Upwork vs Fiverr fees (2026): which marketplace takes more?

Updated 2026-10-19

Fees change. Check the provider's official fee page before you decide: we link to the official pages in the text. Not financial advice.

Short answer: Upwork does not charge one flat rate. Its help page says the Freelancer Service Fee ranges from 0% to 15% per contract, that you see the percentage when you send a proposal or receive an offer, and that it is fixed once the contract starts. Fiverr states that for every completed order the seller earns 80% of the purchase amount, including Gig Extras and tips, so Fiverr keeps 20%. Withdrawal fees, client-side fees and tax come on top and are not in these figures.

What each marketplace says it charges freelancers

Platform	Fee on the freelancer's earnings	When you find out	Other costs to check
Upwork	0% to 15% per contract (Freelancer Service Fee)	Shown when you send a proposal or receive an offer; fixed for the contract	Withdrawal fees, on Upwork's own pages
Fiverr	Seller earns 80% of the purchase amount (Fiverr keeps 20%)	Stated on Fiverr's earnings help page	Withdrawal fees, on Fiverr's own pages. Clients pay a separate service fee at checkout, which is shown to them before they pay

Checked 2026-10-19 on Upwork's "Learn about the Freelancer Service Fee" help page and Fiverr's "Your earnings page" and "Paying for orders" help pages. Both platforms can change these terms, and Upwork lists exceptions (see the FAQ below).

What that means on a $1,000 project

Case	You keep before withdrawal fees and tax
Upwork, contract with a 0% fee	$1,000
Upwork, contract with a 15% fee	$850
Fiverr, completed order of $1,000	$800 (80% of the purchase amount)

The two Upwork rows are the ends of the range Upwork publishes, not a prediction for your contract. Your own rate is shown before you send the proposal. Run your own scenario with the freelance fee calculator or the reverse fee calculator, and enter the rate the platform shows you.

When Upwork makes sense

You want a steady pipeline and do not want to chase every client yourself.
You are building a profile and reviews for long-term income.
Your rate leaves enough margin after the fee shown on each proposal.

When Fiverr makes sense

You sell productized services (a logo pack, a video intro and similar).
Your work is priced as a package and marketplace discovery matters to you.
You accept Fiverr's commission in exchange for not doing cold outreach.

How to keep more of what you earn

Once you have repeat clients, ask whether it makes sense to invoice them directly. Read the platform's terms first: marketplaces have rules about taking clients off-platform. Upwork says that freelancers who bring a client to Upwork through Direct Contracts pay a reduced Freelancer Service Fee. For direct invoices you then pay the cost of the payment route you choose; see freelancer payment methods and the PayPal fee calculator.

FAQ

Does everyone pay Upwork's Freelancer Service Fee? No. Upwork's help page lists exceptions, including Upwork Payroll and Any Hire contracts (no fee), Direct Contracts (a reduced fee) and Enterprise clients (the fee can look different).

Do I get the Upwork fee back if a client is refunded? Upwork says that if your client is refunded, it returns the Freelancer Service Fee you paid on that amount.

Is there a discount on the Upwork fee? Upwork says it does not offer regular discounts, but may run special promotions.

Where do the withdrawal fees come from? Each platform and each withdrawal method has its own fees. We quote none here because we have not checked them; look them up on the platform's withdrawal pages before you choose a method.