Upwork is trash for video editors and freelancers. Here's why...

I've been a freelance video editor for years, and I've seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly sides of this industry. Upwork promises the world to video editors – easy clients, flexible work, good pay. But I'm here to blow the whistle. Upwork is NOT the path to a thriving freelance career, and I'm about to tell you why.

The Hidden Costs of "Free" - Upwork's Deceptive Fee Structure

Upwork hooks you by looking "free." You make a profile, browse jobs...easy, right? Wrong. To even submit a proposal, you gotta buy their BS currency called "Connects". Each Connect costs real money, and good jobs want a ton of them.

Think you'll get that money back? Nope! If a client doesn't view your proposal, Upwork still keeps your money

But hey, they generously suggest you spend EVEN MORE Connects to "boost" your visibility. What they forget to mention is, there's NO guarantee it'll lead to work. It's like gambling with your hard-earned money.

And the fees don't stop. Upwork takes a cut from BOTH you AND the client for every single job.

Upwork takes 10% from freelancers. Let's say you earn $1000. Upwork will take $100 so you get left with $900.

Upwork takes 5% from clients, too! They double dip.

Seriously, who else gets fee'd by the people they WORK for? Imagine getting a job at Amazon and you get your paycheck and it says 10% fee for Amazon for working there.

The Race to the Bottom: Why Your Skills Are Worthless on Upwork

Upwork is all about the cheapest deal. You'll see clients offering pennies on the dollar for your expertise, and guess what? There's always some desperate freelancer willing to undercut you. Before you know it, all your skill and experience is meaningless against someone charging $5 an hour.

You may be more experienced and a better video editor, but when a client see's 100 proposals all promising to do the same work as you for half the cost, it's extremely difficult to convience someone you're worth it.

Big Brother is Watching: The Spyware Problem

Upwork paints itself as the protector of clients, like freelancers can't be trusted. Guess what? They prove their point by making you download spyware – yes, SPYWARE.

When you're working for a client and want to log the time you've worked for them to get paid, they have this thing that's deceptively called "Open time track." This installs spyware on your computer that takes six screenshots of your whole computer screen every hour.

Why? To prove you're not slacking off, of course! And if you think that's unethical, brace yourself, because Upwork pushes clients to use it, because if they don't, they won't get "payment protection."

It's like they want you to feel like a criminal, not a talented professional. There's distrust from the very start of the relationship.

Upwork's Conversion Fee: The Ultimate Trap

Let's say you miraculously build a good relationship with a client on Upwork. Time to ditch the middleman and save on those fees, right? HA! Upwork sees you coming and slams on the brakes.

Leaving their platform without paying their ridiculous "conversion fee" can get you BANNED. It's calculated based on your HIGHEST hourly rate multiplied by a full year's worth of work. If you charge $30 an hour, Upwork wants $8,424 for you leave the platform with the client. Don't believe me? Read it from Upwork themselves:

You're Not a Brand, You're a Number

The saddest part about Upwork is how it destroys your potential. You're not a talented video editor with a unique style – you're just another faceless profile trying to outbid hundreds of others. You'll be seen as an Upwork video editor, not a video editing artist.

Good luck building your brand or getting recognition! Upwork takes all the credit while you're left with the scaps.

Conclusion

Upwork is a trap designed to exploit freelancers. If you're tired of being nickel-and-dimed, spied on, and treated like a nameless cog, there's another way. Stay tuned, because I'm about to spill the beans on how to build a REAL video editing business, one where you're in control and your talent is valued.

Ever use Upwork? Have you had nightmare experiences with it? Share your stories and let's start a conversation.