Upwork vs Fiverr vs Freelancer on a $1,000 project
Published August 9, 2026
Quick answer
On a $1,000 project you keep $900 on Upwork, $900 on Freelancer.com and $800 on Fiverr. Fiverr's flat 20% is double the other two, and unlike them it never comes down. A paid Freelancer.com membership takes its cut to 5%, which makes it the cheapest of the three at $950.
The straight comparison
Upwork takes roughly 10% on a typical contract, leaving $900. Freelancer.com's free plan also takes 10%, leaving $900. Fiverr takes a flat 20%, leaving $800. That $100 difference on a single project is most of a working day at a decent rate.
The costs that do not show up in the percentage
Upwork's Connects cost $0.15 each and are spent whether you win the job or not. Forty Connects while chasing that $1,000 project brings your real take to $894. Freelancer.com charges bid credits and withdrawal fees on top of commission, which is why active bidders report an effective 12-18% rather than 10%. Fiverr's 20% has no bidding cost attached, which is the one thing genuinely in its favour: you are not paying to apply.
Fiverr's rate never improves
Upwork's rate varies by contract and Freelancer.com's drops to 3-5% with a paid membership. Fiverr is 20% for everyone, from your first order to Top Rated, and it applies to tips and gig extras as well as the base price. A $50 tip leaves you $40. If you are building volume on Fiverr expecting the rate to improve with status, it does not.
Which to pick
For large projects the percentage dominates and Fiverr is hard to justify. For small, fast, repeatable work, Fiverr's lack of bidding cost can win on an hourly basis even at 20%, because time spent writing Upwork proposals is unpaid and Connects are real money. Work out your win rate before assuming the lower headline rate is the cheaper platform.
Frequently asked questions
Which freelance platform has the lowest fees?
Freelancer.com with a paid membership, at 3-5%, so you keep $950 on a $1,000 project. Among free plans, Upwork and Freelancer.com tie at 10% and Fiverr is worst at 20%.
How much does Fiverr take from $1,000?
$200. The 20% commission is flat, applies to tips and extras, and does not decrease with seller level or volume.
Is Upwork cheaper than Fiverr?
On headline rate, yes, roughly 10% against 20%. The gap narrows once you count Connects at $0.15 each and the unpaid time spent bidding, neither of which Fiverr requires.