Choosing a marketplace to sell your digital services can be a tough task. It can take days, even weeks, to find the right platform – one with a mix of low commissions, a solid user base, and a decent selection of gigs.
There are several freelancing and outsourcing platforms out there, so even if you’re a buyer, it can be challenging to know where to start.
Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer are the most popular options. These three sites are all great for finding both freelance gigs and top talent.
But which one is best?
In this article, I’ll explore how Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer stack up against each other to help you decide which one better suits your needs.
Let’s get started!
Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Introduction
What is Fiverr?
Fiverr is an online marketplace that connects people with freelance jobs and talent.
This platform was founded in 2010 by Mikael Kaufman and Shai Wininger in Tel Aviv (Israel).
It has grown rapidly since then and now serves more than 4.2 million users annually.
Fiverr is especially popular among people who want to make extra money from home, but it’s also useful for entrepreneurs who are looking to hire freelancers without having to build their own teams.
You can find and post gigs in a wide range of categories, which includes transcription, voiceover, designing services, art, logo creation, and even writing. It also has a good ranking system to help freelancers improve their reputation as professionals in their sector.
What is Upwork?
Upwork is a free online platform that connects small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking specialized talents looking for work.
It was created in 2013, when the company Elance Inc. merged with oDesk Corp. Two years later, in 2015, it received a new name: Upwork Global Inc.
The platform currently has more than 12 million registered freelancers, and over five million clients worldwide.
Upwork is pretty similar to Fiverr, but it works with an auction system where clients can post their projects and freelancers have to bid on them.
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What is Freelancer?
Like its counterparts, Freelancer is a well-known marketplace for digital services. It was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2009 by Matt Barrie.
Today, it stands as the largest platform for freelancers and contractors, with a global community of more than 31 million users.
The site works in a similar way to Upwork. You can find and post jobs, then hire freelancers based on their skills and availability.
Freelancers can bid on the jobs they are interested in, and once they win a job they will be assigned that project.
Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Sign Up
Fiverr
The process of signing up on Fiverr is simple and fast, taking less than two minutes. To create an account:
- Navigate to Fiverr.com
- On the homepage, click on the “Join” button in the top right corner.
- Next, fill in the form with your information. You’ll first need to enter a valid email ID or Facebook, Google, or Apple account.
- Then, click “Continue”.
- After that, you’ll have to choose your username and password.
- Once you’re done, hit “Join”.
- That’s it! You’ll now be able to post your gigs, contact freelancers, and manage your account.
Upwork
Like Fiverr’s signing up process, Upwork’s is easy, straightforward, and intuitive. To create an account:
- Go to Upwork.com
- Click on the “Sign Up” green button in the top right corner of the screen.
- After that, you’ll need to choose between joining as a client or as a freelancer. Select the option that best suits your needs and click on “Create Account”.
- Next, fill out all the requested information, accept the platform’s privacy policy, and hit “Create My Account” again. You can also register using your Apple or Google account.
- Once you’re done, Upwork will send you a confirmation code. Enter the code to verify your email address.
- After verifying it, you’ll be able to access your dashboard immediately!
Freelancer
Freelancer’s registration process is similar to Upwork’s. However, signing up on Freelancer is even easier.
To create an account:
- Navigate to Freelancer.com
- Click on the“Sign Up” button in the upper right corner.
- This will take you to a simple form page. You’ll have to fill it in with your email and chosen password.
- Once you’re done, check the platform’s privacy policy box and hit “Join Freelancer”. You can make the process faster by signing up with your Facebook account.
- Next, select your username and click “Next”.
- Choose the type of account that suits your needs (freelancer or company) and click on the “Register” button.
- After that, you’ll be able to start completing your profile on the site!
Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: User Interface & Ease of Use
Fiverr
Fiverr’s UI is easy to navigate for both sellers and buyers. It does a great job of making sure that every aspect of the site is intuitive, from the navigation bar at the top of every page to the little icons on each gig description.
Its design is simple but very aesthetically pleasing. Plus, Fiverr’s site is very clean – it doesn’t have a lot of frills or features that bog down the experience.
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Upwork
The interface of Upwork is even simpler than Fiverr’s. There’s less clutter and fewer distracting features.
However, this simplicity makes Upwork’s UI less elegant and attractive to the eye. It’s designed for users who only want functionality. Now, it’s worth noting that, unlike Fiverr, Upwork has a robust filtering system that lets you narrow down your search by a wide range of categories, so it’s not hard to find a gig or talent that fits your needs.
Freelancer
Freelancer’s user interface is simple, intuitive, and less complicated than Fiverr’s but not as easy to navigate as Upwork’s.
The site’s homepage has a clean layout, with sections on the left side of the screen dedicated to each of the major categories of freelancers (writers, designers, developers, etc.). The top bar features a dropdown menu that gives you access to all of the main features on the site.
It also has a powerful search engine and filtering system, with several categories and sub-categories to choose from so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.
Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Digital Services Marketplace
Fiverr
Once you’ve registered, you can start exploring Fiverr’s marketplace and search for a freelancer that best meets your needs or upload your own gig.
The main gig search page is pretty straightforward. If you’re a buyer, just type in what you’re looking for, and the platform will do the rest.
It’ll give you a list of results from all over the world, with each result offering up a link to further information about the gig, including references and reviews from other users.
Fiverr’s marketplace will also show you the most popular vendors, those you may like, and those that are currently in trend. If none of the freelancers shown appeal to you, simply click on the blue button to go to another page where there are more talents listed.
You can also find all the categories organized in a line at the top of the page. Alternatively, you can search for specific keywords using the search engine located above.
Now, as a freelancer, you can view your profile, post gigs, and take payments easily, and there are several ways to contact your customer.
Creating your first gig is a breeze. All you need to do is head over to “My Businesses” and then “Services”.
This will take you to the dashboard, where you will see all of your services and their statistics. After that, simply select “Create New Gig” and fill out the details, such as title and category.
You can choose from a wide range of options for pricing, as well as what kind of audience is best for the service you’re offering. Besides, users can connect their Fiverr accounts to their PayPal accounts or directly with a bank account if they prefer not to use PayPal as an intermediary.
Upwork
Upwork’s marketplace offers a wide range of features for finding work, as well as managing projects, communicating with clients and colleagues, tracking time spent on a job, and receiving payment for completed projects.
Now, if you’re a freelancer, this platform requires you to fill out a lot of information before you can even start browsing the website – unlike Fiverr. You’ll need to collect all of your past work history, rewards, and diplomas, as well as upload your portfolio or samples of previous work.
While this process may take some time, it helps the platform find jobs that match your skills and experience and show them to you. This will make your search much easier – you’ll be able to find interesting projects right away.
Another thing that sets Upwork apart from other marketplaces like Fiverr is that it doesn’t allow sellers to post their services. Instead, companies have to post their projects and receive bids from freelancers.
In order to bid on a job, all you have to do is click on the job description you want to work on, enter your hourly rate, and submit your proposal. The problem is that you can’t bid as many times as you want – at least, not for free.
You’ll need “Connects” (Upwork’s currency), which you have to buy with real money. Now, if you’re a company or entrepreneur, posting a job on Upwork is completely free.
If you don’t want to do it, you can easily search for specific skills or tasks. In addition, Upwork Marketplace allows you to search by location or country so that you can find freelancers in your area.
Besides, once you hire a professional, you’ll be able to check in on their progress through the Upwork desktop app and require them to upload updates when needed.
Freelancer
Like Fiverr and Upwork, Freelancer’s marketplace has several different ways of connecting professionals with clients.
As a buyer, you won’t see as many tools for managing projects as on Upwork. However, you can post a project, specify the type of work you need, and how much it will cost for the freelancers to complete it.
You can also filter your search by location, experience level, skillset, language, and more. Once you find someone who matches your requirements, you can request more information about them before making a final decision on whether they are right for the job or not.
As a freelancer, you can choose from all sorts of services offered by other people on the platform like writing articles and blogs, creating infographics for presentations, designing websites, and more.
You can also list your own services, but you’ll need to first go through a few tests. These will examine whether or not you have the experience and knowledge about the industry you want to post.
Like on Upwork, there’s also a bid system on Freelancer. You can bid on any project and compete with other freelancers to get the job.
Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Mobile Application
Fiverr
Fiverr has a fully-functioning mobile app that’s available on both Google Play Store and Apple Store. It’s very easy to use and offers quick access to all of the same features you get on the desktop version.
You can create gigs, respond to reviews, hire talent, and manage your account with just a few taps. Plus, it has been praised by many users as one of the best mobile apps for freelancers!
Upwork
Upwork has two mobile applications: one for freelancers and the other for clients. Both are compatible with iOS and Android devices, so you can use whichever platform you prefer.
However, both apps lack some crucial features of the web version. For example, on the Upwork for Freelancers app, you’ll find all your usual tools — including listings, client contact information, and payment options — but not the ability to buy connects. Plus, the chat system is buggy.
In addition, the Upwork for Clients app has a cluttered user interface, and loading times can be quite long.
Freelancer
Freelancer’s mobile app is significantly less robust than Upwork’s and Fiverr’s.
It’s also available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store, but it has the lowest rating and the most negative reviews.
Users complain about its slow loading speed, unusable user interface, and general lack of functionality.
Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Pricing
Fiverr
Fiverr is 100% free for both freelancers and companies. You may have to pay a fee if you want your gig to be featured on the Fiverr homepage (you decide your daily spent limit).
However, you won’t pay anything extra if you just want to post a project or hire someone.
Upwork
If you’re a client, you can hire talent on Upwork without paying anything. However, if you’re a freelancer, you’ll have to sign up for a free limited account or go with the premium tier for $14.99 per month.
