Why You Should Avoid Upwork

I gave Upwork a try for a few weeks and I highly suggest you stay away from this platform. Customer service is impossible to reach. Their chatbot is NOT very helpful if you have specific issues with a potential client. If you are not familiar with Upwork. Upwork is an online platform that connects freelancers with clients looking to hire for various types of work. It allows individuals to offer services in fields such as web development, writing, graphic design, marketing, customer support, and much more. Beware of clients asking for you to take a paid test. If there are no active contracts, nothing is preventing them from NOT paying you for your time. Also, Upwork is not a free platform. You have to essentially pay for "Connects" to apply for a job / contract work. A lot of clients will post multiple projects with a low hiring rate, which will cause you to lose money instead of making money if you apply for those jobs.

There are a few reasons why some people might choose to avoid Upwork, depending on their individual needs and expectations. Here are a few common concerns:

1. High Fees: Upwork charges service fees that can be as high as 20% for the first $500 earned with a client, and the fee decreases as you earn more with that client. For some freelancers, this can be a significant chunk of their earnings.

2. Competition and Low Pay: The platform is highly competitive, with many freelancers offering similar services. This often drives prices down, and you may find clients requesting work for significantly lower rates than you would typically charge outside of the platform. For beginners, this can be tough as they may have to accept lower-paying jobs to build up their profile and reputation.

3. Client Quality: While there are great clients on Upwork, there are also those who are difficult to work with or who have unrealistic expectations. Some clients may also try to take advantage of the platform's structure to get more work than originally agreed upon, or delay payment for completed projects.

4. Bureaucracy and Policies: Upwork has a strict set of rules and policies that govern interactions between freelancers and clients. This can sometimes lead to frustrating experiences if there are misunderstandings or disputes. For example, if a job doesn’t go as planned, getting support from Upwork to resolve the issue might be slow or very difficult.

5. Account Suspensions: Some freelancers have reported that their accounts have been suspended without clear reasons or with limited recourse to resolve issues. This can be stressful for those who rely on the platform for consistent income.

6. Platform Dependence: Relying too heavily on Upwork for freelancing can be risky because you don't have as much control over your clients, the terms of service, or potential changes to the platform’s structure.