Fiverr and Upwork are the two most popular websites on the internet for freelancers to find work. We have also written about 26 Upwork Alternative websites that you can check out for finding freelance work. However, Fiverr and Upwork remain the most popular ones. While some freelancers and employers have found Upwork (formerly Elance) comfortable, many others prefer the way Fiverr works. In fact Fiverr Vs Upwork is a well discussed debate. The way each website operates is entirely opposite to each other. While on Fiverr, the client has to contact on a seller’s (freelancer) listing; the case is opposite on Upwork. On Upwork, the freelancers have to apply to the client’s job listings.
We are putting Fiverr and Upwork against each other on the basis of several parameters and finding out which one fares better in which respect. Please note that we are giving the feedback from both employer and freelancers’ point of view.
First we are comparing the two portals from the point of view of Employers, and then from the point of view of Freelancers. Please keep reading.
FOR EMPLOYERS
1. Availability of Freelancers
Upwork
The platform is fairly old, and has been formed as a result of the merger between elance and odesk. Thus most of the world’s freelancers do have an account on Upwork. There is abundance of freelancers on Upwork from all parts of the world, rest assured on that. However, this could also lead to too many people pitching for your project and might be time consuming for you to find the right one.
Verdict: Upwork is a very Employer friendly marketplace. You do not have to go to freelancer to freelancer to find your pick. Once you post your listing correctly, freelancers will contact you directly. There is abundance of freelancers on Upwork.
Fiverr
This platform is also popular since many years, thus there are millions of freelancers on Fiverr who are offering their services. Fiverr works on an opposite model than Upwork. Freelancers put up listings and Employers have to choose and contact them. There is an option for you to post your listing and receive applications too. However, the basic model on which Fiverr is based is about freelancers having their listings and employers contacting them.
Verdict: Fiverr is primarily based on the reverse concept than Upwork. There are millions of freelancers available on Fiverr. In addition to them contacting you, the freelancer profiling is also very neat. Fiverr is majorly an employers market!
Winner: Fiverr
Sign up for Fiverr here.
2. Quality of Freelancers
Upwork
There are millions of freelancers on Upwork who have expertise in diverse fields of work. Due to Upwork’s popularity, freelancers from all over the globe are active on Upwork. The quality of freelancers on Upwork is unparalleled and unquestionably well.
Verdict: Upwork has one of the best qualities of Freelancers among the several freelance websites.
Fiverr
Since Fiverr has mostly $5 or $10 gigs, the quality of freelancers is usually basic. If you are looking for advanced skills or highly technical skills, then Fiverr might not be a good option for you to hire freelancers from. The platform provides accurate solution to freelance gigs like writing, SEO (small gigs), graphic design, small edits on your website, data entry etc. If you are looking for a more technical or any particular high skill task, then Upwork or websites that work on similar format might be better for you.
Verdict: Fiverr is better suited for tasks that require basic or elementary skills. If you are looking for tasks that require advanced skills or particular domain knowledge then websites like Upwork or similar are better suited for you.
Winner: Upwork
3. Security, Trust & Payment Methods
Upwork
If you are giving work on a freelance website, then you need to be double sure about the payment methods and the security. Upwork has an Escrow security for your payments. When you make the payment to the platform, it is kept in Escrow and not disbursed to the freelancer until the work is completed. The payment is given to the freelancer after a lapse of certain days in order to keep scope for disputes or non performance issues that may arise.
Verdict: Payment methods are highly secure in Upwork and there are very less chances of you getting cheated off your money.
Fiverr
Fiverr also has the Escrow system of payment. When you pay the platform, they wait till the task is completed before paying the amount to the freelancer. When the project is delivered by the freelancer, only then you can approve the payment. The platform also waits some days to keep scope for disputes or rework.
Verdict: Fiverr also follows a secure Escrow payment system for all freelancers and employers.
You can sign up to Fiverr here.
Winner: Upwork and Fiverr
4. Customer Service
Upwork
The customer service is average, not extremely good though due to the presence of millions of employers and freelancers.
Fiverr
The customer service from Fiverr is prompt and useful.
Winner: Fiverr
FOR FREELANCERS
Now, we will analyse Fiverr vs Upwork from the point of view of freelancers. We will put Fiverr and Upwork under certain parameters relevant for freelancers and analyse which one is better for what.
1. Number of Projects
Upwork
The number of projects is abundant on Upwork. The portal has the provision of the employer posting the job and freelancers applying to them. Due to this, the freelancers have thousands of jobs relevant to their skills to choose from at any moment.
Verdict: Upwork has thousands of relevant jobs for every skill out there.
Fiverr
Fiverr majorly works on the inverse model, that is the freelancer posts his/her profile and the employers contact them. So, you need to build your profile well if you want to score a lot of gigs. The number of employers present on Fiverr is also high, however, not as much as Upwork.
Verdict: Fiverr has a number of gigs available however most of the projects will go in favour of high rung freelancers who have thousands of reviews because the employer has to hunt for the freelancer.
Winner: Upwork
2. Quality of Projects
Upwork
Upwork has high quality of projects. The employers are seeking freelancers for projects which range from small tasks to big ones. You can be rest assured that you will find projects for whichever skills that you possess. The diversity of projects is also high due to which freelancers have many options to choose from.
Verdict: Upwork has projects of high quality and diversity.
Fiverr
The quality of projects is good on Fiverr however the type of projects is usually redundant. For example, most projects are for data entry, writing, design, SEO etc. If your profile becomes famous for writing, then you will have abundance of writing projects. Since they are small tasks, it might or might not be your cup of tea. It depends on whether you are looking for complicated or simple gigs.
Verdict: Fiverr is more suited for redundant and easy tasks.
Winner: Upwork
3. Competition
Upwork
Competition is very high on Upwork due to the presence of millions of employers and projects. The number of freelancers is also high, thus you have to individually apply on each gig where you are competing with many others.
Verdict: The competition on Upwork is extremely high due to presence of millions of freelancers. Each gig has 100s of freelancers applying to it.
Fiverr
There is competition on Fiverr as well, however if you build your profile with many good reviews & experience, the competition slowly reduces for you. Furthermore, you do not have to apply for every single gig and compete with others. If your profile has gained popularity and trust, more and more employers will contact you; thus reducing the competition.
Verdict: The competition is high on Fiverr too, however, once your profile has reviews; employers have higher visibility to it and they can contact you directly more often.
Winner: Fiverr
4. Payment, Security & Trust
Upwork
Payment methods are secure on Upwork. There are verified employers and non verified employers on Upwork. The ones who have verified their payment methods are shown the same by the platform. The money is kept in Escrow by the platform before being released to the freelancers. Few days of buffer is taken by the platform before releasing the payment.
Verdict: The platform is safe and trustworthy when it comes to payment.
Fiverr
Fiverr also keeps the money in Escrow before paying it out to the freelancer. The employer however has to pay in advance while ordering the services. Fiverr keeps that amount in Escrow till the gig is delivered. Post that, the amount can be released to the freelancer.
Verdict: Fiverr also has secure system of payment. You receive the money when you have completed the gig.
Winner: Upwork and Fiverr
