Elance was founded in 1999 by two entrepreneurs, Beerud Sheth and Srini Anumolu. The platform allowed businesses to hire freelancers for a variety of projects, from writing and design to programming and engineering. In 2013, Elance had over 3 million freelancers and had facilitated more than $750 million in job transactions.
oDesk was founded in 2003 by two entrepreneurs, Odysseas Tsatalos and Stratis Karamanlakis. The platform also allowed businesses to hire freelancers for a range of projects, but with a particular focus on technical and programming tasks. In 2013, oDesk had over 8 million freelancers and had facilitated more than $1 billion in job transactions.
In 2014, Elance and oDesk announced their intention to merge into a single platform, which would become Upwork. The merger was completed in 2015, and the new platform was launched with the goal of creating a more streamlined and efficient marketplace for freelancers and businesses.
Today, Upwork is one of the largest freelancing platforms in the world, with over 18 million registered freelancers and over 5 million registered clients. The platform has facilitated over $2 billion in job transactions and continues to be a popular choice for businesses and freelancers alike.
Pros:
- Wide Range of Services: Upwork offers a vast range of services from content writing to web development and graphic design. The platform has freelancers with diverse skills and expertise, which makes it easy for businesses to find the right talent for their projects.
- Flexible Hiring: Upwork makes it easy for businesses to hire freelancers on a per-project or ongoing basis. This allows businesses to scale up or down as needed, without having to commit to long-term contracts.
- Verified Freelancers: Upwork has a rigorous screening process for freelancers, ensuring that only qualified professionals are allowed to join the platform. Freelancers are required to complete a skills test and verify their identity before they can begin applying for jobs.
- Payment Protection: Upwork has a built-in payment system that ensures that freelancers are paid for their work and that businesses are protected from fraud. Payments are held in escrow until the work is completed, providing both parties with peace of mind.
- Transparent Feedback System: Upwork’s feedback system allows businesses to rate and review freelancers after a project is completed. This helps businesses make informed hiring decisions and provides valuable feedback to freelancers to help them improve their skills.
Cons:
- Fees: Upwork charges fees for both freelancers and businesses, which can add up quickly. Freelancers are charged a percentage of their earnings, while businesses are charged a fee for each project they hire a freelancer for.
- Competition: Upwork is a highly competitive platform, with thousands of freelancers competing for the same jobs. This can make it difficult for new freelancers to get started and for businesses to find the right talent for their projects.
- Quality Control: While Upwork does have a screening process for freelancers, it can be difficult to ensure the quality of work delivered by individual freelancers. This can be a particular issue when working with freelancers who are new to the platform or who do not have a lot of feedback from previous clients.
- Communication: Upwork’s communication system can be cumbersome and slow, particularly for businesses working with multiple freelancers on different projects. This can make it difficult to keep track of project timelines and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Alternative to Upwork – Upwork close competitors
Upwork is one of the largest and most popular online freelancing platforms, but it does have some close competition in the industry. Some of the top competitors of Upwork include:
- Freelancer.com: Founded in 2009, Freelancer.com is one of the largest freelancing platforms in the world, with over 51 million registered users. The platform offers a wide range of services, from writing and design to programming and engineering.
- Fiverr: Fiverr is a popular platform that offers services starting at $5. The platform has over 3 million registered freelancers and offers a range of services, including writing, design, and programming.
- Toptal: Toptal is a highly selective platform that specializes in connecting businesses with top-tier freelance talent. The platform only accepts the top 3% of freelancers who apply, ensuring that clients have access to highly skilled professionals.
- Guru: Founded in 1998, Guru is one of the oldest freelancing platforms in the industry. The platform offers a wide range of services, including writing, design, and programming, and has over 3 million registered freelancers.
- PeoplePerHour: PeoplePerHour is a UK-based platform that connects businesses with freelance talent from around the world. The platform offers a range of services, including writing, design, and programming, and has over 2 million registered freelancers.
Each of these platforms offers its own unique features and benefits, and businesses and freelancers should carefully evaluate each platform to determine which one is the best fit for their needs.
Conclusion:
Overall, Upwork is a powerful platform that can be a valuable tool for businesses looking to hire freelancers. While there are some drawbacks to using the platform, including fees and competition, the benefits, such as flexible hiring and payment protection, make it an attractive option for many businesses. As with any hiring platform, it’s important to carefully vet freelancers and ensure that they have the skills and experience necessary to complete your project to your satisfaction.