Upwork offers two ways for freelancers to get paid: Automatic Payments and Manual Payments. Some users mistakenly think they must have at least $100 to withdraw earnings. In reality, the $100 minimum only applies to automatic scheduled withdrawals. You can always withdraw your funds manually at any time – even if the amount is less than $100. Below, we’ll explain both options and clear up any confusion about the $100 limit.
Automatic Payments (Scheduled Withdrawals)
Automatic Payments are a “set it and forget it” feature that lets you schedule regular withdrawals of your earnings. You can choose when Upwork will automatically send funds to your primary payment method on a recurring basis. This is set up in your account under Settings > Get Paid by editing your Automatic Payment Schedule. You have the flexibility to select a schedule that suits you:
- Weekly – Funds sent every week (on Wednesday).
- Twice per month – Funds sent on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
- Monthly – Funds sent once a month (on the last Wednesday).
- Quarterly – Funds sent every three months (on the last Monday of each quarter).
When you set an automatic schedule, you’ll also set a minimum withdrawal amount (the default minimum is $100 USD). This means Upwork will only automatically disburse your balance once it reaches at least $100 (or whatever minimum you’ve chosen). If your available balance is below that threshold on the scheduled date, the system will wait until a future scheduled payout when the minimum is met.
Important:
The $100 limit only applies to automatic scheduled payouts. If your earnings haven’t hit $100 (or your chosen minimum), you do not have to wait. You’re free to withdraw funds manually at any time. In fact, even if you use an automatic schedule, you can still click Get Paid Now whenever you want to transfer your available earnings before the next scheduled payment. It’s completely up to you.
Manual Payments (On-Demand “Get Paid Now”)
Manual Payments allow you to withdraw your earnings whenever you choose, for any amount that’s available in your Upwork account. There is no $100 minimum requirement for manual withdrawals. As soon as funds become available in your Available balance (after any security period), you can initiate a payout. This is great for freelancers who want their money sooner or who have earnings under $100 and don’t want to wait.
To withdraw funds manually using Upwork’s Get Paid Now feature, you have a couple of convenient options:
- Via Settings: Go to Settings > Get Paid in your account and click the Get Paid Now button. Then follow the prompts to transfer your available balance to your primary payment method.
- Via Reports: Go to your Reports > Overview page. Under the Available tab, click Get Paid Now, then confirm the amount you want to withdraw and complete the steps to initiate the payment.
With manual withdrawals, you’re in control – even if your balance is below $100, you can cash out whenever you need to. The funds will be transferred to the payment method you’ve set up (such as your bank account, PayPal, Payoneer, etc.). Keep in mind that if you’ve recently added or changed a payment method, there may be a standard security hold (usually 3 days) before you can withdraw to that new method.
No Need to Wait if You’re Under $100
To recap, you do not have to reach $100 in earnings to get paid on Upwork. The $100 minimum is simply the trigger for scheduled Automatic Payments. If your earnings are under that or you just prefer not to wait for the schedule, use Manual Payments (Get Paid Now) to withdraw any amount, anytime. This way, you have immediate access to your money whenever you want.