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Fiverr vs Upwork Review For Freelancers 2024

Fiverr

9.2

Our Score

Secure payments.

Fixed-price model.

Encourages tips.

20% cut.

Option to decline completed work.

Welcome to my Fiverr vs Upwork Review 2024.

I spent 24+ hours researching about Fiverr vs Upwork freelance services marketplaces that are some of the most popular freelancing platforms available.

In this Fiverr vs Upwork review, we’ll take a look at all the features and benefits of these software and see how they compares to other options.

I’ll also answer some of the most commonly asked questions about Fiverr vs Upwork.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Fiverr vs Upwork Review 2024

Things to Consider Before Joining a Freelancing Platform to Get WFH Jobs and Make Money Online

Whether you’re searching for freelance programming jobs, freelance illustration jobs, or freelance work in an entirely different ballpark, there are online platforms out there that can help you find quality matches for contract work.

Without sites like these to direct you to work opportunities and connect you with high-quality clients, there’s a lot you’d have to handle on your own. 

First, you’d need a website. Then you’d need a marketing plan for these potential clients even to know you exist. From here, you’ll want to set up sales funnels to convert your leads into customers. You’ll also need time to build up your testimonials and reputation, as well as to network with other industry professionals.

The ideal candidate for a freelancing platform like Fiverr feels overwhelmed by everything I mentioned above. It’s for someone eager to get started providing their services right away, without all of the “traditional” barriers to enter the freelancing field.

If you want to handle things the old fashion way, then online freelancing platforms probably aren’t right for you. Instead, get started with a website builder and take things from there!

What to Consider Before Joining

Before you join a platform like Fiverr or Upwork, there are a few things you should consider:

  • How much time you have to set up an account – If you want a detailed and attractive profile, you’ll need to dedicate some time to set it up. 
  • What rates you’ll accept for work – How much are you aiming to make on each project?
  • What a reasonable turnaround time is for you – Some clients may need work back ASAP, while others will plan out work far in advance.
  • Whether you’re interested in project-based or contract-based work – Many work opportunities on freelancing sites are project-based.
  • Your unique value proposition will set you apart from other freelancers on the site – What makes your work different from all of the other freelancers? Learn it and own it!

As long as you feel comfortable with all of the points mentioned above, you’ll enjoy all the opportunities that freelancing sites offer.

Presenting: Fiverr

Fiverr is a freelancer-centric work platform that uses data science to match types of projects with qualified freelancers. When you join Fiverr as a freelancer, the site promises to provide long-term work and business relationships that can sustain freelancing businesses for years to come. 

When it comes to Fiverr vs. Upwork, Fiverr lets you create service offerings that buyers can then choose. Upwork, however, requires freelancers to submit proposals. And while Fiverr originally began with all services at just $5, that’s no longer the case anymore – you can earn a lot more. 

Pros:

  • Secure payments
  • Fixed-price model
  • Encourages tips
  • Easy bidding
  • Mobile app

Cons:

  • 20% cut
  • Option to decline completed work
  • Strictness

Fiverr can help those who want smaller projects to create a portfolio of freelance work. Just know that the competition can be stiff. If this doesn’t sound like something you have the time or patience to handle, you might find it easier to get into freelancing traditionally.

Features and Benefits

Are you interested in starting a freelancing career on Fiverr? Here are the top features and benefits that you can expect:

Fiverr Work Process

The Fiverr work process is different from other freelance platforms. Rather than making the freelancers search for job opportunities and create individual proposals for each, Fiverr allows the freelancer to build out their profile with service offerings, package levels, and even an introductory video to attract clients to their page and bring in work opportunities.

This process is great for freelancers who don’t have a lot of time to waste sending proposals that get denied, as there’s no time lost if the client isn’t the right fit. It also protects the integrity of the rates you earn. Buyers can see what you offer and must approach the prices you’ve already set.

Seller Level

Fiverr uses Seller Levels to depict how much experience someone has on the platform. While this is a bit of a hindrance when you’re first getting started, seeing your Seller Level go up from New Seller to a Top-Rated Seller can give you the boost you need to become more visible and attractive to potential buyers. 

Your Seller Level is a great way to prove just how much work you can handle and how well you can handle it.

Breadth of Skills

Fiverr is hard to beat when it comes to the variety of skills and services they allow freelancers to offer online. Whether you’re a tree-carving expert, an Instagram Reels specialist, or an e-commerce design wizard, there’s a market for just about any skill. 

I love this because it creates space for freelancers with highly specific skills who may not fit the standard freelancing model. With Fiverr, anyone can make money doing almost anything they’re good at.

Potential for Long-Term Collaboration

Part of Fiverr’s philosophy is to help freelancers and clients create mutually beneficial, potentially long-term business relationships. While the majority of the Fiverr model is based around small, individual projects, creating positive impressions on clients can increase the chances of scoring recurring work or one long-term contract.

If you’re looking for a few jobs here and there for supplemental income, Fiverr can offer that. If you want something a bit more sustainable that you can rely on for steady work, you can also find that on Fiverr!

Tons of Categories and Sub-Categories

Within Fiverr’s 12 main service categories, there are further sub-categories that go on for days. Fiverr has listed virtually any skill or service you could think of. 

Writing and audio translations? Check. SEO services? Check. Stationery design? Check.

A broad selection of categories is really helpful for freelancers who don’t fit into just one box. Rather than generalize your services, you can label them hyper-specifically to tell potential buyers exactly what you can do.

Supportive Freelance Environment

Tons of people who join Fiverr stay on Fiverr because of its supportive environment for freelancers. To join Fiverr, you don’t have to meet any special prerequisites. You don’t need to have a technical background or have years of experience behind you. 

