Upwork Named Top-Tier Software Vendor by APPS RUN THE WORLD in the APPS TOP 500 Market Report

Upwork Strengths, Domain Expertise, and Key Differentiators

Upwork is a global work marketplace that connects companies of all sizes—from one-person startups to Fortune 100 enterprises—with expert freelancers from over 180 countries across more than 125 work categories. Offering more than 10,000 specialized skills, Upwork provides a rich talent pool that delivers unique perspectives, bridges skill gaps, and drives critical business outcomes for organizations seeking high-quality, diverse expertise and knowledge work.

Upwork meets clients at every stage with several distinct plans:

- Talent Marketplace: A self-serve option providing access to a broad network of freelancers, ideal for companies with flexible, project-based needs.

- Business Plus: Adds personalized client support, flexible net-30 payment terms, and access to Expert-Vetted talent—the top 1% of freelancers on the platform—without subscription fees, serving larger businesses that require additional hiring support but don’t need a fully managed offering.

- Enterprise Suite: Designed for large, complex organizations, this offering integrates with vendor management systems (VMS) and managed service providers (MSP) and includes compliance support, custom workflows, and access to EVT. Enterprise Suite enables clients to manage large-scale talent programs with the structure and oversight needed for complex workforce needs.

- Managed Services: Provides a fully managed solution for end-to-end delivery of business-critical work, enabling clients to outsource entire functions like customer support, marketing, technology, and HR. Supported by Upwork’s global talent pool and overseen by experienced project managers, Managed Services ensures high-quality outcomes while allowing clients to scale their operations without increasing headcount. In 2024, Managed Services revenue grew 12% year-over-year, reflecting increasing demand for delivery of work outcomes and a strong pipeline of new clients.



Upwork provides freelancers with a range of features to help them succeed, including detailed profile creation, access to a vast job marketplace, and tools like Connects for applying to jobs and Boosted Profiles that help increase a freelancer's profile visibility. Freelancers can showcase their expertise through Project Catalog offerings or tailor proposals for specific opportunities. Upwork’s Payment Protection guarantees compensation for completed work. AI-powered tools like Uma, Upwork's mindful AI, streamline workflows, and resources like the Upwork mobile app and learning materials enable freelancers to manage and grow their careers efficiently.

Upwork’s strengths in strategic partnerships position it as a leader in delivering comprehensive, flexible work and talent solutions for enterprises. Upwork has established key partnerships with top vendor management systems (VMS) and managed service providers (MSP), including Beeline, SAP Fieldglass, Flextrack, and KellyOCG, to streamline how businesses source, hire, and manage talent within their existing workforce management ecosystems. These partnerships support compliance, reduce operational complexity, and enable business leaders to manage contingent talent with centralized control and efficiency, minimizing the risks associated with departmental silos and ad-hoc hiring.

Upwork Recent Developments

Upwork leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning extensively through Uma, Upwork's mindful AI, introduced in 2024. Built on advanced large language models (LLMs) and enriched with Upwork platform data, Uma powers key experiences in hiring, matching, and project delivery for clients and freelancers across the platform. For clients, Uma simplifies the hiring journey by identifying top talent aligned with project needs, providing side-by-side proposal comparisons, and powering tools like Job Post Generator, which enables clients to create job posts 80% faster. For freelancers, Uma boosts visibility and competitiveness by generating tailored proposal drafts informed by insights from successful past proposals, empowering them to win more projects. Evolving into a dynamic work companion, Uma supports clients and freelancers throughout their Upwork experience, continuously learning to deliver smarter, more precise assistance. Upwork’s approach to AI goes beyond search and match, focusing on transforming collaboration and project management through innovations like Uma, reimagining the work marketplace to deliver exceptional outcomes for all users.

Upwork Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Activities

As part of the company's AI strategy, Upwork acquired Objective in 2024, a multi-modal search platform designed to accelerate advancements in AI-driven capabilities. Objective’s cutting-edge technology enhances core search and match performance across client offerings while bolstering Upwork’s AI team. It also supports the continued evolution of Uma, enabling expanded functionality for tasks involving images, videos, and audio content, ensuring that clients and freelancers connect efficiently and effectively to achieve successful work outcomes.

Upwork Customers in ARTW Customer Database

Leveraging a rigorous data-centric research methodology, APPS RUN THE WORLD asks the simple question: Who’s buying Upwork applications and why? And we provide the answers – supported by decades of research – to our clients around the world. Our Customer database has over 100 data fields that detail company usage of Upwork and other enterprise apps by function, customer size, industry, location, implementation status, partner involvement, Line of Business Key Stakeholders and IT decision makers contact details. List of Verified Upwork customers.

Upwork Key Enterprise and Cloud Applications

Upwork

Upwork Revenues, $M:

Upwork Revenue Breakdown By Type, $M:

Upwork Enterprise Applications Revenues By Functional Markets, $M:

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Upwork Direct vs Indirect sales

Upwork Customers - Breakdown by Geo, Size, Vertical and Product

List of Verified Upwork Customers

No. of Upwork Customers: 832000

No. of Upwork Enterprise Applications Customers: 832000

No. of Upwork Cloud Customers: 832000

No. of Upwork Cloud Subscribers: x

Upwork is a global work marketplace that connects businesses with skilled, AI-enabled independent talent from around the world. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies rely on Upwork’s trusted platform and its mindful AI companion, Uma, to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With on-demand access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, Upwork enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams for the age of AI and beyond. Upwork’s platform has facilitated more than $25 billion in economic opportunity for talent around the world.

Upwork Market Opportunities, M&A and Geo Expansions

Within the last few years, Upwork launched the Upwork Research Institute. This initiative underscores Upwork's dedication to exploring fundamental changes in workforce dynamics and equipping business leaders with valuable insights and resources to navigate the evolving world of work. Headed by Dr. Kelly Monahan, who serves as the Managing Director of The Upwork Research Institute, the team is committed to leveraging research to assist organizations in managing workforce transformations. The Institute emphasizes the necessity for companies to adopt innovative approaches to thinking and operating, thereby unlocking new opportunities for both talent and business growth.

Upwork Risks and Challenges

UpWork's growth depends on its ability to attract and retain a community of freelancers and clients, and the loss of our users, or failure to attract new users, could adversely impact their business.

Furthermore, the new funding from its investors, coupled with increased competition from SAP's Fieldglass and others, will prompt Upwork to pursue acquisitions to expand into adjacent areas from project management, team collaboration as well as payments.

Upwork Ecosystem, Partners, Resellers and SI

Established in April 2024, the Upwork Partners program brings together a network of partner companies that provide access to skilled talent on Upwork to address specific business needs, as well as provide freelancers with access to cutting-edge tools.

Research Methodology

Data used in research reports are derived from publicly available documents, continuous surveys of applications vendors, customers, resellers, Independent Software Vendors, systems integrators and other verifiable sources.

Vendor shares and market forecast results are based on a combination of existing databases as well as demand side and supply side research conducted throughout the year with validation from vendors, customers, channel partners and documentations such as earnings releases and 10Q and 10K filings, vertical industry studies, regional and country-level statistics from public and private institutions(i.e. colleges, universities, government agencies and trade associations).

For additional information on our methodologies, here's the link: