The short version
Both use escrow and support fixed-price and hourly work. The differences are in what freelancers pay: Ultra members on Open Lance pay 0% commission on fixed-price and hourly contracts (5% without Ultra), and a proposal costs the same number of bids whatever the job's budget. Upwork charges a service fee on earnings and prices proposals in Connects that vary by job.
| Open Lance | Upwork | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on earnings | 0% with Ultra on fixed-price and hourly work, 5% without | A variable service fee set per contract, from 0% to 15% |
| Cost to apply | The same number of bids whatever the budget | Connects, where the number varies by job |
| Cost to hire | Free to post; escrow handling and contract fees when you fund work | Free to post; a marketplace fee on payments (5% on the Basic plan, 10% on Business Plus, less with some payment methods) and a one-time contract initiation fee of $0.99 to $14.99 |
| Ways to work | Fixed-price, hourly, Dedicated Hire, Drop-Ins | Fixed-price, hourly, Project Catalog |
| Existing reputation | Verified stats from other platforms count toward rank | Reputation starts on Upwork |
| Payment protection | Escrow, funded before work starts | Escrow on fixed-price; hourly protection on logged time |
Upwork figures are from Upwork's own help pages, checked September 2026. Its fees vary by contract, plan and payment method, and change over time, so check Upwork's current terms before deciding.
Commission
On Open Lance, Ultra members pay no commission on fixed-price and hourly contracts, and freelancers without Ultra pay 5%. Drop-In sales and Dedicated Hires carry their own flat rate for everyone. Ultra is a subscription, so it pays for itself once the commission you would otherwise pay in a month is more than its price.
Applying for work
A proposal on Open Lance costs the same number of bids whether the budget is $200 or $20,000. Bids come in packs that do not expire, or with Ultra each cycle. There are no paid boosts to push a proposal up.
Four ways to work
Open Lance supports four kinds of engagement, so the contract can match the work:
- Fixed-price projects, split into milestones that are funded one at a time.
- Hourly contracts with a weekly hour limit and a work diary the client approves each week.
- Dedicated Hires, for ongoing monthly work with one freelancer.
- Drop-Ins, packaged services with a set price that clients buy directly.
Bring your track record
Moving platforms usually means starting from zero. On Open Lance you can add your stats from Upwork, Fiverr and other platforms. Our team verifies them, and verified experience counts toward your rank here, not just a line in your bio.
How payment works
On fixed-price work the client funds each milestone before it starts. When they approve the work it is released, either straight away or after a short review window, and if they do not respond it approves automatically after a set time.
On hourly work the client funds each week up front, up to the agreed weekly limit. The freelancer logs hours in a work diary, the client approves them at the end of the week, and approved hours are paid from that funding. Unused funding goes back to the client.
Released money clears for a short period before it can be withdrawn, because card payments can be reversed for a while after they are made.
What clients pay
Posting a job, reviewing proposals and messaging are free. When a client funds work, an escrow handling fee is added, plus a one-time initiation fee on each new contract. Both are shown before paying, and neither is taken from the amount that goes to the freelancer.
When Upwork may suit you better
Upwork is much larger, with more clients and more jobs posted every day. If most of your existing clients are there, that volume matters. Open Lance is newer and still growing, which we would rather say plainly. Bringing your verified stats makes moving less costly, but it does not create demand that is not here yet.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Open Lance commission compare with Upwork's?
- Ultra members pay 0% on fixed-price and hourly contracts, and freelancers without Ultra pay 5%. Upwork charges a variable service fee on freelancer earnings, from 0% to 15%, set per contract.
- What does it cost to apply for a job?
- The same number of bids whatever the budget. The cost depends only on the job type, and is shown before you apply.
- Can I bring my Upwork reputation?
- You can add your Upwork stats to your profile. Our team verifies them, and verified stats count toward your rank on Open Lance.
- Is it free for clients?
- Posting and reviewing proposals are free. When a client funds work there is an escrow handling fee, plus a one-time initiation fee per contract.