at when hiring
• A tracking tool is available for the freelancer paid by the hour

Cons

• Prescreening doesn’t guarantee perfect candidates, quick turnover, etc.
• Must go through a bot system to finally get a customer service representative

Using Fiverr

Finding someone for your project or online business can be overwhelming. You want to find someone qualified and skilled, but you also want to find someone affordable.

This is where Fiverr comes in.

Fiverr is an excellent resource for finding and hiring qualified freelancers willing to work for reasonable prices.

Most services start at just $5, and you can often find quality services for a fraction of the cost of hiring a traditional freelancer or agency.

Like Upwork , Fiverr has a couple of ways you can join and find qualified talent for your next project:

Fiverr Main Marketplace

Fiverr’s Main Marketplace is where you’ll find the largest pool of sellers. It’s the main page, where you are prompted to create an account and select your business type.

You can browse through different gig listings and use the search function to filter by keywords, category, or sub-category.

To search for a specific service, you can use the search bar at the top of the page or browse through the categories listed on the left-hand side of the screen.

Fiverr Pro

The Pro Marketplace is the next step, a premium version of the main marketplace, offering vetted and verified sellers with top-level skills, like digital marketing or graphic design.

All sellers on Pro have been handpicked and vetted by the Fiverr team.

With it, you can search for specific skills and keywords and browse through profiles to find the right person. You can also see ratings and reviews from other users, so you can be sure that you’re hiring someone reputable. 

Fiverr Business

Fiverr Business is designed for larger businesses and enterprises. This service is perfect for businesses that need extra help finding the right people for their projects.

With this service, you’ll have access to a dedicated account manager, custom price quotes, and a curated selection of top talent.

With the help of a dedicated account manager, you’ll be able to find the perfect person for your project quickly and easily. In addition, the custom price quotes feature ensures that you’re getting the best value for your money.

Fiverr Studios

Fiverr Studios is a great option for those looking for high-quality creative work. With Fiverr Studios, you’ll work with a team of handpicked creatives to produce great results for your next project.

You’ll be able to find all of the people you need in one place, and a Studio Lead will oversee the project, so you can be confident that your project is in good hands.

The project will be managed by your Studio Lead, who will also oversee the team and handle all communication. Studio Leads are seasoned managers with superior communication skills.

Pricing

Fiverr fees charged to buyers are much smaller than those charged to sellers. Each order a buyer purchases has a 5.5% Fiverr service fee added to the order. Another $2 service fee is added if the order total for your project is under $50.

These fees are in addition to the amount you agree to pay the seller for the gig. Fees for the orders are paid when you place the order, and the funds are released to the seller once the work has been completed.

Workflow

Fiverr’s workflow allows the buyer to explore the site and find a seller. However, you can post a job and wait for sellers to apply for them.

After placing an order for a job, you and the seller will have the opportunity to discuss the project and develop a plan for how it will be completed.

Once you’ve agreed on a plan, it’s up to you to provide the seller with any files or information they need to complete the work. The seller will then complete the work and deliver it to you.

You have 10 days to review it and request revisions. If you’re happy with the work, simply approve it, and the funds will be released to the seller.

Here are some tips on keeping the workflow going smoothly:

• Be specific about what work you need from the Fiverr freelancers. The more information you provide, the better- including timeframe, expectations, examples, or anything else related to the project.
• Once the project is underway, keep in communication with the person you hire. This will help ensure that the project is going in your desired direction.
• Be sure to give feedback along the way. This will help the seller understand what you like and don’t like and make necessary changes.
• Revisions take time, so be prepared to wait for the freelancer to complete the new additions and make necessary changes.

Another option for keeping the workflow going smoothly is to use the Fiverr Studios. When you use this service, you get a whole team with a Studio lead that makes sure it’s progressing.

Hiring: Candidate Pool

If you’re looking to hire someone for a one-time project or even an ongoing gig, you’ll find no talent shortage on Fiverr.

Fiverr places a more significant emphasis on the visual appeal of the gig listings, making it easy to browse through and find one that catches your eye.

There are four different levels of sellers on Fiverr- New Seller, Level 1, Level 2, and Top Level.

All beginning sellers are placed in New Seller when they sign up for Fiverr work. Sellers move up each level based on the number of orders they complete, the amount of money they earn, and their ratings for sixty days.

The Top Level is awarded after a manual review by the editorial team to sellers who have completed over 100 orders, earned more than $20,000, and maintained a 4.7-star rating or higher during the sixty days.

Pre-Screening

How does Fiverr handle pre-screening freelancers? Well, Fiverr does not pre-screen people on the main marketplace, where some businesses hire from.

All sellers on Pro are hand-vetted by Fiverr for quality, so you can be sure you’re getting top-notch work.

To be considered as a Fiverr Pro seller, sellers must:

• Be a top-rated seller on Fiverr
• Pass an application and interview process
• Provide high-quality work
• Maintain a high level of customer satisfaction 

The next option for a candidate pool is Fiverr Business, where the freelancers have a few more things they need to do to be qualified:

• They are self-employed independent contractors or larger companies/agencies well-positioned to partner with businesses.
• Fiverr Business contractors are well-informed and highly skilled in their field. Educational qualifications, professional experience, and prominent business clients are all beneficial.
• Most Fiverr Business sellers go above and beyond to provide clients with outstanding service and communication.
• They must provide their best effort and exceed the client’s expectations.

