How much does Upwork take in 2026?
Since May 2025 Upwork charges freelancers a variable service fee between 0% and 15% of each payment. The rate is shown when you send a proposal and stays the same for the whole contract; most freelancers pay about 10%, and long-term clients can bring it down. On top of that you pay for Connects to send proposals ($0.15 each) and possibly a withdrawal fee.
| Upwork cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Freelancer service fee | 0–15% of what the client pays (often ~10%) |
| Connects | $0.15 each, 10 free per month on a Basic plan |
| Freelancer Plus | $19.99 per month (optional) |
| Withdrawal: US bank (ACH) | Free |
| Withdrawal: wire transfer | $30 |
| Withdrawal: PayPal | Free from Upwork (PayPal may charge) |
| Client marketplace fee | About 5% (less for eligible US bank payments), paid by the client |
Fees checked October 2026. Upwork shows your exact fee before you submit each proposal.
Example: a $500 fixed-price job
With a 10% fee Upwork keeps $50 and you earn $450. If you spent 16 Connects ($2.40) to win the job and withdraw to a US bank for free, $447.60 reaches you. The client pays about $525 including their 5% marketplace fee.
How much should I bid to get my price?
Divide what you want by (1 − fee). To receive $400 with a 10% fee you need to bid about $445. Choose “I want to receive exactly…” and the calculator also includes Connects, withdrawal and conversion costs.
Ways to keep more of your Upwork earnings
- Grow long-term clients — repeat work tends to come with a lower fee.
- Raise your rate to cover the fee, especially on new client contracts near 15%.
- Choose a cheap withdrawal method and avoid small, frequent wire transfers.
- Spend Connects wisely — apply to fewer, better-matched jobs.
All the costs between the contract and your bank
- Upwork service fee: since 2025 Upwork charges freelancers a variable fee on each contract, shown before you submit a proposal. Enter the percentage you see — the default is 10%.
- Connects: the Connects you spent to win the job are a real cost. The calculator converts them to dollars.
- Withdrawal fee: depends on the method (direct to local bank, wire, Payoneer and so on).
- Currency conversion: if dollars are converted to your local currency, the rate margin is another cost — enter it as a percent.
Example: $500 fixed-price contract
With a 10% fee you keep $450. Sixteen Connects at $0.15 each cost $2.40, so the job really pays about $447.60 before withdrawal and conversion. Four contracts like this a month is about $1,790.
“I want to receive exactly…” mode
Switch to this mode to work backwards. If you need $450 in hand, the calculator tells you what to bid so that you still get $450 after the fee and costs. Use it when setting your hourly rate or fixed prices.
Hourly vs fixed price
- Hourly: the same fee applies to every hour billed, so set your rate high enough to cover it.
- Fixed price: enter the contract amount; the fee applies to each payment you receive.
Tips to keep more
- Fewer, bigger withdrawals reduce fixed withdrawal costs.
- Compare the amount that arrives in your local bank across withdrawal methods.
- Price your work from your real needs — see the freelance rate calculator and our guide to setting your hourly rate.