Upwork Picks.
What is the update
and our observations
Starting May 23rd, Upwork is testing an algorithm that badges successful projects as Upwork Picks in Project Catalog. The test will last 2 weeks.
How Upwork Picks work:
After clients select a category page in Project Catalog, they’re shown ’Top projects you may like’. Previously, these badged projects were randomly selected.
Now projects will be badged based on the following criteria:
- Clarity of deliverables
- Competitive pricing
- Freelancer responsiveness
- Project relevance to category
- Talent rating
- Amount of purchases for project
Our observations of Upwork Picks
Most Top Picks are also featured in the ‘Projects with great reviews’ section. Where this section exists at least.
Most Top Picks have at least 200+ reviews, but we also saw Tops Picks with only 2 reviews.
Not all Tops Picks have 5 stars, but we didn’t see any with less than 4.6.
The delivery time of the tops Picks can vary from 1 day to a month (within the same category).
The price also varies a lot within the same category. We saw two Top Pick projects next to each other where one had $15 price and 816 reviews, and the other one $1700 price and only 41 reviews.
Project details of some Top Picks only had 1 sentence in the description. But they do all have clear ‘What’s included’ section.
- The freelancers’ rating does seem to matter, since a lot of Top Picks were by Top Rated and Top Rated Plus. However, some freelancers didn’t have these badges and their projects still managed to get into the section.
So, the main take away is that there is no single tip on what you should improve in order for your project to be featured in Top Picks. It seems to be the combination of the things, so you would need to work on improving all the above criteria.
Here is an article on everything a freelancer needs to know about Upwork feedback, that could be a good start.
More Articles
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
7 Hats: a thinking tool that saves time and nerves
08-09-2025
Instead of mixing emotions, facts, and criticism in chaos — this method by Edward de Bono helps separate thinking modes.
Upwork: From Simple Fees to Pay-to-Play
29-08-2025
Discover how Upwork’s fees evolved from flat 10% to a pay-to-play model with Connects, boosts, and variable 0-15% commissions in 2025.
Upwork Reset 2025: How to Refresh Your Freelance Strategy
25-08-2025
Discover 5 practical steps to reset your Upwork strategy in 2025: update skills, rethink pricing, optimize proposals, and grow with the market.
How to Build a Team That Won’t Fall Apart in a Crisis
22-08-2025
How to build a strong team that survives crises: Denys Safonov shares lessons from 11 years of leading the agency Etcetera through global challenges.
Upwork Q2 2025: What Changed and What It Means for Freelancers
15-08-2025
Upwork Q2 2025 results: fewer clients, bigger budgets, AI at the core, rising paid services, and strategic acquisitions shaping the platform’s future.
Creativity Blocked? Try These Research-Backed Ideas
03-08-2025
Lost your creative spark? This guide offers 8 gentle, practical ways to reconnect with your creativity—especially when you’re tired or burned out.
