Yes you heard right!! If you’re about to start your freelancing journey, Upwork might not be your best bet. While it’s one of the most well-known platforms, breaking in as a beginner is like trying to get noticed in a crowded stadium.
I am going to share my personal experience with Upwork and why it can be a tough starting point for fresh freelancers.
On Upwork, there are two main ways to earn:
1. Sending proposals to clients on contracts
2. Earning through Project Catalogs
However, breaking into the platform as a beginner is not easy. Here are four key reasons why getting your first client on Upwork is harder than you think:
A. Requires connects to send proposals
If you want to send proposals to clients for getting hired, you need “Connects” (around 10-20 Connects required per proposal generally, though it may vary).
Upwork used to provide a few free Connects every month to bid on contracts, but now you must purchase them.
Below is the current pricing of Connects
Even if you buy Connects, landing your first client as a beginner feels like throwing money into a black hole.
B. Hard to get orders through Project Catalog
You may not have enough money to spend on Connects as a beginner. You still have the opportunity to earn by creating Project Catalogs for free.
Here you can create packages of your services and clients can directly place orders. However, to get orders you must rank higher in search results and get noticed by potential clients, which is quite hard.
C. Must Spend Connects to Display Availability Badge
According to Upwork, the Availability Badge “Makes it easy for clients to see you’re open for work by turning it on. This label helps you stand out wherever your profile is shown. Freelancers who use the badge may receive up to 70% more invites.”
But here’s the catch: it costs 14-21 Connects per week (subject to change). Once again, you have to pay just to be seen.
D. Higher Commission rates on Earnings
After all the effort, when you finally get clients and start earning, Upwork takes a 10% commission from your hard-earned money.
Recently they have announced that they will charge variable commission fees based on factors such as client demand for certain work from May 1, 2025.
What To Do Now?
If you have some previous clients, invite and request them to place a bunch of orders and give some positive feedback to help you grow faster.
But, as most freshers may not have clients, you have 3 choices:
1. If you’re willing to spend money, buy some Connects and bid regularly. Even then, it’s hard to get hired.
2. Invite your family/friends as clients to place orders and get some impactful reviews.
3. If you can’t do either of the above, it’s better to work on other new platforms which are comparatively less competitive. You can more easily find clients there.
“Freelancing is about strategy. If Upwork feels like a steep climb, start where the path is smoother. Success follows those who adapt.”
Have you tried Upwork? Share your experience below!