I paid Upwork over $5,000 in fees last year. And Honestly? I’d Do It Again.
When I looked at my Upwork earnings report at the end of last year, one number stood out in bold: over $5,000 in fees. That’s how much I paid the platform just to be able to do my job. Just to show up, send proposals, work with clients, and get paid.
And strangely enough… I didn’t feel angry. I wasn’t frustrated or bitter. In fact, I felt – dare I say it? – okay with it.
Actually, more than okay.
Because after four years of freelancing full-time through Upwork, that $5,000 feels less like a loss and more like rent. Rent for the space where I built a career. Rent for the freedom to live and work on my own terms.
So yes, I’m still here. Still working through Upwork. Still paying the platform’s cut. And I’ll gladly keep doing it in 2025 and beyond.
Here’s why.
Upwork Gets a Lot of Flak
Over the years, I’ve had plenty of people ask me how I can stand working through Upwork. They roll their eyes at the fees. They groan about the competition. Some are convinced it’s just a glorified race to the bottom, where the lowest bidder always wins.
And look, I get it. Those concerns aren’t made up. For plenty of freelancers, the platform can feel crowded, inconsistent, and even discouraging at first. I’ve been there.
But my experience has been… different.
Not because I’m some kind of exception, but because I treated Upwork from day one like a long game. I didn’t just fire off 50 copy-paste proposals and hope something stuck. I showed up consistently. I refined my profile. I learned how to pitch. I found my voice, and the clients who actually wanted to pay for it.
And once that started happening, something shifted: Upwork wasn’t just a freelancing platform anymore. It became a real foundation for my work, and in many ways, my life.
Wait! What is Upwork?
In case you’ve never dipped your toes into this freelancing pool: Upwork.com is a platform that connects freelancers like me with clients from all over the world. Writers, designers, coders, marketers, translators, you name it. If it can be done remotely, someone’s hiring for it.
And while Upwork does take a 10% cut of everything you earn (yes, ouch), they also handle all the admin headaches, contracts, weekly payments (!), client disputes, deadlines, even time tracking if you want it.
Basically, they let me just focus on what I do best: delivering the work.
Why I Stay: Freedom, First and Always
I’ll be honest with you: I was never meant for the 9-to-5 life. The idea of showing up at the same desk every day, clocking in and out under fluorescent lights, asking permission to take a lunch break or, god forbid, step away for a pee? It made my skin crawl. Some people thrive in that structure. I just don’t.
Freelancing through Upwork gave me a way out of that world entirely. These days, I get to decide where I work, when I work, and who I say yes to. I’ve answered client messages from a breezy café tucked into the mountains of Chile. I’ve edited reports from a beac hview balcony in Sri Lanka, and taken calls barefoot after a morning swim in Portugal. The setting changes, but the work gets done, and that’s what matters. And I live in Cambodia now!
That kind of freedom isn’t a perk. It’s the whole point. It’s what keeps me showing up on this platform, even with the fees and the quirks and the occasional late-night deadline (or the 1 am message from a total different time zone asking for help within an hour). Because the real currency for me isn’t just the money, it’s the freedom to live on my own terms.
Global Clients, Endless Variety
One of the unexpected joys of freelancing on Upwork has been the sheer variety of people and projects. One week I’m translating a romance novel set in a small town in Canada, the next I’m editing an investor pitch for a startup in Berlin. One day later a major streaming network asks me to dive into the Dutch translations of very important legal documents they needed yesterday.
I’ve worked with CEOs, poets, backpackers-turned-entrepreneurs. Some projects last a day, others turn into long-term collaborations. It keeps things fresh. And every job teaches me something, about language, about business, about culture.
Honestly, I never would’ve built a portfolio this diverse if I’d just stuck around locally.
The Security Bit No One Talks About
One of the most exhausting parts of freelancing, especially off-platform, is the uncertainty. You deliver the work, you send the invoice… and then wait. Sometimes you wait days. Sometimes weeks. You send your client a reminder and wait again. Sometimes you wait forever, because the client disappears into the void and suddenly you’re chasing down payment like a debt collector with a polite smile. Dude!
Been there. Hated it.
That’s exactly why I stick with Upwork. Four years in, and I’ve never had to chase down a payment. The whole escrow thing means clients put the money up front – before I even start – and once I deliver, boom, it’s mine. If things get messy? Upwork Support jumps in. Trust me, I’ve been there. Even when someone comes to me with an “emergency” project that needs to start right now, I still wait. Contract first, payment secured, then we work. I don’t care how urgent they say it is. If things get messy? Upwork Support jumps in. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Is it perfect? No. Nothing is. But honestly, not having to send those awkward “just checking in on the invoice” emails ever again? That peace of mind is priceless. It lets me focus on the work instead of the drama.
So About Those Fees
Yes, Upwork takes 10%. And yes, that adds up. Last year alone, I paid over $5,000 in fees.
To put that in perspective: that’s the equivalent of 2 years of rent for a two-bedroom apartment by the beach in Sri Lanka. (And yes, I’ve stayed there. Still do, every few years. Highly recommend the mango lassis.)
But here’s the thing: that money didn’t vanish into a black hole. It bought me something valuable: access. To a global marketplace of clients. To a steady stream of work without cold-pitching strangers or begging for leads. It gave me structure, credibility, and visibility, especially once I built up a solid profile and reputation.
Would I love to pocket that extra 10%? Of course. Who wouldn’t?
But would I trade the life I’ve built – this freedom, this rhythm – for the sake of saving on fees? Not a chance.
(And let’s not forget: it used to be 20%. So technically, I’m already winning.)
No, It’s Not All Rainbows
Let’s not pretend it’s all perfect. Upwork has its rough edges, and I’ve felt them. Getting started? That was brutal. I sent dozens of proposals into the void before anyone even blinked in my direction. And even now, some clients come in expecting champagne-level work for tap water rates.
That part never really goes away, you just get better at spotting them. And then there’s the platform itself, with its mysterious algorithms and profile visibility shifts that can leave you wondering if you’ve accidentally become invisible overnight.
But here’s the thing: if you treat it like a real job, and not some side hustle you only half believe in, things start to change. You get better. You learn how to pitch, how to price, how to politely say no.
You build relationships. You get invited back. You find your groove. And suddenly this platform that once felt like a gamble starts to feel like your own little corner of the internet. Your business. Your freedom. On your terms.
For Anyone Standing Where I Once Stood
Upwork isn’t perfect, and like any platform, it has its challenges. As is the case with any platform, there are also disadvantages here. I mean, the barriers to entry are quite strict, and getting your first couple of gigs may take quite a bit of effort. But once you find your groove, Upwork can be an incredible platform to build a thriving freelance career.
So, it takes effort. Yes, the fees sting. But where else can you build a sustainable freelance career, with global reach, real flexibility, and income security… all while working from wherever your Wi-Fi holds up?
If you’re debating whether Upwork is worth it: my answer is yes.
And if you’re already on Upwork and struggling? I’ve been there. I remember those first few months. If you want to chat, swap tips, or just ask how I landed my first $10k client— reach out to me here. I’m always happy to help a fellow freelancer find their footing.
See you out there.
Ramon.