The members in the Fiverr Studios are screened and periodically chosen by Fiverr to be a part of the Fiverr Studios- they can’t apply to be part of the Fiverr Studios. Instead, they are sought out to join because of their reputation as a freelancer.

Dispute Resolution

Fiverr offers sellers and clients a way to find each other and work together online. They have dispute resolution policies in place should any problems arise.

These policies allow either party to request a refund or payment and file for mediation or arbitration if they are unsatisfied with the ruling.

If the buyer feels the freelancer has not delivered on their contract, they may be entitled to a refund.

If the freelancer feels that they have not been paid for their work, they may be able to request payment through Fiverr.

In either case, Fiverr will decide based on the evidence presented and issue a non-binding ruling.

However, if either party is unsatisfied with the outcome, they can choose to file for a mediation or arbitration, in which case the ruling will be legally binding.

Pros & Cons Of Fiverr

Pros

• Easy to use
• Wide variety of services offered on the platform
• Inexpensive fees
• Less expensive candidate pool
• A rating system ensures you can find reputable and reliable workers
• The dispute resolution process is in place for the buyer and seller’s protection

Cons

• Cannot be sure of the quality of work before ordering
• Deadlines can vary for projects
• Main marketplace can have scammers (no pre-screening)
• Limited pre-screening of sellers in main marketplace
• Sellers may not have the skills they list

Final Verdict

Both Upwork and Fiverr have their pros and cons- not all platforms created in the freelancing world are created equal.

Fiverr has a vast candidate pool, but quality can vary, so the lower cost may mean you cut corners on a budget freelancer. Upwork is the superior choice for businesses and individuals who need top-quality freelancers.

Here are a few other reasons we like Upwork more than Fiverr:

• Upwork offers a much higher quality pool of people to choose from for your Upwork work order. Because the platform requires that most freelancers have a certain level of experience and skills before creating a profile, businesses can be confident that they’re only seeing the most qualified freelancers. 
• Additionally, Upwork provides more comprehensive profiles for each independent contractor. This includes information about their work history, education, and skills. With this type of information available upfront, businesses can save time by quickly identifying which freelancers are the best fit for their projects. 
• Last but not least, Upwork offers more payment protection than other freelance platforms. This means businesses can feel confident that they’ll receive the services they’ve paid for.  

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for Upwork today and find better freelancers for your projects!

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of freelancers can I hire on Upwork or Fiverr?

Here’s a look at some of the most popular services offered on these platforms:

• Graphic design: Graphics designers can aid you in making a new logo or some marketing materials to attract customers.
• Web development: Web developers can help you design a new website or add new features to an existing one.
• Video editing: Video editors can help you with everything from creating a new video to editing an existing one.
• Freelance writing. If you need help creating content for your website or blog side hustle, freelance writers can help you with everything from writing articles to creating eBooks.
• Digital marketing services. Digital marketers can help you with everything from Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to social media marketing.

How do I know if a freelancer I hire on Fiverr vs. Upwork is good?

One way to determine is to look at their rating. Upwork and other freelance platforms often have a rating system in which previous clients rate the quality of the freelancer’s work.

Additionally, you can ask for references from previous clients to get an idea of the quality of their work.

Finally, review portfolios and samples of previous work before hiring someone.

What are the risks of using a freelancer from Upwork or Fiverr?

Both Upwork and Fiverr offer payment protection to their clients, which means you’re less likely to experience any issues with payments.

Both platforms also have a rating system that allows businesses to find reputable and reliable people for their projects.

Upwork offers comprehensive profiles for each freelancer, including information about their work history, education, and skills. This helps businesses save time by quickly identifying which freelancers are the best fit for their projects.

How do I pay a freelancer on Upwork and Fiverr?

Upwork offers a variety of payment options for businesses, including Credit cards, PayPal, and U.S. bank transfers.

Fiverr offers buyers the option to pay through PayPal, credit card, Fiverr Credits, or an existing Fiverr Balance for Fiverr work ordered. There are also additional payment methods available in certain places.

What if I’m not happy with the work I receive from my freelancer on either Upwork or Fiverr?

Both platforms would like businesses and freelancers to work problems out. However, if they cannot fix the problem, you can report it to the platform you used, and they will try to solve it.

If the problem still cannot be resolved, both parties can enter a mediation process or arbitration. This is where an objective third party will try to help both parties reach a legally binding resolution.

Key Takeaways: Upwork Vs. Fiverr

Fiverr vs. Upwork demonstrates that either could be a good option for your business to find freelance services that fit your needs and budget.

You may want to use Fiverr if you’re on a lower budget for your business, have short-term projects, or have time to search for candidates that fit your needs.

However, the quality of Fiverr work may not be as high as you would like- lower costs can equal lower quality.

Upwork is the clear choice for businesses and individuals who need top-quality help for their unique business ideas.

With a higher quality pool of freelancers, more comprehensive profiles, and better payment protection, Upwork provides everything you need to find and hire the best for your project.

But don’t be afraid to sign up for both platforms and see what happens- don’t limit your candidate pool if you don’t have to!