This premium package – the Plus plan – includes everything you get with the free plan, plus other features such as 80 connects a month instead of 10, real-time bidding support, a customization tool for your profile URL, and more.
This price may change over time, so you need to check Upwork’s own pricing information. However, the platform doesn’t have a dedicated pricing page.
Instead, head over to your profile and click on “Settings” > “Memberships & Connects”. From there, select “View Membership Plan” to get the latest updates.
Freelancer
Like Upwork, Freelancer offers a free limited membership and a Plus subscription. You can try the premium version for free for a month and pay 7.15€ per month once the trial ends (approx. $7.67).
This Plus plan allows you to list up to 80 skills in your profile, apply for more projects in various categories, and invoice externally for up to five clients, among many other things.
There are also other three paid packages: the Basic plan, at 4.95€ per month (approx. $5.31), the Professional plan, at 44.95€ per month (approx. $48.23), and the Premier plan, at 89.95€ per month (approx. $96.51).
These prices are subject to change, so make sure to check Freelancer’s pricing page for more accurate information.
Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Help Center
Fiverr
Fiverr has a well-organized and comprehensive Help Center. The site offers a wide variety of support resources, including how-to guides, video tutorials, and FAQs.
All these resources are divided into three main categories: “Buyers”, “Sellers”, and “Fiverr Business Clients”, which makes it even easier to navigate (both on desktop and mobile devices).
Upwork
Like Fiverr, Upwork has a robust Help Center that’s intuitive and easy to navigate. You can use the search bar or look through its four categories: “Freelancer”, “Agency”, “Client”, and “Enterprise Client”.
Topics range from password recovery and payment issues to account setting and team permissions.
Freelancer
Unlike its counterparts, Freelancer doesn’t have a comprehensive Help Center. However, it has a simple layout and you can easily find what you’re looking for.
In this case, you’ll only find two categories: “Client” and “Freelancer”. In both sections, there’s a wide range of articles, posts, and FAQs on almost any problem you may have with your account, such as how to filter when looking for a project or what’s the best way to find a professional.
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Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Customer Support
Fiverr
Unfortunately, Fiverr doesn’t offer many customer service options. You can’t contact them via telephone or live chat.
Instead, you’ll have to submit a request via their customer support page. If your problem doesn’t fit into any of the options, you can send them an email with details and screenshots of your issue.
Upwork
Upwork offers a wider range of customer support options than Fiverr. You can contact them via telephone, using a chatbot, or visit them directly in one of their offices in San Francisco or Chicago.
Freelancer
Freelancer offers the most support of all three platforms. It has several options for you to use if you have any problems with your account.
First, you can use Freelancer’s live chat to talk to a customer service representative that will help you navigate your problem. You can also send them an email as if it were a ticket, and they will respond in less than 48 hours.
If that doesn’t work and you happen to be in Sydney, Australia, you can always head over to their headquarters.
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Fiverr vs Upwork vs Freelancer: Pros & Cons
Fiverr
Pros
- It’s 100% free for both freelancers and clients.
- It has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
- It has a simple and aesthetic design.
- It has a huge user base, which makes it easy to hire and get hired.
- It has a fully-functional mobile application.
- It has a comprehensive Help Center.
Cons
- Its customer support options are limited.
Upwork
Pros
- It has a free tier.
- Its user interface is easy to navigate.
- It makes it easy to connect freelancers with interesting projects.
Cons
- You’ll need to subscribe to a monthly membership in order to access all its features.
- It works with a competitive bid system, so it isn’t that easy for freelancers to get a project.
- While it does have two mobile apps, both lack some of the web version’s features and functionality.
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Freelancer
Pros
- It has a free plan.
- Its user interface is simple and straightforward.
- It allows freelancers to bid on jobs as well as post their own gigs.
- It has the biggest user base.
Cons
- Its free plan is pretty limited.
- It doesn’t offer many tools for companies or entrepreneurs who want to manage their projects on the platform.
- Its mobile application has a really low rating and tons of negative reviews.
Similarities & Differences
| Fiverr | Upwork | Freelancer | |
| Free Version | ✔ | ✔ Limited | ✔ Limited |
| Intuitive User Interface | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mobile Application | ✔ | ✔ Buggy and cluttered | ✔ Doesn’t work properly |
| Job & Talent Marketplace | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gig Creation | ✔ | ✔ Limited – it works mainly with a bid system | ✔ |
| Responsive | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Customer Support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Help Center | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Conclusion
While Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer are all great marketplaces for freelancers, Fiverr is the clear winner.
As a freelancer, it’s completely free to get started. You can create as many gigs as you want, and since there are plenty of established clients using this platform, you won’t have to worry about finding the right audience.
However, if you are a company or entrepreneur, Upwork is a better place to find high-quality talent for your projects. It offers a plethora of tools to manage your projects, track your hires’ progress, and manage their workflows.
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