Switch from Upwork to Zinn Hub

Upwork charges up to 20%, makes you pay for Connects just to submit proposals, and holds your earnings for weeks. On Zinn Hub, you get both workflows — bid on projects with free proposals, list service packages clients buy instantly, or both — with direct PayPal & Stripe payouts at checkout.

Free Proposals · Zero Connects · Direct Payouts

Two ways to work — use one or both

Zinn Hub gives you both the Upwork-style proposal workflow and the gig-style service listing model. Keep doing what you know, expand into what you don’t.

Projects Like Upwork — but free

Clients post projects, you submit proposals and get hired. Exactly the workflow you know from Upwork — except proposals are always free. No Connects. No per-bid fees. No monthly caps.

Zinns Passive income

List service packages with fixed pricing. Clients buy directly at checkout, payment lands in your PayPal or Stripe instantly. No proposals, no negotiation — predictable gig-style income alongside your project work.

What’s holding you back on Upwork?

These frustrations aren’t just yours — they’re shared by thousands of freelancers questioning whether Upwork is still worth it.

Up to 20% service fee

Upwork takes 20% on your first $500 with each client, then 10% up to $10k, then 5% beyond that. You’re paying premium commission rates on every new relationship — and most clients never reach the lower tiers.

Paying Connects just to apply

Every proposal you submit costs Connects — and buying more eats into your already-taxed earnings. On Zinn Hub Projects, proposals are free forever. Same workflow you know, no toll gate.

5-14 day payment holds

Even after a client approves your work, Upwork holds your money for 5-14 days depending on your payment schedule. Fixed-price projects are worse — funds only release after milestone approval.

Client ghosting epidemic

Clients post jobs, interview freelancers, burn through your Connects — then disappear. No consequence for wasting your time, no refund on the Connects you spent applying.

Fees on top of fees

Upwork charges the client a fee AND takes your commission. Buyers see inflated prices, making your services appear more expensive while you earn less. Everyone pays more, everyone gets less.

Platform dependency

Upwork monitors all communication and strictly prohibits taking relationships off-platform. Years of client relationships are trapped inside their system — and they can suspend your account at any time.

Upwork vs Zinn Hub — side by side

No bidding fees, no payment holds, no tiered commission traps — and you still get the proposal workflow.

FeatureUpworkZinn Hub
Commission structure20% → 10% → 5% (tiered per client)0% on first $500, then sliding scale
Cost to submit a proposalPaid Connects requiredFree — always, unlimited
Project bidding workflowYes — with Connects feesYes — on Zinn Projects, free
Gig-style service listingsNot supportedYes — Zinns with direct checkout
Freelancer profile discoveryBuyers must search, or you bidIndexed freelancer directory buyers browse
How you get paidUpwork wallet → scheduled withdrawalDirect to your own PayPal/Stripe at checkout
Payout speed5-14 day hold after approvalInstant — paid when client checks out
Crypto paymentsNot supportedBuilt in — wallet, bank, or PayPal payout
Client communicationMonitored, restricted off-platformDirect messaging, no restrictions
Buyer-side feesAdditional marketplace fee on buyersTransparent pricing for both sides
Personal setup supportGeneric help centreFree 1-on-1 Concierge with founder Neil

How much are Upwork’s fees really costing you?

Factor in the commission, the Connects, and the payment delays — our calculator shows the real comparison.

Open the Income Calculator →

How to switch from Upwork in 4 simple steps

Get set up and accepting work in under 30 minutes — and you don’t have to close your Upwork account to do it.

  1. Register for free

    Create your Zinner account in minutes. No Connects to buy, no subscription, no credit card required.

  2. Connect your payment accounts

    Link your own PayPal and/or Stripe. When clients buy, payment goes directly to your account — no Upwork wallet middleman.

  3. List services, bid on projects, or both

    Create Zinns clients can buy instantly, or respond to Projects with free proposals — same workflow as Upwork, no Connects.

