I get this question a lot: Is Upwork worth it? Today, I’m sharing my experience as a freelancer who’s used the platform on and off for the past two years.
I’ve landed some great clients through Upwork and made a solid amount of side income along the way. In this post, I’ll talk about what types of freelancers are most likely to benefit from using the site—and I’ll also break down exactly how much money I earned.
Table of Contents
- Is Upwork Worth it?
- Who Finds Upwork Worth it?
- Types of People Who Will Find Upwork Is Not Worth the Time
- Was Upwork Worth it for Me?
- Will Upwork Be Worth It for You?
- How Long Does It Take to Start Making Money on Upwork?
- So, is Upwork worth it?
Is Upwork Worth it?
Let’s jump right in. Is Upwork worth the time and energy it takes to submit proposals? My short answer is yes! That being said, Upwork isn’t for everyone. The platform is very saturated with freelancers who are willing to offer low rates.
To determine if it’s worth it for you, there are several things to consider. Everything from how complete your profile is to your ability to write standout proposals will influence your success.
I first started freelancing in 2020 and made my first $400 on Upwork pretty quickly. Since then, I’ve used the platform off and on, and I’ve learned a lot about who it works best for.
Who Finds Upwork Worth it?
In my experience, there are three types of people who will find Upwork worth the effort:
- New freelancers who are building their portfolio
- Experienced freelancers expanding into new niches
- People looking for a simple side hustle
Let me break these down.
New Freelancers Who Are Building Their Portfolio
When I say “new freelancers,” I mean people trying to build income outside of a 9-to-5, not folks with zero work experience. If you’re trying to land your first few projects, Upwork can be a great place to start.
Even just a couple of solid clients can help you build a portfolio and a strong job success score. These are things you’ll be able to leverage when you pitch to clients outside the platform. And while the pay might not be great at first (thanks to Upwork’s fees and competitive bidding), the credibility and experience are valuable.
You can even ask Upwork clients to leave a review on LinkedIn. That helps boost your credibility beyond the platform. I always make a point to share my LinkedIn with prospective clients.
Experienced freelancers who are expanding their portfolio
If you have been freelancing for a while and are looking to expand your portfolio, then Upwork can be a great option. This is especially true if you are interested in working on new types of projects!
As an experienced freelancer turned entrepreneur, I still like to use Upwork so I can test out new offerings for my business. For example, I’ve found myself building websites over the last year or so and have just now added them to my offerings. Upwork is a great way to practice improving my client’s experience by testing out my business processes.
This might look like sending them a project overview or providing a timeline chart/PowerPoint/etc. Not only will you be able to make a better process for your clients outside of the platform, but you will also be going above and beyond the quality of work most clients would expect from an Upwork freelancer. This is a true win-win scenario!
People Who Are Looking for a Straightforward Side Hustle
If your goal is to make extra cash, Upwork can help. There are always small projects available, which means you can find work that fits into your schedule.
Just keep in mind: many jobs are low-paying. I recommend sticking to projects that offer at least $20/hour. Once you factor in Upwork’s fees, that drops to around $16/hour.
If you’ve been freelancing for a while and want to test out new services or industries, Upwork is useful. I personally use it to try new offers before rolling them into my business.
For example, I started building websites more recently and used Upwork projects to refine my client process, everything from creating timelines to delivering polished proposals. It gives you a space to experiment while still getting paid.
Types of People Who Will Find Upwork Is Not Worth the Time
Now that we’ve covered who might benefit, let’s talk about who probably won’t.
You might want to skip Upwork if you’re a:
- Full-time entrepreneur
- Low-skilled worker
- Person who doesn’t have time for rejection
Let me explain why.
Full-Time Entrepreneur
If you’re already running a business and earning decent money, Upwork probably isn’t a good use of your time. You’ll spend hours polishing your profile, submitting proposals, and competing with low bids.
Fixed-price jobs are usually better on Upwork, but most pay under $40/hour, and many freelancers make less than $20/hour. There are faster, more effective ways to find clients.