If you’re starting out and looking to get your feet wet, this will help you. 

Compared to other platforms requiring freelancers to chase after jobs, Fiverr lets the buyers come to you and pay your pre-set rate. A model like this means more exposure for you without putting in extra time and effort.

Mobile App

Want to fieldwork opportunities from the go? You don’t have to be behind a desktop computer with Fiverr. They also have a mobile app that makes it easy to update your profile, view job opportunities, communicate with clients, and even deliver work when complete.

If you live a busy life or are adding freelancing work to an already full work schedule, being able to check in on your freelance projects on-the-go is helpful.

Gig Packages

Fiverr understands that all gigs are not made equal. To allow flexibility in scope and expectations, Fiverr allows you to price your services, or gigs, within three different tiers: basic, standard, and premium.

You can flesh out your tiered offerings by detailing what each tier includes, the differences between them, and the standard of work the client can expect from each.

If you want to get paid for what you’re truly worth (not just what a client thinks you’re worth), these tier packages are a great help.

Customer Service

Fiverr provides high-level customer services for both freelancers and clients using the platform. If you have an issue with a project, a client won’t get back to you, or there’s a technical issue you don’t know how to fix, you can reach out to someone 24/7 through either email or instant message.

For freelancers who are just getting started and want a team’s support to protect you from things like spam or rude messages, a customer service team you can count on does wonders.

reviews

It’s one thing to learn about Fiverr through a detailed review post, but it’s another thing to gain insight from real Fiverr freelancers on the site. 

After scouring the internet for the most reflective reviews, we learned a few things about the freelancer’s experience on Fiverr:

  • It may take a while to get set up, but the work can find you quickly once you do.
  • Fiverr creates an opportunity to meet and interact with people you would otherwise not connect within your field.
  • The package tier set up makes it easy to set expectations with buyers.

Don’t take our word for it – check out these reviews from freelancers who have used Fiverr on their journeys:

Fiverr vs Upwork Review
Fiverr vs Upwork Review
Fiverr vs Upwork Review

Alternatives

Fiverr isn’t for everyone, but luckily there are several other freelancing site alternatives that you can choose from if you want to dive into the world of independent contract work. Some of the most popular alternative options are Upwork, Freelancer, and 99Designs. 

Let’s find out what each platform has to offer.

Fiverr vs Upwork

Upwork offers a broad range of services and acts as a sort of upscale version of Fiverr. The main difference between the two platforms is the work model. Unlike Fiverr, Upwork works on a bidding system that allows freelancers to submit proposals on projects they’re interested in for the client to review. While this feature may be beneficial to buyers, it can put newer freelancers with less experience at a disadvantage as they compete with other sellers. There have also been rumours about Upwork scams but if you are a careful freelancer, there is no reason to be suspicious. 

If you want to offer a very high-level service at a premium price and don’t want to get lost in low-rate projects, Upwork might be a good choice for you. 

Fiverr:

  • Freelancer-focused model
  • Tiers and upsell options available
  • Better for smaller projects at lower rates

Upwork:

  • Buyer-focused bidding model
  • No package tiers or upsell options
  • Great for high-quality work

Check Out Upwork

Fiverr vs. Freelancer

Freelancer is another alternative that lives up to its name as one of the largest freelancing platforms available on the web today. With over 41 million freelancers, there’s a lot of competition but enough space for everyone.

Rather than focusing on single gigs, Freelancer is geared toward creating ongoing working relationships with its freelancers and clients. The payment structure is also a bit different. Freelancer allows for hourly rates and partial payments, which can help long-term projects that can get complex.

Fiverr does offer a faster turnaround time, however, which puts it at an advantage when it comes to one-time gigs.

Fiverr:

  • 830,000 freelancers
  • Geared toward single gigs
  • Flat-rate payment

Freelancer:

  • 41 million freelancers
  • Geared toward long-term contracts
  • Hourly or partial payment allowed

Check Out Freelancer

Fiverr vs. 99Designs

When it comes to graphic design projects, 99Designs is a great freelancing platform alternative. While 99Designs can’t compete with Fiverr’s single-digit price tags, they aim to make up for the slightly higher rates with a higher quality of work. 

Fiverr also focuses broadly on freelancer work as a whole, while 99Designs hones in on graphic design work specifically. Additionally, they vet every designer that joins the site while Fiverr lets anyone join regardless of experience or skill.

Fiverr:

  • Single-digit prices
  • Broad freelancer population
  • Allows anyone to join

99Designs:

  • Higher prices, higher quality work
  • A specialized population of graphic designers
  • Vets designers before allowing them to join

Check Out 99Designs

What Next?

Embarking on a new journey as a freelancer can be intimidating. Without knowing exactly what to do to create a successful, thriving online business, it’s hard to know where to start. 

When it comes to Fiverr vs Upwork, Fiverr is a great way to ease into the freelancing world with an online platform’s support.

Geared toward freelancers, Fiverr won’t make you waste time submitting proposals for projects you may not even win. Rather, the work comes to you at prices you set and tiers of service you’ve approved.

If you want to dive into the world of freelancing services but don’t know where to start, Fiverr has the structure and resources to help you thrive from the beginning.

Does Fiverr sound like the perfect platform for you? Check out Fiverr today to learn more! 

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AUTHOR

After being forced to shut down my brick and mortar business, I built my online business Be Your Maverick from scratch. Wasted way too much time researching ways to make money online. My mission is to help ambitious individuals cut through the scams and make better informed decisions getting started with an online business.