Upwork clients

Important Update

Starting the end of March they began unrolling a new pricing structure for Upwork clients (NOT freelancers).

What is changing for Upwork clients?

Previously, there were 2 plans for clients on Upwork.

Plus plan had a $49 monthly fee and 3% processing fee.
Basic plan had 3% processing fee, but it didn’t allow access to several features.

Now they will be merged to a single new marketplace plan. There will be no subscription fee, but for all contracts the clients will pay a 5% fee (on top of the freelancers’ earnings). This fee applies to all contracts including fixed-rate and hourly, catalog projects, BYO, bonus payouts, and expense payouts.

For example:

Let’s say you pay $1000 to freelancers each month. With the Plus plan you paid $30 fee + $49 subscription = $79 per month. After the change you will pay $50 per month total.
If you pay $5000 to freelancers each month. You the Plus plan you paid $150 + $49 subscription = $199 per month. After the change you will pay $250 per month.

Exclusions!

The marketplace plan only applies to the contracts, and not other services. It does not apply to the $29.99 fee to post a Featured Job, Enterprise services, or Direct Contracts. Enterprise and Direct Contracts have their own payment structures.
Upwork offers a discounted fee of 3% for eligible clients in the U.S. who pay using their checking account (ACH).

What are the benefits of the change for Upwork clients?

Here are the features that used to be only available to Plus plan subscribers. All clients will be able to use them now:

Access to premium talent, including Rising Talent, Top Rated, and Top Rated Plus.
Being able to invite up to 30 freelancers to your job.
Increased report options — Weekly Summary, transactions, Work Diary, budgets, timesheet, time by freelancer, time by activity, and custom export.
Coworker teams and advanced member permissions settings.
Activity codes for organizing work on hourly contracts.
Advanced freelancer search.
You can make up to 5 new connections with freelancer via direct message per day, even if they are not invited to your job post. There are additional requirements for this, including:
- Have a current verified billing method.
- Spent over $1,000 in the past 12 months.
- Have been on the platform more than 90 days.
- Made a payment over 90 days ago.
- Account is in good standing (not on hold).

When will the change happen?

Most clients have already been moved to the new marketplace plan in April. If it didn’t affect your account yet, you should expect to be transferred soon as well.

When the change starts for you, you will see a big pop up after logging in notifying you of the changes. And you will have to agree with the changes in order to use the platform (see an image in the carousel).

Clients are also being notified by email 30 days in advance of the change happening.

How SEO Is Changing in the Age of AI

21-10-2025

AI is transforming search. Learn how SEO evolves into AEO and GEO — where visibility means being cited in AI answers, not just ranked in results.

Learn more

Keeping the Human Mind Sharp When AI Can Do It All

16-10-2025

AI makes work easier, but thinking harder. Learn how to stay creative, critical, and human in the age of intelligent machines.

Learn more

AI Workslop: Why Businesses Pay Freelancers to Fix AI

07-10-2025

AI speeds up work but often creates “workslop” - results that look complete yet lack value. Freelancers are the ones turning them into quality.

Learn more

Disney Creative Strategy: How Ideas Become Reality

03-10-2025

Disney Creative Strategy: dream, plan, critique — a tool to guide ideas from imagination to real-world results.

Learn more

Upwork Boost: Increasing Freelancer Profile Visibility

29-09-2025

Discover how Upwork’s Available Now badge and Profile Boost work, their costs, pros and cons, and which boost is best for freelancers or agencies.

Learn more

10 Posts to Help You Get Started on Upwork

29-09-2025

We’ve gathered a set of articles to guide you through the essentials — from setting up your profile to building long-term client relationships.

Learn more

Etcetera summer 2025 report

26-09-2025

Etcetera summer 2025 results: quiet season, new team members, shifting Upwork rules, and plans for an active autumn.

Learn more

Upwork Feedback: a trust tool you should learn to read and write

22-09-2025

Upwork feedback is more than stars — it builds trust, shapes reputation, and guides choices. Learn how to read, request, and write reviews effectively

Learn more