Upwork payment fees

Upwork's payment fees are a combination of service fees charged to both freelancers and clients, along with withdrawal fees for freelancers. Here's a breakdown of the key fees as of late 2025:

Freelancer Fees

Since May 1, 2025, Upwork has moved to a variable freelancer service fee model for new contracts.

Freelancer Service Fee: This fee is charged on all earnings, including hourly, fixed-price, and Project Catalog work. The fee is no longer a flat 10% and now ranges from 0% to 15% per contract. The specific percentage is determined by various factors, including:

The supply and demand for your specific skills.

The type of client and freelancer membership plan.

The scope and complexity of the project.

Existing Contracts: The new variable fee only applies to new contracts started after May 1, 2025. Any contracts that were active before this change will continue to have the old fee structure, which was a flat 10%.

Direct Contracts: If you bring a new client to Upwork and use a Direct Contract, you can get a 0% service fee. For other Direct Contracts, the fee is 5%.

Withdrawal Fees: When you withdraw your earnings from Upwork, there may be fees depending on the method you choose:

Direct to U.S. Bank (ACH): Free.

Direct to Local Bank (outside of U.S.): $0.99 per transfer.

U.S. Dollar Wire Transfer: $50.00 per transfer.

Instant Pay (U.S. freelancers only): $2.00 per transfer.

Third-party options (PayPal, Payoneer): Fees vary based on the provider.

Client Fees

Upwork also charges fees to clients, which vary depending on their plan.

 Service Fees: Clients are charged a service fee on payments they make to freelancers. The fee percentage varies by the client's plan:

Marketplace Plan: Up to 5% service fee.

Business Plus Plan: Up to 10% service fee.

Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing.

Contract Initiation Fees: Clients on the Marketplace plan may pay a contract initiation fee per contract. Business Plus clients have this fee waived, except for fixed-price contracts of $100 or less.

Connects: While not a direct fee on a project, Upwork uses a system of "Connects" for freelancers to submit proposals. Connects cost money to purchase ($0.15 each), which is another way the platform generates revenue.

It's important to note that both freelancers and clients can see the exact fees associated with a contract before it begins.