How does Upwork Pay freelancers? complete guide 2023!

Thinking of joining Upwork as a freelancer and wondering how does Upwork pay freelancers. Then this a guide for people looking for answers of “how does Upwork pay freelancers?”

Upwork is one of the leading platforms for freelancers. A complete guide on Upwork has already been shared, where we have talked about the uses and importance of the platform. Now, we are here with how Upwork pay freelancer!



When new to freelancing, one is always confused that how these platforms pay. Are they reliable or not? Well, How does Upwork pay freelancers is the most genuine question asked by new freelancers.

In regards to the payment of freelancers, one of the most frequently asked questions is how they will be compensated based on their work on different freelancing platforms. As for the clients, it pertains to how the platform charges them for the services it provides. The payment methods available on freelance platforms are therefore of great importance to both freelancers and clients.

Choosing a freelancing platform to work on is one of the main concerns of freelancers; they want to ensure that their payments are secure. In the next section, we will discuss how Upwork handles its members’ payments.

How does Upwork pay fixed-price freelancers? How does Upwork pay freelancers?

The Upwork contract is available in two different forms: a fixed-price contract and an hourly contract. Typically, fixed-price projects are fixed rates for specific tasks or projects, regardless of how long it takes the freelancer to complete them. Upwork releases the funds to the freelancer based on a set schedule after the client deposits the total amount due in escrow.

Milestones are agreed upon by the client and freelancer for these projects. After the freelancer meets the milestones and the client approves the work, Upwork releases the funds to the freelancer. As a result, this process continues until the end of the project. It takes approximately five business days for the funds to become available after the milestone has been approved by the client.

how does Upwork pay freelancers

What is Upwork’s fee structure for hourly projects?

Upwork also has an hourly contract. Upwork’s desktop app allows freelancers to log their time for these projects. Three-week contracts are used for these contracts.

During the first week, the freelancer performs the job and records his or her hours. In the second week, the client will have an opportunity to review the project. Following the review week, it takes Upwork another week to make the funds available. In spite of this, Upwork paid earlier freelancers with a Top Rated badge and a Top Rated Plus badge due to the Covid-19 situation.

What is the payment processing time on Upwork?

What is the average time it takes to get paid on Upwork? It takes five days for payments to become available after they have been successfully processed. In addition to milestones, bonuses are also included. It is during this 5-day security period that Upwork processes payments and resolves disputes.

There is a possibility, for example, that a payment will become available five days after it has been processed on a Monday. On the following Saturday. Thus, it is important to note that, even in the event of a dispute, the payments will be processed after the five-day security period, barring any refunds. Payments are typically made to freelancers on a monthly basis by Upwork.

In some cases, freelancers may be able to request their funds more quickly, depending on the freelancer. Funds can be requested and paid to top-rated freelancers more quickly than those not included in the exclusive category.



How does Upwork pay freelancers?

You may be wondering how Upwork pays its employees. Do you receive a physical check or does Upwork deposit money directly into your bank account? If not, are you able to receive payments from a third-party vendor such as PayPal? For freelancers on Upwork, the following payment options are available:

  • Payments made directly to a U.S. bank (ACH)
  • Banking directly with a local institution
  • Wire transfer in U.S. dollars
  • Freelancers in the United States can receive instant payment
  • PayPal
  • Payoneer
  • M-Pesa (Kenya only)

It is not necessary for every payment option to be available in every country. Depending on the country, certain freelancers might not be able to receive payment through PayPal. You should keep this in mind when deciding how you would like to receive your payment. Furthermore, some payment options will incur a fee for the transfer of funds. For example, a wire transfer in U.S. dollars will cost $30. As a result, you may be more inclined to choose one payment option over another as a result.

How does Upwork protect its clients’ payments?

Without a third-party vendor, it is difficult enough to obtain an accurate understanding of your finances when you are a freelancer. If you take into account the long wait time between completion of the work and payment, you may begin to understand what the upside of the Upwork payment process is. Isn’t it more convenient for the client to make payment directly to you? Sure, if everything were perfect.

It is important to note that Upwork has a payment protection system in place because this world is not perfect. The company uses an escrow system to protect freelancers from clients who are unreliable. The Upwork system ensures that if you perform the work you agreed to perform, you will be paid for it, regardless of whether it is an hourly project or a fixed-price project.

Upwork Fees and Withdrawals

You must then get the money out of Upwork and into your bank account once Upwork has made your payments available. If you wish to withdraw money from Upwork, you can do so via ACH or wire transfer, or by using Paypal, Payoneer, or M-Pesa (Kenya only). Following the selection of your transfer method, you will have the option of receiving payments automatically or withdrawing funds whenever you choose.

For bank transfers, Upwork charges a fee, and you are responsible for any fees charged by your bank or PayPal. In terms of cost, wire transfers are the most expensive at $30 per transaction. In order to make a free transfer, you must use an ACH transfer to your bank account.

Additionally, Upwork takes a percentage of your payment before it reaches your account through these transfer fees. Unlike other freelance websites, Upwork’s pricing model uses a sliding scale based on the amount of money you have earned from a particular client. In addition to 20% of the first $500, Upwork takes 10% of payments up to $10,000, and 5% of anything above that amount. Upwork uses this scale for each client. Therefore, if you are involved in a large number of smaller projects with multiple clients, the fees Upwork deducts from your earnings will be higher.

What is the payment structure for freelancers on Upwork? The process is slow, however, be careful.  In spite of the fact that there are many fees associated with this service, you can rest assured that you will be paid in full.

Conclusion-How does Upwork pay freelancers?

Weekly billing is provided by the platform for freelancers’ hourly projects. When the billing period expires after ten days, freelancers and clients will review the work and payment will be made to the freelancer. In case a project terminates, the freelancer attains payments for whatever work he does.



As soon as a freelancer achieves the agreed-upon milestones on a fixed-price project, the freelancer begins receiving payments. You now have a better understanding of the payment options available to freelancers on Upwork, in addition to how long it takes for payments! In some cases, a specific payment schedule or payment option may be appropriate depending on the circumstances. Make sure you select the options that are most convenient for you.

We hope that with our guide on “How Upwork pay freelancers?” you are able to answer your queries!

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