Upwork vs. PeoplePerHour: Which Freelance Platform is Better? | 2025 Comparison

Platform Showdown

Upwork vs. PeoplePerHour:
Which Is Better in 2026?

Choosing the right freelance marketplace can make or break your career or project. We break down the fees, features, and usability of the two giants.

Updated Dec 2025 • 8 min read

The gig economy is booming, and for many, the journey begins on a freelance platform. Two names that consistently rise to the top of the list are Upwork and PeoplePerHour (PPH). While they share a similar goal—connecting businesses with talent—their approaches, fee structures, and user bases are distinct.

Whether you are a graphic designer looking for your next gig or a business owner needing a quick website fix, understanding the nuances between these two can save you time and money.

Upwork

The Global Giant

Massive job volume
Enterprise-grade tools
Fixed-price & Hourly protection
“Connects” cost money to bid

PeoplePerHour

The Flexible Contender

Unique “Hourlies” feature
Strong UK/Europe presence
Location-based matching
Smaller client pool than Upwork

1. The Fee Structure: Who Takes Less?

One of the biggest pain points for freelancers is the platform fee. Both platforms use a sliding scale, but the thresholds differ significantly.

Feature	Upwork	PeoplePerHour
Freelancer Service Fee	Flat 10% on all contracts (Simplified in recent updates).	20% on first £250/€300/$375 7.5% between £250 – £5,000 3.5% over £5,000
Client Fees	Contract initiation fee (up to $9.95) + 5% marketplace fee.	Service fee (approx 10%) + Payment processing fees.
Bidding Cost	Uses Connects. Most jobs cost $0.15 – $0.90 to apply.	15 Free proposal credits/month. Additional credits must be purchased.

* Fees are subject to change by platforms. Always check their official terms.

2. Key Features & Usability

Upwork: The Corporate Powerhouse

Upwork feels like a professional corporate environment. Its interface is clean, albeit complex due to the sheer number of filters and options. The Talent Marketplace is where you bid on jobs, while the Project Catalog allows freelancers to sell pre-defined services (similar to Fiverr).

Hourly Protection: Upwork guarantees payment for hourly contracts if tracked via their desktop app.
Video Calls: Integrated Zoom integration for client interviews.
Enterprise Clients: Access to Fortune 500 companies (for top-rated talent).

PeoplePerHour: The Agile Specialist

PeoplePerHour (PPH) carved a niche with its “Hourlies”—fixed-price offers that can be bought instantly. While Upwork added this later, PPH’s system feels more intuitive for quick, one-off tasks. PPH also puts a heavy emphasis on local talent, often allowing clients to search for freelancers “near me” within the UK or Europe.

Project Streams: A dedicated workspace for managing ongoing conversations and files.
Local Focus: Great for freelancers in GMT time zones targeting UK businesses.
AI Matching: Matches your profile to projects automatically (though accuracy varies).

The Verdict: Which is Better?

There is no single winner, as the right choice depends on your specific needs:

Choose Upwork if:

You are looking for long-term contracts, high-paying corporate clients, or have a highly specialized skill set. The 10% flat fee is generally better for mid-sized projects.

Choose PeoplePerHour if:

You are based in the UK/Europe, prefer selling fixed-price services (Hourlies), or want to pay lower fees (3.5%) on high-volume long-term contracts.

Looking for More Freelance Resources?

Finding the right platform is just the first step. You also need to manage your portfolio, connect with other professionals, and streamline your workflow. For more tools and connections, you might want to explore esyconnect.in to expand your professional network.

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Upwork vs. PeoplePerHour: Which Freelance Platform is Better?

Upwork vs. PeoplePerHour:
Which Is Better in 2026?

Upwork

PeoplePerHour

1. The Fee Structure: Who Takes Less?

2. Key Features & Usability

Upwork: The Corporate Powerhouse

PeoplePerHour: The Agile Specialist

The Verdict: Which is Better?

Choose Upwork if:

Choose PeoplePerHour if:

Looking for More Freelance Resources?

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