Low-Skilled Workers
Unfortunately, Upwork’s fee structure and competitive landscape make it tough if you’re just getting started with your skillset. Even if you’re okay working for $10-$15/hour, fees will cut into that quickly.
You’ll also be competing with experienced freelancers offering rock-bottom rates. That makes it hard to get ahead.
Don’t Have Time for Rejection
This one’s a bit cheeky, but it’s true: you’ll get ghosted—a lot. For every 10 proposals, you might hear back from one client. If that sounds frustrating, this may not be the platform for you.
Was Upwork Worth it for Me?
Yes, absolutely—mainly for the first two reasons I listed above. When I started, I had some experience but was looking to sharpen my skills and explore new types of work. I made my first $400 in under a month doing social media and copywriting.
That early experience led to a long-term client and helped me realize I wanted to offer marketing services. Even now, I use Upwork to keep my skills fresh and expand my experience across industries.
How Much Money I’ve Made on Upwork
I’ve made over $1,000 on Upwork so far. Most of that has gone toward personal development or tools I use for my business.
I often highlight these tools in my proposals, which makes me sound like a subject matter expert and justifies my rate. That’s a little trick that’s helped me land more work.
Will Upwork Be Worth It for You?
Before you decide, consider comparing Upwork to Fiverr. Fiverr is more passive; you set up “gigs” and clients come to you. It can be a better fit if you don’t want to spend time on proposals.
You might even try both platforms, especially if you’re transitioning from a traditional job into freelancing. I wrote a post on the best freelance websites for beginners if you’re interested in exploring more.
Also, think about your long-term goal: are you trying to freelance or become an entrepreneur? If it’s the latter, Upwork might not be the best place to spend your time.
How Long Does It Take to Start Making Money on Upwork?
It varies, but in my experience, it takes about three weeks from your first proposal to getting paid.
Here’s how that breaks down:
- Week 1: Submit 10+ applications
- Week 2: Finalize a project and start working
- Week 3: Deliver the work and wait for payment
Payment processing can take up to 10 days, especially for hourly jobs. Fixed-price jobs may take longer, depending on your milestones and client communication.
I usually sort by “payment verified” clients and check their freelancer reviews. That helps weed out flaky clients and improve your odds of getting paid quickly.
It Takes at Least 3 Weeks to Make Money on Upwork
This is not a made-up number! Every time I’ve used Upwork, it has taken me about 3 weeks to make money. I would say that I only use the platform a few times a year as more of a hobby. I know I can always pick up where I left off and start earning within a few weeks.
My process for making money on Upwork fast is this:
- Week 1: Submit applications to as many projects as possible (10+)
- Week 2: Finalize projects with potential clients and start work
- Week 3: Deliver the project and wait for payment processing
From proposal to receiving money in my bank account usually takes under a month. Luckily, the hiring process can be very quick as long as you respond to job postings within 24 hours. Anything later than that will probably have too many Upwork proposals. You will waste your time trying to stand out amongst a sea of good freelancers.
It can take up to 10 days for Upwork to finish payment processing. So really, it just depends on when you start a project and submit your time sheet.
Of course, this is more of a timeline for hourly projects. If you are working based on milestones or fixed-price projects, this may take longer. For example, if you are building a website, then you may choose the fixed price payments vs. charging hourly. You will find that the details of each project will vary by client. I usually sort by “payment verified” clients and read their reviews to make sure they have a history of payments.
So, is Upwork worth it?
I think that Upwork is a great platform for freelancers at all levels of experience. If you are just getting started, it can be a great way to build your portfolio. If you are an experienced freelancer, it can be a great way to find high-paying projects. And if you are simply looking for a side hustle, it can be a great way to make some extra money.
Keep in mind that Upwork earnings are unlikely to pay your bills as these are not very high-paying jobs in most cases. That being said, Upwork is still great for finding freelance work and beginning a freelance career!
Have you had any experiences with Upwork? Do you think Upwork is worth the time and energy? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!
