How much does Upwork actually cost a client in 2026?

On the Basic plan, Upwork charges clients a marketplace fee of up to 7.99% on all payments to freelancers, discounted to 3% for eligible US clients paying by bank account, plus a one time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99 per new contract. Business Plus clients pay 8 to 10%. Separately, freelancers pay a variable service fee of 0 to 15% per contract, most commonly around 10%, which they price into the rate you see. Add Connects and withdrawal costs, and the combined platform take on a typical contract is around 15% of the total. Always confirm current fees on Upwork directly before budgeting.