  4. Get paid at checkout

    Clients purchase Zinns or hire you from a project and you get paid instantly. Crypto payments process weekly every Friday — your choice of wallet, bank, or PayPal.

What you get on Zinn Hub

Everything Upwork charges extra for — included from day one, for free.

Free project proposals

Browse client projects and submit proposals without paying a penny. No Connects, no monthly caps, no per-bid fees. Your Upwork workflow minus the toll gate.

Your own payment accounts

Connect PayPal and/or Stripe directly. Payments go to your account at checkout — no platform wallets, no clearance periods, no withdrawal scheduling.

Built-in crypto acceptance

Every Zinner accepts crypto automatically. Weekly Friday payouts to your own wallet, bank transfer, or PayPal — no crypto expertise needed.

0% commission start

First $500 in sales — zero commission. Then a sliding scale that rewards volume. No per-client tiering, no complexity.

Unrestricted communication

Message clients directly with no monitoring or restrictions. Build real relationships without platform interference.

Free concierge setup

Our founder Neil personally helps you migrate, set up your profile, and optimise your listings — no charge, no catch.

Map out your first month without Upwork’s fees

Use our Earnings Planner to see what your income looks like with lower commission and zero bidding costs.

Open the Earnings Planner →

Not sure? Let Neil help you get set up — free

Our founder personally walks every new Zinner through profile setup, listing optimisation, and payment configuration — including how to make the most of both Projects and Zinns together.

Book Your Free Concierge Session →

Switching from Upwork — your questions answered

Not at all. Run both platforms in parallel while you build your Zinn Hub presence. There’s no exclusivity requirement — switch at your own pace and compare the results for yourself.
Zinn Hub gives you both models — and you can use either, or both together. Projects works just like Upwork: clients post projects, you submit proposals, you get hired. The one big difference — proposals are always free. No Connects, no per-bid fees, no monthly caps. Zinns work like Fiverr: you list service packages with fixed pricing, clients purchase directly at checkout with no proposals needed. Most sellers use both — predictable gig income from Zinns plus bigger custom work from Projects.
Yes — Zinn Hub Projects works exactly like Upwork’s proposal system, but with one major difference: proposals are always free. No Connects to buy, no cost to submit, no monthly limits. Browse projects in your specialty, submit proposals, and get hired — same workflow you’re used to, minus the toll gate. You can also build a public freelancer profile so clients can hire you directly without going through a project posting.
You connect your own PayPal and/or Stripe account. When a client purchases your Zinn or hires you from a Project, payment processes through your connected account at checkout. No platform wallet, no clearance hold, no scheduled payouts.
Yes. Every Zinner automatically accepts cryptocurrency from buyers. You don’t need a crypto wallet — we process payouts every Friday and you can receive funds via bank transfer, PayPal, or your own crypto wallet. The choice is yours.
Upwork charges 20% on your first $500 with each client, 10% from $500-$10k, and 5% above $10k — and that resets for every new client relationship. Zinn Hub gives you 0% on your first $500 in total sales, then a sliding scale that rewards your overall volume. No per-client tiers. Use our Income Calculator to see the difference.
External reviews can’t be transferred directly, but you can showcase your Upwork experience and portfolio in your Zinn Hub profile. You’ll build platform-specific reviews as you complete orders. Our Concierge service can help you optimise your profile to make the most of your existing experience.
All digital services — web development, SEO, writing, design, marketing, video production, app development, virtual assistance, and more. If you offer it on Upwork, you can list it on Zinn Hub. Browse our marketplace categories or project categories to see where you fit.
Most sellers are live within 30 minutes — register, connect payments, create your first listing or bid on your first project. No profile approval queue, no waiting period. If you want a hand, our Concierge service gets you up and running even faster.

Switching from a different platform?

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Ready to stop paying Upwork to let you work?

Join Zinn Hub — free proposals on Projects, direct payments on Zinns, crypto acceptance, and your first $500 commission-free.

Register as a Zinner — It’s Free → Get Free Setup Help