Effective October 3, 2024 the Client Marketplace Fee can be up to 7.99% of your payment. This change will apply to all new and existing service contracts, created on or after that date.

When you hire on Upwork, you pay a Client Marketplace Fee on all payments that you make to freelancers including:

  • Fixed-price and hourly contracts
  • Project Catalog projects
  • Bonuses
  • BYO contracts
  • Direct contracts
  • Consultations
  • Payroll
  • Expenses
  • Miscellaneous charges

The Client Marketplace Fee can be up to 5% of your payment. You can see your Marketplace Fee structure within your membership settings here.

You also pay a one-time Contract Initiation Fee for each new Marketplace and Project Catalog contract.

Benefits of Upwork


These features are available to all clients — no subscription required:

  • Access to premium talent, including Rising Talent, Top Rated, and Top Rated Plus
  • Ability to invite up to 30 freelancers to your job
  • Multiple report options — Weekly Summary, transactions, Work Diary, budgets, timesheet, time by freelancer, time by activity, and custom export
  • Coworker teams and advanced member permissions settings
  • Activity codes for organizing work on hourly contracts
  • Advanced freelancer search
  • Only pay a fee when you make payments (as opposed to a monthly subscription cost regardless of whether you have an active Upwork project)

Frequently Asked Questions

What Upwork products are subject to the Marketplace Fee?

The following are included to be subject to the Marketplace Fee:

  • Traditional hourly and fixed-price contract payments, including consultations, bonuses, BYO, direct contracts, expense payouts, miscellaneous charges, and payroll on marketplace contracts
  • Project Catalog contracts
Is there a discount on the Client Marketplace Fee when I use certain billing methods?

When you pay with an eligible checking account, you may qualify for a reduced fee. Many factors influence the amount of the Client Marketplace Fee, so this discount may not always apply. Learn more about paying with a bank account here.

How do I know what billing methods I can use?

To see which billing method options are available to you, visit your profile settings here. Note: Based on your location, your options may vary. Learn more about billing methods here.

Why did the Client Marketplace Fee change?

This fee may vary depending on market conditions, your chosen billing method, and other factors. We directly notify all impacted customers in advance of pricing updates.

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