Freelancing Reality: Comparing Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer Platforms
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes, 20 seconds
Taking the Freelance Plunge
So, a few years back, I decided to dip my toes into the freelancing world, driven by the dream of becoming a digital nomad. I signed up for the three big platforms—Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.com. After giving each of them a try, I quickly realized that while they serve the same purpose, their ways of working are surprisingly different. Some worked better than others, and some led me down paths I never expected.
What I’ll be sharing here is my personal experience with these platforms. It’s important to note that this was back in 2019 or 2020—so things may have changed since. But at the time, these platforms shaped my understanding of what it really takes to freelance. Spoiler: It’s not as easy as the Instagram stories make it out to be.
Fiverr: The Marketplace for Freelancers (and Companies)
Fiverr was my first stop, and as someone who had previously been on the buyer side, I was curious about the seller’s experience. Setting up a profile was simple. Fiverr’s user-friendly interface made it easy to list services, and I quickly realized why this platform has remained one of the biggest in the freelancing world.
The good: Fiverr allows freelancers to post their skillsets like a storefront. Buyers can scroll through and choose the freelancer who best fits their needs. It’s straightforward, and if you’re just starting out, you can list your services quickly.
The bad: Once you’ve completed a job, Fiverr takes a 20% commission on your payment. That might not sound like much until you realize that on a $100 job, you’re only taking home $80. And don’t even get me started on the competition. The platform is saturated with freelancers and even small businesses who’ve commercialized the space. It’s no longer just about individuals hustling for a gig—it’s now a war between ranking, reputation, and who pays for advertising to stay at the top of search results.
If you’re a new freelancer/seller without reviews, expect a slow start. Fiverr rewards those with a strong profile, so getting your first few clients can be tough (unless you pay them to start putting you on the front of the page, I did not try this, but for those who did — did it help?)
Upwork: Bidding Wars and the Price of Entry
Upwork works a bit differently. Instead of posting your skills and waiting for buyers to find you, you actively bid on projects. Buyers post the details of their project, and freelancers like yourself pitch your services—competing not just on price but on speed, communication, and value.
The good: If you manage to win a bid, Upwork’s projects tend to be more complex than Fiverr’s, often requiring a combination of skills. It’s a great platform if you’re looking for long-term engagements rather than one-off gigs. Once you build a relationship with a client, you can often land recurring work.
The bad: Upwork takes a 10% cut, which sounds reasonable compared to Fiverr’s 20%. However, there’s a catch: you need “Connects” (Upwork’s form of tokens) to bid on jobs. While they start you off with some free Connects, once they run out, you’ll need to purchase more to continue bidding.
What pushed me away from Upwork was the time-consuming nature of the bidding process. You might spend hours crafting a pitch, only to lose out to someone who’s cheaper or faster. And then there’s the issue of scams. Yes, they exist on every platform, but I found them particularly prevalent on Upwork. I almost fell for one that seemed too good to be true—a high-paying, easy job that only required me to pay a deposit. Luckily, I pulled out at the last minute. Weeks later, the buyer’s profile was gone — it’s as if he never existed which confirmed my suspicions.
Freelancer.com: A Forgotten Experience
I’ll admit that my time on Freelancer.com was brief. I don’t remember much about the details, which probably speaks to how unremarkable it was for me. What I do remember is that it felt like a confusing mix of Fiverr and Upwork—without excelling in either area. I had a hard time navigating the platform, and after a while, I just stopped using it altogether.
Lessons Learned
Now, I don’t want to scare anyone away from freelancing, because it can be an incredibly rewarding career path. But here’s the reality: it’s not easy. It takes a lot of grit, patience, and the ability to market yourself. In many ways, freelancing can be even harder than applying for traditional jobs. You’re not just competing for a position—you’re competing in a marketplace where others are often willing to undercut you.
Still, freelancing is entirely doable. If you’re willing to put in the effort, build your reputation, and constantly improve your skill set, you can absolutely succeed. But don’t go into it thinking it’s a get-rich-quick scheme or an easy road to the digital nomad life. It takes time, and a lot of trial and error.
Freelancing Platforms Comparison
| Fiverr | Upwork | Freelancer.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ways of Working | Freelancers post their skillsets; buyers engage them | Freelancers bid on projects |
A mix of posting skills and bidding on projects
|
| Commission | 20% | 10% |
Varies
|
| Type of Work | Mostly one-off, simple tasks | More complex, long-term projects |
A blend, but less clear |
| Learning Curve | Easy, straightforward |
Moderate—requires learning to bid and pitch |
Difficult to navigate |
| Challenges | Highly saturated, tough for newcomers |
Time-consuming bidding, potential scams |
Confusing interface, forgettable experience |
The Dark Side of Freelancing: Scams and Saturation
One of the biggest challenges I faced while freelancing was navigating scams. Especially on platforms like Upwork, where you’re bidding for jobs, it’s easy to fall for a too-good-to-be-true opportunity.
What happened to me was: A buyer had a pitch, and the job was a fairly easy one with pretty good pay, perhaps a job that is too good to be true. Retyping words for a pretty good amount of money and they’re smart. It’s not too good until its unbelievable but its higher than average. Making you believe it enough that it might be true, earning good hourly rate without much effort. And I am very sure, a lot of freelancers “bid” for the job too.
And I believe, they reached out to all the freelancers that has bid with their catch —- they want to lock your commitment by having the freelancer (me including) paying them upfront as a deposit (as what they’re sending over to you to retype is of sensitive information and data) and once your job is completed they give you back that “deposit” and also the pay that both of you had a greed on.
I was tight on cash and things did not make sense so I decided to bail, which in hindsight was right —- as I rechecked a couple of weeks later and the “buyer” disappeared (name deleted, account gone — as if he/she never existed at all), it was indeed a scam and thank my higher self that I did not take the job. Even tho at that point I was pretty desperate and wanted it so bad to be true. But the fact that I need to send them money USD $50-$100 to get the deal really held me back. And after sharing out my experience, I realised that a lot of people actually fell for it .
My advice: if a potential client asks for money upfront or makes outrageous promises, run the other way. Always do your due diligence before committing to a project.
Saturation is another issue. With so many freelancers flooding the market, it’s tough to stand out—especially on Fiverr. If you don’t already have a solid reputation, be prepared for a slow climb.
Is Freelancing for You?
If you’re considering freelancing, ask yourself: Do I have the patience to build my brand? Can I handle the uncertainty of inconsistent work? Am I prepared to deal with competition, rejection, and the occasional scam?
Freelancing isn’t for everyone, but if you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a viable path. As for me, I eventually left the freelancing world and returned to the traditional job market. But I still managed to land a remote position (another story for another day), fulfilling my digital nomad dream in a different way—without the constant grind of freelancing.
Food for Thought
- Have you ever wanted to be a digital nomad?
- What steps have you taken to make it happen?
- Have you tried freelancing? If so, what was your experience like?
Let me know in the comments below! Freelancing is a journey, and everyone’s path is different. Maybe you’ve found success where I didn’t—or maybe you’ve learned a few hard lessons along the way, too.
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