Do you need the services of a qualified professional for a short-term contract? Or are you looking to build a team of remote workers for a specific project?
Services such as Fiverr and Upwork offer a wealth of resources that will put you in touch with the right workers.
Is Upwork better than Fiverr? Or does Fiverr have a significant edge over Upwork?
As it turns out, both are reputable and verified firms that you can rely on for most of your staffing and employment needs. Each site offers useful features for employers and workers and a wide range of qualified freelancers and professionals.
Alternatively, these platforms can help you land new clients as a freelancer.
Let’s take a look at the differences between Fiverr and Upwork and what each has to offer!
Differences Between Fiverr and Upwork
Fiverr and Upwork differ in quite a few aspects. The most significant of these are:
- Pricing
- Workflow
- Freelancer pool
- Rating systems
- Pre-screening and verification
- Monitoring work and resolving disputes
Let’s take a look at these aspects in detail.
Pricing
Budget is always a primary consideration whether you are job hunting or looking to staff your team with qualified personnel.
When comparing Fiverr vs Upwork, you will see that both take a percentage of the payments that freelancers receive. Both services charge prospective employers a fee, which Fiverr calls a “commission,” and which Upwork refers to as a “processing fee.”
| Pricing scheme | Fees | Additional fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | Buyers pay for the gig they want to purchase in advance | $2 for gigs priced $40 and lower. 5% fee for gigs more than $40 | 20% commission |
| Upwork | Per project/Per hour | 20% | 2.75% processing fee |
On Fiverr, buyers pay for gigs in advance. The site retains 20% of all payments as commission.
Upwork allows freelancers to set a payment range they find acceptable. However, when applying for specific jobs, they have to place bids for the entire project or specify an hourly rate.
Upwork gets 20% of all payments made to freelancers until they make $500. After that, the fee is 10% per transaction.
Workflow
Fiverr and Upwork differ considerably in how they manage work and projects.
| Services | Securing contracts | Finding workers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | Users can offer a variety of services | Clients purchase services defined by freelancers | Clients browse a database of skilled workers |
| Upwork | Freelancers offer services associated with a specific skillset | Freelancers bid for projects by sending applications in response to posted jobs | Provides algorithms for finding the most qualified freelancers |
Fiverr allows freelancers to provide a variety of services to anyone who needs them. Clients may browse the listings and choose freelancers based on the services they offer. The site has an extensive database from which prospective employers can find skilled workers.
On Upwork, freelancers offer services associated with specific skills. They may offer their services as graphic artists or bloggers, for example. They may also bid for projects that require their particular skills.
Employers typically place ads detailing the type of work they need and the qualities they are looking for in a worker. They can also search user profiles for qualified freelancers.
Freelancer Pool
Employers are always looking for a job site with a deep pool of qualified personnel. The good news is that Fiverr and Upwork are pretty equal in this regard.
Both sites have a broad selection of skilled workers and helpful features for connecting freelancers to prospective employers.
| Finding workers | Information provided | |
|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | Clients can search for talent by keyword | Detailed comparisons of services offered by workers |
| Upwork | Search through specific niches and find talents based on their profile | Hourly rates, time spent on Upwork, and more |
Fiverr lets you search for freelancers by keyword, which is a great way to find people with specific skill sets. Search results show profiles with detailed information, making it easy to find the most qualified candidates.
Upwork lets you browse through different niches in search of workers with the skills you require. You can also browse through individual profiles and check out the qualifications of each freelancer.
Rating Systems
Both Fiverr and Upwork are pretty much tied in terms of hosting deep pools of qualified workers. But how quickly can you find the ideal candidate for the job you have in mind? More importantly, how can you distinguish the dependable workers from the flakes?
| Rating system | |
|---|---|
| Fiverr | Star ratings/feedback from previous projects |
| Upwork | Star ratings/feedback from previous projects |
Both services use a star rating system that shows you each freelancer’s community reputation at a glance. You could also click on a link that shows feedback that each worker has received for past projects.
Of course, this isn’t always an assurance that the particular freelancer will do the job you require according to your standards. Even so, the star ratings plus feedback often indicate an excellent track record of successfully completed jobs.
Pre-Screening and Verification
Pre-screening and verification features are essential for weeding out potential flakes and unqualified workers.
While Upwork has a pretty reliable system for discouraging ‘undesirables’ from signing up, Fiverr falls a bit short in this regard.
| Pre-screening and verification | |
|---|---|
| Fiverr | Open to anyone, Anonymous feedback system for freelancers, No skill tests or vetting systems |
| Upwork | Freelancer identities are verified, Video and chat conferencing for interviews, Viewable scores, success stories, and feedback, Online skill tests |
Fiverr allows anyone to create a listing without a rigorous pre-screening process. Employers can leave feedback after a project is completed, but there are no vetting procedures or skill tests that prevent flakes from getting through.
Upwork has its own ratings and feedback system, plus other features that help ensure access to a more reliable pool of workers. For starters, the identities of freelancers are verified beforehand.
The site also provides video and chat conferencing features so employers can interview prospective applicants.
What sets Upwork apart is the range of skill tests that freelancers may take to prove their mastery in certain areas. This feature makes it easier for employers to find qualified workers for specific projects.
Monitoring Work and Resolving Disputes
Work monitoring and dispute resolution are essential aspects of hiring remote workers online. From what we’ve seen, Upwork has the edge over Fiverr on these aspects.
| Work monitoring | Dispute resolution | |
|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | No work management system, Messaging system can be used to check project status | No dispute mediator, Resolution center can be used to extend project delivery time or request/provide updates |
| Upwork | Projects can be organized through the platform, Features for facilitating communication between clients and freelancers, Assignable milestones | Dispute resolution center can be used to address issues, Mediators are assigned to specific cases |
Fiverr doesn’t offer a reliable system for work management. Most transactions rely on freelancers providing the service required by the employer. If they deliver, then all goes well, and they get paid.
If not, employers may forward their concerns to the site’s resolution center. However, Fiverr doesn’t have a mediator assigned for dispute resolution.
As for Upwork, you can manage and organize the entire project right on the site. Employers can assign milestones and provide instructions, and both parties can send messages to each other throughout the project.
Upwork also has an excellent dispute resolution center for dealing with any issues. The site even provides a mediator to smooth out potential conflicts between employers and freelancers.
Final Thoughts On Fiverr VS Upwork
So which is better: Fiverr or Upwork?
As you have seen from this comparison, both sites have features and capabilities that give them an advantage over other similar services. Each is ideally suited for freelancers looking for projects as well as employers looking for qualified workers.
Of course, your choice ultimately depends on your budget, work requirements, and personal preferences. But based on the features and services provided by each site, you can rest assured knowing that you can find the skills and talents you need on Fiverr or Upwork.
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