[Rufbdbskrufb473]

What I don't understand is how they keep most freelancers on the platform after finding a client.

I've only used it once, but after having a call with the client, I felt comfortable accepting payment directly in crypto and not paying their fees.

[throwaway290]

People who actually rely on Upwork care about fresh reputation and active status. Platform makes it appealing to stay active. They have a decent reputation with customers, so it's a backup for when you fire your current client. But if you are inactive they stop recommending you and after a while you are delisted making it tougher to get clients. And customers like to see people who are active.

Also, automatic billing is a big value add for those of us who hate paperwork and chasing non paying customers. Upwork does it for you.

Re crypto, it's an appealing vehicle for laundering and we don't want to be implicated. couple of clients suggested it and it's a red flag for me. (if you want to get paid in crypto I don't get why you would use Upwork at all honestly, surely you have your own great platforms with how much talent is supposedly working on that web3 stuff)

[benjaminwootton]

I’m sure lots of people do this.

The advantage of staying on the platform for freelancers is that they are guaranteed to get paid for correctly booked work on a predictable timeline.

For buyers, the advantage is one weekly payment to your credit card, some contractural protection and a bunch of features to support the work.

I’ve never felt the need to bypass them as a buyer, and I’ve only been approach a few times by freelancers to go direct. (My answer has been no mainly because I dislike the admin of manually paying people, checking timesheets, invoices etc.)

[msadowski]

This is against the terms and conditions I believe and in theory Upwork can charge you or the client some extra fee if you take the project outside of the platform.