The fee a platform advertises is only part of what it costs you. On Upwork you also pay for Connects on every proposal, including the ones you lose, and every platform's payout method takes its own cut. This calculator adds it all up and shows what actually reaches your bank.
How it works
The service fee is a percentage of what the client pays. Upwork sets it per contract, anywhere from 0% to 15%, and shows it on the offer or proposal. Fiverr takes 20% of every order. Freelancer.com takes 10% of a fixed-price project, with a $5 minimum.
On Upwork, winning one job usually takes several proposals. Each proposal costs Connects at $0.15 each, so the Connects spent on the proposals you lost are part of the cost of the job you won.
To keep a set amount after a percentage fee, divide by one minus the fee. To take home $1,000 after a 10% fee, charge $1,000 ÷ 0.90 = $1,111.11, not $1,100.
A worked example
A $1,000 Upwork job at a 10% fee costs $100. Winning it took 10 proposals at 12 Connects each: 120 Connects × $0.15 = $18. With a $2 withdrawal fee, you take home $880, so 12% of the job went to fees. To keep the full $1,000 you would need to charge $1,133.33.
Questions people ask
What fee does Upwork charge freelancers in 2026?
Since May 2025 Upwork charges a variable Freelancer Service Fee of 0% to 15% per contract. It is set when the proposal or offer is sent and does not change during the contract. Many older guides still describe the retired 20% / 10% / 5% tiers, or a flat 10%.
Why does Fiverr take more than Upwork?
Fiverr charges a flat 20% on every order, and buyers pay their own service fee on top. There are no Connects, but the percentage is higher, so it suits smaller, fixed-scope gigs better than large projects.
Should I add the fee to my price?
If the market will bear it, yes. Use the last result line: it grosses your price up so the amount left after the fee, Connects and withdrawal matches what you want to earn.
Guides
- How Much Should Freelancers Set Aside for Taxes?A simple rule works in any country: move a fixed share of every payment into a tax account the day it arrives. Here's how to find your share.
- The Hidden Fee in International Payments: Exchange-Rate MarkupA payment service with no fee can still cost you 3% or more through its exchange rate. Here's how to spot the markup and compare providers fairly.
- Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com Fees: What You Really Take HomeThe advertised fee is only part of the cost. Add Connects, withdrawal fees and lost proposals, and a 10% Upwork fee can become 12% or more.