Upwork vs. Fiverr for Freelance Writers: Which is Better?

If you’ve been in the freelance writing world for more than a minute, you’ve probably heard of Upwork and Fiverr. Both promise to connect you with paying clients — but in reality, they’re playing very different games.

I know, because I’ve been on both sides of the table. As a freelance writer, I’ve earned more than $300,000 on Upwork. I’ve pitched on hundreds of Upwork jobs, navigated the quirks of the Upwork freelance platform, and built long-term client relationships that turned into six-figure contracts.

Fiverr? I’ve never used it to sell my own writing services — not because I’m above it, but because it’s simply not built for my niche as a memoir ghostwriter and book editor. Even back in my content writing and copywriting days, I found that the Fiverr freelance listings just didn’t align with the kind of projects I wanted to take on. But I’ve hired plenty of freelancers from websites similar to Fiverr, and I’ve studied the platform enough to know it works brilliantly for certain writers. I’ve read case studies of freelancers who’ve earned over a million dollars there, and I’ve built an account myself, so I understand how it works from both the client side and the freelancer side.

These days, most of my projects come in through referrals. And when I’m fully booked (which is often), I pass along high-paying leads to my curated writing job board over at MakeWritingYourJob.com. If you’re a freelance writer looking for sites like Upwork — without the bidding wars or bargain-basement rates — my job board offers handpicked opportunities vetted by me and my team.

Before you decide whether Upwork or Fiverr is the right fit for your work as a freelance writer, let’s break them down side by side:

1. Opportunity Flow & Platform Feel

Upwork: The Freeway of Freelance Writing

Imagine standing at a billboarded interstate on-ramp — each billboard is a new project opportunity. That’s what Upwork freelance writing feels like: a constant influx of listings across developmental editing, memoir ghostwriting, copywriting, and content work. The variety of writing jobs is dizzying, but manageable — and you can prioritize the clients most aligned with your style and pay tier.

Big companies use Upwork’s enterprise features to recruit vetted writers. Combine that with built-in time tracking, mediation, and an escalating commission model (20% under $500, 10% through $10k, 5% beyond), and you’ve got a platform designed for scale and trust-building.

Fiverr: The Boutique Concept Shop

Fiverr’s reputation began with humble $5 orders — and yes, that origin still shadows user perception. For many, websites similar to Fiverr are that craft table at a market — precise, single-service transactions with a polished storefront. Need a snappy LinkedIn About page or a punchy short-form project? Fiverr is quick, streamlined, and entirely task-focused. But if your aim is to write for long-form storytelling, personal branding, or layered narrative projects, the fit rarely sticks.

And while Fiverr’s marketplace is full of capable writers, it skews toward defined, short assignments — not the kind of evolving client relationships that lead to ongoing collaboration.

2. Commission Structures & Platform Control

Upwork: The climbing scale of commission rewards loyalty and repeat business — earn more on a client, keep more in your pocket. On-platform enforcement is strict, but that structure is part of what supports reliability and client confidence.

Fiverr: Flat 20% off every order. No volume discounts, no exceptions. It’s clean and consistent — but for larger or more layered work, it may feel costlier over time.

Both platforms police communication within their ecosystems — which can feel restrictive — but again, that’s part of what protects both clients and writers. Just know you’ll play by their rules.

3. Project Types: Short-Form vs. Long-Form

• Upwork and Freelancer platforms are fertile ground for long-form endeavors. I’ve brokered single-client, high-paying manuscript contracts on Upwork that thrived on mutual trust, editing drafts, developmental notes, and iterative storytelling.

• Fiverr freelance assignments are inherently delivery-focused. Precise tasks, specific deliverables — structured, efficient, but not designed for alive, evolving partnerships. A map for your romantasy book? Absolutely. A book ghostwriting saga with multiple drafts across six months? Not so much.

4. Portfolio Presentation & Credibility

Upwork shows off testimonials, client spend, and past projects like a quiet résumé—financial transparency becomes social proof. That stacked history tells new clients, “You’re worth hiring.”

Fiverr, on the other hand, treats writing portfolios with clean design, stylized thumbnails, and option bundles. It’s visually tidy, but income history is hidden — less about projecting your clout, more about selling the task in a single scroll.

5. Reputation, Client Trust & Algorithmic Visibility

• Upwork reinforces reputation through a mix of client feedback, earnings display, and rising visibility. The more you prove yourself, the more clients trust you and elevate your profile.

• Fiverr works on reviews and “order reception rate” and demands sharp, recurring client ratings. It’s fast attention — but not always enduring trust. Your work must land every time.

Final Verdict: Upwork or Fiverr?

If your dance is long-form writing — memoir, editorial, developmental — you’re best suited for freelancing platforms like Upwork. They offer volume, trust infrastructure, enterprise clients, and the possibility of trajectory (both creative and financial).

Fiverr shines when you’re delivering a specific service — clean, quick, clearly defined. But if your heart is in sustained relationships and creative depth, it’s second-tier.

Some writers use both: Upwork for long-haul storytelling and client relationships, and Fiverr for quick, polished deliverables when inspiration strikes — or when a tech client needs a microsite description written stat.

Want Higher-Paying Writing Jobs, Delivered Straight to Your Inbox?

If the idea of sifting through thousands of random Upwork jobs makes you want to slam your laptop shut, you’ll love MakeWritingYourJob.com.

Instead of a massive Upwork and Freelancer-style feed, you’ll get:

• Handpicked freelance writing jobs (no spam, no race-to-the-bottom rates)

• High-paying remote writing jobs sourced daily (5x per week) by my team and I

• Opportunities across memoir ghostwriting, developmental editing, content writing, and copywriting

• A fraction of the noise you’ll find on other sites like Upwork

For $15/month, we send you fresh leads Monday through Friday so you can spend less time scrolling and more time writing: